Hi all! My boyfriend and I have just booked our flights to Thailand, we arrive the 9th December and depart the 1st (not till the evening)...in the country for both christmas and new year.

We're about to start planning our trip but any suggestions of routes, where to go, things to see, places to visit and ways celebrate christmas and new year would be greatly appriciated.

We've lookin into ThaiIntro does anyone have any personal experiance with them?

Thanks for your help :)

A couple of days ago I just answered another posting this... so here it goes for you too:

I would recommend everybody to spend at least a couple of days in the city of Kanchanaburi during your visit to Thailand. There is a lot of history connected to this city. During the World War II the Japanese took at lot of prisoners of war and made them build what is later known as "The Death Railway" across Thailand to Burma - mostly known from the movie "The Bridge Over the River Kwai".

So go pay a visit to the War Cemetary in Kanchanaburi with the headstones of about 7000 allied POWs mainly from Australia, Britain, and Holland who died during the fulfilling of this project. There is a saying that it cost "a life for every sleeper", and besides the many allied soldiers who died, about 80.000 Asians mainly Thais lost their lives here too.

Take a walk across the famous bridge over the River Kwai and get a feeling of what happened here many years ago.

If you really like to dig in the history you may visit the museum right next to the cemetary, or the JEATH Museum at the temple by the river, or you may go visit The Hellfire Pass museum outside the city.

On the more bright side you should spend a whole day by the beautiful seven steps of the Erawan Waterfalls 60 kms north of the city. Hike the waterfalls, and don't forget to bring your swimsuit for a refeshing swim in one of the ponds at the bottom of each step. Easy to get there by the local bus no. 8170 - easy to catch on the main road from about 08.00 in the morning.

The city is now also famous for the Tiger Temple which is located about 45 kms north of the city (on the way to Hellfire Pass) where you may watch the monks walking the tigers and afterwards take your picture while you're padding the tiger on the head. Book the trip at one of the local tour agencies.

Take a traintrip on The Death Railway and enjoy the beautiful landscapes alongside the river, it's both a relaxing and exciting way to get closer look at this wonderful country.

In the evening take a walk along the riverside and have a great meal at one of the nice (and cheap) restaurants there while you enjoy the beautiful sunset over the river and watch the big restaurant-rafts sailing up and down the river with people partying. Later you may go shopping and make a good bargain at the local market located by the railway station. Finish the day with a drink at one of the many places in the street where the guesthouses are located.

In short enjoy the life in a minor provincial city only 125 kms west of Bangkok. Easy to reach by bus leaving every 15 minutes from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (buy tickets at the blueticket counters for aircon VIP bus), price about 100 Baht/person, takes 2 hours. Several nice guesthouses at reasonable prices like 'Jolly Frog', 'Sugar Cane', 'Blue Star', etc. Best hotel is River Kwai Hotel located just on the main street. All accomodations are in walking distance from most of the venues you want to visit - or you may take a tuk-tuk or a samlor (3-wheeled bicycle-taxi).
More info: Kanchanaburi-info.com: destination guide to Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

You've got to spend a few days in Bangkok just to experience it. Even if you don't like big cities, you've probably never been anywhere quite like Bangkok.

Pai, in Northern Thailand is beautiful. Small, quiet and a bit off the beaten track.

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A few days in Bangkok at the beginning of your trip will allow you to adjust to time and temperature differences. During these few days you can see the city, take some tours and arrange transportation to other other places. This is the busiest time of the year and at the highest prices for hotels. Make sure you have your rooms booked for Christmas and New Years holidays. Some hotels tack on a party surcharge if you go to the party or not.

Some tourists use the first hotel for storing any winter items not needed for Thailand. Just spend the last night or two at the same hotel and claim your items from the storeroom. A final night or two in Bangkok will allow you the time to do last minute shopping and possibly take another tour if you want. For Bangkok I always recommend that you get a hotel not far from the Skytrain route. But if you are teenagers or just out of school maybe choose a hotel in the Khao San Road area.
UrbanRail.Net > Asia > Thailand > Bangkok Metro

You can't go wrong with a visit to northern Thailand such as the Chiang Mai area. Also you have time to include a visit to a beach area too. Try not waste all 25 days only at a beach area.

Normal stuff like wait until you get to Thailand to change money over to Thai baht for the best rate and other ideas you can read in most travel guides. Read up on scams, transportation and other places to visit. In Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai you can sign up for tours through local travel agencies on short notice.

Good luck.

hi there,
i have been there last year with my family and we visited Bangkok,Pattaya (located in the South East of Bangkok for 147 km with Southeast Asian waters and beaches so it was dubbed the "Oriental Hawaii".) Tropical paradise---Phuket (Thailand's largest island, India Ocean Andaman Sea on the "Pearl").you may google it for more informations then plan your route.
Tips :Remember not to touch other people's heads even touched baby's head is not good. Thailand people think touch is humbled by someone else in the head. Jade Buddha Temple Palace do not allow to wear short skirts and shorts, no sleeves blouse or wear slippers.
hope it helps:) have a nice trip~