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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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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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Plastic surgery furore and first transgender contestant at Miss Universe in Bangkok
PHOTO: Spain’s Angela Ponce becomes first trans woman to compete for Miss Universe After the beauty dust has settled and the glitter is wiped away, it seems all is not well with the latest Miss Universe Pageant. Taking place in Bangkok recently, new revelations have surfaced surrounding one of its entrants and, notably, her plastic surgeon. Aesthetic and rhinoplasty surgeon,…
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“Self-myofascial release” – what is foam rolling?
by Krix Luther The word is out about self-myofascial release – foam rolling – and, no, Thailand people, this doesn’t have to do with a ‘soapy’ or ‘happy-endings’. So what is foam rolling you ask? Well, it was once a secretive technique used by professional coaches and therapists but has become a regular practice for people across the spectrum of…
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Private hospital patient? You are free to buy your medications outside.
Patients at private hospitals can buy their prescriptions and medication anywhere outside the hospital after getting a prescription from their doctors, according to the Health Service Support Department (HSSD). The clarification clears up an old myth that you had to buy your medications at the over-priced dispensary at your private hospital. But the department has no plans to force private…
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Why is Thailand so popular for medical tourists?
Considered to be one of the most popular destinations for contemporary medical tourism, Thailand continues to see a surge in patients seeking top-quality, affordable care. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai and the beaches of Phuket, thousands visit annually, combining luxury travel with first-rate quality care, for the ultimate medical tourism holiday. It appears convenience is one key component as to…
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Olta is the newest ‘olternative’ in Bangkok’s Suan Phlu
Scottish Chef Jamie Wakeford, of noted Phuket restaurant Bampot Kitchen, is rolling out a new restaurant in Bangkok. Themed as ‘modern British’, and named Olta, the outlet has just opened in the Suan Phlu neighborhood. The Suan Phlu area is described as one of Bangkok’s latest dining enclaves, with new fashionable openings arriving every month. Currently, Suan Phlu is currently…
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Top 10 things to know about Phuket for beginners (2019)
1. Welcome to Phuket Phuket is an island and a province. It’s the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west. It’s about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of…
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Agency calls for 200 million baht to tackle Thailand’s unwanted pregnancies
An agency has proposed that Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) budgets 200 million baht to purchase and distribute condoms and contraceptive implants as a possible solution to the country’s unwanted pregnancies. The AIDS and Unwanted Pregnancy Hotline 1663 Centre says the money, which amounts to only 3 baht per head, could come from the NHSO’s health promotion and disease…
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Thai Tapas at Ginja – a truly remarkable taste sensation
I am invited to special dinners many times a week and most are wonderful nights exploring new flavors and presentation at some of the island’s best restaurants. Last night was exceptional and beautifully presented at the award-winning Ginja Taste in Mai Khao. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa invited Chef Prasertchai Trongvanichnam (aka. Chef Jack, Chef de Cuisine of Flavor…
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Ice ice baby! Social Egg Freezing arrives in Thailand
Could 2019 be the year of the egg? It may very well be thanks to a recent growing trend into “social egg freezing.” For less than $3 a day a major healthcare provider could see many infertile patients reaping the rewards. According to recent reports, Borderless Healthcare Group are set to launch their unique fertility services in the Thai capital.…
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Top 10 world’s busiest flight routes
… and the rising stars So where is the world’s busiest airline route? Beijing to Shanghai? New York to Los Angeles? Eight of the Top 10 routes are based in Asia and nine out of ten of the world’s fastest-growing flight routes are also in Asia. You get the idea. Whilst the US has the world’s largest aviation market it’s…
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Will the West embrace the South Korean male beauty product industry?
PHOTO: ‘V’ or Kim Tae Hyung from Korean band BTS Over the past decade South Korean men have become the world’s biggest male spenders on skincare and beauty products. The market has grown by 44% in the country in the six years before 2017, according to Euromonitor. This figure is even higher for Gen Z respondents (the ones born after…
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2019: It’s all about you
2019 comes with all sorts of expectations – a new beginning, a renaissance, a rebirth. You may be looking ahead for individual tweaks and improvements or perhaps you want to change something altogether. From cutting out chocolate to saturated fats, many will look at altering their figure. Thanks to numerous technological advancements and greater accessibility to overseas travel, you may…
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