The main areas to stay in Bangkok are Banglamphu, Silom and Sukhumvit.
Banglamphu
This are attracts a younger crowd. There is less blatant sex tourism here, the streets are full of lively bars and good food. You are close to the river and 1 small park. There is a huge choice for accommodation. Nice Hotels start at 1,000 THB a night I usually stay on Thanon Rambuttri I pay 1,150 THB and get a roof top pool and free wifi in the room. If you walk towards Samsen you can find cheaper rooms, I have found rooms there for 150 THB a night, this typically buys you a mattress on the floor with stained sheets and a greasy fan.
Khao Sarn road is the famous attraction and is worth a look, it is almost always full except for the hangover period(late morning until 11am). It has the majority of the clubs and the noisiest and most crowded bars. If you want a more chilled environment head to Soi Rambuttri or Thanon Rambuttri the Soi is paved and has a different feel to Khao Sarn. You will find more open air restaurants and bars and a funkier Bohemian texture to life here. In stark contrast the soi runs around a Thai temple!? You can take a small soi out of here and end up on Thanon Prah Athit which runs parallel with the river (Chao Praya) for here you can take a river taxi, sit in the park, check out the funky bars and cafes or take the bus to China town and Chutuchak.
The downside to Banglamphu is that it has the highest concentration of rip offs and scam artists in Bangkok, they are waiting out there for you. Best is to just flat out ignore people who offer you pretty much anything. At nighttime slimy men will approach you for a massage and show you a brochure of under age "china doll" girls. This usually requires them to drive you (free......yeah right) to Ratchadapisek where there are huge massage parlors, that are quite expensive but very professional. You should take a Tuk tuk once in you travels, I recommend at nighttime. Tuk Tuk drivers are very irritating scam artists and getting to your location is not always easy. To avoid it just take a taxi, tell them to use a meter and it will be 50% cheaper than any Tuk Tuk and you get a/c!
Also Bunglamphu is a fair way out of Central Bangkok so you are stuck using taxis and tuk tuks unless you have the time and know how of the bus system.
Silom
This is pretty much Central Bangkok. Home of the famous/infamous soi Patpong. This area attracts Business travelers as the are has the major banks and Embassies etc. Sex tourists, families and has a good size expat community. The night market is the best place for shopping but not full of amazing deals. Patpong has some very good clubs and some really horrible ones. I would recommend you do not go upstairs to a sex show as it can be hard to come out without paying a huge bill that is unfairly charged to you. Many of the ground floor "bars" have bars with girls and music to suit most types. They are not hard to find and you will be heckled to view a ping pong show most of your time on this soi. You will undoubtedly be approached by someone who wants to take you to a particular venue if you go with him you will eventually end up paying their commission.
Accommodation here is of a higher standard than Banglamphu there is little in the backpacker market Surrawong has a few hostels close to it. A nice Hotel or guesthouse here starts at 2,000 a night and goes up to hundreds of dollars a night. I recommend booking online with Agoda for example as you can get a better rate. Bargaining here stopped many years ago. For real Thai food you need to explore the sois of Surrawong. There are plenty of Western,Japanese and Korean restaurants around as well as KFC etc. Prices here are higher than Banglamphu.
Sukhimvit
This long road goes all the way to the Cambodian Border. This are has a very large expat community especially soi 42 you will see many large Condominiums in the area. This is a great area for clubbing and bar hopping. If it's girls your after in a Bar head to Soi Cowboy off Asoke or Nana Plaza. If your looking for cool night clubs with out strippers try this is also the area (checkout nightlife). There is a night market selling knifes.ties, cuff links, boxers and stuff but its not much fun or that good by comparison to Chututchak, MBK or SampengBanglamphu.
Outside the big 3. There is Thewet, Chinatown and more but unless you are familiar with the city I wouldn't recommend it. Thewet is not far up the road from Banglamphu close to the National Library. Taxi or moto are the best forms of transport here. The local foods markets are a hustle and bustle of cheap and delicious foods. You will find loads of great snack like Thai fish cakes, fried chicken and coconut puddings. In the morning you can find banana wrapped in sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf and grilled...................a fantastic breakfast with a coffee made form the metal jugs and the strainer's. Walk around the Klong?river for guesthouses.
