Along the western side of Thailand lies the Andaman Coast. This is a popular area for many visitors to see, not least because it has many attractions to share along its coastline.

Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of the Andaman Coast is its chameleon like nature. You can find many different characters along its length, one of which is Phuket. This lies at the southern end of the Andaman Coast, providing an excellent starting point if you want to start here and travel up the coast to see what it has to offer.

Don’t miss out on the Phang Nga bay, which was fortunate enough to be chosen as the site for Scaramanga’s hideout in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’, one of the most famous James Bond films. Indeed Ao Phang Nga is a national park in its own right, giving you another slice of great landscape to explore while you are making your way along the Andaman Coast.

It is perfectly possible to spend the whole of your Thailand holiday based somewhere along this coastline. But you would be well advised to take the time to explore as much of it as you can. To this end you could find it easier to have a multi-centre holiday that allows you to see several locations during your stay in Thailand.

Krabi is another example of a good place to visit while you are travelling along this coastline. It isn’t far from the bay mentioned above, and in actual fact you can also see Phi Phi Island while you are there. This is another much loved part of Thailand that you’ll love. As you can see there is much to look forward to along this coastline, so it might be worth basing your trip to Thailand in this area. If you do you will be able to enjoy all that it has to offer, and stay in a variety of locations at the same time. It is certainly a part of Thailand that is unmissable, and not just because part of it has appeared in a James Bond film.

Thailand has many incredible areas that are worth seeing. But you will need to go into the southern reaches of the country to explore Chumphon. This is a province that contains many other destinations and locations worth seeing, and as such you need to narrow down the actual area you want to stay in if you select Chumphon as the base for your Thailand holiday.

Chumphon is a popular spot for many holidaymakers to choose because it benefits from a seaside location. With well over one hundred miles of beaches to explore you can see how good it is as a holiday destination for lots of people. There are plenty of hotels dotted along its length so whatever type of accommodation you are looking for, you are bound to find something that is just right for you. Chumphon certainly doesn’t want for beaches, or for holidaymakers to fill them up.

In fact the beaches are the main attraction here, no matter which part of this province you decide to opt for. Many people choose to base their Thailand holiday in Chumphon simply because it is more laid back than some other areas of Thailand. This could be the ideal choice for a two centre holiday if you want one part to be a more laid back and relaxing one.

Chumphon is also well connected to other parts of Thailand, which is ideal if you want to go for the two centre idea. You won’t have any problems getting to or from Chumphon, thanks to its network of connections to other parts of the country.

As you can see, Chumphon is the place to head for if you want to indulge in some of the best beaches that Thailand has to offer. Water sports are plentiful in this region, and people looking for one of the best beach holidays on offer cannot help but fall in love with everything that Chumphon has to see. You will want to look more closely at all the hotels, apartments and other accommodations in the area, so you too can delight in a holiday based in Chumphon.

Whenever you hear about a national park you tend to think of a relatively small area contained within a country or region. You certainly don’t think about a group of islands, all within the Gulf of Thailand.

But this is exactly what the Ang Thong Marine National Park is – a group of islands all huddled together, forming what could reasonably be called a slice of paradise. It is no wonder the islands are formally ‘closed’ every year for November and most of December, reopening the day before Christmas Eve. This allows the islands to replenish their natural resources, so they are not damaged or harmed by the people who visit for the remainder of the year.

The islands themselves offer many spectacular sights and experiences to behold. You will be amazed at how profound the place is, especially when you discover the depth and breadth of the wildlife, flora and fauna that is here. Generally speaking you can visit the national park on a day trip. A guided tour is the best option because it will ensure you see all the best parts of the park, without missing out on anything crucial. There are also camping sites in various places and on some of the islands though, so make sure you explore all the possibilities first so you can ensure you get the best out of your time in the national park.

Nature trails are many and varied on the islands, including those of Wua Talap Island and Phi Island. If you are booking a tour via a travel agent make sure you ask about all the potential routes and tours you could go on. This will enable you to plan the best option for you.

Of course you can also expect some sensational beaches on islands such as these. One of the best examples is Ao Kha. This is a smaller island in the group but it is equally worth visiting.

So you can see that this particular national park is rather unlike any other you may have visited – all of which makes it a must see location to go to.

Of course when we say ‘hot’ we mean hot in terms of it being somewhere crucial to go. We don’t mean the weather – because between November and February the weather in Thailand is rather more palatable and tolerable than it can be at other times of the year.

Now it may be November already – albeit only just – but it doesn’t mean you can’t consider the idea of booking a late holiday to Thailand. Alternatively you could start looking for potential holiday destinations for early in 2011. It all depends on what you want from a holiday and how badly you want to go there to get one.

Don’t let the phrase ‘the cool season’ fox you though. Generally speaking it could also be called the ‘more bearable’ season. Many people find the summer months too hot to handle, particularly if they aren’t used to going to such a location. If this is your first trip to Thailand you will probably fare better if you go during the cooler months.

