The Sophisticated Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Wine
  • Culinary Travels
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
The Sophisticated Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Wine
  • Culinary Travels
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
The Sophisticated Life
No Result
View All Result
Home Blog

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand Travel!

by Nadeen
April 9, 2018
A A
This post contains affiliate links. However, all opinions expressed here are original. If you click through on a link, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll receive a slight commission which helps us keep this information available to you. Thanks!

I could probably come up with more than 10 reasons why I love Thailand travel after spending 10 days there in January. But, for the sake of this blog post, I will summarize.  This shouldn’t come as a complete surprise to me since while I was planning my trip, everyone told me “you are going to love Thailand.” It has been on my bucket list since my Mother traveled there about 15 years ago. Even with high expectations, it blew my mind. Since it’s the month of February and the feeling of love is in the air, I decided to share with you the 10 reasons why I love Thailand and you will too!

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
North of Bangkok in Ayutthaya Thailand

1) The People:

You will often hear Thailand referred to as “The Land of Smiles.” There are many reasons for this. Just seeing the natural beauty in Thailand will make you smile. But for me, it signifies the people of Thailand. I found them to be warm, friendly, soft spoken, funny, well-mannered and always smiling! About 1 week into our trip my friend and I were strolling along the night market in Chiang Mai. We heard a loud voice as if someone was yelling. In America this would not have been unusual but after a week doing Thailand travel it caught us off guard. We decided it must have been a foreigner! This is how sweet and soft spoken we found Thais to be. In addition, I said “thank you” more than I ever have in a 10 day period.

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
One of the Thai ladies selling goods in the floating market. The most beautiful smiles!
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Joy with our tour guide “Top” at the Elephant Park in Chiang Mai. He was sooooo funny!

2) The Natural Beauty:

One of the many reasons I love Thailand travel is how diverse the landscape is. I had the opportunity to visit three areas and experience so many amazing things! I will be sharing all of them in more detail here on the blog. From the big city skylines and river views of Bangkok to the mountains and tree lined streets in Northern Chiang Mai to the glorious beaches and islands in the Southern area of Phuket, Thailand was simply gorgeous!

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
River cruise in Bangkok
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Phi Phi Islands In Southern Thailand-Boat Trip from Phuket



3) The Variety of Things to Do:

Based on what I mentioned above, no matter what type of traveler you are, Thailand travel will suit your needs. If you love big cities, spend time in Bangkok exploring temples, museums, shopping malls, fine dining at Michelin ranked restaurants and cocktails on outrageous roof top bars. If you are the adventurous type, head to Chiang Mai and go trekking, zip lining and white water rafting. You can also go camping in one of many elephant nature parks. And, be sure to shop until you drop in the night markets. If you are a beach bum, Southern Thailand is for you. Pick from several islands such as Phuket, Krabi, Koi Samui or island hop between them all! It is already so easy to tell why I love Thailand!

4) The Unique History & Architecture:

If you are a history buff, a religion buff or an architecture buff then Thailand is also the place for you. Yes there are temples and Buddhas everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE! Someone asked me on Facebook if after you have seen 2 Buddhas haven’t you seen them all? I will admit that I had that feeling in Bangkok since most of the Buddhas we visited were all “glitz and glamour”. But, the ruins in Ayutthaya were unique and Wat Prathat Doi Suthep on the mountaintop in Chiang Mai was stunning. I think the key is to have someone knowledgeable with you to explain the history and story behind each Buddha and temple. In terms of the history-The Kingdom of Thailand dates back to the 1200s with the Sukhothai Kingdom followed by the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in the 14th century.

Exploring the ruins in Ayutthaya was one of my favorite experiences in Thailand. While in Thailand, you will learn about the Chinese influences. There is a large Chinese population in Thailand as well as many Thais who are descendants of Chinese immigrants. We visited Chinatown in Bangkok as well as Chinese temples during our trip. Thailand is also part of the Golden Triangle in the North. This is the border of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Due to this, there have been many conflicts and wars over the years especially between Thailand and Myanmar. Speaking of wars, The Empire of Japan invaded Thailand in 1941 during WWII. They later signed a military alliance and Thailand declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom. During this time, the Burma Railway was built by POWSs and Asian laborers. It was also known as “The Death Railway” based on the hundreds of thousands of workers who died during its construction. Have you heard of the movie “The Bride on the River Kwai”? It is a 1957 war film based on a novel about the Burma Railway.

