I am planning a trip to Thailand in February and want to spend a week exploring the northeast of the

Northeastern Thailand, or Isaan as it is known among Thais, is a very interesting region and offers a chance to escape from the crowded tourist destinations you will be familiar with.

With a week to spare, there’s a lot you can see and I would suggest that you rent a car and drive around the region, which has limited transport opportunities. If you want to start driving from Bangkok, you may go via Pak Chong for a visit to Khao Yai National Park, or head to Phimai to take in the beauty of the Khmer temples and small villages nearby. You should drive to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani to witness these two cosmopolitan cities, and also go to Nong Khai to enjoy the view of the Mekong River. Nong Khai is also very close to Vientiane in Laos if you fancy a day trip. 

From Nong Khai, you can drive up along the Mekong River to Chiang Khan in Loei province. Loei has many interesting attractions and great scenery including the famous Phu Kradueng. Then you can drive down from Loei back to Bangkok via Phetchabun and Lop Buri. 

If you want to make it easier, fly from Bangkok to Udon Thani, then rent a car to travel around Udon Thani and northern Isaan including Nong Khai and Loei, returning the car in Udon Thani before flying back to Bangkok. If you rent a car from a big car rental company such as Avis, you should be able to return the car in Bangkok too. Have a great time!

 

 

We’re coming to Thailand in May with our three children, age 13, 7 and 5 but as yet have no idea where to go. Can you suggest an island that would be enjoyable for two adults and children that’s safe and removed from the party scene but still offers a small town with restaurants. Anja

 

With so many beaches and islands in Thailand, you have a wealth of options for bringing your kids on holiday. But I understand it’s not easy to pick the right one. I think you should consider the quieter islands in Trang province as a good alternative. Here you will find some less-developed islands with low-key accommodation like Koh Libong as well as a lovely island with up-market facilities like Koh Ngai. Koh Mook, Koh Sukorn and Koh Lao Liang also offer nice beaches and accommodation. There are also small islands to visit nearby like Koh Chuek, Koh Rok, Koh Kradan and the Emerald cave that are guaranteed to thrill the little ones with their beauty. All have sandy and peaceful beaches and while they don’t have towns they do have a few restaurants, so you will not be stuck only with what’s available at your hotel. 

Trang mainland also has many beaches. The most popular one is Pak Meng and here you have a number of great seafood restaurants as well as budget accommodation.. It’s about an hour away from Trang town. You could also consider spending one night in this southern town to experience local culture. Trang town is famous for many specialities such as its unique style of dim sum, sponge cake and grilled pork. It’s not part of the party scene and could definitely be a place to enjoy a tropical holiday in Thailand.