Some links in the blog are affiliate links where if you click through and buy from them or set up your own accounts etc, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this blog. Read on to find out how you boost your earnings using the below... I've written this blog so that anyone that's new to affiliate marketing can start boosting their online earnings today right away by offering affiliate links across their own socials or website or blog. As a small new content creator it's always a good idea to spread your online earnings and affiliate marketing is a free and easy way to generate more revenue (even with a small following). So long as you genuinely use and love the brands that you share affiliate links from, your followers are likely to love them too. And each time they click on your link you get a small commission. They get a service or product that will enhance their life and you get a payment that enhances your life. It's a win win and no brainer in my opinion as part of a varied online portfolio if you want to start earning online to be free to work from anywhere in the world (like me). Contents: The Best Affiliate Links List (We Use) What is Affiliate Marketing? Reasons Affiliate Marketing is a Game-Changer for Small Creators? How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing? I'll be adding to this list constantly through 2025 and beyond when I add a new affiliate to my brand. A list of companies products or services that I personally love and recommend to others. Note: this is my list so feel free to join only those that are relevant to you and your niche / people so you can then add them to your own socials. I'm very new to affiliate marketing and as a small content creator I expect my earnings to grow as my socials grow. But as a guide last month I earned £146.26 from my various affiliate links which is certainly a nice boost to my online earnings as a small content creator. And it's from companies that I would be recommending to friends and family anyway over a coffee chat for example. So you should definitely not be sleeping on these affiliate links yourself to boost your own online earnings potential. The way I see it is, if you use these services day to day yourself and love them, why not get paid for others signing up to them because you think they will love them too! this is literally my office some days... Affiliate marketing has quickly become one of the most popular and effective ways for small creators to earn passive income online. As a content creator, affiliate marketing can provide you with the opportunity to monetize your blog, YouTube channel, social media platforms, and more. In this post, I’ll be sharing my personal affiliate marketing list, which I will continue to update as I start earning more affiliate revenue. Whether you're just starting out or looking for new ways to diversify your income streams, this guide will give you a head start in building your own affiliate marketing strategy. This is like a quick steal sheet of affiliate links for you to join and add to your own affiliate link offerings. What is Affiliate Marketing? Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where you promote products or services from other companies and earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your referral link. It’s one of the easiest and most accessible ways to monetize your content because you don’t need to create your own products — you simply promote what others have created, earning a piece of the pie in the process. Here’s a simple breakdown of how affiliate marketing works: Sign Up for Affiliate Programs : You join affiliate programs that align with your content and audience. Promote Products/Services : You share your unique affiliate links within your content (posts, videos, etc.). Earn Commissions : When someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission on that sale. Affiliate marketing can be a powerful tool for small creators because it allows you to generate income while you sleep — as long as your content continues to drive traffic to your affiliate links, you’ll continue to earn commissions. As a small new creator this will start off small but trust me it grows. I don't have many followers or a massive online presence but affiliate marketing earns me a little amount.... for zero work, just sharing a link on the stuff I'm sharing anyway. That my followers are very happy I shared. Win win. Earning online is THE best way to live the life of your dreams (see some of our office spots recently... not bad) and we are very small brand new content creators that earn fully online through various ways - affiliate marketing has just become one of them and if you're sleeping on this, then I don't know what to say. Why Affiliate Marketing is a Game-Changer for Small Creators Low Entry Barriers : You don’t need a big budget or a product of your own to start earning. If you have a platform (even if it's small), you can start promoting affiliate products right away. Passive Income : Once your content is out there with affiliate links, you can keep earning money as long as people keep clicking and purchasing. It’s like putting your content to work for you, even when you’re not actively working. Flexibility : You have the freedom to promote products that genuinely fit your brand, values, and audience. Plus, you can join multiple affiliate programs to diversify your income streams. Scalability : As your audience grows, so do your opportunities for affiliate marketing revenue. More traffic equals more chances for clicks and sales. No Need to Handle Customer Service : One of the biggest perks of affiliate marketing is that you don’t have to deal with inventory, shipping, or customer support. That’s all handled by the company you’re promoting. You can focus purely on content creation. My Affiliate Marketing List As I dive deeper into affiliate marketing, I’ll be sharing the programs and products I’m partnering with here that you can also apply to to use to start your affiliate marketing or online earning journey. I’ll continue to add to this list and share with you as I discover new opportunities and start earning affiliate revenue. Feel free to use my list as your own. The Best Affiliate Links We Use Here’s what Affiliates I’ve signed up for so far (I'll be adding to this list throughout 2025 and beyond): For Travel Bloggers: Travel Payouts  is the Number 1 affiliate programme for travel bloggers offering partner programmes and affiliate links and widgets for booking flights, accommodation providers including Booking.com , Agoda and HostelWorld , tours trips and guide providers including Klook , Big Bus Tours and Get Your Guide , travel insurance, E-sims including Airalo , Travel providers including Trainline , DiscoverCars , 12Goo and other travel essentials including Trip Advisor etc from all your favourite and trusted brands that you'll use as a traveller or travel blogger anyway and promote because you know, use, like and trust. There's way more than the ones I've listed above those are just my example. But by signing up to Travel Payouts you get a whole host of brands in one simple bundled platform with every essential travel tool which ensures that you get a commission in one neat payout. Instead of bits here and there from the separate brands. As a guide commissions range from 2% to 12% for completed sales. We just received a payout for $122 in one day for just one single completed sale by just one of the brands within our Travel Payouts account (which was exciting and insane for us for literally just having the link on THIS blog sharing with our readers) that someone clicked on and booked through. If you're a travel blogger or create content around travel, adventure etc then you can not afford to sleep on our favourite affiliate programme (hence we sit Travel Payouts at Number 1 in our list). Sign up for your account here to get access to all of these brands and more: Travel Payouts International  Drivers Association  - let your readers know if they require an International Driving Permit to drive in their chosen destination country. Having an IDP means that you can drive legally in the country that it is issued for. It works alongside a valid drivers licence from your home country and makes sure you are compliant for legal driving, to avoid fines and ensures insurance is valid for driving accidents whilst in that country. The IDA covers 150+ countries and allows your readers to apply for their IDP online in a fast, efficient and easy way. You can earn commission by signing up as an affiliate to their affiliate program. Whilst signposting readers to this really helpful service. Perfect for my blog as we travel to Bali, Vietnam, Singapore and other South East Asia Countries, where we