Koh Hong beach, limestone cliffs and turquoise water, Krabi

Thailand, Actually

Not just where to go. What to know before you book.

A personal guide to Thailand, with first-hand experiences, our own photos and information you won't always find on booking sites or in travel guides.

Because sometimes it's the small details you didn't know to check that make the difference between a wonderful holiday and a frustrating one.

Find your destination

Why Thailand, Actually?

Some things you only discover once you arrive. We want you to know them before.

A hotel with no restaurants nearby

A hotel can look perfect in the photos, but what if, in the evening, the only place to eat is the hotel's expensive restaurant?

A beach you can only reach by boat

On Phi Phi, some hotels are reached by longtail boat. When it's windy the boats don't run, and getting back means a long walk along the beach in the dark.

A tour that leaves too little time at the main stop

A tour can sound perfect, until you find out that at the beach you most wanted to see you get less than an hour.

And that is exactly why we started Thailand, Actually.

A hotel can look perfect in the photos, get excellent reviews and offer an amazing view. But what if you discover there are no reasonably priced restaurants nearby, and in the evening the only place to eat is the hotel's expensive restaurant?

And what if you booked a hotel on Koh Phi Phi that can only be reached by longtail boat, but when it's windy the boats don't run, and getting back means a long walk along the beach in the dark?

The same goes for tours and attractions. A tour that takes in some of Thailand's most beautiful beaches can sound perfect, until you find out that at the beach you most wanted to see you get less than an hour.

These are details that don't always appear in a hotel or tour description. Sometimes you won't even know you need to ask about them.

We want to share not only the beautiful places we saw, but also what we learnt along the way: what's worth checking, which limitations are good to know about, what surprised us and what we would do differently.

So that you can choose the holiday that suits you, with as few unpleasant surprises as possible.

What you'll find here

First-hand experienceExperiences from places we visited and tours we took ourselves.
What to know in advancePractical details that don't always appear on booking sites.
Our own photosThe places as we photographed them on our trip.
Separately checked informationGuides and additional information, with a clear line between what we experienced ourselves and information from other sources.

Where do you start planning your trip?

Two regions, different experiences. Choose the one that suits you.

Andaman Coast

Breathtaking scenery

Railay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket, Khao Lak and Khao Sok.

Huge limestone cliffs, white beaches, turquoise water, island-hopping tours and nature reserves.

We travelled around the region for about two and a half weeks and found that although the destinations look close together on the map, each one offers a different experience.

Here you'll find not only what's worth seeing, but also how to choose where to stay, what to know about getting between places and which details are worth checking before you book.

Andaman Coast guide

Gulf of Thailand

Three islands, three different holidays

Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

Tropical beaches, romantic hotels, parties, diving and snorkelling. Three islands just a boat ride apart, but very different in character.

On Koh Phangan you'll find secluded beaches alongside party areas, Koh Samui offers a wide range of hotels and things to do, and Koh Tao is especially good for anyone who loves the sea.

In the guides you'll also find the things you see less of in the photos: access roads, distances, getting around and choosing where to stay.

Gulf of Thailand guide

Popular destinations in Thailand

Every destination has its own character. Get to know it up close.

Phra Nang Beach at Railay, a limestone cliff and turquoise water

Railay Beach Spectacular limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches and a special atmosphere.Railay is one of the places we loved most on our trip, but it's worth knowing that you get there by boat and that some of the hotels are up a slope. Railay guide

Turquoise water and Tonsai Bay on Koh Phi Phi, from a longtail boat

Koh Phi Phi Stunning bays, clear water and scenery that has become a symbol of Thailand.But choosing your hotel here matters more than usual: not every beach is equally easy to reach, and some hotels can only be reached by boat. Koh Phi Phi guide

Huge granite boulders and clear turquoise water in the Similan Islands

Khao Lak Long beaches, hotels and a calmer atmosphere.A good fit if you're looking for rest, and also a fairly convenient base for trips to the Similan Islands when they are open for the season. Khao Lak guide

Chaloklum bay from above, longtail boats and turquoise water, Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan Much more than a party island.Quiet beaches, fishing villages, small restaurants and romantic hotels. The area you choose to stay in will have a big effect on your holiday. Koh Phangan guide

Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, turquoise water and white sand

Koh Samui Hotels of every kind, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.A large, varied island, where it's worth choosing the area you stay in according to what you want to do on your holiday. Koh Samui guide

A bay on Koh Tao: clear water, a longtail boat, the beach and a green hill

Koh Tao Beautiful bays, snorkelling, diving and viewpoints.A small island with great scenery, but in some areas it's important to check in advance how you get to your hotel. Koh Tao guide

Planning a trip to Thailand?

