www.arrivalguides.com have produced a great range of free download travel guides for many Asian towns and cities. The following cities are already available and more are being added: Bangkok, Phuket, Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia). They are regularly updated and a great “first-feel” for the places. Enjoy!

You can also check the overviews on the left menu.

Travelling across Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful and culturally rich country that is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. With its tropical climate, ancient temples, friendly locals and breath-taking beaches, Thailand is a great place to travel and explore. Whilst many chose to discover the joys of Thailand as part of a pre-booked package tour, the ease of travel and sheer amount of things to see and do makes Thailand the perfect place to travel independently. For those who wish to forgo the well-worn track of tourist groups and go it alone, there are a variety of ways in which to independently explore the country, including travel by plane, train, and car.

Many of those travelling in Thailand opt to take an internal flight from one part of the country to another. This is a good option for those with a limited amount of time as travel time is significantly shorter than taking a train or car. A short internal flight is also great for those who wish to see particular places that happen to be far apart. Travel by plane may initially seem to be the most expensive option, however if researched and organised properly it can be relatively inexpensive; a flight between Pakse to Siem Reap, for example, can be as little as Ł35.30. Undoubtedly the best thing to do if travelling across Thailand by plane is to purchase a `Discovery Airpass` – a flight coupon deal offered by Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines and Siem Reap Airways. The `Discovery Airpass` works on a coupon system, in which you buy individual flight-coupons that are valid for most of the flights offered by these three airlines. Be careful though, these passes cannot be purchased w ithin Thailand, and so must be organised before you leave!

If you wish to see a little more of the country whilst travelling from place to place, rail travel is a really good option for independent travelers. Travelling by train in Thailand is cheap, comfortable, and much more environmentally friendly than flying. The train system in Thailand is divided into three classes – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. If your budget is a little more flexible then 1st class is the way to go, as it is spacious, air-conditioned and particularly comfortable. Though 1st class is in reality pretty inexpensive, those wishing to save some baht should opt for 2nd class rail travel. 2nd class is popular with backpackers as each carriage accommodates 40 seats that can be converted into beds on overnight trips. Reserving one upper and one lower berth seat also means you`ll be sat across from your travel partner. Lastly, 3rd class travel is fine for short trips, but not advisable for longer or overnight journeys, as seats here tend to be uncomfortable and cannot be reserv ed.

Travelling across Thailand by car is another great way to see the country, and cheap car hire can be found all across the country. Hiring a car is definitely the best way to get off of the beaten track, and also means not being tied to timetables, and being able to stop exactly where you want to. Car hire is also relatively inexpensive, and a car can be hired in Bangkok for 7 days for approximately Ł150. Though there are many advantages to travelling across Thailand by car, this option is definitely best for those who are going to be in the country for at least 3 – 4 weeks, and have the time to explore at a slower pace than that which is offered by air or rail travel.

Map of Thailand