Darker cells are stronger weather or travel-fit months. The second row is crowd pressure.
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Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to go?
Start with November, December, January & February. Choose September only with a written reason.
Is this a good honeymoon pick?
Romance score 84/100 sits next to crowd 55/100 — read both.
How crowded does it get?
On red months, empty midday or change region.
What should I budget per day?
Use bands in THB. Mid is the baseline. Not a live fare.
Do I need a visa?
E-visa or visa-on-arrival is common — still apply before you fly.
How many days do I need?
Countries breathe at 7–12 days, honeymoon islands at 5–8. Continents: pick one region.
Read Thailand as regions such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket / Andaman, not as a pin.
Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai is the spine.
Regions
- Bangkok — Bangkok is stop 1 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Chiang Mai — Chiang Mai is stop 2 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Phuket / Andaman — Phuket / Andaman is stop 3 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Koh Samui gulf — Koh Samui gulf is stop 4 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Ayutthaya — Ayutthaya is stop 5 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Kanchanaburi — Kanchanaburi is stop 6 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai — Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Bangkok-Kanchanaburi — Bangkok-Kanchanaburi — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Phuket-Phi Phi-Railay — Phuket-Phi Phi-Railay — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Samui-Phangan-Tao — Samui-Phangan-Tao — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Bangkok — Why Bangkok photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Chiang Mai — Why Chiang Mai photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Phuket / Andaman — Why Phuket / Andaman photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Koh Samui gulf — Why Koh Samui gulf photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Ayutthaya — Why Ayutthaya photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Bangkok with Chiang Mai; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday