Kayla

=Thailand= = = Why should you visit Thailand? Why shouldn't you?! Thailand is a country that is bursting at the seams with culture, food, beautiful sights, and relaxing tropical beaches. Head on over to Pattaya for an exciting day. Or relax on one of Ko Lan's pristine beaches. No matter what you do, you're sure to have a wonderful time in Thailand.

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When to Visit__ The climate in Thailand is that of many tropical countries. Most places are warm and humid year-round. Mid-March to September is the summer monsoon season, which means that the weather will be hot, humid, and rainy. During the winter monsoon season, November to mid-March, the weather is cool and dry. The best time to visit Thailand is during the winter monsoon season when the weather is cooler, although there are plenty of activities during the off-season.

One of the best places in Thailand to visit is Pattaya Beach on the shore of the Andaman Sea just south of the capital, Bangkok. But don't expect to come for a relaxing, sun-filled day on a secluded tropical beach.Pattaya Beach is a chic, cosmopolitan city full of things to do. Attractions and activities include watersports (the city has many dive shops), golf courses, and one of things that has made Pattaya Beach famous, its nightlife. Its exciting nightlife includes go-go bars, discos, bars, and nightclubs. The city is a good place to stay on your vacation because of the tourist attractions and plethora of hotels.

Another place to visit is Ko Si Chang. Ko Si Chang has beautiful beaches, histoical sites, and many caves to explore. Unlike Pattaya Beach, Ko Si Chang has pristine, clean beaches perfect for relaxing. The city also includes the remians of a former palace built by King Chulalongkorn. Some of the caves here are Tham Saowapha and Tham Chaprakong, which are great for exploring.

If you want to spend your day at a tropical beach, Ko Lan is the right place for you. Ko Lan is a little island located near Pattaya Beach. One of the most pristine beaches on Ko Lan is Laem Thain beach. The beaches of the island are lined with luxurious resorts. Some activities you can do on the island include snorkeling, para-sailing, water skiing, and jet skiing.

To get a real Thailand experience, you should pay a visit to the floating markets in Bangkok. Although it is a very touristy site, the experience is fun and colorful. Here you can find people haggling for fresh produce and goods. Stand in wonder at the masses of boats floating down the canals as you experince the essence of Thailand.

The currency used in Thailand is the Thailand baht. One U.S. dollar equals about thirty-four baht. An average car rental can range from 1,130 baht to 2,150 baht per day ($33 to $63 per day). If you don't want to rent a car, you can travel around most cities in a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled taxi). A roundtrip flight, in the beginning of March (just before the off-season), can cost around $1,146 per person. The flight would take you from Wahington Dulles Airport to a stop in Tokyo, Japan, from where it will take you to Bangkok International Airpot, covering about 19,220 miles. Once in Thailand, you should save around 1800 to 4000 baht ($52 to $115) per person for two or three sightseeing tours. Total miles covered in the trip in Thailand (including all destinations, excluding sightseeing tours) are around 160 to 200 miles. Below is a chart of expenses for various hotels in Bangkok.

Hotels
 * Stars || Cost per night (U.S. dollar) || Cost per night (Baht) ||
 * 3 stars || $33 to $67 || 1,130 to 2,296 ||
 * 4 stars || $42 to $146 || 1,450 to 5,037 ||
 * 5 stars || from $172 || from 5,944 ||

You will need a passport to get into Thailand, but you will not need a visa if you are staying for less than thirty days. The State Department suggests that you be cautious in tourist sites due to rising crime in large cities. They also suggest not traveling to locations in the far south of Thailand and the Thai-Cambodian border due to recent conflicts. Another suggestion is to be careful in the capital of Bangkok, and to avoid large crowds and demonstrations. For more suggestions, visit the State Department's website. As far as vaccinations go, you should only need malaria and yellow fever vaccination, other than routine vaccinations.

Works Cited [|Thailand.com] [|Ko Si Chang] [|Floating Market] [|Thailand Sightseeing] [|Orbitz Flights] [|WebFlyer] [|Hotel Rates at Hotels.com] [|Department of State] [|Center for Disease Control] Pictures: [|Ko Si Chang] [|Pattaya Beach] [|Ko Lan] [|Floating Market] [|Map]