วันศุกร์ที่ 30 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Activities For Women Travelers - Phuket is For All!

Phuket, famous for its beaches and nightlife, is known for driving a large number of men looking for a visit to the a go go bars, beer bars and discotheques packed with young and single Thai ladies. Is a woman traveling alone in Phuket have her place? There are definitely many activities to enjoy for foreign ladies on the island.

There are plenty of cheap and fun activities to do for women traveling alone in Phuket. Finding new friends among other travelers is easy, as well as meeting Thai ladies who will enjoy chatting to practice their English. This can be a good way to learn more about Thai culture and the country. A young sexy female traveler will certainly get the interest of Thai men, but without them being too invasive.

The first thing that a woman will enjoy in the island is the numerous beaches available. From a small nearly private beach where sun bathing can be enjoyed to more busy beaches like in Patong, there is somewhere to go. Foreign ladies must know that sunbathing topless is very impolite and shocking in Thai culture and must not be done publicly.

In addition to the beach, where a cheap Thai massage can be enjoyed, pampering is available at many SPAs that can offer a wide range of services. Some of them provide hydrotherapy, sauna, Shiatsu massage and skin treatment sessions by qualified practitioners in a setting with a great view on the sea.

Wellness programs are also available, generally combined with SPA sessions. On the menu are weight loss and diet programs, fitness, and also alternative methods like meditation and tai chi. Women only groups offer other activities like for example, Nia dance, reiki, yoga and Shiatsu.

Shopping is another activity that women visiting Phuket will enjoy as there is a wide range of quality colorful clothes and accessories on sale in shopping malls, but also markets. All items are priced very competitively in comparison to Europe or the USA, so it is without doubts a good time to add extra luggage when living the country.

A must do in Phuket is sightseeing and there are many tour agencies that have joined excursions available in small groups to the many attractions in and around Phuket island. Renting a motorcycle or a car is possible for those who want more freedom and stay alone. Sport activities like mountain biking, sea kayaking, snorkeling, diving or motorcycling are good options.

Patong is famous for its active nightlife that all men will like. But is there a place in Phuket where women can go? In addition to the a go-go bars, where women can also have drink, there are several pubs and discotheques where the night can be enjoyed. For those who do not want to be alone, there are certainly plenty of opportunities to make new friends.

There is without question a place for foreign women in Phuket, which is not only for men, as anywhere else in Thailand.




Michel Gerard is a Travel author living in Asia. Visit the Guest House Phuket website to book your hotel room online and get a *free* eBook: "Stories of Authentic Eco-adventure Destinations for Travelers in Thailand" => http://www.guesthousephuket.com/ebook.html

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 29 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

A Tropical Island Vacation With Great Nightlife

Some people might look for complete solitude during a tropical island vacation to get away from it all, but no matter how blissful beach holidays can be, some long for great night life as well.

For those of you who wish to go to an island where there are also some exciting night life activities, check out this list of 5 of the world's top tropical destinations where you can sunbathe by day and party by night.

Ibiza, Spain

This is The Place to go for the best night life and party scenes. From its bars, to its clubs, to its fun-loving people, Ibiza has long been the world's best destination for parties and more parties.

So what do you do in Ibiza? First, remember that there's always something new going on. So know first what's hot for the day or the week you're visiting and make sure you make the best of any event in town.

If you'd rather not do this research and prefer to be spontaneous, then just go to any of its many clubs and you're practically guaranteed a great night out.

True to almost every night hangout in Spain, life doesn't really start until the bell strikes 12! So make sure you get a siesta in because with everything that Ibiza offers, that's about the only sleep you'll get!

Phuket Thailand

The exotic splendors of Bangkok's palaces may not grace Phuket, but if you want to be by the beach all day and party all night in Siam, then Phuket is a great place to be.

For those who really want to party, Patong is where the island's bars, clubs and discotheques are. If you've got the kids with you, you might also want to visit Phuket Fantasea on Kamala Beach, which is the islands version of a festival and cultural event -a place to sample Thai theater, eat great Thai food, play games, and go shopping.

On the other hand, if you want to go some place a bit tamer, Karon Beach is an excellent place for restaurants with some good food and great cocktails . And if you want a classier and MUCH quieter ambiance, go to Bangtao bay.

Negril, Jamaica

Relieve the lifestyle of the 60's as well as immerse yourself in exotic Jamaican culture when you go for a tropical island vacation in Negril.

Night activities in Negril are really laid-back island living but fun. There are usually no schedules, no fixed time, no fixed place. You literally just have to follow the music and that's where the action is going to be for the night--a night of dancing, reggae appreciation, drinking and great conversations.

