Songkran Festival 2023: The 6 Best Destinations in Thailand

by Writer Emma

June 30, 2023

Songkran is a fun-filled cultural event that welcomes Thailand's New Year in April💦. Find out where best to celebrate this brilliant day in style. The Songkran water festival, or Thai New Year, is a traditional celebration that welcomes the new year with a ritual cleansing through the water🤗. Despite this sounding like a serene experience, the Songkran festival is far from it, with joyous water fights breaking out across the whole of Southeast Asia and beyond from April 13 to 15.

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What is Songkran Festival?

Sisters cleansing the past year's misfortunes with water during Songkran. Source: Trip.com

Songkran is a term coined or derived from Sanskrit, meaning "to move" or "movement." It is interpreted as the "passing" of the sun and "stepping into" the New Year and a new sign😍. The reason why water is such a major part of the festival is that water washes off the misfortunes of the past year to welcome the new year with a "fresh" (quite literally) start👍. The best part about Songkran festival 2023 for tourists and travelers is that it is very inclusive and celebrated during the hot and humid period of the year, meaning you can enjoy the festivities with the locals or maybe get into a playful splash using squirt guns💦.

During the holiday, this also offers a chance for those who are far away from home to return and rejoice with their loved ones and families. Since this holiday marks the beginning of a new year, in a way, this is the time to do some spring cleaning as a fresh start to the year😍. Adults would be free of work, and children would be free of school. Families would wake up early to pay their respect to the Buddhist temples, and visitors could sprinkle clean or scented water over the statues of Buddha👀. And it's important to remember that the water is poured onto the torso and body of the statue instead of the head.

Songkran festival 2023 / Source: Trip.com

Although made globally famous by Thailand due to its popularity with tourists, you can celebrate the Songkran festival in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, parts of northeast India, Bangladesh, and Xishuangbanna in southern China, as well as less officially in Singapore😳. The dates remain the same (from April 13 to 15), and the festival is celebrated throughout the day and into the night for three consecutive days🎉. Arguably, the party is better during the day since people are usually happier getting soaked under the scorching sun.

👉 If you decide to celebrate the Songkran festival 2023 in any countries mentioned above, make sure you get there by April 12 so that you can get to your hotel unscathed (you will not be shown mercy just because you have a suitcase!).

Which are the best places to celebrate the Songkran Festival 2023?

Although the Thailand water festival will be celebrated across many countries and regions, there are undoubtedly some places that are better to celebrate it – especially from the perspective of a fun-loving tourist😳. We have to declare that most of these happen in Thailand, so let's take a look at some of the best Thai places to celebrate the Songkran festival 2023👍.

Songkran festival 2024 - The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace / Source: Trip.com

Royal Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha Temple

We'll cover the location, date and time, the best accommodation you can find🥳, and what flights you can take to get there to make sure you can plan and book your trip easily. We'll also attach lots of photos to help you have a sneak peek😍!

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Chiang Mai

Songkran festival 2024 - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan / Source: Trip.com

Chiang Mai is Thailand's second-largest city and is located in the northern part of the country. It is also a perfect destination to enjoy the Songkran festivities. The celebrations usually will go on for a week (instead of the usual three days), starting at 10 in the morning on April 13, and are the perfect combo of old tradition and modern fun.

Songkran Festival 2023 - Tha Phae Gate / Source: Trip.com

In Chiang Mai, the locals will hold huge water fights on the streets, especially around the city's moats, canals, and the Ping River – head to Thapae Gate for two and a half miles of all-out water pistol war. If you are looking for something more traditional, head to one of the city's innumerable temples, where you'll find locals creating stupa-shaped sand mounds decorated with colorful flags. The sand represents the dirt that each individual has carried around on their feet for the past year, and this is a chance for them to pay their tributes by carrying new sand to the temples.

Locals celebrating a traditional Songkran in Chiang Mai. Source: Trip.com

Flights to Chiang Mai

The fastest flights to Chiang Mai from the US take about 18 hours and 45 mins, departing from San Francisco. Due to the long distance, you will have to make at least one stop, but this can be a great excuse to have a multi-stop holiday. To give you an idea of the price, a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Chiang Mai with two stops can cost just over US$1,200.

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Hotels in Chiang Mai

Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort - A Vegan Retreat(SHA Extra Plus) / Source: Trip.com

Tapae Gate Villa: This 4-star villa hotel offers guests comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a delightful terrace, and a crystal-clear outdoor pool. It is only 200 m from Thapae gate, meaning this is a hard-to-beat location for Songkran revelers.
Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort: A vegan resort located close to the Thapae gate, this 4-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool will tick all your boxes for the Thailand water festival.

More accommodation recommendations in Chiang Mai:

5 star

The Empress Premier Chiang Mai

4.4/5Excellent271 Reviews

Night Bazaar Area Chiang Mai|1.65km from city center

A big spot in my sheet, I guess they have not cleaned or changed before my checkin. I arrive one hour earlier but they still arrange a room for me. The drain in bathroom is a nightmare. They charged me 1000 for late check out (5pm).

From$55

Melia Chiang Mai

4.6/5Outstanding289 Reviews

Chiang Mai Riverside Chiang Mai|1.05km from city center

I am a regular visitor to Chiangmai and thought I should try out this new hotel in town. What a fabulous experience it was The room is very spacious and the hotel is decorated in a modern style, with plenty of Thai touches. The lighting is good and the mirrors in the room are great if you love a mirror selfie as much as I do. The club lounge, (known as the level) is one of the best I have experienced I loved the cocktails of the day especially the Chao Phraya one made with local rum, very delicious, and so much fun to have it made in front of us in a fabulous copper coloured shaker. The service in the club is excellent, the manager Taemasin is very charming and super helpful. He had so much passion for the hotel My only regret is that I did not get to dine in the Mai restaurant. I had seen some beautiful pictures of the food on instagram, and after I talked to Taemasin, who told me that the food is so much more special then the photos can show, I know that I will definitely be back.

From$107

Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai

4.4/5Excellent126 Reviews

Nimmanhaemin Road Area Chiang Mai|2.85km from city center

The description of the hotel as a gallery hotel with 5* rating fooled me into booking for 2 nights stay. While the hotel is located at the very centre of Chiang Mai, it is not up to 5*: the breakfast was not that good compared to a normal 3* hotel, the room was not clean, towels were as old as 2 years never changed.

From$49

Chala Number 6

4.6/5Outstanding235 Reviews

Chiang Mai Ancient City Chiang Mai|0.53km from city center

Great location at the heart of old city. Love that everything in the minibar is complimentary & replenished daily + free high tea served 2-4pm daily. The lobby is filled with a lovely scent that just uplifts your day. The pool was under maintenance for 2-3 days of our stay; as compensation we were given 2 small rice crackers lol.

From$107

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

4.7/5Outstanding78 Reviews

Night Bazaar Area Chiang Mai|1.48km from city center

A beautiful boutique hotel hidden in a quiet street. I like the location because you don’t get noise from the street. Chiangmai in General is not a big city, so wherever you stay it won’t be too far from where you want to go. Once you step into the hotel, you will be amazed by the entire environment. Beautiful pool, beautiful houses, and beautiful rooms. The service may be the best in Chiangmai. The girls at front desk are very friendly, professional, and attentive. Ms. Art speaks perfect English that makes our stay more enjoyable. Breakfast is delicious and varieties. The only thing needs to be addressed is the bed frame in the room. It is a wooden frame with sharp corners and mattress sit on top of the frame but not fully cover the corner of the frame. So be careful when moving around, otherwise it is easy to get hit on your legs. Overall, I love this hotel. I will definitely come back next time back to Chiangmai. You won’t be disappointed.

From$95

Family friendly

White Boutique Hotel and Spa

4.3/5Excellent126 Reviews

Wua Lai Chiang Mai|0.91km from city center

Loved this hotel.. Everything about it was good. Friendly staff, nice swimming pool , great location..stayed in two different rooms both very nice

From$27

Furama Chiang Mai

4.2/5Very Good344 Reviews

Huay Kaew Chiang Mai|2.85km from city center

5 mins walk to Maya Lifestyle shopping center, spacious room, easy to access eveywhere. The most beautiful rooftop bar.

From$23

Amora Thapae Hotel Chiang Mai

4.2/5Very Good198 Reviews

Night Bazaar Area Chiang Mai|0.22km from city center

The hotel is at a good location and we can walk to most of the attractions within the old city. The checkin staff and the concierge are very efficient and professional. Unfortunately, we encountered a very rude senior chef at the egg station during breakfast. He would totally ignore us Asians when we were queuing there and greeted the Caucasians behind us and asked for their orders instead. We would have enjoyed our stay if not for this rude encounter.