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Bangkok Golden Buddha
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
One of the many Buddhas in Ayutthaya
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
At Wat Prathat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

5) The Mixture of Old and New:

One of the reasons I love Thailand travel is because it is a very modern country. Everything you need and want is right at your fingers tips. But, to me it has not lost its authenticity. Of course I expected Bangkok to be modern but in cities such as Chiang Mai the mixture of the old and the new was very evident. Older temples and a historic fort in the middle of the city surrounded by modern boutique hotels and sidewalk cafes is very charming. While enjoying Thailand travel, the richness of the culture does not escape you. I will say this is in contrast to my last trip international trip to Dubai. When you visit Dubai, you do have to make an effort to go to areas like Old Dubai to experience the true Arabian culture and not feel as if you are still in the U.S.

10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Beautiful traditional tree lined street in Chiang Mai with a modern boutique hotel in the background

6) The FOOD!

This should be #1 reason of why I love Thailand travel but you know-I had to get the history and culture stuff out of the way first lol. Thai food has always been one of my favorite cuisines so I could not wait to experience eating it in Thailand. People have asked me some of the major differences. First of all, in 10 days I did not have a bad meal! Even at the elephant nature park in Chiang Mai where we were served a lukewarm vegetarian buffet meal-it was delicious! The flavors of the foods were more intense, spicier, not salty or greasy. Honestly, I love spicy foods but the red chili pepper in Thailand will light your esophagus on fire! (doctor lingo :-)) Not only did I have my favorite dishes from the U.S. like pad Thai, spring rolls and chicken satay, I ate my full of mango sticky rice, became addicted to coconut ice cream, had fresh papaya every day, tried fried papaya and tried new curries such as beef massaman curry. I even took an amazing Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai at DusitD2 hotel. I learned how to make another curry dish called Khao Soi and mango sticky rice! I would also like to say that Thailand has THE best breakfast buffets I have ever seen anywhere! They should really call it breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet because they serve all of these items at breakfast. I even ate Pad Thai at breakfast! I usually get a craving for American food while I am on a vacation but not in Thailand.

thailand travel, thailand travel advice, love thailand, 10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Cooking class in Chiang Mai
thailand travel, thailand travel advice, love thailand, 10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Pad Thai in Chinatown in Bangkok
10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Coconut Ice Cream in the Floating Market
thailand travel, thailand travel advice, love thailand, 10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Mango Sticky Rice

7) The Value:

Ok. This one is quick. Cheap Thailand travel is a thing! Inexpensive! Affordable! However you want to put it. I couldn’t believe the prices. At the time 1 USD =35 Thai Baht. When you are paying for things that are quoted as $10 Baht or $20 Baht you realize that you are not even paying $0.50 USD for these items. Everything from clothes to food to massages are extremely affordable. I ran into members from one of my travel groups who have chosen to live in Chiang Mai and a main reason is the cost. They pay the equivalent of $300-400 a month for an apartment that would cost close $1500-1800 in the U.S. Your USD will get you VERY far in Thailand.

