The Rough Guide to Thailand (Rough Guide Travel Guides) by Paul Gray  (8)  £11.19

A Rough Guide Map Thailand (Rough Guide Map) by Rough Guides £3.99

Thailand (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by Joe Cummings  (4)

Thailand's Islands and Beaches (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by China Williams  (1)  £9.09

The Rough Guide to Bangkok (Rough Guide Travel Guides) by Paul Gray  (2)

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Book Description
INTRODUCTION
Despite myriad cultural attractions, sand and sea are what most Thailand holidays are about, and with over three thousand kilometres of tropical coastline there are plenty of stunning white-sand beaches to choose from. In addition, the peculiar shape of the country – which is popularly considered to be reminiscent of an elephant’s head, with Bangkok as the eye, the East Coast as the chin, and the peninsular Andaman and Gulf coasts forming the trunk – means you can dive, swim and sunbathe all year round, for when the monsoon rains are battering one coast you merely have to cross to the other to escape them.

Geographical differences have given distinctive character to each of the coasts. The Andaman Coast is the most dramatic, edged by sheer limestone cliffs carved by wind and water into strange silhouettes, and interleaved with thick bands of mangrove forest. The Gulf Coast begins and ends quietly with relatively flat, featureless stretches to the south of Bangkok and down towards the Malaysian border, but peaks at its midpoint, where the peninsular mountains march into the sea to form the wildly varied landscapes of the Samui archipelago and the Ang Thong National Marine Park. A fair chunk of the East Coast is dominated by the rigs of offshore oil and gas exploration, but the islands that lie further out have forested spines and gorgeous strands. In short, you’ll find great beaches on all three coasts: idyllic confections of clear turquoise waters at invitingly balmy temperatures, sand so soft that it squeaks underfoot, and palm trees laden with coconuts.

The Thai royal family started the craze for seaside holidays by making regular trips to Hua Hin in the early 1900s, and the subsequent construction of the Southern Railway Line soon opened up the region to the rest of the population. Inspired by American GIs who’d discovered Thailand’s attractions during their R and R breaks from Vietnam, it wasn’t long before foreign holidaymakers followed suit, and these days tourism is the main industry in nearly all Thailand’s coastal areas. Many of the most beautiful spots have been well and truly discovered, and a number have developed into full-blown high-rise resorts which seem to have more in common with the Costa del Sol than the rest of Southeast Asia. But you need only venture a few kilometres from such anomalies to encounter a more traditional scene of fishing communities, rubber plantations and Buddhist temples. Over ninety percent of Thais are Theravada Buddhists, and their faith colours all aspects of daily life, from the tiere! d temple rooftops that dominate the skyline, to the omnipresent saffron-robed monks and the packed calendar of festivals.

Synopsis
A guide to the islands and beaches of Thailand, form the popular resorts of Phuket, Samai and Pattaya, to the tranquil coves on Ko Tarutao, Ko Lanta anbd Ko Chang. The guide includes detailed recommendations of the best beaches for both families and partying, as well as expert advice on diving, snorkelling, kayaking and other water sports.

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The Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches and Islands (Rough Guide Travel Guides) by Paul Gray £7.99

Thailand's Islands and Beaches (Lonely Planet Regional Guides) by Jo Bindloss  (2)

Thailand's Islands and Beaches (Lonely Planet Country and Regional Guides) by Andrew Burke £10.07

Thailand's Islands and Beaches (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by China Williams  (1)  £9.09

Thailand (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by Joe Cummings  (4)

› Explore similar items : Books (9)

3 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review (3 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   15 of 15 people found the following review helpful: Don't leave without it, 20 May 2002 By A Customer An absolute necessity if you are planning on visiting southern Thailand. We have used and used the book. It's real advantage is that it includes Bangkok and the southern beaches and so all holidays are covered. As usual the rough guide is informative and gives plenty of advice. You really need this book if you are planning on visiting Thailand, particularly if you are planning a two-stop or three-stop visit.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: VERY useful, 24 Mar 2004 By  "ben3085" - See all my reviews I'm going to Thailand for 2 months this summer. I'll be going to Bangkok and the Southern islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, and this book has been invaluable in my planning, I'd strongly reccommend it to everyone planning to go anywhere covered by this book.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   2 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Crap Maps, 1 Jan 2005 By  Ms. I. Robinson - See all my reviews    The town maps are truly crap. And i know it's a beach book, but it assumes that you only want to laze on a beach and nothing else. Sorry to say this, but - head for Lonely Planet this time!  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) › See all 3 customer reviews...		Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews