The Best Places to Stay in Thailand for an Unforgettable Trip

POV: You're that friend in charge of making the itinerary and booking accommodations. Little do they know that this is your favourite part, though, because you basically get to customise the trip according to your preference!

But let's be real, picking the best places to stay in Thailand for your vacation is not an easy choice. Why? It's home to so many famous spots and iconic island destinations that just can't be missed! So take a look at this list of five places to consider for your trip before you get to booking.

This bustling capital city is known to be the most visited one not only in Southeast Asia but in the entire world. This is because Bangkok is home to mouthwatering street food and food courts, numerous shopping malls, cultural spots like the Grand Palace, and aesthetically pleasing cafes. You can even rent a car through Klook and embark on a road trip to see more of the city. It's a melting pot of almost everything and anything, so we recommend staying for four to five days here.

For the girlies (and anyone interested in beauty), do check out the EVEANDBOY store; it's Thailand's version of Sephora or Mecca! The ICONSIAM mall along the Chao Phraya River is also a must-visit mall with a floating indoor market.

As for attractions, avail of a fun pass that gives you general entry access to places like Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Afternoon Tea at Erawan Tea Room (Michelin guide 2020), and Safari World to name a few. Don't leave Bangkok without dining at the legendary Michelin-star street-side restaurant by Jay Fai. She's famous for cooking up delicious wok-fried food! If it's one thing you must order, it's the crab omelette.

You won't run out of accommodation options here as you can choose from staying at a boutique or luxury hotel to an affordable hostel. Many of them in the city centre have outdoor swimming pools to cool you down from the city heat, too! Feeling boujee? Check out the five-star Siam Kempinski hotel. They have exceptional service with a golf shuttle that takes you to nearby areas and lush gardens to ground you back to nature. Stay here if you're travelling with your furry friends and are looking for a pet-friendly option. Siam Kempinski is a short walking distance from the nearby BTS station, making it easy to travel around.

This hotel is just a stone's throw away from major malls in Bangkok like Central World, MBK, Gaysorn, Platinum, and Siam Paragon, thanks to the convenient skywalk footbridge access. On the flip side, backpackers have multiple options to choose from when it comes to hostels on Khao San Road.

Fun fact: the second-largest city in Thailand next to Bangkok is Chiang Mai! Northern Thailand is one of the best places to stay in the country if you love learning about the history of ancient ruins, rock climbing, walking up hiking trails, trekking mountains, and being immersed in local culture. Chiang Mai is where you'll find Fah Lanna Spa, the winner of the 2019 World Luxury Spa award, known for their signature traditional Thai massage.

For animal lovers, add the Chiang Mai Night Safari to your list of unique places to go; it's a government natural theme park and the world's third nocturnal zoo. Their night safari tram ride has two zones. The first is the Savanna Safari Zone, where you can see zebras, giraffes, red kangaroos, and other wildlife animals up close, while the Predator Prowl Zone gives you exposure to white tigers, lions, spotted hyaenas, among many others. With that, you can easily spend three days in this beautiful place.

Stay at The Old City, where many of the tourist attractions are located like the oldest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man. 99 The Heritage is a charming boutique hotel that serves as a quiet place to stay in the city centre, with the Wat Phra Singh temple right outside! You don't have to spend a fortune in this province as the cost of living is more affordable than in other cities.

In the evening, go to the vibrant Chiang Mai Night Bazaar located at Chang Klan Road. This lively night market is lined up with stalls selling delicious local food, antiques, clothing, souvenirs, and art pieces. You can also find some vendors selling exotic food like crocodile meat and fried scorpions! And don't worry about finding a good Wi-Fi connection. Because so many travellers like to stay in Chiang Mai long-term, many co-working spaces and cafes have popped up around the city due to demand from digital nomads!

Meet Chiang Mai's sister city! A day trip or two would be enough to explore this much less developed and smaller city known for its temples. One of the most unique ones you must stop by is The Blue Temple! Otherwise known as Wat Rong Suea Ten, which translates to “Temple of the Dancing Tiger”. The blue colour symbolises tranquillity, purity, and healing in Buddhism. Intricate carvings of serpents will greet you as you walk up to the temple entrance. Inside, be astonished by the white Buddha statue made of porcelain, which acts as the highlighted centre piece against the incredible blue interiors.

Another famous temple to visit is The White Temple, Wat Rong Khun. And yes, everything is white! If you go here on a sunny day, you'll see that the structure sparkles under the sunlight because of the glass fragments that were embedded into the white stone used to create the temple. Exploring the city is that much more enjoyable by driving from one tourist attraction to another with your own rented car.

