My Thailand travel guide at last! It’s not every day you wake up and have the beach all to yourselves, unless you are in, maybe Phuket. This little Thai island is just paradise! I wish I could have stayed forever. I guess in a way I now understand why people stay on and live in Thailand. Below are some of my tips on Thailand travel in addition to what to pack for Thailand. You could certainly live there and not miss any “Western comforts”. You want shopping, Bangkok is filled with shopping malls from designer boutiques to purse-friendly stores. When it comes to the weather, let’s just say the London summers are blown right out of the water!
After doing the James Bond Tour and the Ko Phi Phi Tour, we wanted a little break from any activities and just lounge about like the world had stopped spinning for a while. Mai Khao beach where Renaissance Resort and Spa is located is simply Paradise. Even better in the morning for sunrise, as the beach is all yours to enjoy on your own with a loved one by your side. What makes Mai Khao Beach is its 11km-long straight beach, much of which is still undeveloped apart from JW Marriott Phuket Resort, the airport which sits at the top of the northwestern coast. This means that you can walk for miles and miles and not see a soul other than maybe one or two joggers from the resort.
I shared a couple more picture of our private villa at Renaissance. If need a short break from the activities on the island I would highly recommend a bit of rest and relaxation at Renaissance, if for this beautiful stretch of the beach alone! I have posted a couple of posts on Thailand which include tips and tricks on tours that we did in Thailand. In this post I thought I would provide you a little help when booking for a trip to Thailand. As far a what to pack for Thailand, getting there and getting around, including where to stay in Thailand whether heading to Phuket, Chiang Mai or Bangkok. Read on below for more.
CONTENTS
Also See:
- Thailand Vacation Packing Tips
- Phi Phi Island Tour – Exploring Loh Samah Bay
- Thailand Travel Guide
- Bangkok Tuk Tuk Tour – Views Of The City From The Back Of A Tuk Tuk
Getting To Thailand | How to Get Around Thailand?
Getting around Thailand is super easy. Flights from Thailands major cities like Bangkok are easy, frequent and cheap connecting to other Thai cities, islands and international destinations too. We flew in from Bangkok to Phuket having arrived from Siem Reap, then flew out from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur all using AirAsia which has plenty of cheap flights and make traveling around Asia cheap and easy. One of few sites you can compare flight prices that include Asia’s cheap carries is Kayak. If you are traveling from major cities in Europe or more specifically London like we were, the best flight prices from the UK tend to be from the end of May. You can compare prices on Momondo, Kayak or Expedia. For details of getting around Thailand see below:
- Buses Extensive and affordable for travel between towns.
- Air Cheap and frequent domestic connections on budget airlines.
- Trains Slow but scenic between Bangkok, the north, the northeast and the south.
- Car & motorcycle Easy to hire for local touring.
- Local transport Shared and chartered taxis and motorcycles are widely available.
Women’s Summer Essentials – What To Pack For Thailand (Packing List)
- Sun Hat.
- Skincare and sunscreen.
- Beach swimwear.
- Lightweight sandals.
- Beach Coverups.
- Converter.
- Summer Midi/Maxi dress.
- Lightweight towel.
- Lightweight walking shoes.
- Beach bag.
- Sunglasses.
Beach Cover-Ups
I love packing a range of cover-ups from embellished kaftans that are easy to pair up with leggings to head into town to beach bumming. I also pack beach skirts and sarongs too.
Swimwear
Whether a one piece is your thing or you prefer a two-piece always get something that flatters your body shape. I love the range on ASOS as they do a cool range for plus sizes and those a bigger bust and there is something for everyone one. Other places with a wide range include Nordstrom and Net-A-Porter.
Beach and Summer Hats
Beauty and Skin Care Perfect For Beach Holidays
Whether you are packing for a summer or winter vacation skincare has to be somewhere at the top of the list as a change of weather will be something that will affect the appearance of your skin. Whether you are a lover of Clinique, Olay, Clarins, Dermalogi, Estee Lauder, Dior cosmentics, you need to consider packing suitable skincare for your vacation whether that is to cater to sunny weather or cold temperatures.
Men’s Packing List For Thailand | Summer Vacation Packing List
- sun hat
- Polo shirts and a couple of plain T-shirts
- Lightweight Beach towel
- Pairs of plain smart casual cotton shorts
- Pair of boots
- At least one or 2 smart shirts and trousers for evening enterainment requiring a bit more than beach clothes.
