Thailand - A Cheap Travel Destination That Delivers

Fuel prices are up and the economy is down this year. That makes getting the most bang out of your travel buck important. Thailand represents a fascinating and excellent travel destination that is also an incredible deal.

Known as the land of smiles, Thailand is one of those truly unique Southeast Asian countries that boogle the mind. From the warm beaches of the southern coast to the mountain palace of the King in Chang Mai in the north, there is a lot to see and do. Best of all, you can do it all for one of the lowest travel costs in the world.

In the late 1990s, the Asian economies were absolutely crushed over a one year period. Part and parcel to this disaster was the loss of currency value. Much like the dollar is falling now, the Thai "Baht" suffered. Instead of a down period, however, it fell like a rock dropped from a plane and hasn't really come back.

Put simply, this currency issue has made Thailand a cheap, cheap place. Your biggest expense will be the flight. It can run $650 round trip at a minimum. It should also be noted that the flight is very long if you are coming from North America. A flight from Los Angeles can easily take 24 hours or more.

Once in Thailand, the good news is you'll be getting a lot for your dollar. Yes, even now. You can always go nuts in any location, but I'll assume you are going to be reasonable. A good, fresh meal will set you back $2 to $5 and be a lot less if you avoid the touristy areas.

There is one meal item that is expensive - beer. You can expect to pay $2 to $3 per bottle. It isn't outrageous, but it seems like it after you are conditioned to the cheap food.

Getting around is also incredibly cheap. Trains are popular, but also packed. One of the secrets of Thailand is the domestic airline industry. Simply put, it is excellent and cheap. I've splurged on flights from Bangkok to Chang Mai in the north of the country and spend a whopping $38 for a one way ticket. Traveling on trains is great, but you also lose a lot of time. Cheap domestic flights are a good way to avoid this.

Thailand is definitely a great destination for those that want to maximize their experience on a minimum of expense. There are the usual high priced tourist areas, but even a small effort to avoid them can result in a trip that is cheaper than you could ever imagine.

What to Expect From a Trip to Mae Phim, Thailand

You can get to the beach resort of Mae Phim easily from central Bangkok - it is less than two hours away. The nearby city of Pattaya attracts more tourists than Mae Phim, but the latter is more relaxed and more authentically Thai. Do not be fooled into thinking that because it is less crowded means that it has less to offer - far from it. It is an up and coming destination, which has only really tried to attract foreign tourists in the past few years. Affluent Thais have been visiting there for a long time, as they have been all to aware of what it has to offer. These days, you will find accommodation, attractions and beaches there to rival the best anywhere in Thailand.

Its wonderful beaches, with white sand and clear blue water. Though such beaches are not uncommon in Thailand, what makes the ones in Mae Phim different is the fact that they still remain totally unspoiled. The local tourism authority highly values it beaches and places the cleanliness of them at the top of its list of priorities. As for accommodation options, you will not be disappointed. From simple guest-houses to luxurious hotels, there is something for everyone in Mae Phim. The most popular option though is a vacation rental home, whereby someone who owns a property there rents it out to tourists when they are not living in it themselves. Several bedrooms, private swimming pools and landscaped gardens are all commonplace.

Having first arrived, and unpacked your bags, you might like to take a walk around central Mae Phim, to soak up the atmosphere and ambience. It is pleasingly modern, but is still charming and authentic. You will find all of the amenities that you would expect from a first class tourist destination, but rather than dominating the area, they sit in harmony with the traditional Thai aspects of the town. The food is wonderful, the bars are great for sipping cocktails in as the sun comes down, and the shops are perfect for picking up unique souvenirs for your friends back home. What you find there will feel comfortably familiar, but with a new twist - one which will see you joining the many tourists who make a vacation in Mae Phim an annual event.

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mandarin Oriental Hotels are among the world's largest and most popular group of luxury five-star resorts. They have a few widely popular locations around the globe, and their hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand is certainly one of the nicest. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Dhara Dhevi is much more than your average vacation hot spot. It takes up 60 acres in Chiang Mai and every inch is high detailed.

The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi claims to have built a self-contained world of beauty. The entire landscape is more like a small town than simply an average resort. You'll find the main hotel buildings, paddy fields, sprawling plantations and the surrounding mountain scenery almost too much to take in.

Mandarin Oriental Hotels offer guests a cultural experience specific to the resort's location. For Chiang Mai's resort, the Mandarin was designed to be a tribute to the traditional Lanna architecture of the area. Along with many antiques from Thailand and cuisine from some of the best chefs around, guests at Dhara Dhevi get to experience a little bit of what life was like in the area in past centuries. The only difference being, of course, everyone visiting is treated like royalty.

This large resort offers a wide range of accommodation. Not only do they have suites in the main hotel, but Dhara Dhevi also has separate villas available and even private residences. The residences are the crème de la crème of the Mandarin experience. They're as luxurious as a hotel can get in terms of privacy, size, service and amenities.

The private two-floor villas are also very upscale. Some villas offer private outdoor plunge pools and large terraces. The colonial-style suites are the actual rooms within the hotel. They're nothing to sneeze at, however, and still offer ample space and luxury. Every room at the Mandarin is spacious, well designed and features large bathrooms, separate sitting areas and one-of-a-kind views of the surrounding scenery.

When guests come to the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, they come with a sense of what's available. The lavishness of the five-star hotel accommodation is a big draw, of course, but the spa treatments and dining options are equally enticing to all comers.

The Dhara Dhevi spa offers an extensive range of holistic therapy, including many wellness programs, healing treatments, sensory and heat treatments, and much more. The spa wasn't designed by haughty architects looking to impress visitors. It was designed by health specialists who knew what was needed for holistic practices.

The dining at Dhara Dhevi is set up like the food court in a mall. Most restaurants are located within the same area (with the exception of private dining and bars), so guests are free to choose from any eatery. You'll find places to eat like Fujian, Farang Ses, Akaligo, the Oriental Shop, Loy Kham Bar, Horn Bar, and more. Most of the cuisine is either authentic Thai or Mediterranean.

Overall, the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is the most impressive resort in Thailand and one of the best in the Mandarin group. It's extremely expensive, but it's a genuine five-star experience.