Be at the heart of Chiang Rai when you stay at the amazing city centre near Clock Tower. There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops around the area that are just a short walk away! Less than 500m from the Clock Tower is the Sooknirund Hotel along Thanon Baanpa Pragarn Road. It's a quiet and clean modern hotel with a well-equipped fitness centre, free private parking for those renting a car, and serves up Western and Asian cuisines.

Another recommendation is Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort. This place has great amenities and spacious rooms with a private balcony for those who want a quiet spot to relax. One of the best parts? Chiang Rai International Airport is only a 10-minute taxi ride away! Both accommodations are also near the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar to satisfy those late-night cravings.

Headed to Phuket town? Welcome to one of the most popular island destinations of all time, located on the southwest of the Andaman Sea where you can find the best of both worlds: mountains and beaches! Phuket is actually 70% mountain with plenty of viewpoints where you can have a picturesque panoramic view of the island. Spend three days here to explore the hillier areas and go on adventurous activities, while having ample downtime to sit back and relax at some of the incredible beaches to soak up that much-needed vitamin D. Read this for a guide on the 18 best things to do in Phuket and save up to 42% off on thrilling outdoor adventures, spa appointments, and tours with this Klook pass.

March is the best month to go because it's not as crowded as peak season from November to February, safe from the wet months of May to October, and definitely not as hot as April. However, this is still a famous tourist spot, so don't expect to see too many empty beaches.

If you want tranquil relaxation, living the beach life at Bang Tao Beach is the way. Go ahead and treat yourself to a luxurious resort staycation at Banyan Beach Resort. Image this: private beach resort, private villas, each with its own private swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery nestled around a lagoon—that's a lot of privacy we're talking about here! So, best believe you get to indulge in the luxury of space when staying at this resort.

Then, for those in their young, wild, and free era, head to Patong Beach for that good nightlife vibe. It's shaped like a crescent and has restaurants, bars, cafes, lively entertainment, and even a cinema complex! You can find all kinds of accommodation options with an outdoor swimming pool, from moderate to luxury hotels, hostels, villas, and Airbnbs.

Klook tip: Can't decide between Bangkok or Phuket? It's hard to compare the two since they offer completely different experiences. To help you decide, it will ultimately come to this: Bangkok for the foodies, shopaholics, and first time travellers to Thailand, and Phuket to escape city life, recharge at one of the best pristine beaches or go scuba diving. But if your travel period allows it, we highly recommend going to Bangkok first for four to five days, then ending your Thailand trip by taking a flight to Phuket or any province!

Adrenaline junkies, this one's for you! Krabi Island is an archipelago where every type of adventure awaits from land, sea, forest, and mountain landscapes. These are some of the things daredevils can do on many of the islands that comprise Krabi: climb up limestone cliffs at Railay beach or go zen mode at Namtok Hot Springs, dive at Koh Phi Phi to see the rich marine life and vibrant coral reefs, stand up paddle boarding, island hop around stunning beaches, or go on an ATV excursionaround town.

Just like Phuket, this island is a great destination for admiring the underwater world through snorkelling and diving at Ko Lanta. In total, another three days can be spent in Krabi Island.

Let's settle the debate between staying at Ao Nang or Krabi Town. You can choose to stay in Krabi Town if you're looking for a more laid-back and chill beach life with not much going on. It's an ideal romantic getaway for Honeymooners who want to relish in each other's company.

But for those who came for adventure, staying at Ao Nang as your base is a good move, given that it's the tourist hub of the island and nearer to activities, bars, restaurants, and more. There are many places to stay in this town, whether it be at an affordable to mid-priced hotel for families, a luxury hotel for couples, or a budget-friendly hostel for backpackers. One of the top-rated accommodations in this area is Pinmann Buri, which has eight private pool villas surrounded by greenery. You get free parking, car and bicycle rental, and complimentary transportation to a nearby spa to unwind! Waking up to a good morning with in-villa breakfast service is just the cherry on top.

So this ends our top five recommendations on the best places to stay in Thailand!

With so many tourists from all walks of life travelling to this amazing country, finding a place to book according to your budget is easy, and so is getting around, especially with your Klook fun passes. It's no doubt you'll have a splendid time wherever you choose to go! Just remember to have fun, let your tastebuds savour each bite, be open to new experiences, and respect Thai culture (especially when visiting temples).