Sydney, Australia

If you want the feel of a big cosmopolitan city at night yet be lounging on the beach by day, we recommend a tropical island vacation in Sydney where you'll never run out of things to do.

For a bit of the arts and a wonderful experience know what shows are on in the Sydney Opera House Theater. Or if you go there in the summer, the acclaimed Sydney Festival is one cultural event not to be missed.

For a bit of local lifestyle on the other hand, check out the bars and clubs that locals frequent. There are many tour companies that offer night tours for this purpose which you might want to take part in if you want to know Sydney's secret night hideaways.

Nassau, Bahamas

This is a popular destination for night revelers and it's very easy to see why---Nassau could easily be described as the Caribbean's nightlife capital.

There are first of all, the casinos that thrill-seekers frequent. These casinos come with all the fun and excitement that even people who do not play will find very interesting.

Then there are the discotheques and clubs where you can experience the Bahamians love for life and fun on the dance floor. There are also cultural shows for those who want something a bit more sedate.

A tropical island vacation in Nassau will undoubtedly give you 24 hours of fun on your island holidays in the Caribbean.




Aimee C. Barnard lives for tropical holidays under the sun. To read more about her travel experiences and island getaway tips, go to http://www.tropical-island-vacation.net/index.html

วันอังคารที่ 27 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Phuket Kata Beach - A General Guide

Golden sands and well-developed tourist infrastructure lure travelers to Phuket Kata beach. Due to its immense popularity, Kata beach is always bustling, even during off-season. However, the beach area is big enough to accommodate the inflowing tourists.

The beach assumes diverse appearances with the two monsoons. While during northeast monsoon, it is calm and safe, the southwest monsoon turns it a trifle dangerous. However, for surfers who want to try their skills on a rough sea, this beach offers the perfect condition. The beach is the venue of the famous sailing event, King's Cup Regatta, held every December.

Phuket Kata beach has something to offer everyone. Whether you want to laze around or engage in activities, the beach provides a wide range of options. The shaded part of the beach with trees abound is perfect for tying hammocks. Thai massage is very popular with tourists visiting the beach.

The beach area has many eateries serving various cuisines, but seafood and Thai food are the most preferred. It is possible to eat even while sunbathing, as vendors bring in variety snacks including pizzas and sandwiches.

Kata beach has facilities for almost all water sports. Kayaking, windsurfing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, surfing, snorkeling - you name it they have it. Banana boat and Hobie Cats are there for the adventure sports enthusiasts. Parasailing is also popular here. The equipments for these activities are available for hire in the beach area.

Other beach activities seen in the beach are beach volleyball and beach soccer. Kata beach is also famous for the knickknacks sold by the vendors. However, bargaining is essential to get a good price.

Sandwiched between the equally famous Patong beach on the north and Karon beach on the south, Phuket Kata beach is famous for its shallow beach area and variety of water sports facilities. Presence of ample accommodation, restaurants and nightlife makes it a tourist's delight.




Paisit Kapilakan owns and operates the website My Phuket Holiday that provides more than just information and reservation for hotels in Thailand. My Phuket Holiday offers a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phuket, Thailand and the best discount for hotel reservations in Thailand including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang mai, Hua Hin and Phuket. For more information on Phuket Kata beach, visit http://www.myphuketholiday.com and avail this fabulous offer.

วันเสาร์ที่ 24 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Thailand Check-In - Important Checklist You Need to Know Before Departing to Thailand

A Thailand checklist is a guide for any travelers to prepare themselves before landing in Thailand, the land of smiles.

Getting There

There are several ways to arrive to this country depending on where you come from.

By air: The main airport of Thailand is in Bangkok called Suvarnabhumi International Airport. However, there are many other airports in every region around Thailand in order for travelers to connect to all parts of the country such as in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi. A little trick is that as there is a high competition in domestic flight market, travelers should compare the air fares from more than one source before booking. Also, be careful with the initial price offered as there could be a large amount of extra taxes and surcharges applied in the further booking steps. So, make sure, you continue the booking process until the final total price is shown. The popular airlines for domestic flights are Thailand Airways, Bangkok Air, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air and Air Asia.

By train: If tourists travel from Malaysia, a train is another option to enter Thailand. Moreover, as the railway connects to every part of the country, if tourists do not mind spending a little more time on transportation, this is another option to travel around the country and enjoy scenery of Thailand.

By ship: This way is becoming more popular nowadays. There is the cruise line heading to South East Asia route, including visiting Thailand. The recommended 5-star service cruise is Costa Cruises.

Checklist before Thailand check in

1. Seek for some basic information
After choosing the transportation to enter the country, learning some basic information is always a wise idea to do before your arrival. Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT is always a trusted and valuable source to seek for any information about the country. The main channel to connect to TAT is through its website. In addition, even when you have arrived to the country there are many branches of TAT around Thailand to serve tourists, starting from the one at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

2. Vaccinations preparation
In term of health preparation, vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, polio, rabies, typhoid and tuberculosis are advised but not necessary. If you plan to get into jungles around the border areas (connected to Cambodia, Burma and Lao), Malaria vaccination is also recommended.

3. Entry document check for Thailand Check in
For Visa, the regulations for visa can be changed without notice so when planning to visit Thailand, make sure to re-check with the Thai embassy before departing. For passport, it must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive Thailand.

4. Prepare some money and know its currency
About currency, currency used in Thailand is Thai Baht. Its money includes both coins and notes, starting from "satang" coins, 100 satangs equal to 1 baht, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht coins. For bank notes are 1,000 baht, 500 baht, 100 baht, 50 baht and 20 baht notes. One recommendation is that do not keep the large-denomination bank notes such as 1,000 or 500 notes or try change them to the smaller ones as street vendors or taxis don't usually have large amount of changes. Exchange counters are also scattered around the country especially in tourist places. It is highly recommended to exchange your money at these bank counters rather than at hotels as the rate from the latter one would be more expensive. Besides cash, it is also a wise idea to bring cards with you as ATM machines are widely available everywhere around Thailand. Credit card is also accepted in many places however make sure you keep an eye on who handling your cards to avoid any cheating practices such as copying your card codes.

5. Clothes to match with the climate
The usual weather in Thailand is hot. There is a Thai joke that Thailand has 3 seasons: hot, hotter and hottest. As a result, clothes to be used in this country should be something light with short sleeves. However, trousers or a long skirt are something you should also bring at least one as some tourist attractions such as temples will not allow people with shorts or singlet to get in. Some winter clothes may be needed only if you plan to go up the hills in the northern part or north eastern part of the country during winter time, otherwise, they will be quite useless for your trip. To make sure with this, it is highly recommend travelers to check the weather forecast again before their departure.

6. Baggage check
To make your Thailand check in smoother, check the allowance of your baggage properly and make sure your bags are not overloaded. The baggage allowance is up to the airline policy so check this in your booking that issued by the airline.

After all the lists have been checked, you will be quite ready for checking in to Thailand. The final suggestion is that always find the promotional prices in advance for any services you are going to use in Thailand such as accommodations, transportation, limousines, spas or other activities. Many services are often offered great deals for advance booking.




You may check further information or promotions for any destinations in Thailand here.

วันอังคารที่ 20 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Health Insurance is a Must

Health insurance is one of the most important forms of insurance. The basic concept behind health insurance is that it is a common pool of funds created by people so that the medical expenses of a few can be paid. It also provides coverage for disability and routine preventive care measures also besides long term nursing. The insurance may be offered through a private insurance company or a government sponsored social insurance. It is purchased either by an individual consumer or by a group of people. Individuals and the groups protect themselves from unexpected medical expenses and exorbitant charges of doctors and also avoid taxes by paying premium for its.

Through the program of social welfare which is financed by government, some of the advantages are paid medical expenses. When the overall expenses of health care is estimated, ensuring that to pay for the benefits of health care which is specified in the agreement of insurance, a fixed routine structure of finance can be easily developed. The advantage is managed by a central organization such as a non-profit company, government agency and a private business. This is what, it is all about. "Health plan" term is used by HMOs while "health insurance" term is used by the companies of commercial insurance.

Offered through a Point of Service Plans, HMOs and a Preferred Provider Organization, a health plan can also refer to an arrangement of subscription based medical care. These plans are like pre-paid vision plans, prepaid dental and a prepaid legal plan. For a fixed number of services like a fixed number of spinal manipulation charges or a fixed number of home health visits, these prepaid health plans are paid for in advance. It is extremely beneficial to have a health insurance as by paying small premiums one can get all medical expenses paid for by the insurance company.




More reading: must health insurance
Related Reading: advantage health insurance

วันศุกร์ที่ 16 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Phuket Land Types And Titles - Lesser Phuket Land Titles

There are many different types of land titles in Thailand. This article will cover some of the land titles I have seen and know about here in Phuket while dealing with real estate here over the last seven years.

