Once again it has been shown that holidays to Thailand are the best in Asia, not only for backpackers but for family holidays and couples also. So now regardless if you are traveling on a budget or tourists who want to have a luxury experience a holiday in Thailand will be the best on offer from all the Asian countries.

TripAdvisor recently conducted an online survey of its 9 million members and the Travelers’ Choice Awards 2009 were announced, Thailand topped many of the available categories.

Layana Resort & Spa, Ko Lanta proved to be the best luxury in Asia while Peninsula Bangkok, Bangkok and Tongsai Bay Cottages & Hotel, Koh Samui were successful to be on 3rd and 5th position in the same category. Layana Resort & Spa did not only top the Asia list but also got 2nd place in the “Top 100 Best Luxury in the world”.

One of the most important categories, for me and my family anyway, was the “Top 10 Best for families in Asia”. Thailand took 2 spots  with the Merlin Beach Resort, Patong taking 3rd place and Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Karon grabbing 5th. I must confess I’ve never been to either of these hotels with my family but from others I have spoken to my vote would be for Le Meridien, The Merlin Beach Resort may be a better hotel, I’ve just never heard anyone talk about it.

Another category I was  interested in was the “Top 10 Best Hidden Gems in Asia”. Surprisingly Thailand took the top 3 spots. The Oriental Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi, took the number one spot with  Rimping Village Hotel, Chiang Mai grabbing 2nd and LaLaanta Hideaway Resort, Ko Lanta 3rd.

There were other categories in which hotels in Thailand took either 1st or 2nd place, categories such as “Top 10 Best Bargains” and “Top 10 Best for Romance” I’ve listed each category below in which a hotel in Thailand was in the top 10.

Best Bargain Hotels in Asia

1. Oriental Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

6. The Waterfront Bophut, Koh Samui, Thailand

7. Rimping Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Best Hotels for families in Asia

3. Merlin Beach Resort, Patong, Thailand

5. Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Karon, Thailand

6. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Mai Khao, Thailand

7. Laguna Beach Resort, Thalang, Thailand

9. Rimping Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Best Hidden Gems in Asia

1. Oriental Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

2. Rimping Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. LaLaanta Hideaway Resort, Ko Lanta, Thailand

8. Rabbit Resort,Pattaya, Thailand

9. The Waterfront Bophut, Koh Samui, Thailand

Best Hotel for Romance in Asia

2. SALA Samui Resort and Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand

3. Tongsai Bay Cottages & Hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand

5. The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort, Krabi, Thailand

6. Layana Resort and Spa, Ko Lanta, Thailand

Best Luxury Hotel in Asia

1. Layana Resort and Spa, Ko Lanta, Thailand

3. Peninsula Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

5. Tongsai Bay Cottages & Hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand

I hope these give you some suggestion for your next holiday to Thailand, I know for a fact I’ll be visiting the Oriental Kwai Resort in Kanchanaburi. This is a great part of Thailand that is not visited enough by tourists, but with wonderful rain forests, white water rapids and so much more to do it reminds me a lot of Chiang Mai but without the added hype.

Do you have a favorite hotel or location or maybe a gem of a beach that others on holiday to Thailand may like to visit? Then just leave a comment with a link to the webpage that shows us the best parts of Thailand, according to you.

If your lucky enough to be on holiday in Thailand between November 8th-12th 2008, you should make sure your hotel is somewhere near a river or beach or at least some body of water for this is the time of Thailand’s most beautiful festival, Loy Krathong. Almost every river, canal, beach front and night-sky will all be glowing with the water offerings and paper lanterns released during these few days, but the main event will occur on the 12th.

Loy Krathong began in the northern province of Sukhothai during the reign of Thai King Rama IV in 1863, and is now one of the most popular Thai celebrations and is celebrated throughout Thailand every year. The raft is decorated with elaborately folded banana leaves (a Krathong-small raft made of banana tree leaves), flowers, candles, and incense sticks. The incense and candles are lit and the Kratong is pushed out onto the water in a symbolic act of letting go of one’s bad luck. The term Loi, or Loy, means “float” and this is what is happening to your bad luck, it floats away.

Each province in Thailand celebrates their own versions of Loy Krathong and the Government offices hold big events to celebrate the full moon buring this time. Chiang Mai’s skyline lights up as the capital of the north celebrates with Yi Peng Lantern balloons released. These lanterns float into the night’s sky fuelled by only a small candle inside. Ayutthaya, just north of Bangkok, holds Krathong contests and puts on a re-enactment of an ancient Loy Krathong festival, and in contrast to these cultural performances they hold a Miss Noppamas beauty contest. As can be imagined the best place to watch the celebrations of Loy Krathong would probably be Bangkok were all the waterways, including the great Chao Praya River, have small and large Krathongs reflecting of the waters surface as the night-sky’s are filled with fireworks.