China town is a great place for photos, shopping, eating and general exploring and I would say the worst place for accommodation in Bangkok. There is only 1 good hotel in the area. The Shangahi Inn. Dim Sum or Yum Cha can be found here but it no where near as good as you will find In London, Australia or America. The Chinese restaurants are expensive by comparison to Thai places. But well worth a visit the road side places do great seafood at night and the atmosphere is great.
The Top Bits
Chiang Mai
Chaing Mai attracts a good mix of people. The North of Thailand is generally cheaper, friendlier and attracts more interesting travellers than the south. Chaing Mai is basically 2 parts the original "old city" and the every growing "new city". Most of the guesthouses, traveler friendly cafes etc. are found around the Loi Koh rd area. I like to head from this road towards the old city, you will not be stuck for choices as new places are popping up all the time. Cheap guest houses are 100THB and far from nice a decent room costs 400THB and you can get something really nice for 1,000 up. The surrounding hills have many health resort & spa's and well worth a stay if you feel the need to detox and meditate in the jungle hills for a bit. The aforementioned Loi Koh rd has the main drag of girlie beer bars. The night Bazaar is well worth a look for the usual collection of T-shirts, belts pirate DVD's etc. You can also see soap and wood carving being done and sold which can be quite interesting to watch. Chiang Mai has a number of good clubs for those looking to party. You can rent bicycles quiet easily and is a nice way to get around. a few days in Chiang Mai should be enough and it is a good place to set off from. Hill trip tours a very popular and competition is fierce.
Chiang Ra
Chiang Rai town is the capital of the province and the commercial centre of the Golden Triangle a once blossoming (sorry 'bout the pun) opium filled paradise. Whilst it is still a paradise the opium and it's industry has been banished and tourism and agriculture are the new Chiang Rai. This town has a cool feel to it.The are attracts more adventurous travellers looking to explore further afield as well as tour groups etc. You will notice more ethnic groups as you move around town. The river Kok runs throughout the town and is a nice place to hang out during the day time, in this area you will find cafes bars and even elephant rides are on offer. Further out of town down the river is a gathering of more authentic Thai restaurants the food here is considerably better although do not expect staff to have menus in English or speak anything other than Thai. The night bazaar food court attracts many tourists although it doesn't offer anything of much interest, the food has been tamed down so Westerns can eat it (this means its bland) and they have a few stalls selling insects...........well actually no one buys the insects to eat but they attract tourists who want a picture of fried cockroaches to take home with them. You can rent motorbikes and cars here without much hassle and the province is well worth exploring. The town can be explored on foot easily.
Pai
This little town is like a more relaxed Kha Sarn rd in the hills, you will meet the same people here you got drunk with at Gullivers. A great place to hire a motorbike and go touring the surrounding countryside is quite beautiful. I would recommend walking around and staying in a simple bungalow closer to the river as it is very peaceful and serene. There is a good music scene here with some good Blues bands to be found. The bohemian art culture is strong here.
Mae Hong Song
A lovely little Thai town in one of the highest parts of Thailand. Beautiful scenery to be found. The temple on the mountain overlooks the town and is good for sunset and sunrise photography. There is a magic to this place especially during Loi Kratong when the monks chant early morning. A great place to base yourself and tour around by hired motorbike. The guesthouses around the lake are the best places with views over the temples and mist off the lake in the mornings. Sunsets here are amazing during November December. You can explore the sunflower hills, the tea growing village of Mae Aw or Baan Rak Thai.
