Traveling in Thailand

you don't even have to eat it on the street if you don't want to

In most parts of Thailand, you can’t walk 100 meters without stumbling upon a humble looking merchant cooking up something, often using just a small pushcart as a kitchen. Around lunch or dinner time, crowds of people often stand in line or sit at the impromptu tables often set up nearby. If you grew up, as I did, in a city where street food was limited to hot dogs, sausage sandwiches and pretzels around Fenway Park, it would seem a little strange that everyone, from all levels of society and all walks of life, would be waiting in line in the hot sun to sit on a plastic stool and eat food cooked out on the sidewalk. There’s an air-conditioned restaurant across the street! The food’s not even expensive. Come now. read more »

Nomadic Matt sent me some questions via email through Moon’s publicists, here’s what he has to say about Moon Thailand (I thought it was more than a little strange that he compared it to Lonely Planet). Here’s an excerpt of the interview:

When writing the Thailand books, how do you decide what goes in and what doesn’t go in?
All travelers are different. What one person thinks is the perfect vacation another might not like at all. Things I enjoy or think are really cool might not appeal to every reader. And people have different budgets and time constraints. So I try to include destinations, sights, food, accommodations across a very broad spectrum, so everyone finds things they are happy with. But whatever I include, it has to be the best option available, whether it’s a five star resort or a $15 bungalow, street food or a fancy restaurant. The only rule is nothing mediocre or disappointing unless I’ve warned the reader in advance and there’s a really compelling reason to include it.

Political instability and a global recession are bad news for the tourism industry here, but for those visiting Thailand it means great travel deals (there has to be some good news, right?).

I was just fact-checking some information for the new Moon Bangkok and came across this deal at one of my favorite funky hotels, Reflections Bangkok — 1,500B per night for any room. Reflections is a really special property, as each guest room has been designed and decorated by a different local artist. Obviously, not the right choice for someone who wants to come back from a day of sightseeing to straightforward, neutral surroundings, but those of you looking for a quirky, arty place to hang out or otherwise interested in the modern art scene here should check it out.

Reflections Room 408, how cool is that?

There are plenty of other great deals around. As I come across noteworthy ones, I’ll be sure to post them but if you’re planning a trip now make sure to have a look at hotel websites of properties you’re interested in.

I had a chance to talk to the travel editor of the Charlotte Observer a few weeks ago about traveling in Thailand, here’s the interview.

A couple of weeks ago in my post about sailing I mentioned that we missed our flight from Phuket to Bangkok. Well, this morning my little sister missed her flight from Bangkok to LAX so I thought I might provide some information about what to do when it happens. read more »