Thailand

If you’re looking for an exotic Spring Break destination, consider the tropical paradise of Thailand. Whatever your age or disposition, you’ll find plenty to do from the adventurous to the downright decadent. Unwind on the picturesque beaches where you can pamper yourself with massages and pedicures, snorkel and canoe around the many gorgeous islands, or live it up with countless strangers at the famous monthly “Full Moon” parties.

Many of our RealTravelers have traveled to all corners of this beautiful country, chronicling their adventures along the way. Here are a few small excerpts of their trips to help inspire you when planning your own:

KevHolls had a blast stopping in many places around Thailand. Here are their impressions of Chiang Mai:

“It’s early morning and I’m writing this while watching the sun rise over the Ping River from an outside computer at our amazing little guesthouse we found tucked down a small little street away from the bustling streets of the city…yesterday we ordered pad thai (of course) and Singha (the beer of Thailand) and when we realized how cheap it was ($4.00 US) we added in an order of banana pancakes too. These were TO DIE FOR! We are now on a constant mission to find them, which really isn’t hard seeing that they serve them at pretty much every restaurant in Chiang Mai.”

Then they took advantage of the famous Thai massages:

“150 baht ($3) for a 60 minute Thai massage…we had our first Thai massage and foot reflexology - $6 for both of us. Thai massage is wonderful! They put pretty much all of their body weight onto you and there is a lot of stretching and cracking. It is the best type of massage both Kevin and I have ever had. You feel like a new person afterward.” (more…)

Kyle and Dan dove into the pristine Thailand waters to scuba dive and snorkel:

“Maya Beach is located on Koh Phi Phi Leh and was made famous by the film ‘The Beach’ with Leonardo Di Caprio. There are also several smaller islands nearby including Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island. All of these islands are located in the Andaman Sea which at this moment in time is possibly our favourite body of water. The water was very clear and a beautiful shade of turquoise and there were many living coral reefs located around the islands…the ferry trip to the islands presented us with wonderful views of the islands, with many limestone rock formations jutting up out of the sea. We were astounded by the beauty as we approached the two main islands. The hot and sunny weather was perfect all week and helped fulfill our desire for tropical paradise.” (more…)

For more inspiration, explore our Thailand Travel Guide where you will find plenty of travel blogs and stunning photos.

Resources:

Phuket Hotels
Bangkok Hotels
Shopping in Bangkok
Beach Holidays in Thailand

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Oftentimes, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is all the wonderful food you get to try along the way. Journeying to a foreign country allows you to entice your taste buds with delectable dishes you may have never tasted before, while traveling in your own country can bring you to some of the tastiest cities in the nation. This week, we’ll be bringing you a plate full of the world’s best cuisine from international destinations like Thailand, China, and Belgium, and U.S. cities such as, Philadelphia (cheese steaks!), and San Francisco.

Chiang Mai Restaurants, Markets, and Food Stalls

If you’re a fan of Thai food, you won’t regret a visit to Chiang Mai, the cultural center of Thailand. While Chiang Mai is a popular destination for its vast number of beautiful temples, its fantastic mountain views, and its lively culture, it is also known as the best place in northern Thailand to eat. Restaurants are abundant, serving northern dishes that spice up your day. Sticky rice is commonly used in northern Thai cuisine, while coconut milk is used less often. Sticky rice is often eaten with curry, chili paste, and fresh vegetables, prepared in a variety of delightful ways. Depending on which restaurant you patronize, styles will differ, but most all will be delicious. Khan Toke is one of northern Thailand’s more distinct styles; a variety of small dishes served family style with sticky rice. Some restaurants entertain patrons with traditional dance.

Resources for finding great restaurants
Chiang Mai Restaurants
Restaurants in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai’s River of Restaurants

Another fantastic way to get your fill of delicious Thai food is to visit one of Chiang Mai’s many food markets and stalls. Head to the Chiang Mai city center for a great day of market hopping — here, you’ll find everything you can imagine, and a lot of things you would never have, from flopping fish to wild vegetables to natural remedies made with curious ingredients, and so much more. Produce, fish, meats, chili, snacks, and sweets are easily found, and transformed into a tasty meal. Ready-to-eat food is everywhere too, and super cheap. Travelers to the markets and food stalls can fill up their bellies without emptying their wallets. The markets are also extraordinary people-watching venues, as hundreds of locals and foreigners gather to haggle and chat.