The Southern Bits
Phuket
Phuket draws a wide range of tourists. Famous for its debauch night life on Bangra rd in Patong and for good reason as this is an excellent place to party. Loads of beautiful people out for a good time cheap alcohol and a variety of venues and music to entertain. You will find lots of massage places offering happy endings and more. And all the things you need like Mc Donalds and KFC to rids you of that homesick feeling. Phuket is popular with Holiday makers rather than travellers. The beaches tend to be crowded and there is little to no budget accommodation to be found. Phuket is also popular with families as it is easier to find western foods, finding good Thai food is hard in Phuket unless you go to Phuket Town, which doesn't offer much of interest other than stark contrast to Patong. Phuket Town is best during the Vegetarian Festival when the places comes alive. Karon and Kata are most popular after Patong for their beaches and lazy beach side feeling. As with most places in the South you will be constantly hassled by taxi's, massage ladies and restaurant staff. Scams are rife in Phuket and Taxi mafia is fierce here. It is common to pay more for a taxi ride in Phuket than in a black cab in London. Bargaining is often futile.Phuket does have an element of danger. Many foreigners are killed here each year. Thai authorities play this down, bodies are burnt before autopsy can be conducted. See the Phuket Gazette for more. This non Thai operated newspaper is not scared to publish some truths.
Ko Samui
This is quite a big island and has been very popular for many years now Samui is more developed than Phanngan and attracts a similar range of tourists to Phuket. Like Phuket taxis and transport here is run by a mafia like system and prices are ridiculously high. Negotiating is often futile. Samui has many upscale resorts and Hotels the island has become very popular with Britons to work, retire and set up business in the last few years typically real estate sales. The southern parts Chawneg and lamai are the most popular and lively areas with the North and western parts being quieter........by comparison. Lamai is very popular with backpackers and it is easy to walk up the beach to Chaweng and take a sawng taew home. Samui is a beautiful island with some staggering scenery. You can explore the waterfalls and white sandy coconut palm lined beaches with ease. Snorkeling can be hard as the sandy beaches makes for poor visibility. Most of the diving is done off the Angthong marine park or Ko Tao.Motorbikes and cars are easily rented. Although scams involving both are frequent and the road toll is high her which must be something as Thailand has the highest road toll in the world! Samui's weather pattern differs slightly with best visiting times being April to September and its monsoon coming October to November. In my experience when it rains on Samui.......it really rains. Accommodation here typically starts at 300 THB a night for bare bones and go upward to the hundreds of dollars a night in a very luxurious beachfront villa. The beaches a re notorious for sexual and violent crimes at night. When travelling to the isalnd keep your valuables on your person. Theft is all too common on the buses (especially "songserm") ferries etc. Travel light and keep a close eye on your belonging. Use locks as a deterrent.
Ko Phangnan
Ko Tao
Ko Phi Phi
This is 2 islands really Phi Phi Don, the only place you can tsay. And Phi Phi Ley where you will visit to see "the" beach where the beach was shot. Phi Phi Don is basically always busy. It is a very small island so in peak season it is really crowded in the central part. There are a few secluded resorts for those looking to enjoy serenity and a beautiful tropical island. There is a good night life scene on the island. This is the place to do your tour (longtails are popular and cheaper) the surrounding islands are absolutely amazing. Turquoise colourde water and limestone karsts. The downside is the residents are often very short tempered and rude,it feels like everyone is out to rip you off. Also when busy the place is full of families with screaming kids etc. So it is far from idyllic. Best to stay a few night s do a tour get drunk at a beach bar and get going to the next island destination. The majority of the accommodation is directed at mid to high level with only a few rough bungalows left for backpackers and these are no longer close to the beach. Typically they are hot, dirty and noisy.
Ko Lanta-Ko Jum
Lanta has become very developed in the last years and most of the bamboo bungalow's by the beach with a lazy hammock have disappeared. They have been replaced by resorts and hotels. Some of which are very impressive. Lanta has some amazing beaches and best seen between November and April, outside of these times the beaches tend to be rough and full of debris that washes up from Phi Phi island in the off season months the beaches are not raked clean so it is not the postcard image it is famous for. Snorkelling can be fantastic off the island and tours are easily available. Renting a motorbike here is great fun as you can easily explore the island. on you own with really on 2 roads. Police will fine you in the town centre for not wearing a helmet.