8) The Shopping:

Because of the conversion rate and the prices, Thailand travel is perfect for shopaholics. Even if you are not a big shopper like me, the night markets in Chiang Mai will pull you in! They have everything you can think of for prices you would never dream of! They have-silk scarves, ties, journals, bags, ornaments, clothes, shoes, artwork-you name it! 🙂 I usually don’t even buy souvenirs for myself on vacation but on this trip I came back with so much elephant gear people may have thought I had pledged Delta Sigma Theta lol. FYI: the weight limit for the airlines in Thailand is 20kg. I did so much shopping in Chiang Mai I was over the limit and had to transfer items to my carry-on and tote bags!

thailand travel, thailand travel advice, love thailand, 10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Joy shopping at the Sunday night market in Chiang Mai

9) The Massages:

Massages anytime and anywhere! I love massages therefore I love Thailand! I had been advised I would be able to get frequent and inexpensive massages. What I was not aware of was just how numerous the massage parlors are! In some areas of Thailand they line the streets and are open very late like in Phuket. You can get quick 30 minute foot and back massages in sidewalk spots or book extended sessions in luxury spas. We tried both and in 10 days I had a total of 3 massages. A 1 hour Thai massage, a 2 hour full body oil massage and a 30 minute foot massage. Warning- a foot massage is really foot to upper thigh massage, which is a good thing! It’s a life I could get used to.

10) The Photo Ops.

I can’t really claim to be “a photographer” per se, although I love taking pictures and I do have a fancy Canon DSLR camera. However, one of the reasons I  love Thailand are all the beautiful sights to behold. I took over 1000 pictures! The people, the skyscrapers, the river views, the boats, the temples, the Buddhas, the tropical flowers, the food, the mountains, the elephants, the beaches, the islands! There were plenty of opportunities for mini photo shoots with my friend, selfies and just practicing my photography skills.

thailand travel, thailand travel advice, love thailand ,10 Reasons Why I Love Thailand! (A Country Overview)
Several “photogs” taking pics in the Phi Phi Islands

So what do you think? Have you been to Thailand? If so, share your experience with us below! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the blog to read upcoming travel guides on Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket as well as my experience taking my first cooking class in Chiang Mai! You can also catch up on my trip with the pictures and videos I posted on Instagram and Facebook! I would like end this post by saying Thank you or “Khop Khun Kha” to the people of Thailand for this experience! I will back!

I have soooo many more pictures and stories to share but as I am on my way home I would like to say Thank You or “Khop Khun Kha” to the people of Thailand for an unforgettable experience the past 10 days. I now understand why Thailand is called “the land of smiles”! Beyond the food, the beautiful mountains, rivers and beaches is a warmth and hospitality that is so special and unique!!

A post shared by Nadeen. (@thesophislife) on Jan 26, 2017 at 9:39am PST

Sign up to learn about luxury travel with food + wine experts all over the world.

Curated small group trips where all you have to do is pack your bag, relax & enjoy!

+ Receive my free packing & to-do lists for International travel!

Thank you! Check your email for your checklists!

Tags: thaithai foodthailandTraveltravel guide
Previous Post

Black Travel Love: Couples Who Travel Together! (Part II)

Next Post

Dusit Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai!

Nadeen

Nadeen

Dr. Nadeen White is a "Blogger by Day, Physician by Night". She is an award-winning travel blogger, Amazon bestselling author and speaker. The Sophisticated Life Blog covers affordable luxury travel, culinary travel and wine. Her domestic and international travel guides gets people to the destinations of their dreams. So, if you are living the sophisticated life or desire to do so, this is the blog for you!

Related Posts

must-eat food in bologna, ragu bolognese
Travel

Must-Eat Food in Bologna Italy-the Culinary Capital of Italy.

March 16, 2023
turkish food, istanbul food, istanbul food guide, meze, mezze, turkish cuisine
Food

Your Guide to Turkish Food

April 12, 2023
sonoma county wineries and restaurants, sonoma, california wine region, sonoma wines, wine tasting
Wine

Sonoma County Wineries & Restaurants.

December 13, 2021
flying during the pandemic, flying during covid19, tips for safe air travel during covid19, is flying safe during covid-19, covid19 travel tips tips for safe air travel, air travel during covid-19, travel tips during covid-19, flying during covid
Travel

Flying During the Pandemic? Tips for Safe Air Travel.

September 22, 2021
midtown atlanta travel guide, discover atlanta, visit atlanta, midtown atlanta, atlanta georgia, planning a trip to atlanta
Travel

Midtown Atlanta Travel Guide: Things to Do & See!

