TRAVEL GUIDE: THAILAND

When it comes to offering a well-rounded vacation, Thailand has it all—urban pleasures, fabulous beaches and remote jungle towns, plus great food and shopping. Whether you start down south on the islands (Phuket is a favorite) or up north in Chiang Mai, you’ll fall in love with this diverse country.

BANGKOK

72 HOURS IN BANGKOK
Serene Past, Dynamic Present
The City of Angels (as Bangkok was dubbed by a Thai king) revels in head-spinning contrasts, from shimmering skyscrapers to vividly colored temples. Here's your guide to three days of sanuk, or fun, that gives Bangkok its distinct Thai spice.

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
Business Travel Guide
Bangkok offers business visitors a taste of both its modern, prosperous present and its ancient past. Zip from meetings to dinner on the city's state-of-the-art Sky Trains, or take a slower-paced tour of the historic Ko Ratanakosin quarter by river boat.

HISTORY MEETS HARMONY
The Oriental Spa at Mandarin Oriental
Housed in a century-old mansion, this mystical spa was once owned by Louis Thomas Leonowens, son of Anna, the British teacher in "The King and I." Today, Ayurveda spa techniques are used in special treatments like the 90-minute Keraleeya Abhyangam.

CHIANG MAI

PARADISE FOUND
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Sanskrit for "Star Goddess," the Dhara Dhevi resort is an ornate, sixty-acre royal village that pays homage to the lost Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand. Enjoy modern luxuries and an incredible spa set among traditional temples and teak villas.
See also: The hotel's Dheva Spa
Dhara Dhevi as one of our Top 10 Hotel Culinary Schools

THE NEC-PLUS ULTRA OF THAI SPAS
The Spa at the Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai
Nestled deep in the heart of the Mae Rim Valley is the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, one of Thailand's—and possibly the world's—most luxurious and outstanding resorts.

ON THE RIVER'S EDGE
The Spa at The Chedi, Chiang Mai
The Chedi, Chiang Mai hotel is a newcomer to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. It sits right on the banks of the Mae Ping River and oozes both minimalist design and historic charm.

LAND OF SMILES
Rachamankha
Setting the bar for the burgeoning boutique hotel movement in Thailand is the sophisticated Rachamankha in Chiang Mai. Rather than a designer's nostalgic idea of ancient Thailand, this is an authentic endeavor.

HUA HIN

TOP 10 HEALTH RETREATS
Chiva-Som Health Resort
Located on the country’s western coast, this resort offers much more than a day at the beach. A holistic sanctuary with an emphasis on integrative medicine, Chiva-Som utilizes unique diagnostic techniques that can often identify issues orthodox medicine may have missed.

PHUKET

FEATURED HOTEL
Banyan Tree Phuket
The Banyan Tree experience in Phuket offers opulent oriental-style villas, architecture that is deeply steeped in Thai tradition, sophisticated yet intimate service and a tropical garden spa experience.

TOP 10 SPA HOTELS WORLDWIDE
Banyan Tree Phuket
Indulge at Asia's original tropical garden spa, surrounded by coconut groves and blonde beaches. The signature treatment is a lemongrass and cucumber scrub combined with acupressure massage. Holistic therapies based on traditional Thai practices are offered here, along with Jacuzzis, steam rooms, outdoor showers and sunken pools.

OCEAN FRONT VILLAS
Sri Panwa Phuket
Situated on 32 acres of rainforest above the azure blue waters of the Andaman Sea, Sri Panwa is considered one of the top resorts in Phuket, Thailand. See why celebrities and jet-setters flock to this luxurious resort for splendid views and relaxation.

THE BEST OF THAILAND

Best Thailand Spas

Top Thailand Health Retreat

Top Hotel Culinary School

Thai Food Terms

For more information, visit the official Tourism Authority of Thailand site at www.tourismthailand.org or Mekong Travel and Tourism at www.visit-mekong.com.

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(Updated: 09/14/09 SG)

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