From$31

Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel

4/5Very Good1257 Reviews

Huay Kaew Chiang Mai|2.08km from city center

Recently stayed at Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel in Chiang Mai. The location of the hotel was not ideal, situated quite far to various attractions. Fair to say that the room was good and provided the basic amenities, delicious breakfast, though it felt a bit dated. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout my stay. However, some areas of improvement could include modernizing the facilities and updating the decor to enhance the overall guest experience, especially there are leakage near bathroom area, it definitely has potential to be vintage hotel if improvement made

From$16

Icon Park Hotel, Chiang Mai

4.4/5Excellent325 Reviews

Area north of the old city Chiang Mai|1.56km from city center

Really nice hotel, they have everything you need, I had a big room, front desk staffers are so nice, their English is good enough to communicate, everything is modern and easy to use, I definitely will come back next trip to Chiang Mai

From$29

Swimming pool

Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai

4/5Very Good327 Reviews

Night Bazaar Area Chiang Mai|0.77km from city center

Upon appearance this hotel looks rather elegant and really quite charming and in a great location, close to local markets and bars and a good base for tours. The lobby is gorgeous and the lady checking us in was very informative and polite. The room we were given on the 18th floor. (1826) was huge and although dated was still very nice and with a great view of the city. The pool area is lovely too, but as you can imagine the bar prices were expensive. The good ended there. The lifts take far too long to come down. There is an express lift but is no faster. The wifi is very hit and miss. The beds were awful and were sleeping on concrete blocks. Had the worst night’s sleep for the 1st of 2 nights. 2nd night we actually slept quite well but mainly due to being so tired from the night before. The shower is nothing but a trickle, and there is a ledge on the floor in the doorway when entering the bathroom which is very easy to trip over, maybe get some yellow tape on it. Breakfast was mainly catered for asians, not many western options at all, and what was there was grim, we had breakfast included but didn’t bother the next day. Over all it is good value for money and if they were to change the mattress I would stay again but the beds were just truly abysmal.

From$27

Lanna Oriental Hotel

4.1/5Very Good176 Reviews

Chiang Mai Ancient City Chiang Mai|1.43km from city center

The room is really stylish and gives you Oriental vibes. In the bathroom you can find all kinds of ameneties even a dental and a shaving kit. You can get a good sleep in the bed! I couldn't give the maximum score because the cleanliness offers small room for improvement but overall the stay was great! Just look at the nice pool and you can understand why!

From$24

Stay with Nimman Chiang Mai

4.5/5Excellent462 Reviews

Nimmanhaemin Road Area Chiang Mai|2.63km from city center

Pros - Convenient location, take only 5 minutes to One Ninman. - Room tidy but a little bit small. - a bit far from old city and pickup service from local tour may not cover Ninman area, but staff helpful and help book tour to national park snd cooking class Cons - need to be careful when taking shower because there is only a narrow glass separator and water easily spilled out and make floor wet. Others: - We did not book breakfast Overall great stay with the budget.

From$27

Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai

4.2/5Very Good267 Reviews

Night Bazaar Area Chiang Mai|0.83km from city center

This is an excellent hotel, clean, big, good location, night market is just 400 ft away, walking distance to many temples . The hotel got airport pickup service which is so convenient. The hotel provides welcomed drinks and served chocolate which is fantastic. Breakfast is good with plenty of varieties. The Thai Restaurant in the hotel is good and cheap. The hotel staffs provide excellent service. Thanks Phim and Arm, tried their best to satisfy our needs and made our stay felt so warm and comfortable. The only downside is the swimming pool and gym is not big enough. Other than that, everything is good. We will definitely refer this hotel to our friends and will stay in this hotel again when we come to Chiang Mai in the future.

From$46

Holiday Garden Hotel & Resort

4.2/5Very Good561 Reviews

Huay Kaew Chiang Mai|3.65km from city center

Everything good, The room is big. But need to wait for the hot water for a while, don't know it happens to every room or not. But overall is good compare to the price

From$16

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Bangkok

Songkran festival 2024 - Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan / Source: Trip.com

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located in the center of the country and near the coast of the Gulf of Thailand💥. It will offer you a fun-fueled Songkran festival Thailand from April 13 to 15, from 10 in the morning until 8 at night. The celebrations don't go on as their Chiang Mai counterparts but are, in fact, more intense👍. Bangkok is a great destination if you are looking for an international party since most people living in Bangkok will head back to their hometowns to celebrate this holiday with their families while the city becomes packed with backpackers and tourists😁.

Songkran festival 2024 - Khao San Road, Bangkok

Khao San Road, Bangkok / Source: Trip.com

In Bangkok, expats, backpackers, and locals all come together across the city to throw buckets of water and playfully shoot their water pistols and revel long into the night😇. One of the best places to celebrate is undoubtedly in the area around Khao San Road, which is the backpacker's haven. Here you'll find a real party scene, with street vendors, music, plenty of alcohol, and quite a young international crowd🎶.

Silom Road, near the famous Lumphini Park (home to many large monitor lizards), is another party hotspot👍. Here, the police will close off the whole road to make way for the revelry. You'll find small shops and sidewalk stalls open for business, offering buckets filled with water and ice, alcohol, and food😆.

A Songkran waterfight in the city. Source: Trip.com

👉 You can also find Songkran parties around the Central World Festival Mall (get off at the BTS subway stop called Siam World). If you are looking for something a little smaller, you'll also find that most of the large hotels hold ticketed pool parties and other fun celebrations.

Flights to Bangkok

As the capital city, flying to Bangkok is easy. A flight to Bangkok from Los Angeles can take as little as 19 hours and cost just US$1,120 per person.

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Hotels in Bangkok

Amara Bangkok Hotel (SHA Plus+) / Source: Trip.com

Riva Surya Bangkok: A contemporary option with all the amenities, this 4-star hotel is only a 5 min walk from Khao San Road.
Amara Bangkok Hotel: A beautiful and modern option with a stunning rooftop pool where you can enjoy the sunsets with a cocktail, this 4-star hotel is only a 10 min walk to Silom.

👉 More accommodation recommendations in Bangkok:

5 star

Twin Towers Hotel

4.1/5Very Good1209 Reviews

Siam Bangkok|2.01km from city center

A great hotel which was excellent value for money. The lobby alone is impressive as you arrive, and staff is very polite and helpful, from the stewards opening the door, to the desk staff and also the cleaning staff. Rooms are spacious and comfortable although the mattress in my room would benefit from an upgrade. Amenities are great, the gym has a very decent amount of equipment and the pool is very nice too although pretty much always in the shade so even in the middle of the afternoon the water isn’t too warm! Finally the location is very decent too, there’s a 7-11 just outside the hotel and you can walk to China Town within 25 minutes. I would definitely stay there again. That said, I was somewhat disappointed that despite being told I was upgraded to an Executive room, my room had a view facing the opposite building instead of the cityscape which was what I expected based on the pictures.

From$24

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G

4.2/5Very Good495 Reviews

Silom/Sathon Bangkok|0.28km from city center

I stayed this in 2016, and now the hotel room is refurbished the room into ALL WHITE color which is okay. Bright and looks modern clean , though to me a bit boring (perhaps to put one iconic color on the sofa or chair, but maybe that’s the designer concept) . Downside : The design is a bit lack of safety , why they painted the door stopper with white color ? My feet hit it 3 times every time I want to put something in the cupboard , the bathroom door also not safe. Notice also the bathroom does not cleaned thoroughly. Took pic on the shower water knob. Disgusting

From$67

Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok

4.2/5Very Good383 Reviews

Sukhumvit Bangkok|5.68km from city center

I recently stayed at the Oakwood studios hotel for a short trip and overall I had a positive experience. The hotel was clean and well-maintained, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. The room was comfortable and had all the necessary amenities for a work trip, including a desk and reliable Wi-Fi. They also boast a nice pool and a small gym. The hotel's location was convenient and easily accessible, with plenty of dining options and 7/11 nearby. However, the noise level from neighbouring rooms and the hallway was a bit higher than I would have liked, but it didn't significantly impact my ability to rest and work. Overall, I would recommend this hotel for business travelers looking for a reliable and comfortable stay. It may not have all the bells and whistles of a luxury hotel, but it certainly gets the job done at a reasonable price.

From$56

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside

4.2/5Very Good1255 Reviews

Riverside Bangkok|2.99km from city center

Good to have free boat shuttle to Sathorn pier which is close to Saphan Taksin BTS. And the hotel staffs were nice and helpful. When we reported that there were noise from air conditioner, they arranged a new room next day and upgraded my room as well. Will back again for my next trip.

From$66

The Sukosol Hotel

4.3/5Excellent654 Reviews

Siam Bangkok|3.59km from city center

I lived in the new building the toilet was smelly and the bath area without curtain the water was wetting around the floor . For the location is near to the BTS but u need to cross 3 road to arrive the BTS. There have s as garden next to the lobby the environment is pretty and relaxing .

From$65

Family friendly

Royal Rattanakosin Hotel

3.9/51614 Reviews

Khaosan Road Bangkok|4.47km from city center

Hotel is in the prime location but as per the photos in the app while booking it was not like same. This is first time when a hotel charge for luggage handling when you checkout and go for 3 to 4 hours outside before taking the flight. Beds are making sound while you take a side also.

From$20

Prince Palace Hotel Bangkok

4/5Very Good743 Reviews

Khaosan Road Bangkok|3.03km from city center

The hotel is very fantastic. Big and beautiful But the rooms have to make repairs all the facilities are old The hotel offers bathrobes - we didn't have any, apparently they don't supply all the rooms. The cleanliness of the room is lacking - they don't clean continuously, put the wet towels back on the hanger instead of changing them. There is no further word about the bedding - they did not change it but arranged it. There are a lot of cockroaches in the rooms and parts of the hotel. Spraying is needed, in order to clean the room we moved the chair to throw out the cockroach we found in the room. The cleaner apparently considered him one of the guests because she simply moved him to the entrance. The furniture in the room is beautiful but old.. hot water handles are missing - not enough for a long time. Sometimes you have to wait a long time. We did not enjoy hot water

From$35

Hotel Royal Bangkok@Chinatown

4.4/5Excellent595 Reviews

Chinatown Bangkok|2.07km from city center

Location wise is very good in the middle of Chinatown. Pros in staying here is u won't get hungry every where is food. 7/11 is also beside only.still got mini money charger outside hotel if u run out of bath. Will still here again next time. MRT is also 3 mins walk. Service is good too.

