Between cheap and cheerful and luxury spend, mid-range hotels still pack a punch in Thailand, while giving you all the access you need to the country’s splendour
The “land of smiles” does high-end and low-end brilliantly. Hip hostels and five-star resorts service small wallets and big budgets alike. How about in between? In Thailand there’s a happy medium. Mid-range hotels are packed with amenities – art, spas, swim-up bars – without the price tag of Europe or the Americas.
In terms of destinations, Thailand’s two shining stars are its largest island and its biggest city: Phuket and Bangkok respectively. The country’s most visited places promise keen prices for inimitable cuisine and cultural immersion. Connecting between Phuket and Bangkok via sleeper train or low-cost airline is easy. Which location first? We prefer to begin on the beach.
Phuket combines the best of Thailand’s coast in one petite package. It has approximately 30 golden beaches, such as Freedom beach near the town of Patong, a tranquil banana of sand. It has ethical animal reserves, including Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, where former working elephants are rehabilitated in lush forest. It has epic dive spots, such as Sirinat national park a few miles from Phuket airport, where, in an ecosystem of mushroom coral and black mangroves, leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. This big island is rich in experiences.
