Four Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches

Thailand has one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.  For those that have traveled there they know that the beauty of this untouched place makes for some of the best vacations in the world.  This is coupled with the vast amount of historical culture that abounds the countryside and there is never a shortage of things to do in this country.  Because much of this land is untouched by development you will find that relaxation and peaceful living is more than possible.  The reaches of the mighty have not gotten this far and that means that you will get the very best in the vacation arena, especially when it comes to the Thailand beach areas.



Khao Lak is a wonderful Thailand beach.  Just a short drive from the airport, this paradise offers a remote vacation area like no other.  Thanks to the area being largely uninhabited, there is lush rain forest nearby along with a whole host of wildlife to be viewed.  The water remains warm in the November through December months and the fishing and scuba diving is out of this world.

Phuket Thailand Beach is another great spot.  Enjoy this resort November through March.  There is more than enough to do.  It is a bit more crowded than other beaches as this area thrives on the tourism dollars that it brings in.  The scuba diving is top notch in this area and you will also find some of the warmest most clear water in the world.  There are several nearby attractions to keep one busy for quite a few days.


Phi Phi Don Thailand beach is quite the turn around.  Once a remote and nearly unknown place, this Thailand beach came to life when Hollywood came in and filmed a movie here.  It is now considered to be one of the most popular beaches in the entire country and is frequented by many big names.  This is a site that you will not want to miss, as the views are breathtaking and the water warm and inviting.

West Raily Thailand beach is one of the undiscovered diamonds in the rough.  There is very little that is expensive here and one can stay at the “resort” for over a week and barely tap the budget.  The sands are milky white and the water clear.  Scuba diving is very popular here as well as the fishing.  This location is only accessible by long tail boat so plan for a bit of a long ride.

Incredible India with Pushkar Camel Festival

We arrive to the land of 1000 languages and 1000 gods.  At the Intercontinental, the women in my group are welcomed with marigolds and branded with the typical red dot on our foreheads.  This hotel is an oasis of luxury in a polluted city of 14 million people.  Two days are spent touring Delhi.  The obligatory sites include Gandhi’s Tomb and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  No where else have ancient traditions blended with the modern on a scale so evident as in Delhi.  Fat sacred Brahma bulls block traffic creating delays.  In this Hindu land, cows rule.  Dogs, monkeys and children cross at their own risk.





 I love spiced food and begin each day with a 3 alarm-curry breakfast.  We head by coach for Rajasthan, the beautiful desert state where cows are replaced by camels.  The air is sweeter and everything more colorful.  Here is a microcosm of all that India is.  The people are genteel with a humility if spirit and still light up at the sight of foreigners.  We continually wave through our windows to those who stare with curiosity and seem to say, “why have you come here?”  As a fan of the third world, this place has been on my dream list for years.  I now vividly enter that element of travel that provides me astonishment.

 We’ve come to attend the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar that has taken place for a thousand years.  As the world’s largest, it has at its peak attracted 50,000 camels with 200,000 traders.  We unpack at our camp called Exotic Adventures.  Our spartan tents did have ensuite toilets but toilet paper was at a premium.  There was a 24 hour guard outside who stingily rationed our quota.  In the desert, nights are frigid and afternoons sweltering.  I confided to a guest there from the American Embassy that I felt like I was in an episode of “Survivor.”   She laughed assuring me that it was all worth it.  Soon my shock turns to awe as I enter the fairgrounds.

 Set on miles of shifting sand dunes with festooned camels and a flood of pilgrims, the scene looks totally surreal.  Its like a State Fair on steroids.  There is a flurry of horse, bullock and camel races, contests for milking, animal decorating, turban tying, tattooing as well as snake charmers, free carnival rides, mystics, astrologers and dazzling stalls of handicrafts at giveaway prices.   The ground reverberates with activities.  Thousands of Rajasthani woman have arrived dressed in their finest clothes in near neon colors.  I watch trained monkeys, painted cows and cobra’s dance.  No words can adequately describe how this helter skelter overwhelms my 5 senses.  Others can have Europe with its cathedrals and museums.  For me, this exotic exposure and cultural immersion is the ultimate travel!

 Covered in dust, we return to camp.  Each night there is entertainment under the stars with musicians, folk dancers, puppet show or fire eaters.  No alcohol is allowed here and all meals are vegetarian buffets.  An Ayurveda Center offers us treatments to cleanse body toxins.  We decline them: induced vomiting, enemas, nasal drainage and blood letting.