Be sure to do some research before you book anything though. Heavy rains hit many areas towards the end of October so you may want to wait a while before booking your ideal trip there. It’s the perfect time to plan ahead for next year though. The cooler weather doesn’t come to an end until the end of February so you can see you’ve got four whole months to plan for what could be a memorable trip to some part of Thailand.

Which begs another question – whereabouts should you stay? The answer depends on whether you’re looking for culture or simply a good day at the beach. For many people the best solution is a bit of both. A good beach location that isn’t too far from one of the main cities is an ideal way to get the best of both worlds.

So you see it’s perfectly possible to stay cool in Thailand if you plan your trip for the right time of year. And we’re heading into that precise time period right now, so make the most of it.

Certain places in Thailand are quite well known for various reasons – think of Phuket and Bangkok for example. But would you add a place called Khao Lak to that list?

Granted, it may not seem very familiar to you now. You’ve probably not come across the name before at all, unless you happen to know someone who has been there already. But if you choose to go there yourself you will never forget the place, thanks to the experience it can give you.

So why should Khao Lak be at the top of your destination list for Thailand if you have never heard of it? If you take a look at some pictures of their beach you probably won’t need much more convincing to pay a visit. This destination may not be well known at the moment, but you will find yourself hoping it stays that way.

It has a reasonably large beach and it is quite deep too, enjoying beautifully soft sands that melt beneath your feet. Don’t expect too much in the way of facilities here though, as Khao Lak is not yet part of the thriving Thailand tourist industry. However this can be a plus as well as a minus, depending on which way you look at it. If you want a crowded beach that is heaving with tourists you should go elsewhere. Khao Lak can offer you a quieter and more relaxing time if you are prepared to take provisions with you.

There are places to stay nearby too, so if it’s a quiet and peaceful holiday you have in mind, this could be the ideal base for you. It is not so good for a family holiday though, which should appeal to those who want a quieter time!

It may seem hard to believe now but Khao Lak was a heavy casualty in the tsunami that struck a few years ago. Thankfully the region recovered and today you wouldn’t know that the beach and its surroundings were largely ruined back then. This seems to make Khao Lak all the more precious, and it is definitely worthy of appreciation in many ways.

Every city has its charms and must see areas, and with Bangkok you can definitely add Chinatown to that list.

In order to enter Chinatown in the proper way you should head for the Odeon Circle. This is where you will spot the huge gate that marks the official entrance to Chinatown. The gate is large, red and very attractive, and it certainly warrants a picture before you go into the heart of Chinatown itself.

The size of the Chinese community varies in many cities, but Bangkok can certainly lay claim to a significant area to call its own Chinatown. If you happen to stumble across it while exploring other parts of Bangkok you will immediately see how different it is. In some ways it has shunned parts of modern society, as some of the practices here date back to the 1700s. It provides you with a fascinating visit to say the least.

You shouldn’t expect to have a relaxing time while you are in this area, although that is arguably part of its charm. If you can stand the heat and the constant activity that thrives all around you, you’ll love Bangkok’s Chinatown. It truly is an amazing experience that you’ll never be likely to forget. You can enjoy some serious shopping here too, and there is certainly no shortage of things to buy.

Check out the Sampaeng Lane too, because this is one of the main areas for market stalls. They are tightly packed together in a lane that does not allow for cars to pass. This means you can wander round and check out each stall as you find it. Half of the joy is in never quite knowing what you will find to buy. Some say you can buy whatever you like – you just have to know where to look for it!

Finally, if you have expensive tastes you might like to frequent some of Chinatown’s gold shops too. There are lots of them in this area of Bangkok, although there must surely be only a small percentage of people flush enough to make a visit worthwhile.

We’re all aware of the title of the film that made this bridge famous and brought it to attention in front of a much wider audience. But there is more here to be learned as well. To see the film is to scrape the surface of what actually happened, and if you visit Thailand you will have the opportunity to see the bridge itself.

The bridge is made from black iron, and it does indeed cross the River Kwai. It was constructed by prisoners of war back in World War II, and it was transported from Java under the supervision of the Japanese.

But while this bridge is still used by many people today, it is not quite the same bridge as was seen and built during the war. It was frequently under attack during World War II and this meant it sustained heavy damage. This led to a rebuilding effort taking place during the years after the war. If you visit the bridge today you will not be seeing the original. Only the end sections on either side remain from the original structure; the rest was rebuilt following the end of the war. However it still retains an air of mystery, drama and intrigue as you stand and imagine what it must have been like to construct it and heave it into place all those years ago.

The bridge has trains running across it regularly and you can get one of these trains to cross it yourself. The railway goes by the dramatic name of Death Railway, Kanchanaburi is the area you want to head for, but remember that while it is best known for the bridge itself, it has other sights and sounds you should experience as well.

There is a museum at Hellfire Pass for example, which is worth seeing as you can learn a lot more about the history of the area. As you can imagine there are memories, memorials and stories galore to be discovered, so make sure you uncover the true story of the Bridge on the River Kwai while you are in Thailand.