The “Phuket Sandbox” was a program to let international visitors back into Thailand after the country had been closed for international travel during the pandemic. Instead of being locked in a hotel room for a week, you could stay on the island of Phuket for a week before being allowed to travel anywhere else in […]
Notes on Ko Samet – The closest beach-break island from Bangkok
Ko Samet is an island on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand, approximately 220 kilometres southeast of Bangkok. It’s technically not the closest island to Bangkok, but it’s the closest nice island to Bangkok (and much nicer than the closest beach to Bangkok). It’s this proximity that has made Ko Samet synonymous with boatloads of […]
The desolation of Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the famous backpacker street of Bangkok. This road and surrounding streets is the budget travel hub of Southeast Asia. In normal times it is a spectacle like no other place in the world. When the Covid-19 virus reduced travel to a trickle in March 2020, Thailand closed its borders to international […]
Guest House Review: Plaza Hua Hin, Hua Hin – Thailand
Hotel Name: Plaza Hua Hin. Address: 108/1 Naresdamri Road, Hua Hin, Thailand. I stayed at the Plaza Hua Hin in Hua Hin, Thailand. I booked online at the rate of 280 THB ($8 USD) per night, and I booked it for price and location in Hua Hin. Plaza Hua Hin is in what passes for […]
Notes on Bangkok – Thailand’s cautious reopening
On November 1 2021 Thailand reopened international travel with the Test and Go scheme. This system offered entry for select international arrivals with one day quarantine before being allowed to travel freely in the country. I waited a month for the system to be running before returning, and these are my notes from one month […]
Bang Saen – The closest beach to Bangkok
Bang Saen Beach in Chonburi Province is just over 100 km east of Bangkok. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s because it’s not a beach that would make it on a “top ten beaches of Thailand” listicle, let alone top 100. In Thailand though it’s a popular beach destination, especially for Bangkokians who want […]
Guesthouse Review – Wonnapha Beach Guesthouse, Bang Saen Beach, Chonburi – Thailand
Guesthouse Name: ละเมอ เกสเฮ้าส์(หาดวอน). Address: Bangsaen Lang Road Soi 12/1, Wonnapha Beach, Bang Saen, Saen Suk, Chon Buri, Thailand. Bang Saen Beach is the closest beach to Bangkok, and for this trip I was looking for a cheap guesthouse anywhere near this beach. I found this Guesthouse at Bang Saen Beach which has no English […]
Apartment Review: Viva Sira Serviced Residence, Bangkok – Thailand
Airbnb name: Viva Sira Apartment. Address: 19 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand. I stayed at the Viva Sira Serviced Residence in Bangkok, Thailand. This particular apartment was listed on Airbnb, and I picked it for its location near Phrom Phong BTS Station. This is one of my favourite areas to stay in Bangkok, and […]
The new Bangkok metro to Chinatown and the Old City, and future old city metro plans
Bangkok is slowly but surely building out its mass transit system to help ease its infamous traffic problems. In July 2019 the western extension of the MRT Blue Line opened, making it the first railway of any kind in the Bangkok old city area. The extension is from Hua Lamphong (the main railway station), through […]
Where to stay in Chiang Mai – The best areas for visitors, and top hotel picks
Chiang Mai is a surprisingly international city given that it’s a provincial capital far away from any beaches. Part of its charm is the old city, which is surrounded by a moat and fortress wall. It’s also considered as the cultural capital of Thailand, and the city is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples (Wats). This […]
