Best of
Thailand best-of guides on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and property—discover hidden gems, top attractions, and expert tips. Explore with The Thaiger, your trusted source for the best experiences in Thailand.
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Sponsored Best facial treatments in Bangkok for radiant skin
If urban life has left your skin feeling as stressed as the Friday evening rush hour, there’s no reason to let it dampen your spirits. The answer to your skin's prayers might just involve less commuting and more pampering. Thankfully,...
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The Nation goes online-only from July 1
PHOTO: Somchai Meesen, CEO of Nation Multimedia Media Group, speaks to Nation TV yesterday about The Nation’s future. “Over the past five years, The Nation has lost 30 million baht a year on average.” The Nation newspaper will stop its print editions and go fully online from July 1, when the independent English-language daily turns 48, to focus more on…
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Expat life in Thailand – a balancing act
We all come to live in Thailand for vastly different reasons. Sometimes love, sometimes an adventure, sometimes escaping something at home and sometimes for business. Our journey to the Land of Smiles, and then our settling in, can be fraught with shocks, cultural and financial. Here is one man’s story as told in ExpatLifeInThailand… by Shane Irvine I didn’t come…
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University of Canberra urgently evacuates students after ‘gas leak’
…but Asian students wouldn’t have bothered rushing to the doors. Tertiary students have had to evacuate an exam room in the Australian capital of Canberra following a suspected gas leak and foul stench that was making the students ill. Staff at the University of Canberra library were forced to evacuate the building. But a search from security staff found that…
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Patient reveals he contracted HIV from donated blood
“We are continuously improving the screening process for donated blood.” A young Thai-Japanese man has contracted HIV via a blood transfusion given as part of his leukaemia treatment at a Bangkok private hospital 15 years ago. But Bumrungrad International Hospital, where the man received treatment for years, says the infected blood came from Thai Red Cross Society and it was…
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We test drove the winner from the Phuket’s best burger competition
by Carl Gulliver Last month Boat Lagoon hosted the annual Phuket’s Best Burger Competition (this year named ‘Dare to Dream’), and although we weren’t able to make it to judgement day, we made sure we test drove the winner. Phuket’s Best Burger Started in 2013, Phuket’s best burger competition has awarded the coveted first prize to Xana Beach Club, Kata…
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Cannabis is not a cure-all, doctors warn
“Even paracetamol can be lethal if it is wrongly used, so we should not idolise cannabis as a panacea and entirely replace conventional medicines with cannabinoid medicines.” Consumers are being warned that cannabis is not a panacea and cure-all for many illnesses and must be used cautiously under the management of health professionals. The warning comes from medical experts at…
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Syphilis on the rise again in Thailand
Syphilis is again on the rise in Thailand. Although curable, this sexually transmitted disease can turn fatal if patients fail to recognise their infection and thus lose a chance to get timely treatment. The Bangrak STD centre, which is under the Disease Control Department, recently warned on its Facebook page that the number of syphilis cases had been rising at a…
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Where in the world is the best cuisine?
A review of the world’s top ten cuisines, not surprisingly, has included Thai food. Some of the other choices might shock (like their number one choice) you but to kick off here is the reviewers thoughts on Thai food… Street eats are a Thai attraction. Flip through a Thai cook book and you’ll be hard pressed to find an ingredient…
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Could cannabis cigarettes be available in your local convenience store?
Thailand’s Tobacco Authority is continuing to lobby for a license for the production of cannabis-based cigarettes but has a few legal, and moral, hoops to climb through before anything happens. Using the ‘health benefits’ argument, the Thai tobacco industry is hoping it can get the go ahead to manufacture cannabis-based cigarettes which could, if given permission, be as available in…
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Phuket ranked sixth Best Destination in the World – Trip Advisor
PHOTO: Patong Beach. Phuket was the only Thai destination in the 2019 list of the World’s Best Destinations Last year’s royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has put the Brexit-obsessed London on top of a list of the World’s Best Destinations in the TripAdvisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice Awards. London beat its close European counterparts, Paris and Rome in…
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Two out of three Thai workers are happy at work
Most Thai workers say they have a happy work life but are hoping the new government will boost the minimum wage and provide better medical welfare benefits. Just some of the results of a recent National Institute of Development Institution (NIDA) poll. The poll was conducted around the country to gauge worker ‘happiness’ and ask what they expect from the…
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Thais encouraged to talk about death
by Wannapha Kunakornvong – including excerpts from “Greying nation must talk about death” Refusing life-sustaining medical intervention during a terminal illness is now the right of every Thai. It is not guaranteed under the law. Yet most Thais don’t know about the options or about palliative care services which help terminal patients die “naturally” and comfortably, instead of being kept alive…
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For the love of mangoes
Thailand’s mangoes, famed for their smell and golden colour, often seen in the company of sticky rice and topped with coconut cream, are as local as you get when it comes to Thai cuisine. And is there anything better than a mamuang pun (mango smoothie) on a hot Thai day?! Mangoes have been cultivated around South Asia for thousands of years…
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Na-Oh, taking off daily into a brand new culinary adventure
PHOTOS: The Nation | Na-Oh A restaurant with a theme, a grand gothic theme – a flying vessel taking survivors of a post-apocalyptic world to a safe zone. Na-Oh (a play on Noah and his journey-to-safety story) promises that its menu will constantly change to reflect a new theme set by the restaurant every three or four months, usually reflective…
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Give your stretch marks a makeover – the tattoo solution
