by Mark and Haley LaMonica

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: November 19, 2008

Top Destinations in Thailand

The recent strength of the US Dollar has only increased the affordability of a trip to Thailand. We have outlined our three favorite locations in this wonderful country and could not imagine a better place to spend a vacation.

Bangkok

Just as Thailand's cuisine is famous for the integration of spicy, sweet, salty, and sour, the city of Bangkok is a fusion of tradition and culture with modern luxuries interspersed with historical treasures. Situated along the Chao Phraya River, this now sprawling city has been the capital of Thailand since the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767. While tourist attractions abound, no trip to Bangkok would be complete without spending a day exploring the sites along the Chao Phraya. By hired long boat or water taxi, visit the Grand Palace, the onetime official residence of the king of Thailand, and Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn. Venture farther upriver through the klongs that snake through small villages and nearby orchid farms. While the hustle and bustle of the river is mesmerizing, land-bound trips will not disappoint. Pay a visit to Wat Pho, home to the Reclining Buddha who is 46-metres in length and stands 15-meters high. While many hotel lobbies include satellite Jim Thompson stores featuring his fashionable silks, it is only by touring his home that you can truly appreciate his contagious passion for Thailand and enjoy his collection of Thai, Chinese, and Burmese artifacts including pottery, paintings, furniture, and buddhas. Bangkok's expansive open-air markets are also an experience unto themselves. Whether wandering through the stalls of the Chattachuk Market by day or Pat Pong at night, commercialism flourishes and prices are always negotiable. While the sites of Bangkok are enough to excite and entertain any tourist, it is the graciousness and welcoming spirit of the Thai people that will have travelers scheduling a return trip to this captivating and seductive city.

Chiang Mai

Just an hour's flight north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is becoming an increasingly popular tourist attraction in Thailand. The city is situated on the Ping River and historically served as a center of trade for handcrafts, jewelry, and woodcarvings. In accordance with rising demand for luxurious lodgings, the Four Seasons and the Mandarin Oriental have both opened stunning resorts set in the heart of Thailand's lush mountains just outside of the heart of Chiang Mai. While easy to settle in to the serenity of these

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