plan to drive and require IDP's for the different countries. Note: countries may require different IDP's and this website let's your reader select their country and apply online for their IDP, without you actually having to advise on the specific permits etc. See my blog page dedicated to helping my readers who are travelling to Bali , Indonesia here along with the affiliate link I put on to send them to the right place to get theirs online. Monzo An online bank that I use for both my personal and business banking that has an awesome banking app that allows me to set up easy access savings pots. Also easy instant access savings pots with a high interest of 4.10%. As well as letting me buy crypto through exchanges (which my Natwest bank stopped me from doing - which I didn't appreciate and hence opened my Monzo account and have been forever happy that I moved). I've been with Monzo for 2 years now. Love them so much that I also moved my business banking with them too. Open your own Monzo account easily online here and get £10 for a personal account and £50 if you open a business account. Once signed up with Monzo, you'll get your own affiliate link to share on your own socials if you love them as I do and get paid a little commission every time someone does. Stan Store Stan is the easiest way to make money online. Where you can have all of your courses, digital products, socials, bookings plus your own personal link-in-bio that you can place across all social media places with one easy link. When someone clicks on your course or offering they checkout via your Stan Store and you get paid to your bank using Stripe. All very easy to set up and I definitely love using this now that I earn 100% of my income online. Get your 14 days Stan Store free trial here. Once signed up with Stan, you'll get your own affiliate link to share on your own socials if you love them as I do and get paid a little commission every time someone does. CapCut - We create videos for our YouTube channel using CapCut most days and find it to be the best video editing software day in day out. It's only obvious that we would recommend and promote CapCut to anyone looking at starting their own content channel. Free and paid for accounts both good for beginners and right through to advanced editors and creators. It's an obvious way to get started in affiliate marketing by promoting or sharing the services that have made your own life easier, better, more efficient. Because you know, use, like and trust that brand with first hand experience. Amazon Associates The Amazon Affiliate Program is one of the most popular programs for small creators. Amazon has a massive product catalog, so no matter what niche you’re in, you can find products to promote. The downside is that the commission rate tends to be low, but with the sheer volume of products and the popularity of Amazon, it’s a great starting point. ShareASale ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects creators with a wide variety of brands and companies. From fashion to tech, they have something for every niche. The network offers reliable tracking, easy-to-use tools, and a solid payout system. Skillshare Affiliate Program As someone who loves learning new skills, Skillshare is a fantastic program to promote. If your audience is interested in online courses, this is an excellent affiliate program for you. The commission is a flat fee for each new member who signs up via your link. Canva If you love creating graphics (or even if you just use Canva for personal or business use), the Canva affiliate program is an easy one to promote. You can earn commissions when people sign up for a premium subscription through your link. Fiverr Fiverr’s affiliate program lets you promote services on their platform and earn commissions whenever someone purchases a gig. It’s a great choice if you create content around freelancing, entrepreneurship, or small business growth. How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing If you're just getting started with affiliate marketing, here are a few tips to help you succeed: Choose Products that Align with Your Audience : Promoting products that your audience will actually find useful is key to building trust and increasing your conversion rates. Think about what your audience needs or wants and look for affiliate programs that match. Disclose Your Affiliations : Transparency is important. Always disclose when you're using affiliate links to your audience. This helps maintain trust and is legally required in many places. Create Quality Content : The more value you provide in your content, the more likely your audience will be to click on your affiliate links. Whether it’s a detailed review, tutorial, or recommendation, ensure that your content is informative and helpful. Track Your Results : Use the analytics tools provided by the affiliate programs (or third-party tools like Google Analytics) to track how your links are performing. This data can help you adjust your strategy for better results. Be Patient : Affiliate marketing takes time. It may take a while before you start seeing significant earnings, but stay consistent with your content and promotion efforts, and you’ll see the rewards over time. Final Thoughts Affiliate marketing can be an incredibly effective way for small creators to start earning money from their online presence. I'll update my readers on my own online revenue journey as I go so you can see how effective Affiliate marketing can be even if you don't have a big following on social media like myself right now. By promoting products and services that resonate with my audience, I plan to turn my passion for creating content that helps people have. abetter life - into a steady stream of income for my family as we travel around SE Asia living our personal freedom life. If I can help others live their version of their own freedom life, or simply earn a few extra quid each month then my mission is accomplished. I’ll be continually updating this page and list as I sign up for new affiliate offers (so make sure you bookmark this page so you don't miss future juicy affiliate schemes) and as I start seeing more revenue from my efforts, I'll update on that through my socials so don't forget to subscribe to all of those to keep up to date. Stay tuned for future updates and affiliate insights! In the meantime, I hope this post inspires you to start your own affiliate marketing journey. Happy creating! Don't Forget to Follow us on Instagram: And On YouTube here too: And as always drop me a comment below if this page has helped you.  I only write and share stuff on the blog that I think will help others on their own journey. So let me know. Did it help? Did you get something from it? And what do you want to know going forward? I am at your service, Fletchy McFletchface xx Add my Blog to Your Bookmarks for more life enhancing stuff

Heads Up: If you click through + book accommodation / hotels through any of our partner links, we receive a small commission and costs you nothing extra. Thank you + happy planning.  BOOKING.COM Booking.com offers 28 million accommodation listings, including over 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay. Enter your location below: AGODA Agoda offers discounted rates at approximately 2.9 million hotels and private homes around the globe, ranging from budget options to five-star luxury stays. From tents to treehouses to tropical villas in more than 200 countries. As well as more than 1.5 million private homes, such as city apartments, family homes, and pool villas. Enter your location below:  HOSTELWORLD Hostel World is the global hostel-focused online booking platform with the best choice of over 17,000 hostels in more than 179 countries throughout the world. Enter your location below:   TRIP.COM Trip.com is one of the world’s leading online travel agencies, provides one-stop travel booking services with more than 1.2 million hotels in 200 countries and regions. As well as over 2 million individual flight routes that connect more than 5,000 cities around the globe. HOTEL CHECKER When looking for a place to sleep on our travels, whether that's hotels, B&B's, apartments, or villas we search tool above which comes up with the best options by all providers. We probably use Booking.com for most of our family holiday accommodation & hotels. We just find that it has varied choice for a range of budgets and gives the best prices. We sometimes use Agoda too. But we don't like how it gives the price per night even if you search for multiple nights. That said, I've found some very well priced trips to South East Asia such as our stay in the luxury 5* Banyan Tree Bangkok for £60 a night. It's worth using the checking tool above to compare all providers.

