Discovering Thailand

I had never been to Thailand before, but I'd sold it as a destination many times. I was therefore really looking forward to experiencing the places and experiences my clients had told me so much about.

Our original plan was to spend three nights in Bangkok before flying down to Koh Samui for a twin-centre stay, with six nights at each destination.

Unfortunately, those plans were dashed almost immediately when a missed connection in Dubai resulted in an unexpected overnight stay in the Emirates.

Needless to say, we made good use of the surprise stopover!

Bangkok

We arrived in Bangkok the following day and the transfer I'd arranged was nothing short of excellent.

We met our guide at the designated meeting point and were quickly whisked away to our air-conditioned people carrier — thank goodness! — and just 35 minutes later we were checking in to the Anantara Sathorn.

I'd chosen to upgrade to a Premier Room because, thanks to the Travel Counsellors direct contract rate, the price difference was negligible.

I was very glad I did.

The room was fantastic, with a large living area, modern bathroom and balcony. It was exactly what we needed after the journey.

After a quick change, we met our friends at the rooftop bar, which has superb panoramic views across the Bangkok skyline. The bar snacks were excellent too, although be warned — wine is expensive in Thailand, and that was something we noticed throughout our trip.

Seeing Bangkok our way

Having already lost a day in Bangkok, we decided to hire a private guide so that we could make the most of our limited time and see as much as possible.

Our guide collected us in the morning and we headed into the centre to see some of Bangkok's essential sights.

But what I particularly enjoyed was that she didn't simply take us from one tourist attraction to another.

She also introduced us to some of the lesser-known parts of the city, which gave us a very different perspective on Bangkok.

One of my favourite experiences was racing through the canals in a long-tail boat.

It was fast, noisy and great fun — and a world away from simply sightseeing from a coach.

Welcome to Koh Samui

Once again, the transfer back to the airport was excellent and, before long, we were touching down on the little jewel that is Koh Samui.

The airport itself was quite an experience.

After landing, it was only a short walk from the aircraft before we reached a little open-sided hut, complete with a small carousel, while our luggage was already making its way through.

It was certainly different from arriving at Heathrow!

Our first hotel was Centara Villas, on the south-east coast of the island.

Once again, the hotel had arranged a driver to collect us, and the transfer was seamless.

After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, the location was perfect. The resort sits in a much quieter part of the island, right on the beach, and it was exactly the change of pace we needed.

One thing to be aware of, though, is that the resort has quite a few steps, so it may not suit everyone.

Our Sea View Room had probably the biggest bed I've ever slept in — it was more like two King beds pushed together!

The beachside restaurant and bar at the hotel was excellent, although there were also several places to eat outside the resort within walking distance.

My favourite was a really relaxed bar just a short walk along the beach. It played great chilled-out music, had hammocks to relax in and served fantastic food at very reasonable prices.

Bophut & Fisherman's Village

For our second stay on Koh Samui, we'd chosen Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa.

We arranged for the hotel to collect us, which they did for a nominal charge of 700 Baht — around £18 at the time — which wasn't bad at all between four of us.

Zazen is on the north-east side of the island, on Bophut Beach.

We'd chosen it carefully because it was close enough to the bars and restaurants of Fisherman's Village, but far enough away that we wouldn't be caught up in the crowds.

And that was particularly useful on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, when the area comes alive with its street markets.

They're a real feast for the senses.

The sights, sounds and smells of the street food are fantastic, and you'll see some wonderful interpretations of Thai cuisine.

On the other evenings, the beach road is lined with some very good restaurants, so there's plenty of choice to suit almost every taste.

But if you love Thai food, you're in for a treat.

Would I go back?

Absolutely.

Thailand had been a destination I'd recommended to clients many times before visiting myself. Experiencing it first-hand gave me a completely different perspective — and, importantly, a much better understanding of what I was recommending.

That's one of the things I enjoy most about travel.

You can read about a destination, sell a destination and talk about a destination… but nothing beats actually experiencing it yourself.

If you'd like any more information about Thailand, Bangkok, Koh Samui or any of the hotels and resorts I've mentioned, just drop me a line.