From$38

Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom - Formerly Novotel Bangkok Silom Road

4.1/5Very Good1420 Reviews

Silom/Sathon Bangkok|0.82km from city center

First of all, thank you for the complimentary airport pick up at BKK, good coordination and English communication from your staff, Wimonrat sukrasebya further helped me in getting a comfortable and speedy ride to the hotel. 👍👍👍 Being a solo and leisure traveler, I was not able to take a swim and sunbath after breakfast as the swimming pool is located on the west side of the hotel. This means the sun won't hit the swimming pool until 2pm. This has really ruined my trip and I was very disappointed but I know there is nothing the management can do about it.😅😅😅 Then the next issue is the bathroom. First, the water faucet is located too close to the edge of the sink, so water splashes around the entire sink top and everything is wet. Please see the attached photos. Secondly, the shower cubicle does not have a door and result in water splash again. But luckily this can solved by putting a floor towel outside the area to avoid slipping. 😩😩😩 Moreover, it is the English level of the staff. It is not up to par in such an international renounced hotel management property. I got my toe hurt in the swimming pool and then asked for an adhesive bandage, but noone understood what I said on the phone until they saw the attached photo. Later on, the staff told me that they run out of bandages. Eventually, they managed to get me a couple of them to stop the bleeding. 😅😅😅 Finally, I would say the service and friendliness of the staff was good and responsive. It would be much better if they can get more training in the language skill especially in English. In conclusion, I have to say that I won't be staying with that hotel again in my future visits to BKK, simply because the swimming pool is really bothering me as I won't be able to get sunbath and a swim in the morning after breakfast.

From$44

Ambassador Hotel Bangkok

4/5Very Good705 Reviews

Sukhumvit Bangkok|3.87km from city center

One of the hardest recommended Hotel I’ve ever given. First I have to list all the not-so-good things: 1. The room is old. You can feel it the moment you enter the room. The case for the air conditioner controller is broken (the controller is still working fine). The carpet is clean but old and out of fashion. The air conditioner’ fan runs like a jet engine. 2. The checkin/checkout lines are not optimized in work flow. It took at best 5 minutes just to checkin 2 persons, at worst 40 minutes for a group checkin. So I had one of the worst checkin time ever. I had to wait in line for 50 minutes for my turn. 3. The towels had some stains. They are clean though. But even with those negative things I still have a lot of good things to say: 1. Location, location, location. Ambassador is on the CBD of Bangkok. Which means you can go to other places very cheap and very quickly. It is close to the Nana BTS and Sukhumvit MRT. You can go to Terminal 21 for shopping and dining. Many other services are nearby. 2. The price is very affordable. Price/performance of the room is not bad at all. With the same price you can only have a smaller and worse location room of other hotels or homestay. 3. If you intend to go outside a lot during daytime then the room is not that bad. The shower and bed were really all my need and they worked just fine. 4. The Sky wing suite has a really good view of Bangkok 5. The staff are very nice and polite. I don’t have any negative moment regarding the staff. The hotel mainly targets Indian groups that join conventions or meetings. So they don’t renew the facilities frequently. But I think they are still good enough for your stay. Overall, if you can pay more, there are better options of course. But your budget is limited then you should definitely short-list this hotel.

From$30

Swimming pool

Mandarin Hotel Managed by Centre Point

4.5/5Excellent903 Reviews

Silom/Sathon Bangkok|0.67km from city center

Great location in Silom Samyan. It’s only a 5-min walk from the MRT Samyan Station. Samyan Mitrtown Shopping Centre, just right across the road from the hotel, has a big food court, many shops and a supermarket. Walking about 15 minutes or taking 5-min taxi ride can go to the local food paradise Patham Wan. There, you will find Michelin local food stalls like Jeh O Chula serving hotpot Mama noodles and J Aoi Som Tum serving traditional and new-style spicy Thai mango salad. The facilities like the swimming pool and gym are nice. Don’t forget to book the massage service at the lobby Let’s Relax Spa. 👍🏻👍🏻

From$51

Asia Hotel Bangkok

4.1/5Very Good1613 Reviews

Siam Bangkok|2.71km from city center

I arrived really early around 6:30 but i informed the hotel 1 day before for my request of early check in but they never replied.. My check was not pleasant at all, I actually don't mind them charging another one night charge for my early check in but the amount of time checking in was long and the receptionist wasn't very understanding of my predicaments. Anyway, apart from that, I liked my room and the location is fantastic with a connected to the BTS skytrain.

From$34

Pullman Bangkok King Power

4.6/5Outstanding1091 Reviews

Siam Bangkok|3.73km from city center

Pros: 1) good breakfast with a wide range of choices: Western and Chinese. Booked breakfast for 7 nights and enjoyed it every day. 2) attentive staff and reception. We had an early flight and reception kindly allowed us to check in at 10 am. 3) The nearby Duty-free shopping center is a pleasant bonus 4) the gym is well equipt Cons: the bed mattress is not high and is a little squeezable, so I did not like it.

From$93

Baiyoke Sky Hotel Bangkok

4.2/5Very Good809 Reviews

Pratunam Market Bangkok|3.41km from city center

Overall stay was great. Most of stuff don’t speak English properly enough, that is a bad thing for hotel. Also poor geto around the hotel was a little bit disappointing but tolerable. If you want a better impression about Bangkok I suggest no to stay at this hotel for a whole time in Bangkok, rather consider taking longer stay in hotels located in Bang Rak neighborhood.

From$75

W Bangkok Hotel

4.5/5Excellent712 Reviews

Silom/Sathon Bangkok|0.82km from city center

All staffs are very friendly and good service, welcome me and my friend. I did request it high floor and nice view. For breakfast.many various drinks and foods, very yummy, love this hotel. Will go there again.

From$203

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Phuket

Songkran festival 2024 - Phuket Patong Beach

Phuket Patong Beach / Source: Trip.com

Being that Songkran is a New Year celebration centered on water, being on an island is an even better choice👍. Phuket is a large island that sits in the Andaman Sea in the south of Thailand😍 and is connected to the mainland through the Sarasin Bridge, offering something just like that. It is a hotspot for tourists, meaning lots of people will congregate to party, coupled with plenty of accommodation and entertainment🔥.

Phuket during Songkran is one filled with the joy of celebration, with everyone (even police officers!) running around and shooting each other with water pistols and water soakers🎊. The beaches here will turn into one huge party. The bars and pubs will be brimmed with numerous wet and happy revelers. The party here also lasts 3 days, from April 13 to 15, but usually lasts longer – starting from 10 in the morning on April 13 and lasting until the night of April 15🔥.

Phuket Patong Beach / Source: Trip.com

Head to Patong beach for the main beach parties, to Bangla Road for the best water fights, or attend the Miss Songkran Pageant to enjoy some local performances. If it all gets a bit much and you want some peace and quiet, far away from the booze-fueled romp, then why not head down to Phuket town or the areas of Rawai and Katu.

A Thai lady in Phuket celebrating Songkran. Source: Trip.com

Hotels in Phuket

The Nature Phuket (SHA Extra Plus) - Swimming Pool / Source: Trip.com

The Nature Phuket: A beautiful property that resides in the heart of the action in Patong beach but provides you with an oasis of tranquility filled with beanbags and a rooftop pool.
The Beachfront Hotel Phuket: This modern oasis on Phuket's Rawai beach will offer you a calmer Songkran with hot tubs, an outdoor pool, and a golf course, and you can still enjoy the holiday if you want to.

👉 More accommodation recommendations in Phuket:

5 star

Patong Bay Hill Resort

4/5Very Good199 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|13.53km from city center

Nice hotel and resort. Fairly private location and the main beach area can easily be reached via local motorbikes or the shuttle service. Breakfast was good and the pools were clean. Rooms were spacious and well equipped, although it would have been good if cooking was allowed in the kitchen areas. The shop was a good amenity, but not many items available and closed at irregular times. Overall, a good choice of a place to stay.

From$52

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Chao Fah Phuket

4.2/5Very Good230 Reviews

Phuket Town Phuket|12.4km from city center

A nice modern clean hotel. I stayed here with my daughter and used it as a launch pad to the port where Phi Phi tours depart from. The good: Helpful check in, including for organising our tour. Clean and modern. Nice rooms, bathrooms and quiet central air. A top Chinese restaurant attached to the lobby. They had a street food popup rooftop restaurant. The views in the evening were stunning with bush on one side and nightlights on the other. Once you get over the 200 baht charge, the hotel taxi to the old town was very nice. A free shuttle I didn't use - only twice daily, and just to the Central mall. They had connecting rooms, which can be tricky to find. The bad: It's a bit far from things. There is no balcony at the room. The menu prices listed exclude tax and service.. a pet peeve. There was no facility to charge to the room. Paying by credit card in the restaurants they kept setting to the foreign card currency, via some third party with a poor conversion rate. It was a real struggle just to simply get a charge in Thai Baht. The pool is very small but has a nice view. The gym looked pretty good but I didn't use it. Would I stay there again? Yes for sure.

From$51

The Senses Resort & Pool Villas

3.9/5204 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|12.16km from city center

It was a very beautiful and relaxing stay. We had the Senses Suite which came with a jacuzzi and ample room space with living hall, balcony etc. The staff was also very helpful and friendly. Everything is good except for the location which was quite far from the beach as the place is located on a hill top. Nevertheless this is compensated with a complimentary shuttle service which goes to Patong beach and shopping mall, Jungceylon. By foot, you will need 15-20 minutes to walk but by car, about 8 minutes. The swimming pool is huge and very beautiful overlooking the sea and town. Overall it was a really good stay.

