How To Travel Thailand In Luxury
Over the years, my expectations from any vacation have evolved. In my younger days, all that mattered was how much fun we had. The nights spent partying. The days spent meeting new people. As such, a hostel was the perfect environment. But now that I’m a bit older, I have no desire to share a room with strangers. I want to travel in luxury, with 5 star hotel rooms a minimum requirement.
There is no place this is more evident than in Thailand. Thailand is an incredible destination if you want to party. You can stay in incredibly cheap backpacker resorts, party all night without breaking the bank, and spend your days getting drunk by the beach.
But it is as easy to spend your trip relaxing in luxury. All I want when I go to Thailand nowadays is to enjoy the exclusivity of one of the quieter islands, with the privacy and calm of my hotel room always available if I feel like being truly alone.
Here is how you can travel to Thailand in luxury.
Book the right transport
If you’re flying straight into Bangkok or Phuket, all you need to worry about is the flights. However, if you want to move on from these islands, or skip them altogether, you will need to find the right ground and sea transport. Interested in visiting Thailand’s second largest island? Book your Koh Samui tickets online. Find routes between your base island and any other small islands you’d like to visit.
The trick is to search for options that promise more luxury than the others. Some of the intra-country transport is pretty bad in terms of comfort. Finding luxury options is the minimum you should settle for.
Visit isolated islands
The best way to experience luxury is to avoid places where the sheer amount of tourists has caused operators to cater mostly to the lowest common denominator. The ideal location is one which has some good luxury hotels, but isn’t overrun with tourists just yet.
An island like Koh Chang is perfect. It is relatively quiet, but has some of the most beautiful beaches and scenery in Thailand. You will find comfortable accommodation and VIP service like almost no other Thai location, with boutique hotels and villas encapsulating the island lifestyle.
Avoid buffet meals
It needs to be said: buffet meals in Thailand are decidedly not luxurious. They are cheaper for the restaurant or hotel providing them, considering they are making certain dishes in bulk. But this also means less care is put into the details. Great dishes end up more bland than they would be if you ordered a la carte.
More importantly, buffet meals are one of the major causes of food poisoning when traveling in a country like Thailand. The dishes tend to sit out for a while, at the perfect heat for certain bacteria. Furthermore, with people breathing over them and, possibly, using utensils with dirty hands, you can easily end up with someone else’s germs.
Be careful about what you eat. Try the street food when it is freshly made for you, and try to avoid buffets, no matter how enticing the idea seems.
Planning a beach day can seem simple, but unexpected issues often arise. Mornington Peninsula’s beaches are popular, which means dealing with potential crowds, fluctuating weather, and poor preparation can easily ruin your outing. Arriving late might lead to parking challenges, and picking the wrong beach can limit your planned activities. Many forget important items that could make or break their beach experience, leading to stress and missed opportunities for relaxation.