 We tour the holy city of Pushkar with its sacred lake created by Lord Brahma.  Pilgrims come from afar to bathe in the ghats and worship round the clock.  We learn about religions here:  Zorastrism, Sihkism, the mystic Sufi’s, Jainists who won’t kill a mosquito, Hinduism that claims no absolute truth and the caste system.  We tour temples at the lake; some are “blessed” by priests.  Later, a highlight for me was a one hour Camel Cart Safari behind the scenes of the fair.  Children line our route shouting to us “hi, hello, one pen please!”       We see a camel slaughtered and half naked people washing.  Back inside the grounds, we visit an orphanage and scatter individually to get lost in the feverish revelry.  We ride huge spitting camels that provide us a heightened perspective of it all.  I purchase a dozen garnet necklaces and silver ankle bracelets.  Teenage boys approach Terry to photograph him.  He’s 6’5’’.  One politely as him, “Sir, what do you eat?” 
Our group was wonderful!
 
There are endless food courts however we must pass all enticements to prevent “Delhi Belly.”  I find the cacophony of chaos delightful.  Pushkar is truly a party affair for the locals and we are just observant guests.  I’m so grateful to experience such but time to proceed on with our busy itinerary.

We arrive to the famed “Pink City” of Jaipur, now more deep maroon from pollution.  In touring its palaces, fort and architectural marvels, we learn of the great Amber rulers and maharajahs of the Moghul empire.  History comes alive and I find myself so interested in that which I never cared about.  And here is a shopper’s paradise for silk sarees, gems, jewelry and marble crafts.  I visited an animal sanctuary called “Help In Suffering.”  The worst cases of various species are treated here by volunteer veterinarians.  Forty five stray dogs are sterilized daily and I witness a surgery.  (See www.HIS-INDIA.com ) You can simply mail them a check to help.   
At 'Help In Suffering' a dog spaying Making a donation Volunteer vets talk to Suzy


 On to see the grand Fatehpur Sikri, “Ghost City of Akbar” that was abandoned due to scarcity of water.  We finally reach Agra, a broken city of 2.5 million.  Hawkers harass us.  Chained bears dance for rupees in the street.  Hungry children beg.  We are thankful to lodge at the deluxe Sheraton here with its western cuisine and affordable massages at $20.  It was like a galaxy change from the downtown.

After witnessing an eyeful of wonders along the way, we have saved the best for last at the world’s greatest tribute to love.  Goosebumps rise as I enter the majestic gate to the Taj Mahal.  Morning sunlight illuminates it like a flawless pearl…22 years to build by 200,000 men with 2 million pieces of inlaid semi-precious stones.  After a lecture on why this perfect symmetry was created for Queen Mumtaz, we disperse to photograph what looks to be a mirage.  It is poetry in architecture and as magnificent as can be imagined.

 Back in Delhi, we all enjoy a free day of leisure to explore as we choose!  Most go shopping as prices are extravagantly low but how many Pashmina shawls does one need?  For our final evening we enjoy a show called “Dances of India” followed by a farewell feast of our Last (Indian) Supper.


I remises another journey well done with excellent guides, drivers, assistance and accommodations.  I recall my favorite moment which took place at the fair when I hired two “body guides” to assist me through the crowds, Jamal and Ranshi.  These two 11 year old boys bonded to me like barnacles and their beaming smiling faces will forever remain etched in my memory of India.  This trip has renewed my curiosity of the world reminding me again that my love of travel proliferates itself.  The more I see, the more I want to see.


 This country is for the seasoned traveler.  I am extremely impressed with the fortitude and patience of my group of 60 people in a land of erratic infrastructure.  For some it was their first visit to the third world but they all persevered like pros.  To witness suffering first hand is the fullest way to appreciate home.  We saw things both appalling and joyful.  The word “fascinating” however would sum up the entire trip.  I must return again.

Five Affordable World Travel Destinations

So you want to travel the world but you have a tight budget? Are you tired of reading about everyone else's exotic adventures and ready to have some of your own?  Have you always wanted to take an international vacation but thought you couldn't afford it?  There are numerous travel destinations across the worlds that are both exciting and affordable. Five of them are described here to give you ideas and get you started planning your own getaway.

There are two ways to approach affordable vacations to distant destinations. Either you will save money getting there or the savings will occur once you arrive at your selected spot.  If you want the trip there to be affordable, many travel consolidators recommend choosing well-known destinations that are served by numerous airlines and receive millions of travelers each year.  The competition for customers usually drives costs down for everything from lodging to tour packages.  Airfares between major hubs tend to be more affordable and there are often plenty of discounts and last minute travel deals.

