Thailand Weekly Vol. 53
Thailand News and Stories Delivered Free to Your Inbox Every Sunday 🇹ðŸ‡
Good evening from Bangkok everyone! We’re officially in the midst of hot season here and damn, is it ever toasty. I checked my phone earlier today and my weather app informed me that it felt like 42 degrees outside. Wild, and stinkin’ hot at all hours of the day. All things considered though, things are still pretty good over here and the Thai summer is just another excuse to dabble in the many dessert options they have available at street carts these days. Gotta love it. Enjoy Volume 53 of Thailand Weekly 🇹ðŸ‡
Heatwave Hits Thai Capital
Thai health officials have issued a heatwave alert as temperatures rise across many parts of the country. The Bangkok district of Bang Na is expected to hit 50°C, which could pose a particular risk to children, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. People who work outdoors are also at increased risk of dehydration due to excessive perspiration and heat exhaustion. The Thai Meteorological Department says many parts of the country can expect to see temperatures above 40°C over the next few weeks. Health officials have urged people to take precautions and drink water regularly without waiting to feel thirsty before doing so. They are also warning people not to spend too long outdoors in order to avoid heatstroke, which can provoke cramps in the legs, shoulders, or abdomen, as well as spasms. Summer in Thailand is officially in full swing.
Our Take
I gotta say… the heat is NO joke these days. This past Saturday, my girlfriend and I jetted up to Chatuchak Market to do some shopping and experienced bit of heat exhaustion ourselves after being outside for a few hours with minimal water and next to no food. Both of us felt quite sick and desperately needed to get some A/C to come back to life. No fun. These days I’m completely planning my days around minimizing time outside and I’d suggest that anyone travelling to Bangkok over the next month and a half do the same. Either that, or be sure to drink a LOT of water (even when you’re not thirsty) to stay hydrated. This Thai summer heat will catch up to you faster than you know it, so be careful out there!
Koh Kradan Voted Best Beach In The World
Koh Kradan, located off the coast of Trang province in southern Thailand, has been ranked as the top beach in the ‘Top 100 Beaches on Earth’ list published by UK-based travel website, World Beach Guide. Koh Kradan is a part of the Hat Chao Mai National Park and is considered to be the most beautiful among the islands in the park. Other Thai beaches that made it to the list are Railay Beach in Krabi province (ranked 9), Freedom Beach in Phuket (ranked 18), Laem Beach in Koh Yao Yai (ranked 21), and Tanot Bay Beach in Koh Tao (ranked 44). A Thai government spokesman, Anucha Burapachaisri, has expressed his gratitude towards the tourism sector, businesses, the government, and the Thai people for their efforts in preserving the country’s natural resources.
Our Take
Man, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Trang province and the nature that exists down there. It’s a bit further South than I normally travel, but one of these days I really need to make the trek and experience not only Koh Kradan, but also Koh Lipe for myself. From afar, both spots seem magical… just another case of Thailand being Thailand though… too many epic places to visit in a lifetime!
Thailand Travel Tip
There’s a lot of different travel insurance companies out there and often times it’s a pain to find the right one. We get all sorts of emails about this topic from those of you that watch our videos over on Retired Working for You, so I decided to include the company I use in this week’s edition of Thailand Weekly. SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that provides awesome coverage for anyone that lives abroad, but their rates and coverage make it ideal for those vacationing overseas as well. I think I pay in and around $50/Month for my coverage, and I was impressed with their service when I actually had to make a claim last summer. Everything was taken care of, and I had a solid experience overall. Signing up takes a couple minutes and is super straightforward, so if you have a trip to Thailand booked (or anywhere for that matter) at any point in the near future, I’d definitely recommend considering them for insurance coverage.
AGODA Announces Five Cheapest Travel Destinations In Thailand
Agoda recently analyzed the average room rates of tourist destinations across Southeast Asia and came up with some interesting findings as far as locations here in Thailand go. The booking platform found Khon Kaen to be the cheapest tourist destination in the Kingdom with an average room rate of 1,030 THB per night. Outside of this Northeastern Thailand city, the other most affordable locations to round out the top five included Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Hat Yai.
"With 2023 already well underway and public holidays coming up in numerous regions, many of us are looking for a well-deserved break," said Peerapol Sa-ngamuang, Country Director of Thailand at Agoda. He added that in light of the rising cost of living, people are trying to be smart about how they spend their hard-earned cash. Peerapol hopes that these Agoda findings will help travellers discover some exciting destinations while saving money along the way.
Our Take
Isaan (which includes Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Udon Thani) is another part of the Country that sadly, I’ve never spent any time. It’s funny though, it seems to be one of those spots that people either swear by or have ZERO interest in. I’d like to experience it myself, and for average room rates of a thousand Baht a night, Khon Kaen seems like a good place to start.
Only In Thailand 🇹ðŸ‡
This weeks ‘Only In Thailand’ section will have your blood boiling (especially after watching this video here). A few days ago, a tourist here in Bangkok seemed to have entered a state of insanity by completely smashing up a 7/11 for no known reason. It’s unsure if the man was drunk or on drugs, but the way this foreigner was behaving would have any Thailand Lover extremely frustrated. Check out the video here to see for yourself…
Press Worthy 🔥
Suvarnabhumi Braced Fr Passenger Surge Amidst Songkran Festivities
Airports Expect 2.4 Million Passenegers And 14,200 Flights During Songkran
Thailand’s Tourism Recovery Puts Four Marine Species Back On Endangered List
