THAILAND

HOTELS, GESTHOUSES AND ACCOMMODATION
In Thailand, it is not accepted to classify hotels as stars. Although the Russian tour operators assign them, starting from personal opinions and ideas. Most hotels are pretty good level, with low prices. The so-called two-star (budget) do not have air conditioning, its role is performed by the fan. 3-star hotels are often located in the city center and are suitable for young people, since all entertainment is within walking distance. Hotels with 4 and 5 stars are located on the beach.
When deciding whether or not to stay in a cheap hotel and guesthouse, you must personally inspect the room, after which you can decide whether to stay here or look for the next one. Popular is to eat at home, in Thailand they are called villas. Prices differ greatly. You can rent a villa for $ 60 per day, and there are offers for $ 3000. It all depends on how much new housing and what is in it (number of rooms, furniture, jacuzzi, swimming pool, and so on). The cost is also affected by the location: expensive houses – near the sea or in the center of cities In new, newly built hotels the cost of living is also in most cases higher than in old ones. In any case, you will not be left without housing.
SEA AND BEACHES
In the west, Thailand is washed by the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. It belongs to the Indian Ocean. The average water temperature during the tourist season is kept at +27 degrees. In the waters of this sea there are resort islands such as Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Phi Phi. These places are popular with divers, because the underwater landscape is replete with multi-colored corals, various marine life (from sea stars to turtles), therapeutic clay. The sand on the shores is mostly white, which also attracts many tourists.
Thailand is also washed by the Gulf of Thailand, on the shores of which is located noisy and walking around Pattaya around the clock. In these waters are the islands of Koh Chang, Samui, Tao, Kut, Phangan. The latter is a haven for hippies. “Full moon party” is celebrated here once a month; tourists, music lovers and noisy parties from all over the world come to this famous party. The celebration takes place on Haad Rin beach, lasts all night: music plays, bright fire shows are held. In the morning, everyone leaves, and the island again becomes quiet and calm.
On almost all beaches, sun beds and deck chairs are paid. The cost is the same and is about 100 baht, for this amount you get a place for sunbathing for the whole day. Do not take money only hotels that have their own beaches. Often flags are posted, which can be used to determine the state of the sea: green – swim as much as you like, yellow – the sea storms, red – it is forbidden to swim. On these beaches there are even on-duty lifeguards who may simply not let you to the water. It is worth adding that in Pattaya the beaches are rather dirty, and in Phuket some places are known for strong ebbs and flows.
SHOPPING
If you come by package ticket and do not bring along beach accessories, then all this, no problem, can be bought in stores. In tourist areas, most of them work up to 21-22 hours. But the 7/11 stores are open around the clock, as well as grocery stores. They have everything you need, from cigarettes and food, to soap, shaving accessories and so on. In the markets and in private shops it is customary to bargain. They buy, as a rule, Thai cosmetics with natural coconut oil, fragrant handmade soap, silk and cotton products, jewelry, semi-precious and precious stones, as well as jewelry made from them. Clothing is inexpensive, and you can buy everything here: from cowards, T-shirts and shorts, to fur coats and crocodile products. You can also make an individual order for tailoring a suit or dress at a local studio of high-quality Thai cotton or non-flax.
Being in Thailand will have to acquire some mandatory means of protection against mosquitoes, as well as means of protection against the invasion of ants. The latter live here in almost every room. Even in good hotels you can see an ant path, and then you can find insects in food and even in a suitcase. In order to get rid of them, it is enough to buy a tool and put it on this very path.
The main shopping is held in the capital – Bangkok. The best places for tourists are: Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza, Support store chain (supporting local production), MVK shopping center with a huge choice of equipment (2 thousand stores), Terminal 21, as well as elite and expensive Gaysorn, built of white marble. In the latter one can buy things of world famous designers, very high-quality luxury items. It is also recommended to visit the local markets. There you can buy a lot of interesting things. The main rules: smile and bargain. Then you can buy everything much cheaper.