Three steps to help you choose well.

1
Choose a region

Andaman Coast or Gulf of Thailand?

Which destination suits a relaxing holiday, and where should you stay if you want restaurants and nightlife within walking distance?
Start by understanding the differences between the regions, not just by looking at the photos.
Get to know Thailand's regions
2
Check when to go

The weather in Thailand varies between regions.

A time that suits a holiday on the Andaman Coast isn't necessarily as good for the Gulf of Thailand.
And when you're planning a boat trip or island-hopping, it's important to check sea conditions too.
3
Plan your route

How many nights should you give each destination? How do you get between the islands? And how long does it really take to get from one hotel to the next?

A good route isn't necessarily one that fits in as many places as possible, but one that leaves you enough time to enjoy them.

Guides from the ground

Not just recommendations. Also the things worth knowing before you book.

Thong Nai Pan Noi beach, pale sand, rocks and turquoise water, Koh Phangan

Beaches in Thailand

Famous beaches, quiet bays and special places we discovered on our trip.

How to get there, what's waiting for you, whether there are restaurants and facilities nearby and what to bear in mind before you visit.

Panviman Resort's infinity pool among the trees, above the sea

Hotels and where to stay

A beautiful hotel is only part of the story.

We also look at the location, access, distance from restaurants and nightlife, comfort and the things that are important to know before you book.

In our personal reviews you'll find our experience of the hotels we stayed in, including the pros and cons.

Longtail boats and a thatched parasol at Bottle Beach, Koh Phangan

Tours and attractions

Island-hopping tours, snorkelling, boat trips, viewpoints and nature reserves.

Beyond the route itself, it's important to know how much time you spend at each place, how demanding it is, what the price includes and what to check before you book.

Salad and fried snacks stall at the Chaloklum Sunday market

Food in Thailand

Markets, street stalls, local restaurants and places we loved eating at.

Plus useful information about food options in different areas, especially when you choose a remote hotel.

What they don't always tell you

Sometimes a small detail you didn't know to check can change your whole holiday.

A beautiful hotel, but what's around it?

A hotel can offer a great room and an amazing view, but if there are no reasonably priced restaurants nearby, every meal can turn into a big expense or a ride you hadn't planned on.

What to check: Distance to restaurants, evening food options, prices and access to transport.

A secluded beach, but how do you get back?

On islands like Phi Phi, getting to some hotels depends on longtail boats. When wind and sea conditions are poor, boats may be limited.

What to check: Alternative ways to get there, boat operating hours and whether you can get back to the hotel after dark.

An amazing tour, but how much time do you really get at each stop?

A tour can include some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, but the time you get at each one may be very short.

On our trip to the Hong Islands, for example, we would have been happy to stay much longer at the main beach.

What to check: Time at each stop, group size, the type of boat trip and whether the route suits your pace.

Nice to meet you

We are independent travellers who love discovering new places, exploring, taking photos and getting to know the destinations we visit.

On our trips around Thailand we found a gap between what you see in photos and on booking sites and what you actually experience.

Sometimes it's small things: the road to the hotel, the distance to restaurants, how you get to the beach or the time given to each stop on a tour.

But it's exactly these details that can make a big difference to a holiday.

That's why we started Thailand, Actually.

We wanted to create a place where you can find not only recommendations for destinations, hotels and tours, but also the information we would have wanted to know before we booked them ourselves.

Here we share personal experiences, our own photos, recommendations and disappointments too, alongside additional information that has been checked separately.

Our aim isn't to decide for you where to stay or what to do, but to give you a fuller picture, so you can choose what suits you.

Because a good holiday starts with the decisions you make before you set off.

Thailand, Actually

Not just what to book. What to know before you book.

Personal guides to Thailand, first-hand experiences and practical information to help you plan a holiday that suits you.

The information on this site is based on personal experience and on additional information from external sources. Prices, opening hours, transport and services may change, so we recommend checking them before you travel. Commercial links, where they appear on the site, do not determine our recommendations.