Heads Up: If you click through + book accommodation / hotels through any of our partner links, we receive a small commission and costs you nothing extra. Thank you + happy planning. TRAINS IN UK + EUROPE Need to book a train? Use Trainline to check and plan trains UK and Europe - From local trips to cross-country adventures, find info and book train tickets for popular journeys in the UK and rest of Europe. Easy Links: Trains to London | Trains in Europe | Trains in France | Trains in Spain | Trains in Italy | TRAINS + BUSES IN EUROPE TRAINS + BUSES IN EUROPE by Rail Europe  check over 50 European train companies to help you find your own path for traveling by train in Europe. TRAINS, BUSES, FERRY IN ASIA FOR ASIAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT - Shows all possible options from trains, bus, ferry, boat, plane - getting from one destination to the next. We always use 12Go and recently used it to book our transport from Koh Lanta to Krabi Ao Nang (taxi - ferry - taxi), then Krabi to Bangkok (overnight bus), then Bangkok to Chiang Mai (day bus) all at the click of a button for best prices and times to suit our timescales. Check your locations below:

Heads Up: If you click through + book a trip / excursion through any of our partners here, we receive a small commission which allows us to maintain the web costs here. Thank you + happy planning! We like to do only the best trips on any trip or holiday. We tend to package our days ourselves so the only trips we ever do do have to be AMAZING. And they are few and far between. We want to see the very best of a place, but we don't want to be ripped off. SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS                  Every City Trip for us starts with an open-top Big Bus Tour . The largest operator of open-top sightseeing bus tours. Operating in over 20 cities, across four continents. That we use to see the sights and get a feel for the city that we are in as well as a nifty way to get around town as you can hop on and off at major landmarks to explore at our own pace. GET YOUR GUIDE                                     Book top attractions, tours and trips around the world below with Get Your Guide . Our Go To: KLOOK Book top attractions, tours and trips around the world below with Klook . Another of our Go To's for booking trips: TRIP ADVISOR                                      As a family of 5 paying for an excursion or trip can mount up so we only want tried and tested, quality, worthwhile trips. We recommend our favourite trips in the travel guides that we offer. IF we book a trip or excursion for the family, we only ever use trusted sites (as there are a lot of booking companies out there). We want to know that what we're booking is safe and trusted. For that reason we use Trip Advisor for Things to do / Attractions All trips are accompanied by reviews so you can really get a feel for each trip. Some are just not worth it. Others: Must do's!

An introduction to Bangkok , Thailand’s bustling capital. Everything you need to know on how to get there and what travellers should know before diving into all it offers to make your next trip to Thailand , Bangkok run smoothly and get the most of what this amazing city has to offer. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog! Bangkok, Thailand will likely be Your First Stop into Thailand . And whether you plan to move swiftly on to your island paradise or northern Thailand adventure, a few days / nights in Bangkok at the beginning or end of your trip is a must. We've bookended and began trips to Thailand with Bangkok in the past and in 2025 we also stayed in Bangkok in-between living in Krabi and Chang Mai now as we are a full time travel family. In fact we haven't been in Bangkok since 2016 (9 years ago!) and a lot has changed. And so I'm re-written this Bangkok guide so you have the most up to date and current information for your next Bangkok visit. And even though a lot has changed in that time, the City feels better than ever and spending at least some time in Bangkok in 2025 and beyond is a must, wherever you decide to fit it in. In fact it'd be a crime to not do so. Here we share the must knows about Bangkok in 2025 and we share all the best things to do in Bangkok to on our blog and over on our YouTube channel. So in introducing Bangkok I'm not sure my words will really convey it's energy. This is something that can only be felt. But in words here I go: Bangkok is a cacophony of smells, noise, hustle and bustle. Majestic golden shimmering temples sparkling along the Chao Phraya river. Buzzing tuk-tuks, golden temples, neon-lit rooftop bars, and a bowl of steaming hot noodles at a roadside stall— Bangkok is a city of contrasts that somehow makes perfect sense. As Thailand’s sprawling capital, Bangkok is more than just a gateway to the country’s beaches and islands—it’s an essential part of the Thai experience. I hope this helped a little? Whether it’s your first time in Thailand or you’re returning for more, Bangkok offers a thrilling introduction to Thai culture, history, and modern life. Here’s what you need to know before jumping into the action. --- 📍 So, Where Is Bangkok? Bangkok is located in central Thailand, straddling the Chao Phraya River, which winds its way toward the Gulf of Thailand. It's the country’s largest city and political, cultural, and economic hub. With a metro population of over 10 million, it’s a dynamic mix of ancient tradition and fast-paced modernity. The city is divided into various districts, each with its own character: - Rattanakosin (Old City) – Home to the Grand Palace and ancient temples. - Sukhumvit & Silom – Bustling modern areas with malls, nightlife, and upscale hotels. - Chatuchak – Known for markets and a more local vibe. --- ✈️ How to Get to Bangkok Getting to Bangkok is easy, no matter where you're coming from in the world: By Air Bangkok is served by two international airports: - Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – The main international gateway, handling most long-haul flights. - Don Mueang Airport (DMK) – The hub for low-cost carriers like AirAsia and Nok Air, popular for domestic and regional flights. Both airports are well connected to the city via taxis, airport rail links, and shuttle buses. By Train You can arrive in Bangkok by train from northern and southern Thailand. The new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bangkok's new main train station) connects the city to Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, and even as far as the Malaysian border. By Bus or Minivan Bus terminals like Mo Chit, Ekkamai, and Southern Bus Terminal connect Bangkok to cities across Thailand. Minivans also operate on popular routes to nearby places like Hua Hin, Ayutthaya, and Pattaya. --- 🧭 Key Things to Know Before You Explore Bangkok 🗣 Language in Bangkok The official language is Thai, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Learning a few Thai phrases (like "Sawasdee ka/krub" for hello) goes a long way. 💸 Currency in Bangkok Thailand The local currency is the **Thai Baht (THB)**. Credit cards are accepted in malls and upscale restaurants, but cash is best for markets, street food, and taxis. 🧳 What to Wear in Bangkok Lightweight clothing is ideal for the tropical climate, but dress modestly when visiting temples —cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering. 🚇 Getting Around Bangkok Bangkok’s traffic is legendary, but you’ve got options: - BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway – Fast, affordable, and air-conditioned. - Tuk-tuks and Taxis – Fun, but always agree on a fare or ask for the meter. - Chao Phraya River Boats – A scenic and cheap way to reach the Old City. - Grab App – The Southeast Asian version of Uber, great for hassle-free rides. ☀️ When to Visit Bangkok - Cool Season (Nov–Feb) – Best time to visit: dry, breezy, and great for sightseeing. - Hot Season (Mar–May) – Very hot but lively with Songkran (Thai New Year) festivities. - Rainy Season (Jun–Oct) – Still warm with fewer crowds; showers often pass quickly. --- Why Start Your Thailand Trip in Bangkok? Bangkok isn’t just a stopover—it’s a destination in its own right. It’s where ancient royal traditions meet vibrant street life, Michelin-starred meals meet 30-baht noodles, and peaceful temples sit just blocks from buzzing nightlife. It’s a city that energises, surprises, and sometimes overwhelms—in the best way possible. And the best part? From Bangkok, the rest of Thailand is just a train ride, flight, or boat trip away. --- Coming Next: The Best Things to Do in Bangkok From jaw-dropping temples and floating markets to secret rooftop bars and boat rides through the city’s canals, there’s no shortage of experiences waiting for you. Not getting ripped off by Tuk Tuk drivers and staying safe. Stay tuned for our guide to the must-do activities that will make your Bangkok trip unforgettable. --- Want help planning your Bangkok adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our travel planning tools below to get best prices for flights, hotels and more: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from Singapore  to Krabi   with the best prices at the time. Then we took the bus from Krabi to Bangkok. Then onwards to Chiang Mai via the bus also. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🚌🚆🚇 - TRAVEL -  We took the overnight bus from Krabi to Bangkok that left Krabi at 3pm and arrived in Bangkok the following morning at 6am. Then onwards from Bangkok to Chiang Mai via the day time bus that set off from Bangkok at 10am and arrived in Chiang Mai at 8pm. Both booked via 12Go.   🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

We visited Playacar in February 2022 as a family of 4. We did extensive research before we travelled as we don't really like super touristy places. Here's everything we learned and experienced about the beautiful Playacar area. We hope that it helps you in your decision to travel and seek out the best beautiful beaches in Playacar on your next holiday in Mexico. Playacar beach in Mexico - powder soft white sands and clear blue seas are what you will find in Playacar The best things about Playacar in Mexico for familiy Playacar is quieter than PDC (Playa del Carmen) less touristy There are way less social media influencers than in Tulum posing on the beach There are FREE mayan ruins to visit nearby - walking distance - (you don't have to pay entry unlike Tulum) It's super close to the ferry pier for trips to Cozumel It's close to a shopping mall 5th Ave It's gated and safe Theres some super gorgeous mega quiet beaches only 10 mins walk away from the busier strip. Playacar in Mexico is a quieter area of the very popular tourist destination - Playa del Carmen. On the Riviera Maya. Or the Mexican Riviera / Mayan Riviera. It's a beautiful place and not in your face touristy that we think Playa del Carmen is. Playacar is on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, just south of Playa del Carmen. Playacar area itself is a very nice gated residential community. Made up of 2 phases: Phase 1 and Phase 2. In Phase 1 there is one entrance and exit through big white bollards that are security manned. Phase 2 is much larger with around 4 or 5 entrances at different points around the community. Playacar has a mix of all inclusive hotels at the higher end, catering for the luxury market, gold clubs and residential condo's / houses each varied in style that make up the lovely homes of the people that live there. It also has access to 2 ruin sites which is nice to see culture on what is mainly a beachy holiday. It feels very safe to walk around Playacar and we thoroughly recommend taking a walk out of the resort along the main road (which isn't busy btw) where you'll find access to the Playacar Mayan Ruins signposted and 5th Av shopping centre. Playacar beach itself is very very beautiful. It's typical Caribbean white sands, all shades of blue seas and beautiful palm tree's. The beach is also wide so plenty of room in front of each hotel to house the hotel sun beds but still have a large sandy space free of people/beds / things. Even with a storm coming in Playacar beach in Mexico is so so naturally beautiful. The main strip of the Playacar beach runs behind the beachfront hotels that are set back from the main road - and when heading away from the pier end of the beach (where the ferries run to other islands - handy for day trips to Cozumel). Tip: You'll find the most magical much quieter beach if you carry on along the Playacar Beach away from the hotels. Check out our youtube channel for vids of the beach at Playacar. If you continue right, along the wide stretch of Playacar beach past the hotels, you will find these extraordinarily beautiful beaches that are really very quiet even in busy peak holiday season. This is where we spent most of our days as we enjoy quiet days, by ourselves, where we walk back to our resort, a little more life and music and all inclusive drinks of course. If you like nature, then this place might be perfect for you. Just look at the crystal clear blue sea. There are many luxury 4-5* all inclusive hotels to chose from in the area. We stayed at Wyndam Viva Resort in Playacar Mexico , booked via booking.com which was perfect for what we needed as a family of 4 and wanted. We don't like in your face touristy places and this felt like a nice mix of different people, different nationalities and nice families. We did stay in February, before school holidays, which may be different. Check out our review of our stay there. For food in the Playacar area, there are good restaurants, but as we were all inclusive, we didn't venture out to these. Overall we really loved our holiday to Playacar in Mexico and we definitely plan to re-visit Mexico on our full time world adventure. As we won't be staying in hotels during this time, it's going to be nice to explore the areas in a little bit more independence, trying the local restaurants etc. We can't wait to blog about these soon! When we return to Mexico we plan to stay in residential houses. We also plan to stay in: Tulum at Hotel Xcaret Travel to Isla Majura

