Top Travel Books about Thailand
When you’re heading on holiday to a new destination like Thailand part of the process before arriving is to research the area you’re heading to, to see what places of interest you want to visit, how to get around via transport, the different types of food on offer and any cultural differences. Nowadays a lot of people just get on Google and search to find out all the answers needed and Google is great for that, but sometimes you can’t beat a good book.
All the information is there which you dip in and out of it whenever you need it, without worrying if you have a wifi connection or not. Go to your local bookstore and head to the travel section where will find a good selection of Thailand travel books, but which ones to choose? Below are some top picks to help you on your way…
Lonely Planet Thailand
Lonely Planet has become the world’s leading experts on travel guides, head to any book shop and there will always be a large selection of Lonely Planet travel guides. Lonely Planet Thailand provides you with the most up-to-date and relevant information to prepare for your trip to Thailand. They give you tips on where to go and where not to go plus some off the beaten path places that not all tourists make it to. A very popular feature included in the guide are the detailed maps, easy to read and follow with each being marked with the top hotspots of that particular area or city. The restaurant and hotel recommendations are good but not always suitable for every type of traveller, so it’s definitely worth doing extra research.
Overall the Lonely Planet guide books are a great source of information for any potential visitor, easy to read and follow you can see why they are so popular. But there are other guide books available and are worth considering.
Rough Guide to Thailand
An alternative to Lonely Planet is the Rough Guide to Thailand guide book. 800 pages long the guide is full interesting and readable information on all things Thailand. The Rough Guide productions tend to be less colourful than its opposition instead providing the facts and information you need in a well designed and presented way.
Useful, detailed maps are included and pictures used when needed but not continuously used throughout the guide. Overall if you aren’t a fan of Lonely Planet or looking for a guide which gets straight to the point then Rough Guide to Thailand is the book for you.
Thailand’s Best Street Food
If you’re heading to Thailand and are interested in the different types of street food and tips on ordering then this is the ideal book for you. Thai street food is known worldwide from the staple Pad Thai to the unique fried insects, the book is full of colourful photos and great recipes allowing you to recreate your favourite dish on the return home.
Also Included in the book you will find listings with maps and directions on where to locate certain stalls, making it easier to pick out your favourite dish and head straight to the stall of choice. This book is a must have for any foodies and travellers interested in learning more about the famous Thai Street food.
Diving & Snorkelling Guide to Thailand
Thailand is on of the cheapest places in the world to learn how to dive, with the majority of visitors heading to the small island of Koh Tao to get their PADI certification and dive the wealth of sites surrounding the islands. But it’s not just Koh Tao where the diving is great, dives sites are found throughout the waters of Thailand and this guide features the majority of them.
The book provides great insight to each dive site, giving details on how to get there, expected diving conditions and details of the marine fauna and flora expected to be seen. A great guide for any budding or experienced diver heading to Thailand.
Thailand – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Thailand Culture Smart is a comprehensive guide on surviving the cultural differences you will experience while visiting Thailand. The book provides some helpful insights into the culture and society of Thailand, from customs, values and traditions to the do’s, don’t’s and taboos.
The information found in this book will help you serve any potential embarrassing mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations and turn your visit to Thailand into an enriching experience.
Great article, thanks for the tips! Also known as the land of smiles, Thailand is a fascinating place to visit. However, there are also quite a number of crooks who target tourists in the country.
Do be wary of the grand palace/place is closed scam, jet ski scam, tailor scam, gem scam, bar/café scam, sombondee seafood market scam, patpong sex show scam, tuk tuk scam, gang at hua lamphong train station scam and many more!