Stretch marks, we’ve all seen them and many of us have a few. Both men and women can be affected. But Inked In Asia has a possible solution. Stretch marks are a natural indication that your body is growing and changing. It can be said that it’s your body’s way of ‘celebrating’ your growth – many would disagree. They are…
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Thong Dee, the Kathu Brasserie loved by foodies and Phuket locals
The Thaiger was invited to a special ‘taster’ at one of our favourite restaurants on the island of Phuket, Thong Dee. As usual, the food spoke for itself – no fuss, classy, so so tasty, eclectic. The Thaiger was a guest of the hosts Patrik and Ponchan for the evening. Thong Dee – The Kathu Brasserie, located in Kathu in…
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Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent
More than half the private hospitals operating in Thailand are overcharging for medical services and prescription drugs. Of the private hospitals alleged to be overcharging, the rates have been calculated to be 30% up to 300% over the actual production cost. The Director General of the Internal Trade Department claims that 295 of the 353 private hospitals have submitted their…
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Thailand still in the world’s Top 14 for TB cases
Thailand is struggling with tuberculosis, and remains in the list of the world’s 14 worst hit countries. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs,…
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Hyatt Regency open new Spectrum Rooftop Bar in Bangkok
PHOTO: Award-winning Japanese architecture firm Super Potato tops off Hyatt Regency Bangkok Bangkok’s newest rooftop bar opens its doors this week as a sparkling new entry in the list of Bangkok’s top-shelf night spots. Designed by the Japanese design firm Super Potato, the Hyatt Regency Bangkok’s new Spectrum Lounge & Bar is a multi-faceted venue. On three different levels, the expansive…
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Farmers Council helps growers, patients register for medical marijuana
The National Farmers Council is assisting farmers and patients register for medical marijuana, which was legalised late last year, so they have a better understanding of their legal rights and opportunities the new legislation offers. Since the legislation is already in place, the NFC is conducting a road show to educate the public about the issue. The deadline for registration is…
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Mummy makeovers rising trend in medical tourism market
Mummy makeovers in Thailand? You may not have heard about this phenomenon but it’s a real thing in the medical tourism market. Thanks to Thailand’s burgeoning medical tourism sector, more and more women are going under the knife to regain their pre-pregnancy stomach. Opting for lavish trips to South East Asia, female patients are travelling to Thailand for numerous treatments…
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Top 10 restaurants in Phuket (2020)
There are many excellent restaurant experiences in Phuket in 2020. Now Phuket has a broad and sophisticated range of restaurants that befit a Michelin guide dedicated to the region’s best. From floating restaurants to fine-dining, southern-style Thai cuisine to European fusion, Phuket’s got some of the best these days. Here, in no particular order, is the list of the Top 10 restaurant…
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The 48 best cities in the world in 2019, have your say.
PHOTO: LA, one of the top five cities in the world What do New York, Melbourne and Chicago have in common? They’re listed as the top 3 cities in the world for 2019 in the latest Time Out Index survey. London, LA and Montreal fill up the next three places. So what’s the greatest city in the world? It’s not…
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Top 10 things to see in Phuket, on a budget (2019)
PHOTO: The Trick Eye Museum in Phuket Town We can’t all afford to stay in the lap of luxury in five star properties, and spend our Sunday’s at extravagant hi-so brunches. Good luck to those who can! In Phuket you can have fantastic experiences that either cost you nothing or not much more. Here is, in no particular order, our…
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Is cooking endangered rays on ‘MasterChef Thailand’ OK?
by Pratch Rujivanarom The cooking of what appeared to be spotted eagle rays during the MasterChef Thailand TV show on World Wildlife Day last night is sparking social media outrage over the appropriateness eating endangered species on mainstream media. Despite experts confirming that fishing, cooking and eating spotted eagle ray is completely legal in Thailand, as Thai law still does not…
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A toast to female chefs – Women in Gastronomy 2019 Bangkok
Leading female chefs and wine makers will gather in Bangkok for the International Women’s Day culinary forum at Banyan Tree on March 8. The second edition of the global food forum Women in Gastronomy (WIG) organised by Gastronauts Asia will showcase an array of acclaimed female food personalities from Thailand and beyond. The full-day symposium will feature presentations and panel…
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The marijuana amnesty. What does it mean and how can I apply?
The Thaiger neither endorses, recommends or has any opinion on the possession or use of marijuana. This information is merely provided as a service to our readers. So, the big question, how can you RIGHT NOW, legally, smoke or use marijuana in Thailand? Thais and expats living in the kingdom now have new options following the enactment of a law…
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Phuket’s Top 10 Beach Clubs (2021)
Lounge, chill, relax by the beach to the soothing sounds of waves crashing in from the Andaman Sea with some cool beats tapping out the rhythm of another Phuket night. Here are Phuket’s best beach clubs, our top 10 list. All are great, all have their own personality, all deserve a visit…when the most recent outbreak has subsided and it’s…
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A cannabis amnesty could be endorsed this week
New regulations that offers amnesty to those in possession of, or using, cannabis are expected this week. The update comes from the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA secretary-general Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong also maintains that the recent legalising of medical marijuana doesn’t cover recreational use or allow cultivation by individual growers. He says the new laws…
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Top 10 Phuket fitness options – get fit on a tropical paradise
by Krix Luther Living and working in Phuket for more than 11 years as a full-time Personal Trainer, I have had the pleasure of watching the island develop and make its mark on the wider Health and Fitness industry. I can comfortably say it is becoming an important Health, fitness and wellness hub of South East Asia. The island has…
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