Heads up: this review is not a paid ad. Just an honest review of our family stay at this hotel. This review post may have some affiliate links in, which if you click through + book or purchase we may get a commission for. You are not charged anything for this. Thank you for your support. It was our first time staying at the viva wyndham azteca hotel and our first time in the Playacar area on the Mexican Riviera. This is our review of our family of 4 stay At The Viva Wyndham Hotel Azteca - there are 2 viva's in the area - in February 2022. We booked a two week all inclusive holiday at viva wyndham azteca hotel in Playacar in Mexico as we wanted beautiful beaches and relaxation at a good quality hotel. We wanted a relaxing hotel, that was kid friendly, right on a beautiful beach that would allow us to come together & plan for our plans to travel full time. Such a big decision that we needed to reconnect as a family for some much needed soul searching, whilst getting back to nature and listening to our intuition. We didn’t plan any sight seeing on this holiday and that’s exactly what we wanted and needed. We wanted empty free days, to potter along beautiful beaches and explore. We'd read good reviews on Trip Advisor about Viva Wyndham Azteca hotel and had found a good deal on Booking.com . So we were all set. And our stay at viva wyndham lived up to those good reviews. As a good quality family hotel, we really can't fault it. And thoroughly enjoyed our whole stay from day 1! We stayed at The Viva Wyndham Azteca Hotel for a 2 week stay which was located in Playacar on the Mexican Riviera. The main pool and bar at Viva Wyndham Azteca Resort Playacar Playacar is on the Yucatan Peninsula, just south of Playa del Carmen. Playacar is a very nice exclusive gated residential community with gorgeous beaches, luxury and quality hotels lining the main road backing the beach plus 2 ruin sites to explore. See Exploring The Playacar Mayan Ruins with the kids ( 5-10 min walk from Azteca hotel). You can walk around Playacar and feel safe with children, whilst looking at some really lovely houses that we’d dream of living in. There is a shopping mall nearby (5mins walk) and water activity spots all along the beach plus it’s only 10 mins taxi from all the fun & bustle in Playa del Carmen. Playacar Ruins - check out the full blog post here Beautiful grounds & the types of natural beauty at The Viva Wyndham Azteca Hotel. For The Maya Riviera, Mexico, Playacar, you’ll get gorgeous beaches & soft white sands that leave your footprints and then wash away with each wave. mum + dad are all smiles when the beach is this beautiful Some spots along the main beach of Playacar can be touristy but that’s to be expected as it pulls people in because it’s just so beautiful here. We were very happy with Viva Wyndham Azteca hotel’s spot – it really feels like they have got the best spot on the long beach. And we found a perfect little quiet bay that we had all to ourselves. Read on! We had a lot of rain during our stay in February 2022, which brought tons of churn and seaweed, and it felt as though we had picked the best beach hotel for this. Some hotels further down the beach were dealing with some stinky seaweed issues. There were lot’s of sun loungers available on Viva Wyndham Azteca’s private beach, although we mostly didn’t use as we like to plant ourselves to the ground and feel the earth/sand. There was a lot of rain in February. But if you listen it sounds so tropical For this holiday we needed natural beauty, a relaxed pace, tasty food, an easy time & chill family time. And with The Viva Wyndham Azteca that’s what we got. We prefer the beach to a pool. But the pool at viva wyndham azteca hotel is right on the beach, so you do get the best of both worlds - you can see it through the palms – just a few steps separates you from the large pool & the caribbean shoreline. So it feels very open. We spent more time at this pool than we've ever spent at any resorts pool. The pool at Viva Wyndham Azteca has lots of shallow areas and large shallow ledges for younger children to play with a big expanse of deeper water for me to be able to get a good swim in the morning. Si went to the gym, I went swimming with the kids. For the morning swim, I got glimmers of the white sands, palms & blue sea which I just loved to see whilst swimming. I mean, if I could take pictures with my eyes every time I blinked it was like a picture everywhere I looked. The pool area is lovely and clean and always well maintained. There is a Jacuzzi that kids are not allowed to use. A large central waterside bar sits near the pool like a big beautiful wig wam. You'll see some cheeky tropical birds watching on the side to take their chance to nick a chip. This is the main bar and serves drinks and snacks all day. Here you grab a coffee or soft / alcoholic drink all inclusive. We had caipirinha cocktails looking out on this view most evenings. Very pretty. Theres another bar near the front of the hotel lobby that you can use (hotel entertainment is close by this so it gets busy in the evening - if that's your thing) grabbing a coffee - view from the pool bar peaking through to the beach Viva Wyndham Azteca Hotel. Lush or what. There are 4 restaurants. The main buffet serves up a lot of varied dishes from around the globe. It's good quality and there is something for everybody. Seating is tight here though as we didn't ever want to eat inside as it felt a little like a school diner. Outside the restaurant is the place we wanted to be. Outdoors, pretty twinkly lights, candles on for evening meal. But not so many table and chairs. We personally felt the space could be brought out another table width wider as there is a huge courtyard that it sits on near the fountain. Maybe they do when it's peak season. There’s an Asian restaurant, an Italian Restaurant and a super pretty Mayan Mexican Restaurant (see below). Salud from Fletch in Mexico I normally get weirded out by all inclusive holiday hotel theme restaurants, as I find them a bit odd, so these were nice to try but they're somehow not like real restaurants really. Nice for the variation. And of course you have the the pool side bar serves up drinks and snacks, with guac, salsa, tortilla, salads, fresh fruit, melon, really yum pizzas for the kids, as well as pasta and burgers on the menu. Most days we ate breakfast at the main buffet restaurant outside; fresh coffee, lovely fresh pastry's, fresh fruit & yoghurts for mum/dad, cereal or pancakes for the kids. Lunch at the poolside bar near the pool: guac salsa salad and tortillas, pizzas nuggets for the kids. Then Main buffet restaurant for our evening meal. Always varied but delicious salad and fish or meat. The food is very good standard for an all inclusive. There was a pool party during the day that the guests go crazy for. It was unexpected for us but apparently they do it every week. It was fun to be part of this crazy weird experience because this is really not our thing. I went to a foam party when I was about 17 and I left it there. This was well run and put together & the kids had so much fun. Most of the adults there went bananas and had more fun than the kids, pushing them out of the way to get a dollop of foam in their faces from the spray boys. The kids had a squeal fest fun time. The staff in the kids club at viva azteca are so so good. Perfect children people. Our 5 year old did a few activities with them. He mostly likes to do his own thing, pottering on the beach, shouting at / commanding the ocean like a sea lord, that kind of thing, but when he saw a chance to whack a valentines piñata filled with sweeties he was all over this. And he loved the day. Theres a full itinerary of daily activities to do during the day at The Viva Wyndham Azteca hotel, the entertainment staff are very good. You can keep busy or go slow. We were that family that says 'no thank you’ to every activity and that was fine too. No pressure. Everything was easy. Life is good. The best things about The Viva Wyndham Azteca hotel are: The hotel has it’s own beach front private spot on a gorgeous white sandy beach The pool is kid friendly , large + has sea /beach views The Mayan area near the Mexican Restaurant that feels jungly and allowed us to teach our kids about the Maya just in the day to day passing Daily change of fresh pool towels Kids club (4-12 year olds) Close to 5th ave shopping area (around 2km) Close to Playacar centre Free Wifi The food is very good here for an all inclusive - we ate varied healthy quality food. Always delicious, always varied. Theres a gym Theres a spa There are 4 restaurants to mix things up a little bit The Mayan area near the Mexican Restaurant at viva wyndham azteca hotel that feels jungly and allowed us to teach our kids about the Maya everyday passing The worst things about The Viva Wyndham Azteca hotel are: they were strict on mask wearing in the restaurants. We get it they were just keeping everyone safe, but it was annoying as we choose Mexico for it's reduced restrictions. limited outside dining area at the buffet restaurant. As it got busier during our stay it was sometimes difficult to get a table outside and we didn't want to eat inside on holiday - we do this every day of the week at home in rainy UK. Getting to Viva Wyndham from Cancun Airport takes around 50 mins by coach which the tour operator had organised. It was just easy. We needed an easy happy life. We came together on this holiday & our stay at The Viva Azteca gave us a little bit of everything that we needed to rest, rejuvenate and get our heads together. Helpful Links for your Playacar Holiday: Book your stay at The Wyndham Azteca Book via Booking.com here I hope you found this helpful, feel free to give us a shout if you have any questions about the hotel or are planning your holiday. 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It had been a crazy busy 2 days and nights exploring Bangkok with 1 child and we had booked in The Vertigo Restaurant on the rooftop of our favourite hotel The Banyan Tree. The Banyan Tree Hotel is a renowned landmark in Bangkok and the restaurant gets good reviews. With these super, super impressive views, we wanted to mark our last night doing something special. Vertigo rooftop restaurant & Moon Bar, Bangkok We were guests in the hotel and just wanted ease, from getting ready to heading out. We headed up the the 61st floor feeling all fancy. We had booked early evening so saw the sun setting and the dusk creeping in. Walking in feeling like a total rockstar. It's very very romantic here & I would love to visit as a couple. We chose the a la carte menu, which was beautiful. Fresh, creative and colourful, like art on a plate. Staff were attentive and non fussy. Wine was topped up without noticing. A lovely discreet service. a well deserved meal at a rooftop restaurant - Vertigo At The Banyan Tree Bangkok. Pinky hued skylines and hazy twinkling lights made it look magical. It was lovely to feel very far away from the hustle and bustle below us. We had a really wonderful fine dining experience. Made all the more better by the stunning views, ambience & best cocktails. I mean how can it not be special with these views. It wasn't exactly a date night but if it was, the setting would have been perfect. Being so high we got a slight breeze from the hot night air. We saw the sun setting over the city below and if we just looked the other way, it was almost like we were on a date night. It's recommended that you book in advance to reserve a table. Especially peak times. And this is one place that comes highly recommended by us. Get dressed up and take your lover by the hand. It's a winner EASY LINKS TO BOOK Heads Up: If you click through + book through the links below, we receive a small commission which allows us to maintain this website. Thank you + happy planning. Book your meal at Vertigo Restaurant at The Banyan Tree Bangkok with Trip Advisor here Address: 61st Floor, The Banyan Tree Hotel, 21/100 South Sathorn Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand Book a stay at Banyan Tree Bangkok with Booking.com Location: The Banyan Tree Hotel, 21/100 South Sathorn Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand How to get to The Banyan Tree, Bangkok: From Manchester to Bangkok fly via Emirates at this flight checker From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) if you are travelling in groups of more than 3 it might be more economical and easier to get a taxi, but otherwise it's cheaper to use The Bangkok Airport Rail Link (on the first floor of the airport). This connects the airport to Downtown Bangkok (trains run from 6am - midnight daily | take 30 minutes to get into the city | and the City Line makes 6 stops between downtown (Phayathai Station) and the airport. The Airport Rail Link connects you to the MRT underground at Makkasan City Interchange Station (MRT Petchaburi Station) & The BTS Skytrain. On The BTS SkyTrain take the SILOM LINE to Silom Road station and walk around 10 minutes. Let us know your thoughts if you do book, we'd love to hear how your experience went. Don't forget to Check out our Bangkok Travel Guide I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from UK to Koh Samui  with the best prices at the time. Then we took the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🚌🚆🚇 - TRAVEL -  We took the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao booked via 12Go.   🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog! Koh Tao Thailand with Kids. Is a big fat yes! And a must visit if you're thinking of island hopping on the Koh Samui side. We were charmed by this little island and loved it's laid back feel. If you're worried about taking your child travelling around Thailand, we hope this post inspires you to just do it. We first took our child age 6 and think this is a perfect age to start thinking about your travelling plans. We'll be going back soon with 2 and writing about our experiences here for our eldest to do her PADI diving course whilst the little one and dad explore the island. Thailand as a country is fantastic for children culturally and educationally. From the busy bustle of Bangkok to the mainland coasts and islands. Travelling around Thailand is easy with kids. And there are so many options, you don't need to take planes. Koh Tao lies in The Gulf of Thailand and is easily accessible from anywhere in Thailand. You will always need to get to the island by sea of course. But from where you depart, there are so many options. We got the ferry across from Koh Samui to Koh Tao as we'd been island hopping, but you can come straight from Bangkok by taking an overnight train to Chumpon (this saves a night's accommodation and becomes a night time adventure). Once in Chumpon you can take a bus to the pier, and then the ferry onto Koh Tao. From Bangkok we flew to Koh Samui and stayed there. We planned to island hop around the Koh Samui Archipelago of islands. First up Koh Samui, then from Koh Samui via the ferry to Koh Tao Mae Haad Pier. The ferry costs around 600 baht per person (£13) and we were late, so it was full but we managed to get squeezed in with the baggage. sat with the baggage on the ferry to koh tao Why travel to Koh Tao with children? Well firstly, would you just look at it! You'll find a relaxed pace of life, and come together as a family, spending your days exploring coves and new beaches. Out of the 3 main islands in this archipelago, Koh Tao is lesser known, therefore not as busy & was hand down the hidden jewel out of them all. Our favourite beauty. It reminds us of the old Thailand travel days. just look at it! Koh Tao is part of the Ang Thong Marine National Park, which is a protected area. This means that as a base you're very well positioned to explore other beaches and islands. There are 42 islands spread over the Ang Thong Marine Park altogether. Most are very small and can be visited on a day trip. And there are plenty of boats to ride to visit these islands daily. On a day trip you can snorkel the day away on the shallow reefs and be amazed by the fishes on a brand new island of your choice! Every beach on Koh Tao offers something uniquely beautiful to explore as a family. Dangling off a tree. Drawing in the sand. Snorkelling, kayaking. Just generally pottering around and being free as a bird. You’ll have plenty of time exploring over 2 –3 days, although we stayed for one week to fully relax and recharge plus explore many different beaches and find our favourites. The pace is definitely more tranquil compared to party islands of Koh Pha Nang (the island of the famous full moon parties) + Koh Samui (the largest of the 3 islands in this group). And we loved that. The beaches in Koh Tao are really very naturally beautiful. And the main draw to the island. You'll spend your days exploring the beautiful landscapes and rocky pathways. It's exciting for kids as they feel like little adventurers. It's really nice to see their confidence grow as the days go on. In no time they're free & easy, how they should be. walking skinny pathways to get to our favourite beach on Koh Tao Freedom Beach. It was mostly all to ourselves, most days + we love that about a place we explore like adventurers Koh Tao is a smaller, lesser developed island than the other islands in it's archipelago, but it's not sleepy by any means. It used to be only popular with divers and backpackers, but there are more families and holiday makers now too. Since returning with kids it's got more of a reputation as a party island than back then. Although if you've been to Koh Phi Phi it's nothing by comparison. There are lots of small restaurants to choose from to eat, or grab a fresh coconut and look out to the sea. A must see on your visit to Koh Tao is the famous Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint on the neighbouring island (Nang Yuan Island). Nang Yuan Island is actually a set of three small islands, with crystal clear waters, separated by a sand bar - can we just appreciate those views for a few seconds. To get to Nang Yuan Island you can hire a boat on your own or hire an excursion on Koh Tao that can take you. It's so cheap to do. A Longtail boat will cost around 200-300 baht £5 return per adult (kids are free) from Sairee Beach. Plus 200 baht / £4.50 entry to the island. It's worth it because it's so pretty. And when you're there you can walk up to the famous viewpoint to get breathtaking views like this! It takes around 15 minutes (20 with kids) to get to the top and we recommend going early to avoid the crowds as it gets v busy + humid up there. Another must do on Koh Tao is the John Suwan Viewpoint. This is easily accessible from Freedom beach, which became our favourite beach to visit daily. Follow signs for Freedom beach to find the viewpoint. This is a fun adventure for kids because it's not well sign posted, so will add to their sense of discovery. And the walk will take around 20 mins with little legs. The views over the whole island including shark bay are well worth it. It costs 50 baht p person (you'll see someone along the way collecting your money & directing). During our stay on Koh Tao we stayed at Ko Tao Resort Paradise Zone on Chalok Bay . There are so many small family run hotels to chose from that you can shop around to find what you like, within budget. Stay a couple of nights in one and explore that area, then move on. A mini backpacking trail. We liked Report Paradise because of the views, the infinity pool and we enjoyed the walk. The walk down to the beach daily was through a beautiful butterfly garden with huge exotic butterflies everywhere. As we like to world school with travel, this was just perfect but the hill is steep (I wouldn't like to be pushing a buggy up there). There is a shuttle that you can take up & down, but we found it easier to just walk. From here you can easily walk to the gorgeous bays Freedom Beach & Shark Bay. The next time we go we would like to stay at Koh Tao Cabana on Sairee Beach / Taa Toh Seaview Resort on Shark Bay. So when's best to travel to Thailand with children? The recommended time to travel to Thailand is during the dry season - which is from the end of November to the beginning of May (the dry season). Although that is also when it is hottest too. This is high season and things are pricier, which is why we also travel in low season also to keep costs down with children. Low Season (also rainy season / monsoon season) is from the beginning of May to November - and you have to check with the weather and travel on ferry travel etc. Some islands will close for safety reasons in extreme bad weather, so always bear this in mind and be prepared to be flexible when booking your travel. Dry Season Thailand End of Nov - Early May Wet Season May - Nov I hope I have tempted you into dipping your toe into