Thailand vacations: Find the best Thailand hotels

The headlong pace and flawed modernity of BANGKOK (called "Krung Thep" in Thai) match few people's visions of the capital of exotic Siam. Spiked with scores of highrise buildings of concrete and glass, it's a vast flatness which holds a population of at least nine million, and feels even bigger. But under the shadow of the skyscrapers …

Despite recent and rapid economic progress, CHIANG MAI – Thailand's second city – manages to preserve a little of the atmosphere of an overgrown village. The old quarter, set within a two-kilometre-square moat, has retained many of its traditional wooden houses, and inviting guesthouses, good markets, cookery, massage and meditation …

Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai and was the first capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of a Million Rice fields).

The country's oldest beach resort, HUA HIN is very popular with Thai families, but the beach is nowhere near as attractive as those of nearby Ko Samui, Krabi and Ko Samet, and the shorefront is ...

Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when nearly all of the island's infrastructure was wiped out. Redevelopment has, however, been swift, and services like electricity, water, Internet access and ATMs are up and ru

Koh Samui is a favourite with its lovely beaches and ‘coconut’ feel. Situated in the lower Gulf of Thailand it boast excellent villa resorts, a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere and offers all sorts of fun activities. Samui is also a favourite with expats who live part or full time on the island.

The small fishing town of KRABI is the transport hub for the islands of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta and makes a nice spot for a couple of nights. Although the town has no beaches of its own, it's only a 45-minute boat ride to the stunning bays of Laem Phra Nang and about the same time in a songthaew to Ao Nang. Every Krabi travel agent sells sea-kayaking expeditions …

With its murky sea, streets packed with highrise hotels, and touts on every corner, PATTAYA is the epitome of exploitative tourism gone mad. The town swarms with male and female prostitutes, and ...

Most visitors only remain in PHUKET TOWN long enough to jump on a beach-bound songthaew, which run regularly throughout the day from Thanon Ranong in the town centre to all the main beaches (B15–25). If you do want to stay, the On On Hotel at 19 Thanon Phang Nga (tel 076 211154; under $10) has basic, just adequate rooms and internet access in its …