London

In Europe, London is a top pick for affordable vacation destinations, for these exact reasons.  Not only do you have more flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote location. On average, staying in London may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and other travel essentials gives travels opportunities to mold their vacation to fit their budgets.  And you can use London as your home base to set out on day trips to other more exotic locations or buy a Euro rail pass and see those more remote countries without the expense of flying there.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This theory also works well for traveling in the Caribbean. Belize is an appealing destination, with wonderful Caribbean beaches and a lush tropic setting, but since it has only recently emerged as a popular travel destination, it is more expensive than Cancun, Jamaica or other well-traveled locations along the Mayan Riviera. With fewer flights, getting there is more expensive, and there are few moderate lodging options. Development of larger luxury resorts have begun to boom, but the only real alternative for those on a budget is staying in local facilities that may be hard to locate from home and may be more rustic than most travelers are willing to try.

Although there are many options for affordable vacations in the Caribbean, an excellent pick is Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  Accessible via flights to Cancun, which are often some of the cheapest in the region, Playa is just a half hour away.  It is filled with a multitude of lodging choices, from expansive luxury resorts on the ocean to quaint but clean hotels downtown. From Playa, travelers can branch out and visit Tulum and other locations on the Mayan Riviera or take the ferry across to the island of Cozumel where snorkeling is prime and the attractions are many.

For Asian destinations, travelers often do better to focus on saving money once they get to their destination. Depending on your country of origin, getting to just about any spot in Asia is going to be a sizable chunk of your travel budget.  The difference will come from the cost of lodging, food, entertainment and other travel expenditures once you arrive. By choosing destinations where you get the most for your money, you can save a great deal on your international vacation. A drink or dinner in Tokyo will cost you many times more than what it would in Saigon. The key here is to go where your dollars buy you more and where the local cost of living is low.

Tioman Island

An affordable yet exotic choice for Asia is Malaysia and specifically Tioman Island, knows as the mythical 'Bali Hai' from the film 'South Pacific.'  Tioman Island is located at the southern end of the east coast of Malaysia on the South China Sea. Its sandy beaches, bordered by lush jungles and stunning mountains make it a relaxing yet intriguing destination, ideal for sun lovers, snorkelers and divers.  The island also has many villages for exploring and shopping. English is widely spoken and the rates are amazingly affordable, with a two night lodging package for a suite at a lovely oceanside resort averaging around 100 U.S. dollars. Typically visitors reach the island via the speed ferry from the mainland. Although the trip can take over two hours, it is enjoyable and provides opportunities for dolphin watching along the way.

Buenos Aires

South America also has many destinations that are affordable because of the savings once you arrive. Locales like Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the areas top destination, are coming down in price but are still more expensive than cities such as Buenos Aires in Argentina, where the rates are lower and the U.S. dollar goes further. A huge metropolis that is more European than South American, the city has much to offer including cultural events, thriving nightlife, shopping, local sports, and a host of tours and excursions. La Boca, with its street performers, shops, and unique architecture is a big tourist draw.  The large number of choices for lodging, restaurants, and activities provides opportunities for budget travel and savings. Airfare to the city is relatively reasonable for an international destination, with discount fares from the U.S. averaging around $500 round trip.  Buenos Aires might not be one of the most exotic or inspiring destinations in South America, but it is a city that everyone should see at least once, and with some of the most affordable rates and fares around, it makes the list as a top South American destination.

Las Vegas

The list would not be complete without a North American destination, and the champ of all affordable locales is Las Vegas.  It too is a city that should be seen at least once, and many world travelers return again and again for the gaming, art, shows and people watching that just can't be found anywhere else. Close enough to other top U.S. attractions like the Grand Canyon, Vegas provides other options for those who have had their fill of casinos. The city has long been known for its cheap vacation packages with hotels and resorts that offer discount rates for rooms, meals and entertainment in hopes of attracting people to their gaming tables. Airfare rates into Vegas are some of the most reasonable in the United States, no matter the origination destination. And with more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, there is sure to be a lodging choice that fits your budget.

The world provides hundreds of affordable travel destinations. With all the options available, there is no excuse to put off that life-long desire to travel to exotic places at the far ends of the earth. Destinations can be researched on the Internet or your travel consolidator can make recommendations and help with locating cheap international airfare and lodging rates that fit your budget.  So what are you waiting for?  Get out there and explore the world.

About the Author
C.J. Gustafson is a freelance writer and photographer who travels extensively for work and family
vacations.  A cheapskate by nature and necessity, she is always on the lookout for bargain travel deals and affordable vacation destinations.