RealTravelers The Cheng Family experienced the colorful energy of a day market in Chiang Mai, saying:

“The day market is very different than the night market because it is geared more to the locals, so the prices are much more set (and cheaper) and virtually no tourists. I think we were the only foreigners there! It was amazing though seeing all of the interesting food throughout the market. I made sure to get pictures of the fried cockroaches and worms, which have yet to try.” (more…)

On the other side of the day, RealTraveler Allthai experienced Chiang Mai’s popular night market. This night market is one of the most touristy markets in the city, with multitudes of travelers commingling around stalls and booths overflowing with intriguing foods and trinkets. Allthai writes:

“When it comes to the open markets of Chiang Mai, most newly arrived foreigners are steered directly either by guidebooks, travel agencies, hotel desk clerks, and even tuk-tuk drivers to the Night Bazaar on Changklan Road between Tha Phae and Loi Kroh Roads. This sizeable market, with a gigantic, well-lit sign in English and surrounded by many familiar food chains of the West, is no doubt most oriented to foreign tourists. It’s here where most Western visitors get their first taste of a traditional Northern Thai shopping experience. Once amongst the tightly packed stalls, visitors very soon become acquainted with the bargaining game.” (more…)

Resources for finding great markets:
Markets in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai Markets
Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai

Learn to cook the local cuisine:

Several RealTravelers wanted to experience the delicious cuisine of Thailand from the other side of the kitchen. Curtis, for example, along with his travel companions, took a Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai where they learned the secrets to culling the proper ingredients into delectable dishes. Here’s what Curtis writes about the experience in his blog, Chiang Mai - Cooking Class:

“Now among the may activities that I would recommend to do in Thailand, one of them would be to partake in a Thai Cooking Class (try to get one with only a small group of people as it makes it that little bit more personal). This was a fun day had by all and for those who are keen home chefs, it helps to clear up any curiosities that one may have about the ingredients used and how they are to be used properly. Besides the usual green curry we partook in creating a Cat fish Salad, Pad Tai noodles, mango salad and fried banana’s for dessert….YUM. By the end of the day we were filled to the brink and had to go for a casual stroll in order to walk down all the food.” (more…)

Fiona and Dave Slater, a traveling duo from London, rolled up their sleeves at the Baan Thai Cookery School, learning to make sweet and savory dishes in a fun atmosphere. They appreciated the small sizes of the groups they worked with, as well as the excellent organization the school showed. They write:

“We booked the Baan Thai Cookery School which turned out to be fantastic. On day one we started by doing some vegetable carving, creating marvels from cucumber, carrot, egg plant, tomato and spring onion! Then it was straight into the cooking- each person making fried noodles, tom yam soup, sweet and sour vegetables, penang curry and sticky rice with mango.

It was very well organized school with all the ingredients ready to be chopped up. All the cooking utensils were clean and we didn’t have to wash up after we’d finished. The group sizes were small with seven of us on the first day and we had a really good laugh during the day preparing and eating all our creations.” (more…)

RealTravelers Kevin and Jo decided to try a different cooking school in Chiang Mai — the Phad Thai Cookery School. One of the highlights of their experience was beginning the day shopping for fresh ingredients from the local market:

“We got a real taste for the Thai Culture in a 1 day Thai cooking school named “Phad Thai Cookery School” we both passed with flying colours and got our own certificate and cook book. The day started with a visit to the local market where many of the fresh ingredients were purchased and then it was off to the school where we cooked 6 Thai favourites and got to eat them all. We finished the day so full we thought we wouldn’t need to eat for about week. ” (more…)

Cooking schools are abundant in Chiang Mai — it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you. You may prefer smaller groups, or picking out the ingredients to your dishes yourself, or having vegetables pre-cut for you or not. Check out the links below for more helpful hints on finding a great cooking class that’ll help you spoil your friends back home with authentic Thai food:

Cooking Schools:
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School
Kaohom Cooking School
Chiang Mai Kitchen Cooking School
Baan Thai Cookery School
A list of Chiang Mai cooking schools

RealTravel Cooking Stories
Thailand, Chiang Mai by Kyle and Dan
Chiang Mai Revisited by Kevin & Jo
Loy Krathong Festival by Globally Speaking
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Cultural Center by Sus and Pete

Whether you want to experience traditional dining in a fancy restaurant, navigate through exciting markets, picking, tasting, and haggling your way toward a great feast, or tie an apron around your waist and learn how to cook delicious Thai food yourself, Chiang Mai is the perfect place to enjoy authentic Thai food in Thailand. For more resources to help you plan a tasty trip to Chiang Mai, visit the links below. And don’t forget to stay tuned this week for more mouthwatering tips on fantastic food destinations around the world.

More Useful Links:
Chiang Mai Travel Guide
Chiang Mai Trips
Chiang Mai Hotel Reviews

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