- lightweight jersey sweatshirt for cold evenings
- Pair of boxers and thin socks per day of trip
- Pair of trainers or walking shoes.
- Lightweight summer shoes if necessary (sandals, flip-flops or espadrilles)
- Pairs of multifunction swimshorts that can be worn in the gym
- Pair of sports socks
Men’s Skin Care Kit
A change in weather can play havoc on the skin for both men and women. There are plenty of cosmetic brands that now do amazing skincare products for men. It’s not just women that need to care for their skin, men too. So don’t forget to pack something to moisturise your skin as well as suncare.
Men’s Summer / Beach Hats
In addition to packing sunscreen, packing sun hats is just as important.
Where to Stay In Thailand?
Thailand has some of the most amazing resorts, villas, apartments, hotels, and budget options like hostels. I have post about some of the places we stayed at in Thailand on the blog. Whether you are you are hunting for hotels and hostels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, there is plenty in every budget from luxury to budget. Also check out Booking, Agoda and Trivago to read views and compare prices.
you miss out Even if you forget these things, you can easily find most of what you need in Thailand — especially Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Now, get out there and have fun exploring the beaches, food, temples, and all the wonderful people that make Thailand such a wonderful destination to travel to! Regardless of the time of year, when traveling to Thailand you should make sure you pack the following in addition to your usual travel essentials:
Thailand Packing List and Essentials
Thailand is amazing, with perfect beaches and relaxing environment that you will most likely spend most days in beachwear. With that in mind I thought to provide you with Thailand packing list of your essentials for a trip to Thailand:
- Bathing suits.
- Beach Cover-ups.
- Kindle (load up on favourite books)
- Summer Sandals.
- Sarong or quick dry towel.
- Light Jacket.
- Waterproof Mobile Case.
- Bug spray.
- Sunscreen.
- Converter
- Walking / Hiking shoes.
- Dry sacs
- A sweater or sweatshirt for chilly evenings.
- Maxi and Midi Summer dresses
For anything that you forget to pack, you can always buy in Thailand as the country provides amazing shopping experiences in addition to the beautiful beaches and Thailand tours and activities.
The Best Tours In Thailand
There are plenty of tours in all major cities and islands in Thailand. Whether you want to do a bike tour, island hopping, temple run, visit elephant sanctuary or any manner of adventure there is something for everyone. Check out Trip Advisor’s Viator Tours or Get Your Guide Tours to compare reviews and tours. Some of the best tours in Thailand are:
- Phuket to Phi Phi Island Hopping.
- Floating Markets of Damnoen Saduak Cruise Day Trip from Bangkok.
- Phang Nga Bay Day Trip from Phuket by Speedboat.
- Hong by Starlight Including Sea Cave Kayaking and Loy Krathong Floating from Phuket.
- Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River.
- Chiang Rai Day Trip from Chiang Mai City.
- Bangkok’s Grand Palace Complex and Wat Phra Kaew Tour.
- Phang Nga Bay Deluxe Tour to James Bond and Hong Island from Phuket.
- Ayutthaya Day Trip from Bangkok
More on Thailand:
- Thailand Vacation Packing Tips
- Phi Phi Island Tour – Exploring Loh Samah Bay
- Thailand Travel Guide
- Bangkok Tuk Tuk Tour – Views Of The City From The Back Of A Tuk Tuk
- Nine Experience Not To Miss On Phang Nga Bay
Liked It? Pin, Tweet Share!
Can't even imagine such pristine beaches and all yours to enjoy… Wonderful pictures so inviting to book the next flight… Thanks for the tips on things to take to Thailand essentials and all. Its always hard to remember to pack all the basics.
It sure can be hard sometimes to figure out what to pack but glad you now have an idea of things to take to Thailand on holiday.
Been trying to figure out what to wear backpacking Thailand, I love all your posts but don’t know if I have enough room in my backpack for all your glamoured up looks. Beautiful pictures though, and thanks for the tips too on essential things to take to Thailand
You can still do a little light glam in a backpack. I have been known to do carry-on only and still pack an item of two that makes me feel a little glammed out without having to pack a huge suitable. All the best with getting your backpacking list for Thailand sorted.
Wow. So cool. Great tips on what clothes to bring to Thailand. I love Thailand because it’s so natural. Their food, scenes and even locals are all amazing. This beach is a must visit for me, and Phuket, let’s just say I like quiet places and enjoying the natural atmosphere.
It really is such an amazing place. Glad you enjoyed the post.