ThaiTravelGate.com
ThaiTravelGate.com : The Gateway To Thailand. Thailand Travel & Tourism information. Best Plase for Travelers.
Welcome To Thailand
Thailand : LocationSituated in the heart of Southeast Asian mainland which covering an area of 513,115 square kilometers and for centuries known by outsiders as Siam, Thailand borders the Lao PDR and Myanmar to the north, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the East, Myanmar and the Indian Ocean "Andaman Sea" to the West and Malaysia to the South.
Thailand : Topography
Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions:
- The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured orchids, fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches.
- The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries.
- The Central Plain, one of the world’s most fertile rice and fruit and fruit-growing areas with colorful traditional culture and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok.
- The peninsular South, where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and fishing.
Thailand : Climate
The climate is tropical with an average high temperature of 35 °c and low of 25°c in Bangkok. There are three overlapping seasons, the monsoon that lasts from May to September, from when it turns moderate to cool until February and warms up until April. Temperatures are highest in March/April and lowest in December/January.
Thailand : Currency and Exchange Services
The Thai unit of currency is the baht. The baht is divided into 100 satang. Coins are valued at 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht. Banknotes are valued at 20, 50, 100, 500 and baht.
Major currency bills and travellers cheques are cashed easily at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centres and money changers.
Traveller cheques are best changed in banks (you will need your passport)
Rates of exchange at bank or authorised money changers are better than those at hotels and department stores.
Credit cards are widely accepted.
PADDLING THROUGH THAILAND
With thousands of kilometres of rivers and waterways spanning the length and breadth of Thailand, wherever you are, there's a river to run. However one need not be a whitewater kayaker to enjoy the experience. Low hills and gradients ensure that most rivers are manageable by even novice paddlers.
Rafting agencies are springing up to paddle visitors deep into rainforests undisturbed by humans and unreachable by road. Venture into national parks inhabited by monkeys, deer, and hundreds of beautiful birds endowed with brilliant plumage and enchanting songs. Many multi-day trips include stays in jungle camps where the silence of the tropical night is punctuated with songs from nocturnal birds and a half-dozen frog varieties. For now, most commercial operations concentrate on the northern rivers.
TOURING TRANG BY TUK TUK HUA KOP
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has worked in cooperation with Trang Municipality Office, the Trang Tuk Tuk Club and Trang Tourism Association to jointly develop three special sightseeing routes in Trang Municipality. All feature sites and attractions that are of historical importance and cultural interest.
The tuk tuk hua kop is a small motorised tricycle with a roof and is one of the last remaining traditional modes of transportation to be seen around Thailand. Unlike the famous tuk tuks found in the capital, the Trang equivalent has its own unique characteristics. It has a modern round steering wheel and accommodates up to five passengers; one person rides in the front cab next to the driver, and the remaining are seated in the back. It is powered by a two-cylinder engine and can reach a speed of 60 kph.
THAILAND - PARADISE FOR LADY GOLFERS
Among Thailand's growing number of travel accolades, Thailand is rapidly emerging as a 'Golfing Paradise for Ladies', not just because of its wide range of international courses and facilities, but also thanks to all those other pluses that ladies enjoy - fabulous spas, world-class cuisine, lots of value-for-money shopping....
Plus there's little discrimination here. Ladies are very welcome. Clubhouses have changing facilities for ladies, spas and beauty salons, pleasant 19th hole refreshment areas, and often a lively karaoke room. You don't even have to be a member to play at most clubs.
DYNAMIC PATTAYA
Families looking for fun-filled, exciting vacations quickly discover why Pattaya continues to be one of Thailand's top international seaside playgrounds with over five million visitors a year. Extensive investment in recent years has given Pattaya a new face as a dynamic and friendly resort that has something for everyone.
"Pattaya is a place for outgoing people who like something to do. It's an exciting destination where the fun and action never stop," says Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Central Region Three, adding: "Great restaurants, great shopping, a wide range of accommodation, and great value for money."
100 WORLD’s BEST HOTELS, SIX FROM THAILAND 
Peninsula Bangkok rank 4
The Peninsula Bangkok Rises Along The Chao Phraya River, Six Kilometers From The Historical Sanam Luang District In Bangkok, Thailand. This Hotel Operates A Private River Pier And Ferry Shuttle That Delivers Guests To Nearby River City Shopping Center And Saphan Taksin Skytrain Station....
The Oriental, Bangkok rank 9
Since 1879, Royalty, Dignitaries And Distinguished Travelers Have Followed The Legendary Chao Phya River Through The Heart Of Bangkok To One Of The World's Most Luxurious Hotels: The Oriental Bangkok. Named To The Prestigious Institutional Investor 2004 World's Best Hotels List, The Oriental Bangkok Is Renowned For Sublime Accommodations And Personalized Service. The Hotel Is Within Three Kilometers Of The Silom Shopping District....
Four Seasons Resorts, Chiang Mai rank 11
Spacious Lanna-style pavilions overlook terraced rice fields and the mountains in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley, minutes from the artistic and cultural heritage of Thailand's northern capital. From the Thai cooking school to the acclaimed spa and flawless service, a signature Four Seasons experience. Sample the diversity of Thailand by pairing your visit with a stay at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, an urban oasis in the capital....
White-Water Rafting the Cataracts of Kaeng Hin Phoeng, Sai Yai River
The waters that feed the Sai Yai River and Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids originate in the San Kamphaeng mountain range which forms a natural barrier separating the dense forests of the eastern and northeastern regions of Khao Yai National Park.
The pristine forested area, the last bastion of the Dong Phaya Yen Forest, is one of Thailand’s most important watersheds, giving rise to hundreds of creeks and streams. From its source, Sai Yai River flows into the Prachin Buri River and converges with the Nakhon Nayok River downstream to form the Banpakong River.
Beyond a wild white-water ride or an exhilarating river adventure, the breathtaking landscape that hugs the river is home to a great diversity of spectacular flora and fauna; river-rafting unveils some fascinating and rarely seen spectacles – butterflies hovering over a salt lick by the river; colourful birds seeking refuge in the forested canopy....
BANGKOK, CHIANG MAI AND CHIVA-SOM DESTINATION SPA GET RANKS OF THE WORLD’S FINEST FROM TRAVEL+LEISURE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS
For the eleventh consecutive year, Travel + Leisure, the world's leading travel magazine with a circulation of almost one million, has asked its readers to help define excellence in travel by rating airlines, hotels, travel destinations and more.
In the 2006 World’s Best Awards Reader’s Poll, Travel + Leisure readers ranked Thailand’s Chiva-Som International Health Resort the ‘World’s Best Destination Spa’ and Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the northern Thai capital, joined the ranks of the world’s ‘Best City-Asia’.