From$62

Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa Phuket

4.3/5Excellent302 Reviews

Kamala Beach Phuket|11.65km from city center

I recently had the opportunity to extend my stay at Thavorn Beach Village Resort and Spa Phuket due to a missed flight, and I must say it turned out to be a delightful experience. The hotel staff was extremely helpful in accommodating our last-minute request for an extra night, ensuring a seamless transition to a new room. Although our new room was located further up the hill, away from the beach, it was a luxurious haven. The room was spacious, beautifully decorated, and had all the amenities one would expect from a high-end resort. The panoramic views from the room were stunning, making up for the slight inconvenience of having to take a slow-moving roller coaster car to the lobby area. Speaking of the facilities, I can confidently say that they are nothing short of excellent. The resort boasts an array of amenities catering to various interests and preferences. Whether it was lounging by the pool, indulging in spa treatments, or taking part in the recreational activities offered, there was never a dull moment during our stay. One aspect that truly stood out during our extended stay was the exceptional service provided by the staff. They were warm, friendly, and went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. From assisting us with our luggage during the room change to offering helpful suggestions for local attractions, their attentiveness and professionalism were commendable. Despite the unexpected change of plans, Thavorn Beach Village Resort and Spa Phuket remained a five-star experience. The comfort and luxury of the room, combined with the outstanding facilities and the hospitality of the staff, made it a memorable stay. I highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing and indulgent getaway.

From$95

Splash Beach Resort Maikhao Phuket

4.1/5Very Good185 Reviews

Mai Kao Beach Phuket|16.47km from city center

Firstly, they served delicious cuisines that you simply have to try. I mean for me, all the meals I had there was perfect. Dinner - Asian Buffet Breakfast - Breakfast Buffet Lunch - ala-carte at Beach Restaurant Bad thing: Splash Jungle Waterpark needs EXTENSIVE maintenance. If you planning to ride on those “giant” slide, I recommend you not! It causes my back to be itchy and is this acceptable? When was the last you guy sanitise the tube? Is it still up to the standard set and how will you ensure the ridding the tube will not cause any repercussion to its user?

From$66

Family friendly

Mandarava Resort and Spa Phuket

4.4/5Excellent207 Reviews

Karon Beach Phuket|15.74km from city center

Had a great stay at the hotel, spacious rooms and lovely swimming pools and pool bars. We would’ve loved to see more pictures f a variety during breakfast time, too many of the same dishes especially since we stayed for 5 nights. Better shuttle service to the beach would’ve been great too, there are only 4 opportunities each day to take the shuttle bus to the beach nearby and back to the hotel. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bang Tao and they had a shuttle service going to the market and beach at all times, this made it just nicer to plan your day and a wonderful extra service from the Hilton. Rooms have very little privacy, although the views are incredible, you have to keep your blinds closed at all times otherwise the room opposite you can look directly into your bedroom which just spoiled having these great windows and views. Overall good stay and was quite relaxing, friendly and helpful staff.

From$116

Mom Tri's Villa Royale

4.4/5Excellent81 Reviews

Kata Beach Phuket|20.32km from city center

I’ve stayed in this gorgeous little hotel for 9 days with my mum, as part of her Birthday Trip in South East Asia and loved every single moment of our time there. Actually for the 1st time I felt like staying in someone’s private, luxurious home rather then the hotel. Mom Tri’s Villa is beautifully furnished in traditional Thai style, very functional on every level and provides it’s guests with possibly one of the best views on Phuket, thanks to it’s picturesque location on a little cliff overlooking Kata Noi Beach and the Andaman Sea. We’ve chosen to stay in an Ocean Wing for the ultimate privacy and tranquility and couldn’t have made a better choice. The staff were all lovely - friendly and approachable. Thank you for a little Birthday treat for my mum - she loved it and so did I. We already miss this little piece of Thai paradise and wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to visit again in the future.

From$157

SR Sea View Apartments

3.7/517 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|13.66km from city center

We stayed at NC residence for 9 nights. The staff are excellent, friendly and always available. Daily room cleaning. Daily change of towels and water every day. Popu reception guy was great. Kind, polite. The only flaw. The climb to reach the place.

From$11

Best Western Patong Beach

4.2/5Very Good508 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|11.95km from city center

The door n the wall not thick enough to cover everybody shouting on the coriddor and the drunken people late at night. The location near the mall n bagla road got night market, bars, restaurants amd night livr

From$29

Coconut Village Resort Phuket

4.3/5Excellent377 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|13.29km from city center

Check in was swift/ prompt. Hotel lobby is always kept clean. Room is spacious with balcony facing poolside and has bathtub, perfect for a good soak before getting some good sleep. Patong beach is just 350m/ 5mins walk. If you’re adventurous do to walk further to Patong boat pier (650m frm hotel) Bigger 7-11 store right in front of the Patong beach which has fresh daily pastries/ bakes and ready-to-eat salad bowls (very fresh if you get them early morning, right after your morning beach walk) Many food/ restaurants/ cafes available just on the long stretch of Patong beach. Walking distance to Bangla Rd too. Hotel provides clean beach towel and umbrella too so helpful/ useful during my 4 days stay as the Sun was too hot, and I’d sit 2hrs on the beach to read my book and gazed at the sunset. Highly recommend this for solo traveler, safe neighbourhood and value for money.

From$33

Swimming pool

Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa

4.1/5Very Good498 Reviews

Karon Beach Phuket|17.94km from city center

Good location. 5 minute walk to the beach. Easy access to taxi's and tuk tuks right outside the hotel. Hotel is ”tired ” looking - several areas in need of repair around the pool (damaged tiles etc) jacuzzi didn't work. The shower in the room was shocking. Very low pressure and temperature changed from hot to cold throughout the shower. The glass door also wasn't long enough so the bathroom floor was soaked after every shower. Room very basic however clean enough. Lighting in the room was too low also which made the room seem rather dark. Robes,slippers and toiletries all provided and kept full throughout stay. More a 3 star resort than 4 in current condition

SOLD OUT

The Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa

4.1/5Very Good603 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|11.83km from city center

It was really close to Patong Beach hub. My only complains are for the breakfast. There were lots of Chinese foods and very few other options. Only one type of cheese. And the worst part was the coffee ☕️. It was terrible, at least for me. I noticed some guests brought their own coffee with them to the restaurant. Another thing that bugged me was the pool hours. The pool was closed after 7, which was exactly the time I wanted to use the pool. All in all, it was a good hotel.

From$43

Andamantra Resort and Villa Phuket

3.6/5237 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|10.56km from city center

Room is Amazing and The View was spectacular Easily access to Shopping and location is perfect

From$38

The Nature Phuket

4.2/5Very Good176 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|10.72km from city center

Staffs are friendly . My son likes the fun pool alot . Room with jacuzzi is great . Breakfast spread is nice . Hotel is great especially one of the buggy staff , dint manage to ask for his name but he is most friendly and funny . Just one issue for room : ants can be seen crawling everywhere. Even no food around . We still have to throw containers of food at level one to prevent more ants to room . I extended one more day and Counter staff did not inform that we have to go to counter to renew the check in card . We only realized after we tried tapping card to room after a long day . We have to then walk back to check in counter to enquire . And the staff didn’t explain what happen til I ask . Staff did not apologize too .

From$86

Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa

4.4/5Excellent335 Reviews

Patong Beach Phuket|11.37km from city center

Lovely and picturesque hotel with a beautiful territory and multiple pools, right beside the sea. Very convenient location close to lots of the restaurants, shops, bars and not far from the walking street. Simple but clean and cosy rooms with very comfortable matrasses and nice balconies. We had a slight issue with the Wi-Fi in our room which we reported to the reception. They sent an IT person who fixed it quickly. Very caring and friendly attitude of the hotel staff. I definitely recommend this place! *One thing about the taxi service right outside of the hotel (and it's nothing to do with the hotel itself) - just an advice - be sure you fixed the final price before you started the trip. We took their cars twice and both times they wanted more money at the end of the trip for no reason even though we agreed on a price before (they are very friendly when you are booking them, but get quite aggressive at the end of the trip). They left a bad impression, maybe try to find a different place to take a taxi if you need one.

From$70

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Koh Samui

Songkran festival 2024 - Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park

Songkran festival 2023 - Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park / Source: Trip.com

Another spectacular beach destination where you can really enjoy Thailand's Songkran festival 2023 is Koh Samui😊. It is an island in the Gulf of Thailand that sits just across from Phuket (but in different seas). This place has a little bit of everything, from honoring tradition to celebrating crazy parties🎶, making it a perfect destination for families. Additionally, as one of Thailand's main tourist destinations, it won't run short of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and clubs. But a word of advice is that you should book hotels or restaurants in advance since holidays are pretty much the synonym for gouging🌞.

If you head to Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach is truly a place for the young, with thumping music, lots of mad water fighting, and even foam parties. The craziest areas can be found around The Green Mango discotic. It should be noted that these areas are not really family-friendly, as adult entertainment and alcohol may be present.

👉 For those traveling with families or those simply looking for something a little calmer, head to the north of the island and celebrate on the beautiful beaches of Choeng Mon, Bophut, and Maenam.

Flights to Koh Samui

Chaweng beach in Koh Samui, a top location for Songkran celebrations. Source: Trip.com

As a popular travel destination, you'll find that you can catch a flight to Koh Samui, albeit with a few pit stops. Therefore, we recommend planning a multi-stop trip with one night's rest in Bangkok. Otherwise, you could easily face a trip over 23 hours and spend over US$1,500 for the direct flight privilege.