Sor Kor 1

A Sor Kor 1 was used a long time ago but still exists today in many places in Phuket and it Thailand. This type of title gives you the right to farm the land but not sell the land. It's very much like a right to use the land. I've heard this sometimes is also known at the possession right to use the land. Be careful buying land near this kind of land as it delays the Chanote making process by several months as I learned before because you need to get it approved by another local government office.

Por Bor Tor 5

Por Bor Tor 5 land is generally farm land or agricultural land and listing as having no owner at the local office. This kind of land has been built on in the past. It's very common here on the island here and around Phuket. The village chief is usually the one who administers and controls this land.

Por Bor Tor 6

Por Bor Tor 6 land is the documentation in order for the tax number to be given for a piece of land. This only shows the land is taxable and has nothing to do with ownership rights.

Sor Por Kor 4-01

Sor Por Kor 4-01 is land that was allotted by the land department reform committee. The idea was so poor people could have land. This land can be passed down to only direct heirs and the title cannot be bought or sold.

Next part I will review some of the greater land titles in Thailand and show some photo examples. I have seen some of the above documentation but I didn't photo copy at the time. All these land title exist in Phuket real estate market. The smart investor will want to buy land that has an upgraded title to Chanote status.




Scott Riefler is an expert in dealing with Phuket Real Estate and finance related matters. He has written several informative articles on topics like mortgage, home refinancing, real estate loans and real estate insurance. He regularly contributes articles to web guides on real estate and home refinancing.
You can sign up for my newsletter at: Phuket apartments newsletter

More get more information about investing in Phuket at:
Phuket apartments

วันอังคารที่ 13 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Excellent Places to Explore in Thailand

Many travel destinations in Thailand are highly suitable if you are planning to have a quality vacation trip in an exotic land. Several wonderful Thai islands would definitely fit your getaway requirements as well as popular tourist attractions to satisfy your adventurous spirit. The northern part of the country is an excellent spot for nature trekking with its magnificent scenes of mountains and different types of animals and plants inhabiting the region. Travelers who want to have a relaxing sun bathing experience can go to a beach holiday in the shores of Phuket, Hua Hin, Koh Samui or Pattaya. You may find hotel accommodations available in the region specifically placed to cater the needs of the visitors. Thailand is complete with exciting places to visit. You may want to check out some websites on the Internet to determine which of the tourist destinations are fitting to your vacation preferences.

As the capital of the country, Bangkok thrives with famous tourist spots such as the well-preserved Buddhist temples. Almost all visitors traveling to Thailand spend some of their vacation days staying in Bangkok. Even though the air pollution and bad traffic situation in the vicinity could not be very pleasing to its tourists, the place still receives an excellent number of visitors for its spectacular shopping district as well as the famous floating markets.

Phuket is also one of the major places that tourists are aiming to go on a vacation. In fact, this largest island in Thailand has attracted many visitors to spend their summer getaway on its wide variety of beach resorts. The white sand beaches of Phuket have been some of the most sought places to go in order to experience a revitalizing beach experience. Phuket not only has great shores but also has excellent nightlife. Visitors coming to Thailand never fail to notice the liveliness of Phuket bars as wells as the entertainment provided by tourist attractions such as the Phuket Fantasea Show and Simon Cabaret Show.

Aside from Phuket, there are other alternatives for beach resorts in Thailand such as Pattaya and Samui. Pattaya is the closest beach area to central Bangkok, which makes it the most accessible summer place for Bangkok residents and visitors. Even though its beaches are not as excellent as the beaches of Samui and Phuket, visitors visit the location for its active nightlife. For tourists who want to have a great night party experience, the beer bars and other Pattaya nightlife places provide a lively environment for partygoers to try out. Moreover, Samui is another great place to find excellent beach areas. You may even want to try participating on several beach activities such as water sports and boat rides. The most popular beaches to discover in this region include Lamai Beach, Big Buddha Beach and Chaweng Beach.

Moreover, you may also want to have an adventurous hike on the mountains of Chiang Mai. You may want to explore the culture of Thai tribes as well as participating in exciting events such as rafting and elephant riding. If you want to have a great time on your visit to Chiang Mai, make sure you schedule your travel with the Song Kran or Thailand's New Year celebration. It is one of the best times to go there.

Thailand has a lot of wonderful places to see and things to do. Make sure you visit the country and spend ample time roaming it to really maximize your trip there.




Matthew Kepnes runs a travel blog and has been writing about budget and long term travel for three years. For more information about things to do in Thailand, be sure to check out his website.