Hotel	Name/Location	Class	Price
	The Imperial Mae Ping Hotel Chiang Mai		26 GBP
	Ambassador Hotel Bangkok		26 GBP
	Deevana Patong Resort & Spa Phuket		19 GBP

The actual act of these rafts floating also has some other important means to people, besides letting go of your bad luck. For many Thais the Krathong is a way to thank the goddess of water, Phra Mae Kongka, for allowing them to use the water from rivers and canals all year long. For romantic couples the Krathong is floated out and should stay upright until it has left their sight, this is a symbol their love will last forever.

The biggest advantage for anyone on holiday in Thailand during this time is that this festival is one in which both Thais and tourists can participate. In fact local Thai people actively get tourists to purchase and float their own Krathong. This is a wonderful time to get to know many new Thai friends and is a great way to break the ice. Start asking about what Loy Krathong means to them and many Thais will be happy to share their thoughts about this wonderful festival.

With the world in the grip of a credit crunch that doesn’t seem to be letting up for a while many people are putting off the luxury items, like their holidays. If you look at Thailand as your annual break, like me and my family, you will know that it’s not cheap to get out there and stay for 14 nights in the high season, but there are ways to avoid losing your holidays to Thailand totally.

Unlike the UK many, if not all, hotels in Thailand reduce their rates throughout the year. The period between mid December and the first week in January is the peak season when room rates can double and almost treble in price. You may also find that you’re expected to stump up for a Christmas or New Year gala dinner if your holidays to Thailand coincide with this time of year. In contrast though, if you were to visit the same hotel during the ‘Green Season’ you would be shocked at the discounts that are offered during this period.

What is the green season?
This is the time of year during which Thailand receives most of its rainfall. Traditionally the Songkran water festival is the celebration to start this rainy season but in reality the rains don’t come for a few weeks more. When they do arrive the surrounding landscape becomes very lush and green as the plants and trees begin to grow after the long dry period. It’s the greener of these plants that have given this period it nickname, the ‘Green Season’.

When is the green season?
In general the green season occurs during the UK’s summer time but each region of Thailand will have its own set time for the green season. The majority of holiday destinations in Thailand will reduce their prices between 1st May and the 1st November but there are some exceptions to this.

Koh Samui for example does not share the same weather patterns to Phuket and as such don’t have the same rainy season. The low (green) season on Koh Samui is mid September to mid December, but in Phuket the low season is between the end of May and the end of October.

What will the weather in Thailand be like during the green season?
Depending on where you chose for your holidays to Thailand you will most like see some rain during the green season but how much rain will depend on your location and when you are there. Not so long ago I can remember the dry season lasting well into May and June but those arriving for their holidays in Thailand during November to Ao Nang, Krabi, caught the end of the rainy season. You should always remember that you are dealing with the weather and it is often unpredictable.

How much can I save during the green season?
I’m not getting into the price of flights to Thailand from the UK or which airline is best. If you choose to arrive in Thailand during the green season you will most probably save some money on the cost of your flights. Finding cheap hotels in Thailand during the green season is really easy for most locations but you should know that the savings will not be great from hotels in Bangkok. I will provide the cost of a double room for the 3 seasons that most holiday destinations share, the low, high and peak season.

In Phuket the Deevana Patong Resort & Spa Phuket will cost 2085 baht in the low season 3108 baht in the high season 4274 baht in the peak season.

In Bangkok the Majestic Grande Hotel Bangkok will cost you 3700 baht in the low season and 3800 baht in the high season. Although not a great saving there is also no increase for the peak season. So if you plan to be on holiday in Thailand around the Christmas and New Year time you should consider being in Bangkok around this time. Be warned however it does get busy and rooms book out fast.

In Chaing Mai the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel cost 2200 baht in the low season and 2900 baht in the high season but during the peak season the cost goes up to a whopping 9000 baht! Obviously this includes the compulsory gala dinner dances but from the few I’ve been to you are best to try and organise your own entertainment. I feel I should add another warning here and say that if you do decide to organise your own celebrations while on holiday to Thailand don’t expect too much to be available when you get there. For families it may be best to stick with the hotel organised entertainment, this will save a lot of trouble for you.

The hotels I’ve listed here are for illustrative purposes and if you search around the internet you may find different prices offered. If you look on the right side of this page you should see a search function that allows you to look for all hotels for your holiday to Thailand.

So just to recap! The green season is the wet season and varies across Thailand but in general it’s around the same time as the summer in UK. If you time things right you can save a lot of cash on your hotel booking. Other services will also be reduced during the green season such as tours, car rentals, internal flights etc. If there is no reduction you could always ask for a discount! Everyone is looking for customers during this quite period so why not plan your holidays to Thailand around the green season and save yourself some cash.