Book Flights to Koh Samui

Hotels in Koh Samui

Saree Samui Natures Finest Resort / Source: Trip.com

Chaweng Noi Pool Villa: Just off the main party beach, this gorgeous hotel offers pure luxury with a choice of private rooms or villas. This is the perfect way to enjoy the crazy party and unwind afterward.
Saree Samui Natures Finest Resort: Offering a sea of tranquility in the relaxing Songkran destination of Maenam. Here you can drift off by the pool and take the immense sea into the horizon.

👉 More accommodation recommendations in Koh Samui:

5 star

Mantra Samui Resort

4.5/5Excellent63 Reviews

Bo Phut Koh Samui|5.44km from city center

I read many reviews about this resort and studied the Mantra Samui website, but never learned until after I booked (4 nights stay) my room that they had cancelled , during Covid, the regular shuttle that took guests down the hill to Fisherman Villa. I learned this because I called the hotel before my trip to ask some questions and also ask how to reserve a place on their shuttle. The resort does have one auto/driver that will drive you down to the bottom of the hill if it is there, and if it is not picking up someone at the airport. The shuttle delivers you directly to the bottom of the hill, is pretty much is just a local road. Then you can wave down a taxi and negotiate the price. Some fun! The Mantra Sumai should update their website to say the regular shuttle has been cancelled, and replaced by their maybe available one car. Continuing my story... We booked a massage at another hotel that is about 20 minutes away, and gave ourselves one hour to get there. So the night before we reserved to get the ride down to the bottom of the hill for the next day afternoon. When we went to reception, we were informed there was an accident, which was a flat tire, and the tire 'might' be fixed in half an hour and then another 20 minutes to get back to the Mantra. They apparently felt no responsibility to contact us. Just wait for the guests to show up and then tell them. They felt no responsibility to call the driver for any update. They then offered to call a taxi, but that would take about 20 minutes to arrive. Also when you call a taxi there is no opportunity for negotiation. My hour was dwindling. Well 20 is better than maybe 30 + 20 minutes. So they called the taxi. Luckily the Mantra driver showed up after 15 minutes, and the taxi was cancelled. My conclusion, after all the interfaces with reception, is they have a poor sense of responsibility and lacking the ability for logical thinking to provide a good guest experience. There are other examples beyond the above. Our suite room was in good condition, and everything functioning. Well, except the phone did not work, but I did not need that. The suite has a king size bed and a separate built in bed in the back of the living room. OK, so 4 people can stay. But the flaw in the suites is there is only a 2 person love seat to sit on. There is no chair, and no desk. It is no fun to use your laptop when the coffee table level is below your knees. A simple 4 leg table for a desk, and a simple chair would be nice, and not cost very much. They do have an on-site co-work room somewhere, but I did not use it. I think it is an extra cost and I did not have that much work to do anyway. The highlight of the Mantra Samui was the included breakfast. There are many cooked to order choices plus a buffet of juices, fruits, cereals, yogurt, pastries, and several breads you can toast yourself. We tried every item on the breakfast menu and all were nicely done and tasty. Very good coffee and tea made to order i

From$68

Nora Buri Resort & Spa

4.2/5Very Good80 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|4.27km from city center

Choosing the room with a private swimming pool was the best choice. The private pool was surprisingly large and the room was incredibly nice. The beach directly attached to the hotel is rocky and not somewhere you would like to swim, but the nicer beaches can be walked to.

From$103

Centara Reserve Samui

4.5/5Excellent178 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|0.98km from city center

My stay at Centara Reserve Samui was truly exceptional. Few, Ton at the reception provided top-notch service, setting a welcoming tone. The ocean view from my room was breathtaking, and the option to rent kayaks and paddle boards added adventure to my trip. Even after check-out, I was able to make use of the well-maintained gym and shower facilities. The cleanliness and overall quality of the gym made it a perfect place to unwind and refresh before heading out.The pool offered a stunning beach view, and the breakfast buffet, with customizable and pre-serviced options, catered to every taste. Additionally, the hotel's prime location provided easy access to a variety of tasty restaurants in the vicinity. Exploring the local cuisine was a delightful adventure in itself. It was the perfect setting for a memorable honeymoon, and there were plenty of delicious restaurants nearby. The services were worth the price, and I can't wait to return for another fantastic stay:)

From$256

Melia Koh Samui

4.3/5Excellent46 Reviews

Choeng Mon Beach Koh Samui|6.53km from city center

Excellent stay at this hotel. The staff make it all worthwhile in particular the staff at The Level Lounge - Selena, Banana, Eye, Bay, Makam just to name a few. They were so accommodating and ensured that we had vegetarian food for our group at every afternoon tea and evening cocktail. The pool area is great for families and has a large shallow area for babies to splash around in. Special mention to pool staff Bow who works his socks off to happily accommodate for every request. The pool access rooms are large, spacious and have everything you need although I believe they could be updated and modernised. Overall a fantastic stay and we really hope to be back soon

From$178

Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui

4.6/5Outstanding122 Reviews

Chaweng Noi Koh Samui|1.68km from city center

I and my wife stayed in a garden facing pool villa with about 60 sq meters in size. The villa’s own pool was very clean and the balcony was facing the east. Other than a little noise generated from our neighbours next door, the environment was absolutely serene and peaceful. The room is thoroughly cleaned because of the efficient housekeeping staff who responded to our needs almost within 5 minutes every time we called. We particularly enjoyed the convenience and cleanliness of the fitness room which is immediately opposite to my villa. All hotel staff are very courteous and helpful when being approached by us. While driving their golf carts around, they would always actively stop and give us a lift for wherever we wished to go within the resort. The restaurant Kiree didn’t disappoint us as per other guests’ compliments. It offers a wide range of sumptuous dishes in semi-buffet style breakfast and the chef could made some specific dishes according to our orders. The Kiree also impressed us by the set dinner with wine-pairing given its fusion of quality Thai and International food and choices of wine. My wife and I believe we would come back in the summer which would be dryer and lots of sunshine! Highly recommended!

From$366

Family friendly

Samui Bayside Luxury Villas

4.7/5Outstanding53 Reviews

Choeng Mon Beach Koh Samui|7.9km from city center

Consistent with the picture, the environment is beautiful, the entrance to a swimming pool, the living room, the open kitchen, a double bed room, a public bathroom, a total of 3 rooms on the second floor, one of which is a double bed Large room space, simple and comfortable It takes less than 5 minutes from the villa to the beach, and walking up the mountain is Six Senses. The sea is beautiful from the villa, but it is not suitable for swimming because there are a lot of sand and stones near the sea, and there are many seaweeds on the water. When staying in the hotel, the housekeeper JUM came to introduce the facilities in the villa. During the few days we stayed, she helped to solve many problems, ordering food for us, ordering takeaway, and calling a car. Will stay again next time

SOLD OUT

The Sarann

4.3/5Excellent126 Reviews

Chaweng Noi Koh Samui|2.51km from city center

Away from the hustle of central Chaweng, so is a good spot to be based for quiet times and used as a base to explore the island. Beachfront pool villas are nice, large and great views of the ocean. Private pool is a bonus and well worth the upgrade. Hotel was busy when I stayed and everyone seemed to be happy and enjoying themselves. The pool isn’t the largest but plentiful for the amount of rooms. Don’t forget, there are the villas with private pools, so a fair number of guests will be in their own area. Access to the beach is not directly in front of the hotel, but that’s a good thing otherwise I would be hearing everyone in front of my villa each day. Access is the side of the resort just past the restaurant. Along this stretch of beach has a few other hotel bars and restaurants to eat and drink in and if you head to the furtherest headland point, and head inland, you will come across a handful of bars and restaurants. As many people have said, the hotel is next to a road - but like most hotels in Samui, it’s just the design of the island. You can avoid the main road for your walk to the local area by going along the stretch of beach. And when you are on the island, why wouldn’t you want to walk along the beach?! So don’t listen to those comments about nothing nearby. If you want the hustle of the nightlife, Chaweng central is 15 minutes away. Get on the shuttle or order a taxi for 300thb. It’s a 4 star hotel, trying to get back to some kind of normal after covid and over time, I am sure the owners will reinvest their money to make improvements where some other guests have commented about in other posts but I do think it is dependent on the room type you book and/or are assigned as most of them are fine. Give it a go, it is worth it. I’ve been to many hotels over the years - more than the average Joe - and it’s only recently where I’ve checked in and out of two hotels on the same day in all these years.

From$39

Lub D Koh Samui Chaweng Beach

4.3/5Excellent72 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|2.18km from city center

Perfect for young crowd. Lot of activities and parties during the day and night. Pool is beautiful and prices are reasonable. Staff is very helpful and always making sure that you’re all set. However I didn’t know that this is a party hotel so this isn’t really for me but I’m sure if you’re looking to have fun all day long, this is for you.

From$17

Casa de Mar

4.3/5Excellent62 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|3.62km from city center

This hotel was absolutely fantastic!! The service and staff were super friendly. We were served at all times of the day and even at one point one of us lost our passport on the day of our departure and in the last hour the hotel staff personally came to the airport to drop off our passport before our flight. Talk about amazing service. Thoroughly impressed!