Just before Lanta is Ko Jum sometimes called Ko Pu as well. This Island is commonly overlooked. It doesn't have the white sandy beaches and reefs of Phi Phi and Lanta but it is a very relaxed and pretty island. Locals are friendly and helpful. Most places serve good food. Motorbikes can be rented easily and it is a fun place to explore. The snorkelling is good and many fish to be seen here, the northern parts have some coral growing that was washed here from the 2006 Tsunami.
Krabi
Krabi provence is home to amazing scenery and mischieveous monkey's. Krbai town has some great budget guesthouses. Also the food markets here especially the night market. Great place to try the local snakcs. The riverside night market has long been famous although in recent years the quality has dropped and I have had food posioning there and heard numerous reports. Some of the places will show you frresh seafood but then cook your meal from a foam baox of older seafoods. There was also a problem with people serving fake pepsi and coke there, which had some nasty effects on the stomach. Hotel and guest houses and tour offices can arrange tours, typiacly the 6 island tour. This is well worth the baht spent, the islands are amazing. I recoomend buying your own mask and snorkel or at least your own snorkle for the sake of hygeine and comfort. Ao Nang is not that amazing at all.It is a place that could be anywhere in the world. Favoured but older holiday mnakeers rahter than adventoures travellers. But if your looking for creature comforts like bacon and eggs and cheeseburger with wetsren TV this is the place for you.
The Middle bit
Sukhothai
Once the capital of Thailand the main attraction is the Historical park. This where you can hire a push-bike and ride around the old temple ruins, a lovely place especially off peak season when you can enjoy it without hoards of tourists. Also a great place for Loi Kratung. There are many old style guest-houses here the old town is the lively place to be. The new town is where you will find the upmarket hotels. You can take the local bus to the Park for a few Baht. Alternatively hire a push or motorbike and explore around. The food markets are fantastic and local restaurants for locals should be explored you can find real Thai food here. I like to buy a picnic at the market to take to the park. Choose your grilled chicken, fish and pork pick up a parcel of sticky rice in a banana leaf some Som Tum and some fruit then find a grassy patch in the shade.....fantastic :)
Mae Sot
Mae Sarriang
Lopurri
Kanchanaburri
Ayuthaya
Krabi
Krabi provence is home to amazing scenery and mischieveous monkey's. Krbai town has some great budget guesthouses. Also the food markets here especially the night market. Great place to try the local snakcs. The riverside night market has long been famous although in recent years the quality has dropped and I have had food posioning there and heard numerous reports. Some of the places will show you frresh seafood but then cook your meal from a foam baox of older seafoods. There was also a problem with people serving fake pepsi and coke there, which had some nasty effects on the stomach. Hotel and guest houses and tour offices can arrange tours, typiacly the 6 island tour. This is well worth the baht spent, the islands are amazing. I recoomend buying your own mask and snorkel or at least your own snorkle for the sake of hygeine and comfort. Ao Nang is not that amazing at all.It is a place that could be anywhere in the world. Favoured but older holiday mnakeers rahter than adventoures travellers. But if your looking for creature comforts like bacon and eggs and cheeseburger with wetsren TV this is the place for you.
The Middle bit
Sukhothai
Once the capital of Thailand the main attraction is the Historical park. This where you can hire a push-bike and ride around the old temple ruins, a lovely place especially off peak season when you can enjoy it without hoards of tourists. Also a great place for Loi Kratung. There are many old style guest-houses here the old town is the lively place to be. The new town is where you will find the upmarket hotels. You can take the local bus to the Park for a few Baht. Alternatively hire a push or motorbike and explore around. The food markets are fantastic and local restaurants for locals should be explored you can find real Thai food here. I like to buy a picnic at the market to take to the park. Choose your grilled chicken, fish and pork pick up a parcel of sticky rice in a banana leaf some Som Tum and some fruit then find a grassy patch in the shade.....fantastic :)
Mae Sot
Mae Sarriang
Lopurri
Kanchanaburri
Ayuthaya