March 4, 2021
staycation ideas, canopy atlanta midtown hotel, hilton hotel, atlanta staycation, atlanta midtown hotel, hotel reviews
Travel

Atlanta Staycation Ideas: Canopy Midtown Hotel

September 22, 2021
Next Post
Dusit Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai Thailand!

Dusit Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai!

Macy's Culinary Council with Chef Marcus Samuelsson for his Red Rooster Cookbook Event!

Chef Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster Cookbook Event!

Comments 29

  1. Keisha says:
    6 years ago

    Fantastic summation of my favorite country on Earth! ??

  2. Nadeen says:
    6 years ago

    Thank you Keisha! I know you have spent a lot of time there so it means a lot to me that you agree!

  3. Janene says:
    6 years ago

    Loved This! Can’t wait to visit there one day!

    • nadeen says:
      6 years ago

      Thank you! I know you will enjoy it!

  4. Angelica says:
    6 years ago

    So true! I lived in Chiang Mai for nearly and year and Bangkok for about three. It’s one of those places that’s so special, you have to keep going back. The unique architecture and art, like what you see at the White Temple, is spectacular and unlike anything else in the world.

    Ah, now I’m getting all nostalgic!

    • Nadeen says:
      6 years ago

      AWW! Yes I can’t wait to go back! I am sure living there was amazing!

  5. JooJoobs says:
    6 years ago

    Thanks for sharing!

    You need to come back soon, there is a lot more to explore.

    Come stay a few months, but be careful, you might end up staying longer.

    ~bibi

    • Nadeen says:
      6 years ago

      LOL! yes that is what I have heard! I absolutely loved Thailand!

  6. Mike from TravelAndDestinations says:
    5 years ago

    I love Thailand too. It’s one of my favourite destinations in Asia. Like you said the amazing food, beautiful beaches, culture, friendly smiles and so many things to do. Those are definitely just a few of the things that I love about this country! It was great to read what you love too!

    • Nadeen says:
      5 years ago

      Thank you! Thailand definitely exceeded my expectations! I look forward to going back!

  7. Andrew says:
    5 years ago

    Food in Thailand is the best! It’s the country when you say I want a spicy food they will really serve you the spicy one. Also, who could forget the Mango sticky Rice.

    • Nadeen says:
      5 years ago

      The mango sticky rice is so good! I love spicy foods but their spicy was on another level! lol

      • Andrew says:
        5 years ago

        and how about the tasty Pad Thai? Did you try it?It’s an explosion to the mouth!

        • Nadeen says:
          5 years ago

          yes of course! I even made it in a cooking class in Chiang Mai!

          • Andrew says:
            5 years ago

            By the way, have you ever been to travel adventure like trekking in Bhutan or Nepal?

          • Nadeen says:
            5 years ago

            Hi Andrew,
            not yet!

  8. eiliyah says:
    5 years ago

    Got information which is really a big help for sure. thanks for writing this kind of article.

    • Nadeen says:
      5 years ago

      Your welcome!

  9. Nuttakand says:
    5 years ago

    Welcome to Thailand.

    • Nadeen says:
      5 years ago

      Thanks!

  10. Cring Packer says:
    5 years ago

    Informative article with the majestic photo. Great share.

    • Nadeen says:
      5 years ago

      Thank you! I am glad you found it informative.

  11. Nichols Suzanne says:
    4 years ago

    Helpful post! A perfect guide for those who are travelling for the first time.

    Thank you very much 🙂

    • Nadeen says:
      4 years ago

      I am glad you think so!

  12. Packers says:
    4 years ago

    Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog!
    Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!

    • Nadeen says:
      4 years ago

      Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it.

  13. Agness says:
    4 years ago

    Hello Nadine, I love reading this article. I love all your photos. Best regards from Taipei…

    • Nadeen says:
      4 years ago

      Thank you!

  14. Barato Travels says:
    4 years ago

    First of All, Thanks for Sharing this Amazing Post! I Got Impressed With Your Writing Skills. I Must Say You Are An Incredible Writer Ever. I can hardly wait until I can get to Thailand. I have this inclination that once I see Chiang Mai I won’t have any desire to leave!

No Result
View All Result
Subscribe for updates!

Subscribe for updates!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Best-selling Travel Ebooks Available for Download

Travel Guides to Your Favorite Destinations

USA Wine Guide for Travelers

Culinary Travel Guides: Food & Wine

Recent Posts

Travel

Must-Eat Food in Bologna Italy-the Culinary Capital of Italy.

by Nadeen
March 16, 2023
Travel

Best things to do in Venice Italy!

by Nadeen
March 9, 2023
    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to refresh it.

Black-Owned Businesses

black-owned businesses in asheville north carolina, hood huggers tours, black-owned business in asheville, asheville north carolina, black-owned restaurants in Asheville, downtown Asheville,

Black-Owned Businesses in Asheville, North Carolina.

September 22, 2021
black-owned rosé wine brands to sip on this summer, rosé wines, black-owned wines, rosé wines, summer wines, black-owned wines, black-owned wineries, mcbride wines, black girl magic wines, brown estate wines,

Black-Owned Rosé Wine Brands to Sip on this Summer.

April 27, 2022
atlanta black-owned restaurants, black-owned restaurants in atlanta, atlanta restaurants, brunch in atlanta, atlanta restaurants

45+ Black-Owned Restaurants in Atlanta You Should Support!

May 15, 2022
black-owned wineries, black-owned businesses, black-owned wines, black winemakers, black wines, black owned wines, black owned wineries, black podcasts, wine, wineries, winemakers. wine regions, napa valley, wine tasting

50+ Black-Owned Wineries & Businesses You Should Follow & Support.

March 15, 2022

Explore the U.S.A

san francisco golden gate bridge, most romantic cities in the us, valentines day

The Most Romantic Cities in the US for Getaways.

February 12, 2023
photo by Adam chandler courtesy of charleston wine and food festival

2022 Charleston Wine + Food Festival-Recap!

March 31, 2022
sonoma county wineries and restaurants, sonoma, california wine region, sonoma wines, wine tasting

Sonoma County Wineries & Restaurants.

December 13, 2021
things to do in malibu california, malibu restaurants, wine tasting in malibu, malibu beaches, shopping in malibu

Things to do in Malibu California this Weekend.

March 21, 2022
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Myrtle Beach Restaurant Guide for Foodies!

The Best Myrtle Beach Restaurants: A Guide for Foodies!

April 12, 2023
15 fun facts about quebec city canada, travel to canada, canadian

15 Fun Quebec City Facts

April 12, 2023
Diner en Blanc Guide for First-Timers! Everything you need to know to attend this magical event! Includes information on purchasing tickets, preparing for the event, costs and what to expect at Diner en Blanc!

Diner en Blanc Guide for First-Timers!

September 19, 2019
Dubai Trip

Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Visitors!

April 12, 2023
Dubai Trip

Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Visitors!

How I spent 5 Days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi! A Desert Safari, Camel rides, Burj Khalifa, High Tea at Burj Al Arab, Shopping in Souks, Visiting the Grand Mosque and so much more!!

How I Spent 5 Days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi!

Visit Jamaica: Land I Love!

Cruising the Mediterranean Sea on Norwegian Epic!

river cruise vs ocean cruise: which one is better, river cruising, ocean cruise liner,

River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise: Which One is Right For You?

April 11, 2023
fairmont chateau whistler review, hotel in whistler bc, fairmont hotels

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Review!

March 28, 2023
must-eat food in bologna, ragu bolognese

Must-Eat Food in Bologna Italy-the Culinary Capital of Italy.

March 16, 2023
venice italy, things to do in venice italy

Best things to do in Venice Italy!

March 9, 2023
The Sophisticated Life

  • About
  • Travel
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 The Sophisticated Life

The Sophisticated Life

  • About
  • Travel
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Travel
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2020 The Sophisticated Life

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel
  • Wine
  • Food
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Travel With Me
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy

© 2020 The Sophisticated Life