From$58

COSI Samui Chaweng Beach

4.3/5Excellent313 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|1.66km from city center

The large hotel has modern and very clean rooms and a very good room service. The TV in my room did not work. The swimming pool is very nice but unfortunately there is no gym available. You can rent a motorbike there for 300 baht per day (quite expensive) but unfortunately the staff there is not easy to reach when you wanna return the bike. You can park the bike at the nearby Central shopping mall which is quite complicated because the parking space is very narrow. All in all I would recommend the hotel!

From$30

Swimming pool

Nora Beach Resort & Spa

4.4/5Excellent56 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|3.83km from city center

The property is too old . They don’t have elevator for the hotel rooms, It’s okay for 2-3 day stay. I can say it’s so-so not so bad not so good .

From$99

SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort

4.5/5Excellent91 Reviews

Chaweng Beach Koh Samui|2.98km from city center

Went there to Celebrate Our 20th Wedding Anniversary. Our first time to Koh Samui so was abit nervous about the arrangement. But the staff was so kind and make sure everything was in order from our late check-in to everything we requested etc.They even gave us a bottle of complimentary champagne along with a flower filled bathtub ,bed decorations etc.We are so impressed with the Service, Quality Of Food ,Cleanliness of the Hotel and many many more. Everything is Perfect .Definitely will be back for more.

From$284

Celes Samui

4.5/5Excellent112 Reviews

Bo Phut Koh Samui|5.55km from city center

We stayed for 4 nights in a beach front pool villa. Celes resort has two parts to it, an old and a new part. They both have their own driveway entrance. We stayed in the new part and it was blissful. It has a spacious airy feel, with high rooflines, peaceful well maintained gardens. Speakers in the gardens playing faint beach style music has you walk the main pathways. The hotel pool in the new part overlooks bophut beach and also has a bar and lots of deck chairs and umbrellas around the pool. The breakfast has an excellent selection. The best I experienced this holiday. The old and new Celes share the same breakfast area. You can sit at the beach, or inside. Lots of staff available if you need any assistance. Our villa was superb. The king size bed was way bigger than a king size. The biggest bed I have ever experienced in a hotel. The room is very spacious, with a large day bed at the from window which overlooks the villa pool and bophut beach. The bathroom is large, with a bath in front on a full length window which overlooks the beach. You can draw the blinds if you wish for full privacy. The villa also has a number of items in the mini bar, including beer, that are free of charge and replaced each day by housekeeping. The villa pool is massive and perfect temp, there are sections in shade if you want that, or full sun. A very large couch/daybed with lots of cushions and a counter levered roof for some shade. Two seperate deck chairs and an umbrella over it. There are stairs and a lockable gate so that you can access the beach directly from your villa. The beach in front of the villa is lovely, so peaceful and glassy in the mornings. We had one day of rain and wind, but apart from that it was magnificent. You can walk about 10 mins along the beach to fishermans village where lots of top quality restaurants, cafes, shopping, massages can be found. The hotel also has a free shuttle twice a day that can take you to fishermans village or Chaweng if you wish. We dined in the hotel restaurant for lunch one day and the food was excellent. We hired a scooter and parked it at the resort with no issues. I highly recommend this resort, if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, then this place is for you

From$97

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

4.6/5Outstanding114 Reviews

Lamai Beach Koh Samui|6.35km from city center

I really have a good time there, the swimming pool is phenomenal, the view and also the weather when I got there are so fantastic. I strongly recommend to stay ai this place, it's quite private and relaxing to me. the reservation is nothing hard, I can book the room and check in then enjoy life at the moment before go back to work. Like the time was stopped.

From$186

TUI BLUE The Passage Samui Pool Villas with Private Beach Resort

4.1/5Very Good45 Reviews

Bang Por Koh Samui|14.88km from city center

Wir sind beide knapp über 50 und reisen zweimal pro Jahr an die schönsten Flecken unserer Erde, bislang waren wir angefangen von nahezu allen Karibik-Inseln über Sansibar, einige Atolle auf den Malediven bis hin zu Sansibar, Kenia, einmal waren wir 2005 schon in Thailand-Phuket, was aber mit der Schönheit und dem Charme von Koh Samui bei weitem nicht mithalten konnte. Jedoch wussten wir von damals, dass Thailand zu Recht die Bezeichnung ”Land des Lächelns” trägt. Aber dieser Urlaub auf Koh Samui, in diesem traumhaft, romantischen, liebevoll angelegten Hotel TUI BLUE The Passage stellt neue Maßstäbe und wird uns ein Leben lang in Erinnerung bleiben! Beginnen wir mit der Insel: Koh Samui ist ein absoluter Traum und es ist für jeden etwas dabei. Der, der es so ruhig haben möchte wie wir, der sollte die Westseite der Insel wählen, Partytiger die Ostseite mit dem Chaweng Beach (extremer) und dem Lamai Beach (dezenter). Wir haben uns für unseren Urlaub einen Roller gemietet und haben die Insel erkundet, haben sämtliche Aussichtspunkte besucht, sämtliche Strände besucht. Unser Fazit: Wir haben mit unserer Buchung im TUI BLUE The Passage voll ins Schwarze getroffen! Womit wir bei der Hotelbewertung an sich angekommen sind: Ein Strand wie aus dem Bilderbuch! Palmen ohne Ende, Traumstrand, Ruhe und Idylle, was genau das ist, was wir beide so sehr lieben. Das Hotel, wie auf all den Bildern schon bei der Buchung zu erkennen war, liebevoll angelegt. Ein Traum für Romantiker wie uns. Drei angenehm warme Pools, das Meer traumhaft warm, außer uns einige wenige Gäste zu sehen, wenn überhaupt. Die Lage wie gesagt an der Westseite, wer die Ruhe eines Hotels und diese Kulisse zu schätzen weiß und dennoch etwas erleben will, der sollte sich um einige wenige Euros einen Roller ausleihen, dieser kostet für über zwei Wochen so viel, wie bei uns in Österreich die Miete für einen einzigen Tag kosten würde. Zimmer: Wir hatten den Bungalow 305, es ist dies ein Pool Front Bungalow. Schön geräumig, im Eingangsbereich ein Sofa mit Tisch, weiter geht es in den geräumigen Schlafbereich, eine Türe führt in das ebenso geräumige Badezimmer/WC mit einer herrlichen Regendusche. Die Klimaanlage funktioniert wunderbar, das Zimmer ist durch die vielen Fenster sehr hell, man kann es aber komplett abdunkeln. Es gibt einen Wasserkocher samt Zutaten für Kaffee und Tee und jeden Tag bekommt man vier Flaschen Wasser. Es gibt auch noch einen großen Fernseher, jedoch ohne Deutsche Welle, wer jedoch als romantisches, sich liebendes Paar verreist, der hat abends mit diesem Ausblick aus dem Bett auf liebevoll beleuchtete Palmen ohnehin anderes im Sinn als fern zu sehen ;-) Das Zimmer wurde von den Zimmermädchen Tag für Tag perfekt gereinigt, sie sind nicht nur bezaubernd hübsch, sie leisten perfekte Arbeit und dies mit einer Freundlichkeit und einem Lächeln im Gesicht, unbeschreiblich. Aber zur Freundlichkeit des Personals kommen wir jetzt im nächsten Punkt: Service: Unbeschreiblich, wir

From$73

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Pai

Yun Lai Viewpoint / Source: Trip.com

Pai is known as a spiritual and beautiful mountain region where you can hike, do yoga, and dine. The natural hot springs and waterfalls are within walking distance. Not to mention that you can wash elephants and take a step back from the hustle and bustle of life. This northern Thai town is under the jurisdiction of the Mae Hong Son province, which is just a three-hour drive north of Chiang Mai. It also offers the tourists a chance for a relaxing and laid-back Songkran.

Children celebrating Songkran in nature. Source: Trip.com

If you are spending the holiday in Pai, you can celebrate the Songkran festival 2023 like a local. Head to the WWII Memorial Bridge in the morning to bathe with the locals and wash away last year's misfortunes and engage in the water fight on the road. If you don't want to get involved in the water fighting, this is a place where you can smile and politely decline. Locals in Pai are very friendly. Since there won't be that many tourists visiting here at that time, you may even be invited to spend Songkran with a local family.

Flights to Pai

Pai has a small regional airport easily accessible from other locations, including Bangkok and Koh Samui. After landing, a 3-hour drive up the very windy (but beautiful) mountain roads leads straight to Pai.

Book Flights to Chiang Mai

Hotels in Pai

Songkran festival 2024 - The Quarter Pai

The Quarter Pai / Source: Trip.com

The Quarter Pai: Enjoy mountain views and free use of bicycles at this 4-star hotel structured with wooden beams and a country feel. Being at the center of Pai – the valley of diversity – The Quarter is well connected to all kinds of facilities and must-see attractions. Enveloped by the scenic view of the mountains, it is keen to warm your weary heart with the utmost sincerity.
Pai Hotspring Spa Resort: Rent a 4-star Oriental chalet on the banks of the river and jump right into the cool and fresh waters to wash away bad luck. Here, the peaceful surrounding and the green hills will breathe fresh and pure air into your heart. It is truly a hot spring gateway in PAI Northern Thailand, and an unparalleled hideaway for true tranquility and serenity.

