If you want to get a feel for authentic thailand check this out:

www.andamandiscoveries.com

You get to see small villages and stay with the families. It’s fantastic if you want to get away from the more touristy, resort stuff.

Enjoy your trip!

I agree with the answer about the Kohs. I like Samui and Samet. Samet being much closer to Bangkok and so easier to do if you are going north. The hilltribe areas of Chang Rai and Chang Mai are more where you will find the real Thailand….full moon party is a bunch of farangs (foreigners) doing what foreigners do in every country in the world. It all depends on what you want. As for the drug question- yep there is plenty of it, but before you decide watch Brokedown Palace and remember that there are LOTS of westerners in Thai jail for drugs, not always for smuggling either. Decide before you go if you think it is worth the chance.

Hi Kayla,
Traveling is such a personal experience that its hard to give advice. I can tell you that Phuket has had tourists for a very long time and is quite safe as long as you don’t do anything really stupid. I.e. go alone! Always stay with a friend who is prepared to stay sober. I don’t get any money from Lonely Planet for promoting their products but I can tell you that I’ve been to Thailand 8 times and I think that Lonely Planet still does it best. They give good advice about scams and everything else you might need to know. You will have a blast. Thailand is a fantastic place! Phuket is expensive by Thai standards but still fairly cheap by the standards of most Western countries. If you can, experience Phuket, and then maybe travel North along the coast up towards Myanmar. There are lots of coastal villages that are still recovering from the Tsunami and will welcome you with open arms.

okie! full moon party that’s really fun!
the island call koh phangan, at south-east of thailand! you can take a boat from Champon or Surat Thani, worth to experience it! and just becareful your valueble things. :) good luck!

from whatever I have heard the FMP is quite a waste. had a couple of ‘party oriented’ friends who hated it as well.
But I stayed on Ko Phangan for a few days (on Ha Yao and Had Salad), and absolutely loved it.

Chiang mai was wonderful, and I wish I had had the time to do a long, proper trek and soem cooking classes!

I found to be very safe as long as you are aware of the scams and dodgy people. I did come accross people using recreational drugs but to be honest I wouldn’t risk it as the penalty is so severe.

Ko samui wasn’t great, really touristy. Ko Phagnan was nicer, where the full moon parties are. I skipped that as it sounded really hyped and after words talked to loads of people taking ferries home the next day and it sounded to not live up to the hype that well. depends on what your looking for. Definatley not the authentic Thailand.

Ko Phi Phi was breathtaking and amazing. wonderful people there and great vibe. I was there just after the Tsunami and it was a humble experience. There are great dya trips on the boats to do diving and visting islands surrounding.

Chang Mai was great, awesome elephant treks and river boat trips, etc. Go and visit the karen tribe village, or take a cooking class..really interesting. Very friendly people and much cheaper then the islands.

I agree with other poster..Lonley Planet is really great giude book, espcially for guesthouses and travel tips.

Good Luck!

Phuket is skeezy and I think they are still rebuilding after the Tsunami. Don’t bother unless you are planning on paying for a ladyboy

Koh Phan Ngan & Koh Tao are my favorites.

Be very careful about drugs there – the guesthouse owners will sell you drugs, take the money, call the cops, who arrest you, give the drugs back to the guesthouse owner, and fine you a huge sum to get out of it. Every Thai wins, you get screwed. This happened to an Israeli on my trip. Dont make the mistake of assuming that their govt doesnt work on bribes. If you are hanging out with other travelers & they are smoking, join in, no one is going to come bust up the party, but it’s just not worth the risk to buy.

I travelled Thailand for 4 months last year. Phuket is over-visited, over touristy crap. Fun full moon parties are found on Koh Pan Ngan (best one), Koh Samui or Koh Tao; an island off the south peninsula of Thailand on the East side. Easy to get to. Just don’t bother taking in drugs – none are tolerated. Drug taking while you’re there, well, just be careful, unless you want to see the inside of a prison!!

Culture stuff? Well, in the North try Chang Mai or the smaller chilled out place called Pai. Chang Mai has crazy markets for food n clothes, some cheap accomm that’s decent (I recommend VIP Guesthouse near Tha Pae (said Ta Pay) Gate in Chang Mai.

Good luck, have fun, live every moment to the full – not everyone gets an opportunity to travel like this. :)