All you need to know about holidays to Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful country known for its amazing beaches, vibrant cities, and wonderful culture. A Thailand multi centre holiday is a popular way to take in all of these aspects of the country, but for most a Thai holiday deal means a cheap beach getaway. And when you take a look at the beautiful beaches of southern Thailand you can really see why this has become one of the premier beach destinations in the world - not to mention the legendary full moon parties too!

Where to stay in Thailand

Thailand is well-known for its cheap places to stay - and there are cheap Thailand hotels available practically everywhere you want to go. If you'd rather enjoy this beautiful country in more luxurious surroundings then there are plenty of four and five star hotels too.

In a country so diverse, it's definitely worth thinking of visiting at least a couple of different places, so here is our quick guide to the areas to help you decide on the destination for your 2013 Thailand holiday.

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is vibrant and bustling city crammed full of attractions and delicious food. It's a good idea to book your cheap flights to Thailand and hotel separately here, although you can keep an eye out for great value late deals to Thailand as well, as these often include a couple of nights in Bangkok. The Chao Praya River is the city's heart, with boats sailing up and down all day long.

Phuket is Thailand's original beach holiday destination. It's great if you want a luxury hotel as this is the most developed beach resort with plenty of luxury hotels. It's also a great destination for a family holiday to Thailand as there are so many great family friendly resorts. A popular day trip from here is to head over to Coral Island (Ko Hae) for a day of exploration.

Chiang Mai is known as the cultural centre and it's also the gateway to the northern jungles, so a holiday that includes Chiang Mai will certainly be a feast for the senses, and it often features as a destination on Thailand multi-centre holidays. Be sure to see the Night Bazaar as well as some of the stunning temples - and save some time (and money) to head off for an adventure. This could be riding elephants, trekking the jungle or visiting native hill tribes!

Beaches and Islands are located off the coast of the long stretch of southern Thailand and there are so many beautiful ones to stay at on a Thai holiday that you'll be spoilt for choice. The most popular destinations are Ko Samui, Ko Phagn Nagn and Ko Phi Phi, where you'll find a range of accommodation from luxury to super-cheap backpackers hostels, as well as watersports, more gorgeous stretches of sand than you could ever enjoy, and a fantastic nightlife too. In fact, Ko Phi Phi was used in filming The Beach! If you're after one of the legendary Full Moon parties then get yourself to Hat Rin on Koh Phang Nagn.

What to do in Thailand

Many cheap holidays to Thailand start in the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, where the bustling Khao San Road is jam-packed with spicy Thai food from street vendors. To spice up your holiday why not visit in 2013 or 2014 for one of the festivals or events in Thailand? September's Vegetarian Festival sees events across the country, whilst Chiang Mai has an umbrella festival in January. Or you could enjoy the Koh Samui Yacht Regatta in May-June.

One way to know for sure that you're going to have a fantastic holiday in Thailand is to make sure you take in at least one or two of our top five things to do. And here they are:

Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and with a 150 foot-high Buddha this temple is an impressive sight! There are also plenty of smaller temples to visit within the complex. There is an admission fee, but since you saved so much on your cheap Thai holiday deal, you can definitely splash out!

Muay Thai is the Thai national sport, and boy are they passionate about it! There are numerous chances to see this kick-boxing style of fighting all around the country, but for the ultimate destination head to the Rajadamnern Stadium. Be warned though, prices are considerably higher for foreigners than they are for the locals!

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market floats 50 kilometres down the river from Bangkok and offers a wealth of local crafts and produce. Spices, food and flowers are all readily available, and it's really great to combine a trip to the market with a look at some of the local communities too. There are plenty of boat tour companies offering this day trip.

Thai Cookery classes are really popular - and they are a great way to show off the best treats from your Thailand holiday to all your envious friends back home. You'll get to see how the professionals do it, head out for a shopping trip to a local market to gather the ingredients and learn how to make it yourself. Prices aren't that high, so why not have a go?

Siam Niramit is an important theatre in Bangkok with daily shows featuring spectacular performances as well as amazing lights and music, which is all party of one of the largest shows on the planet! Take in the wonderful sight, and be sure to spare time to explore the rest of the theatre complex too as you'll find a model Thai village, a river, and elephants which you can ride!