👉 More accommodation recommendations in Pai:

5 star

The Quarter Pai

4.4/5Excellent64 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.31km from city center

We had a wonderful relaxing time at the Quarter Pai. We had two rooms with a shared balcony for our family - two adults and two children. The rooms were spacious and tastefully decorated and the cleaning was effective. The hotel staff were helpful - for example using the pool net to rescue a small ball that nearly got lost under the low balcony outside our room. The pool was great for the kids and we spent lots of time playing in it. There are very shallow sections at one end for younger children. The reception staff were helpful and attentive, though sometimes google translate came in handy. The hotel is a a short walk out of town (5-10 minutes from the start of the main 'walking street') and the hotel runs a shuttle which is helpful on very hot days or in the rain. There was a lot of work going on at the hotel when we were there to spruce it up after the quieter times that all of the hotels in this area have experienced. Pai itself is lovely. There are tons of lovely small cafes and little shops. Lots of activities nearby. And it's easy to get to with a 3-4 hour bus journey from Chiang Mai. The hotel breakfast was good.

From$29

Pai Village Boutique Resort

4.8/5Outstanding79 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.8km from city center

Village hut style rooms are compact and non sound proof so your neighbor does hear u rocking the bed or squelchy floorboard while u walk around. 3 car lot just at front of hotel along a busy street that turn into a night market infused with scooters for rental and bars. Seconds away from street food. Lovely frog sounds while u sleep. Muzzie coil are provided daily. Simple breakfast menu and not bad chargrill steak at night. Housekeeping does provide random gift/staff every evening.

From$48

The Oia Pai Resort

4.6/5Outstanding36 Reviews

Mae Yen/Mae Hee Pai|1.24km from city center

We arrived for 2 tight ( 2 + 6 years boy) and we enjoy our stay very much, the stuff are so nice, the rooms are big, comfortable and clean, breakfast with a lot of choices, dinner at the resort restaurant was very good. We recommend to come and enjoy this resort! Before we leave we got a nice bag with small mangoes for the way. Thank you❣️

From$63

Yoma Hotel, Pai

4.2/5Very Good49 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.97km from city center

Lovely hotel, perfect walking distance from Pai centre. Free shuttle also offered. Breakfast is fresh and delicious. Big mugs for coffee, large bowls for cereal. Eggs made to order. Loved the finishing touches, robes, local soaps and herbal washes. Room is perfect, views to die for. Absolute value for money, would certainly book every time. My baby catered for with extra water, towels and a huge comfy cot.

From$22

Reverie Siam

4.7/5Outstanding63 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|1.28km from city center

Hotel location is quiet, away from the lively night market. The hotel has a free night market shuttle bus. Very user-friendly. The front desk can speak simple Chinese. Communication is barrier-free.

From$106

Family friendly

B2 Pai Premier Resort

3.9/585 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.19km from city center

Nice hotel situated near to the main walking street in Pai. Our ground floor room was spacious with a large bed and lovely terrace overlooking the pool. The toilet and shower were a little bit claustrophobic. The pool was clean at the start of our stay however turned a murky green colour in the last days.

From$17

E-Outfitting Pai Resort

3.6/530 Reviews

Thung Yao Pai|2.66km from city center

A pleasant relaxed place in Pai to enjoy together. It is here peaceful, very green and friendly staff! It was no problem to book another night on the same day. In the morning we got another banana offered from their own garden, we are all fans!

From$30

Pai Vintage Garden Resort

4.3/5Excellent22 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.89km from city center

While this is 20 mins walk or 5 min drive away from the main walking street, the tranquil surroundings aid in peaceful sleep apart from a few roosters crowing in the morning. The hotel is very safe as the owner will lock it up with an electronic locker from 11pm. Cozy and not crowded at all....with 7 eleven nearby as well. The owner is a really nice and honest chap who passed me back money that i accidentally dropped at the resort. The space may be tiny but for a solo traveller, it was gd. The room is clean and bed relatively comfortable. But the shower heater doesnt seem to work well. The staff are warm and friendly. While the breakfast is simple, it has a good home cooked meal. And yes it is just next door to Pai Yoga Shala a lovely yoga studio run and owned by nice Thai lady. Dropped in for a nice yoga class in the morning and enjoyed the vinyasa class.

From$13

Payi Resort

4.2/5Very Good41 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.22km from city center

We really enjoyed Pai as it had so much to offer! You definitely should rent a scooter to get about. The hotel was quick and easy to check into. The owner works very hard. However the hotel was a little dated and could do with some cleaning in the bathroom. Our beds were comfy and we had an amazing view! Great location as if was 5minute drive away from everything! We loved the night market too! Amazing street food! I didn’t like the fact the owners dog constantly barked at motor cycles and wasn’t friendly towards guests. However a lot of time and love has gone into the hotel.

From$8

Pai Hotsprings Spa Resort

3.4/525 Reviews

Mae Yen/Mae Hee Pai|6.18km from city center

The best thing about this place is the nice and warm hotspring bath that is free for the resort guests to use. I spent almost an hour there and found it to be quite relaxing. The double room I booked was of the standard type. Not the luxury ones next to the river. But my room was ok. Nice and clean and I had a good night sleep after that hotspring bath. The weak point of this resort is that it is quite run down in many areas around the resort. The front and the reception look nice. But the further inside you go, the more ”old and outdated” this place looks. All in all, for the price I paid and the facility I used, it was a good deal.

From$19

Swimming pool

Soi One Boutique Bedrooms

4/5Very Good2 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.79km from city center

It was a very nice hotel. Thank you for including breakfast. A convenient location to move anywhere for work. The space was very large.

SOLD OUT

Vimarnkiri Resort

4/5Very Good27 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|1.79km from city center

Fantastic views but a bit out the way from all the action of the main walking street. Despite the fact it’s away from all the hustle and bustle expect to be woken during the night by birds and animals from outside the room.

From$12

Pai Iyara Resort

4.3/5Excellent32 Reviews

Thung Yao Pai|2.93km from city center

Absolutely stunning! I had a wonderful three night stay, by myself (female), in a standard villa. The resort grounds are well kept while maintaining a natural feeling. The mountainous views from my room, the pool and the breakfast area were divine! It was quiet and peaceful, exactly what I needed. Enjoyed walking around at sunset. The staff were unbelievably kind, accommodating and attentive. Breakfast was included along with drinking water and fresh towels. They made my breakfast vegan for me upon request. Can’t beat fresh mango and banana every morning! My room was clean with working amenities including fan, air conditioner, how shower and fridge. There were little benches to sit out front, which could have been a little wider, so I enjoyed the hammock instead. The pool is big, beautiful and when I was there was perfectly very clean. I felt comfortable swimming and sitting on the pool chairs. The resort is located ten minuets outside of town and the staff will drive you in and out of town, free of charge. I wanted to be away from town but still accessible and that’s exactly what I got. There are some places along the main road you can walk to (or bike to , you can borrow a bike), such as Coffee in Love. When I arrived at the bus station I called and they directed me to turn right and head a few mins down the walking street and wait at the 7-11 on the corner. This is where I was dropped off and picked up other times I went into town. When the walking street was open to cars they drove me right to the bus station to leave. It’s definitely on the older side, but that didn’t take away from my experience.. it added to it! I felt so at home and well taken care of the whole time. My entire stay was 10/10 and I would definitely return again.

From$19

Pai Vimaan Resort

3.9/59 Reviews

Pai City Center Pai|0.79km from city center

I booked a single tent suite that can accommodate four people without extra beds (family is OK, friends should not be very convenient). The hotel is ten minutes away from Pai station. It is very convenient to come out on the bar street and just turn around the night market. But the hotel is in a quiet environment and the environment is very good. The air is fresh in the morning. The breakfast is simple but still very ok. It seems that it is difficult to park the motorbike until there is a large open space.

From$21

Pai Treehouse

3.5/52 Reviews

Mae Yen/Mae Hee Pai|5.36km from city center

Overall a good hotel resort. The hotel is on the mountainside so it is convenient to travel by car, but the hotel has a shuttle bus, which is quite convenient. The hotel is also an attraction, there is a lot of art and culture, and there are a lot of vegetation. It ’s a little bit, but it does n’t affect my mood. I stayed in the tree house for two nights and one night. The tree house room is very small and the boxes are not opened. Especially two, because there are a lot of small flying insects in the tree. Bath water. It's not very hot, but because of the limited conditions on the tree, it's ok to experience it. Another night staying at Jasmine House is a separate villa with a large room for 6 people, very warm and very nice hotel , Highly recommended! By the way, the tree house has no air conditioner, only the fan, and the other room has air conditioner. However, the temperature difference between day and night in Pai County seems to be big, and it is also possible to have no air conditioner because it is halfway up the mountain. Here we have to talk about the uncle driving the hotel shuttle bus. It is super invincible. The uncle is an overseas Chinese and the people are super nice. Our tickets back to Chiang Mai were all gone. Fortunately, the uncle took us elsewhere to buy it and helped us. A lot of busy, very good, this hotel itself can score 90 points, but because of the uncle, I think I can recommend a hundred plus 😁 worth recommending, it is worth living, Pai is a special place where the artistic weather is particularly good, it is worth a visit!

SOLD OUT

Celebrating Songkran festival 2023 in Ayutthaya

Wat Mahathat / Source: Trip.com

Ayutthaya, which is just north of Bangkok, is the ancient capital of the country. Filled with temples and Buddha statues, this is an unparalleled backdrop for such an occasion. If you're here from 10 in the morning on April 13 until the night of April 15, you can experience the charisma of tradition. In addition, for an easy day trip from Bangkok, there is no reason why you can't split your time between the two cities in order to have two unique experiences as the token of the trip.

Ayutthaya Historical Park Tour

If you spend the first day of the Songkran water festival in Ayutthaya, you'll get to see how the young locals would pour scented water into the palms of the elderly to ask for their blessings and pay their respects. You can also join the celebrations by heading to the grand temples, where people will be praying for good luck for the New Year. One of the real highlights is that you can still see elephants in the street as they come out to blow water at pedestrians. The elephants won't spare you just because you are a child, monk, or elderly. Getting sprayed is fun and playful, as it washes you off for a clean slate.

