Travelling in Thailand: Emma’s best bits & useful tips

Most Thailand trips begin in Bangkok which is a great city to explore by day, but an even greater city to gaze over by night. As the sun goes down, you can watch Bangkok’s skyline light up at Vertigo at Banyan Tree Hotel or the Sky Bar at Lebua Tower (this is where they filmed some of Hangover 2). You can really dress to impress on an evening like this on your Thailand holiday and, if your pocket will stretch, you can work your way through the delicious cocktail list.

I first visited Khao San road in 1999 on my Thailand trip as a backpacker. It was here that I lived off the various food stalls and I had one particular favourite stall where I would head for a Nutella & Banana pancake. I couldn’t believe my eyes this year when amongst the craziness, I stumbled across exactly the same boy (or should I say man now) serving still the best pancakes from his little stall just off the Khao San road. I’d definitely recommend giving them a try on your Thailand holiday.

A relaxed atmosphere with a beautiful Thai-French fusion menu, Luna Lounge is the place to head for in the village of Thong Nai Pan Noi in Ko Phangan. Try the Luna Lounge special cocktail, served in a small iced fishbowl with vodka, apple juice, lime and chilli – delicious and very addictive!

Steves Cafe & Cuisine may sound like an English greasy spoon but it is far from it. It is a hidden gem with no easy access and a little off route, you can get to it by river boat (pier 15) or a 10 min taxi ride from the Khao San road area. This small restaurant is set in a traditional house right on Chao Praya River and is owned by a lovely Thai couple. We were the only westerners there, the rest of clientele were Thai families dining with their grandmothers and children. As you can imagine, the food was absolutely delicious, reasonably priced and the service excellent.

Set in the village behind the beautiful Bay of Thong Nai Pan No in Ko Phangan I recommend Tannaporn massage House – this is a family run business providing an extensive range of massages and spa therapies in a tranquil setting. They have set the business up in their traditional Thai family home which is surrounded by beautiful gardens. This is a little hard to find amongst all the other massage parlours in the village and is a little bit more expensive but well worth it – be sure to book at least 2 days in advance. This is a great way to wind down at the end of your Thailand travel experience.