Thai women celebrating Songkran in Ayutthaya. Source: Trip.com

Flights to Ayutthaya

There are no direct flights to Ayutthaya since there is no airport there. However, you can easily take a flight to Bangkok and then take a 2-hour train ride to Ayutthaya.

Book Flights to Bangkok

Hotels in Ayutthaya

Classic Kameo Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Ayutthaya / Source: Trip.com

Krungsri River Hotel: Just outside the historic center, this 5-star hotel offers fantastic views of the river and houses international cuisine for travelers.
Classic Kameo Hotel and Serviced Apartments: Fully equipped with all the amenities that you might need, it is located at Ayutthaya's industrial estates. From deluxe rooms to one-bedroom suites, it is ideal for short-term stays.

Krungsri River Hotel

27/2 Moo11, Rojana Road, T.Kamung, A. Panakornsriayutthaya | 1.47km from downtown

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Classic Kameo Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Ayutthaya

210-211, 148 M005 Rojana Rd., Tambon Pailing, Amphoe Muang, Ayutthaya | 0.31km from downtown

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Travel Tips for Thailand and its Songkran Festival 2023

Songkran festival 2023 / Source: Trip.com

Thailand is one of the best places to celebrate Songkran. Therefore, it's vital to be prepared for your trip there. Here are some tips so that you can make the most out of the Songkran festival 2023 celebrations in Thailand:

What will the weather be like during the Songkran festival 2023 in Thailand?

Songkran festival 2023 - Pattaya Beach / Source: Trip.com

Songkran festival 2023 will be celebrated in April 2023, a time of extreme heat in Thailand and a fair amount of rain too. There are, on average, 14 sunny days to 16 rainy days, with average temperatures of 85˚F to 93˚F (29˚C to 34˚C) and an average rainfall of 1.6 inches (41 mm). However, different regions of Thailand have different weather, meaning you can plan your Songkran festival 2023 destination with more or less rain based on personal preference.

The predicted weather by the Thai region for Songkran festival 2023 is as follows:

Location	Min. Temperature (ºF)	Max. Temperature (ºF)	Rainfall (in)
Bangkok	77	95	2.83
Chiang Mai	72	97	1.77
Phuket	75	93	6.18
Krabi	77	93	4.72
Hua Hin	77	91	1.38
Koh Samui	79	90	3.39

What clothing should you wear during the Songkran festival 2023 in Thailand?

Thailand, during the Songkran festival 2023, will be hot and wet, so it is best to dress accordingly🥵. Since you will probably be running around getting involved with the festivities, then you will probably be soaked through with water pistols and probably covered in Din Sor Pong (talc powder), which is thrown to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, it is best to avoid wearing your favorite clothes during these three days of chaos and fun🎶. The breathable and lightweight fabric should be your top pick. Nylon or some old clothes that you don't really like can also be utilized on this trip. This way, you won't feel sorry about ditching it too.

Fast-drying clothing is highly recommended. Consider shorts, t-shirts, light dresses, shirts, and sandals or thin trainers. You may be tempted to wear a hat or sunglasses🌞, but if getting involved in the water fights is something on your mind, then you will have no choice but to accept the fact that you will lose them.

When is the best time to travel to Thailand?

Chao Phraya / Source: Trip.com

It's possible that visiting Thailand during Songkran just won't work for you, and although that's unfortunate, there's no reason to despair. Thailand, known as "the land of smiles," is an absolutely smashing travel destination😅. Just think about it: white sandy beaches, natural jungle, exciting urban destinations, delicious food, friendly locals, and historic temples. It is a travel gold mine! However, Thailand does have distinct seasons, and unless you want to spend your trip in torrential rain, it's important to know when is the best time to go🤭.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market / Source: Trip.com

Thailand has both summer and winter monsoon seasons, with a year broken down into the following: Five to six months of rainfall during the wet season (from May to October), three to four months of the cool and dry season during the winter (from November to February), and three months of humid heat during the summer (from March to May). It should be noted that the wet season is usually manageable until about July, with only a couple of hours of heavy rain each day at that time.

Baiyoke Sky Hotel Restaurant Buffet / Source: Trip.com

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Regional weather is another important factor in your trip to Thailand, as there might be some exceptions. For example, if you are planning to visit the west coast (Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi Islands, Khao Lak, etc.), then you can expect average year-round temperatures of around 83˚F (28.33°C) and, generally, afternoon rain in the wet season – with even stronger rainfall in September. If you are planning to visit the east coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, etc.), you'll find that its rainy season is later than the rest of Thailand, with the wettest months usually happening from October to December.

👉 The best times to travel to Thailand are from November to April, as the wet season has just ended. This leaves you with dry weather and warm to hot temperatures in a lush green landscape. However, make a note of the above and avoid the east coast until late December.

Bangkok (Thailand) temperature chart. Source: tourismthailand.org

What are some of the most important safety tips for when you travel to Thailand?

Thailand, although incredibly friendly and, overall, a very peaceful place, is not without risk. The country has many people living in poverty, and tourists are sometimes seen as cash cows. It is vital to remain cautious during the trip. Here are some top tips to keep you safe when celebrating the Songkran festival 2023 in Thailand:

1. Don't flash your valuables or your cash

This advice is important for any place (at home or abroad) where there are people less fortunate, or even just where there are chancers. It is especially true in a place like Thailand, as it can get very crowded – and even more so during the Songkran festival 2023.

The best option is not to bring anything too valuable with you, as this avoids the situation altogether. If this is not an option, keep your valuables in your hotel safe or in your backpack (which you should wear on the front side) when walking through town. If your valuables are wearables, such as jewelry or watches, wear clothes that will cover them until you arrive at a safe destination. Finally, if you are carrying cash, ensure that you don't show too much when paying for things – opening a bag and showing a huge stack of bills while you look for the ten dollars you need to pay is a terrible idea. So it's better to keep some petty cash with you to pay for stuff so as to avoid being spotted as a target.

2. Use registered taxis and be cautious with Tuk-Tuks

When in Thailand, it is important to know that many drivers will try to rip you off. The major culprits behind this are the Tuk-Tuks, who will often charge an insanely high price for a fairly short distance. And if you don't know how far you are going, then you're screwed.

To avoid this, use government-registered taxis and insist on using the taximeter. If you want to experience Thailand's famous Tuk-Tuks, your best option is to take one somewhere far away from the tourist hubs and to know how far you are going before bargaining.

One of Thailand's famous Tuk-Tuks. Source: Photo by Jonathan Ceballos on Unsplash

You should also be aware that many Tuk-Tuk drivers in Bangkok will agree to a low price but then insist on taking you to tailors and jewelry shops on the way. This is because they are in cahoots with the store owners, and you might end up spending more in the shop. To avoid this, make sure you insist on going straight to your destination without detours and hail slightly pricier ones since this might save a lot of trouble down the road.

3. Have multiple cash options available

Be aware that your wallet that has your bank cards inside could easily get stolen (or you could simply misplace it). By then, it will be a pain to get a replacement card. Additionally, it is common practice that banks (back home) would block/freeze cards when they think your card might have been stolen – something that is flagged when they are used abroad (especially in Asia).

To avoid being up cashless in Thailand during the Songkran festival 2023, prepare petty cash and a few different bank cards. Then place these cards and the cash in separate places. For example, you could carry a little cash in your fanny pack or handbag and keep your bank cards and the rest of your cash at your hotel. If you are going out for the whole day, keep a little cash in your fanny pack or handbag and some more in your backpack – this will give you a better chance of holding onto some money and avoid instances of "flashing the cash" during transactions.

4. Never wear clothes with pockets if going to a big celebration

Thailand has an incredibly strict policy on drugs. Possession of a small number of drugs is punishable through heavy fines or even imprisonment. If you are caught red-handed with Class A drugs, then it is punishable by the death penalty. This is a common practice by malicious locals. Planting drugs in the pockets of unsuspecting revelers and then informing the corrupt officials who work with them as partners. In this situation, the unsuspecting traveler will undoubtedly be arrested and, overtaken by the fear of the heavy penalties, will immediately pay the fines.

👉 To avoid this, never wear clothes with pockets in a heavy crowd. If you want to wear an outfit that has pockets, simply cut the bottom so that any planted drugs will simply slip out.

👉 In conclusion, being a foreigner, it's important to respect local customs and stay humble and commit all the pointers above to memory. This way, you can have a thorough and fruitful Songkran festival 2023

Songkran Festival 2023 - FAQs

How long will Songkran festival 2023 last?

Officially, the Songkran festival lasts three days, from April 13 to 15. However, many areas will carry on the party much later. This makes it possible to celebrate in multiple countries!
What food is eaten during Songkran festival?

Traditionally, Thai people will eat their local delicacies during Songkran. Try khao chae, pad kee mao talay, prawn pad thai, and of course, sticky mango rice.
Will you be able to buy alcohol during the Songkran festival 2023?

You can buy alcohol during the Songkran festival 2023. However, only from 11 am until 2 pm and 5 pm until midnight.
What do Thai people do on the first day of Songkran?

The first day of Songkran is National Elderly Day, where young Thais ask for the blessings of the elderly by humbly pouring fragrant water into their palms.
How do you say Happy Songkran in Thai?

To wish someone a Happy Songkran in Thai, simply say "Suk San Wan Songkran!"

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