travelling around Thailand with children. You'll make memories that will last forever. Whether it's a vacation or holiday to Thailand or a full on year sabbatical from work to travel the world with your kids. I am here. Ask me anything and I'll be delighted to help. I can pass on any help / information I have learned that will make your life & journey into taking the leap & following your dreams, that much easier. Koh Tao - You have this family's hearts forever Don't forget to Check out our 'Things To Do In Koh Tao With Kids' post Next up: The Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai - Now that you know how to get there and what to expect, let’s dive into what makes Chiang Mai truly unforgettable. Stay tuned for a roundup of the top things to do, from magical enchanted temples to markets that you will not be able to resist buying from. Coming Soon: The Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai Ready to dive into temple-hopping, market strolling, and mountain trekking? In our next post, we’ll explore the top things to do in Chiang Mai—from iconic attractions to hidden local favourites. Want help planning your Koh Tao adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from UK to Koh Samui with the best prices at the time. Then we took the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🚌🚆🚇 - TRAVEL -  We took the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao booked via 12Go.   🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

Here’s OUR curated list of The Top things to do and see in Koh Samui, Thailand . This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog! 🌴 Top Things to Do and See in Koh Samui, Thailand 1. 🧘‍♀️ Visit the Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) This iconic 12-meter golden statue is one of Koh Samui’s most famous landmarks. Sitting on a small island (Koh Phan), it's especially beautiful at sunrise and offers panoramic views of the coast. 2. 🏝 Relax on Chaweng and Lamai Beaches Chaweng is lively, full of restaurants and nightlife, while Lamai is slightly quieter but still well-developed—both perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or beach-hopping. 3. 🌄 Explore Secret Buddha Garden Hidden in the island's lush interior hills, this mystical sculpture garden features a mix of statues, jungle views, and a peaceful atmosphere. A great stop for a day of scenic exploration. 4. 🚤 Take a Day Trip to Ang Thong Marine Park A must-do! This stunning archipelago of 42 islands offers kayaking, snorkelling, hidden lagoons, and scenic hikes. Ideal for nature lovers and photographers. 5. 🌊 Swim at Namuang Waterfalls There are two falls (Namuang 1 and 2), both easily accessible and great for a cool dip after exploring the island. Nearby, you’ll find jungle safaris and zipline parks. 6. 🛍 Wander Fisherman’s Village in Bophut This charming, laid-back coastal village is great for boutique shopping, trendy cafes, and beachfront dining. Don’t miss the Friday Night Market for local eats and crafts. 7. 💆‍♀️ Unwind with a Thai Massage or Spa Day Koh Samui is known for wellness. Book a beachside Thai massage or indulge in a luxury spa experience at places like Tamarind Springs or Eranda Herbal Spa. 8. 🧘 Join a Yoga or Detox Retreat From yoga sessions to full-on wellness retreats, Samui is a hotspot for spiritual and physical rejuvenation. Check out Vikasa Yoga or Samahita Retreat for structured programs. 9. 🐘 Ethical Elephant Encounters Visit a reputable, ethical elephant sanctuary like Samui Elephant Haven to learn, feed, and walk alongside rescued elephants—no riding or shows. 10. 🏯 See Wat Plai Laem A colourful temple complex featuring a massive statue of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) with 18 arms. The lake, sculptures, and peaceful setting make it a hidden gem for photos and reflection. 11. 🍜 Take a Thai Cooking Class Learn how to make traditional dishes like pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice from local chefs. A fun and tasty souvenir to bring home! 12. 🎶 Experience Koh Samui’s Nightlife Whether it's beach bars in Chaweng, live music in Lamai, or fire shows on the sand, the nightlife scene here is vibrant but not overwhelming. 13. 🛺 Explore the Island by Scooter Renting a scooter is one of the best ways to discover Samui’s hidden beaches, hilltop viewpoints, coconut groves, and roadside food stalls. Bonus: 🧭 Catch a Sunset at Overlap Stone or Lad Koh Viewpoint For a more off-the-beaten-path moment, hike up to Overlap Stone or stop at Lad Koh Viewpoint for unforgettable views, especially at golden hour. Island Hop From Koh Samui, you're perfectly positioned to explore some of Thailand’s most beautiful and diverse islands—each offering something unique, whether you're after party vibes, diving adventures, or quiet beaches. Here are the top islands to explore from Koh Samui: 🌕 1. Koh Phangan – The Full Moon Party Island & More. Known for its legendary Full Moon Parties at Haad Rin, but the island also offers tranquil beaches, waterfalls, yoga retreats, and jungle hikes. - Travel Time: ~30 mins by ferry 🐢 2. Koh Tao – Diver’s Paradise . World-renowned for affordable scuba diving, snorkel-friendly bays, and a chill backpacker vibe. Ideal for beginners and certified divers alike. - Travel Time: ~1.5–2 hours by ferry Tip: go for a sunset hike at John-Suwan Viewpoint. 🌿 3. Ang Thong National Marine Park – Island-Hopping & Kayaking Heaven. This protected archipelago of 42 islands offers dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, caves, and stunning viewpoints. Day trips include kayaking, snorkelling, and hiking. - Travel Time: ~1 hour by boat 🏝 4. Koh Madsum (Pig Island) – Instagram-Friendly & Relaxed. Home to friendly beach pigs you can feed and take photos with! Calm waters and fewer crowds make it a great half-day trip. - Travel Time: ~20 minutes by longtail boat 🏖 5. Koh Tan (Coral Island) – Snorkeling & Seclusion. This peaceful, undeveloped island just off the south coast of Samui, is known for shallow coral reefs, mangroves, and quiet beaches. Perfect for snorkeling, nature walks, escaping the crowds - Travel Time: ~20–30 minutes by longtail boat 🌅 6. Koh Phaluai – Untouched & Traditional. One of the least developed islands in the Ang Thong region, where local fishing villages offer a glimpse into traditional Thai island life. This is definitely one of the more off-the-beaten-path adventure, slow travel, eco-tourism islands. - Travel Time: ~2 hours by boat ✨ Bonus: Island-Hopping Tours Many local operators offer full or half-day island-hopping tours from Koh Samui to make life easy that include: - Koh Madsum + Koh Tan - 3-island snorkeling tours (Koh Tao + Nang Yuan) - Ang Thong marine park loop - Private longtail or speedboat charters to customise your own adventure These nearby islands make Koh Samui the perfect base for exploring the Gulf of Thailand’s tropical treasures. Whether you're after action-packed adventure or peaceful beach days, there’s an island for every kind of traveler. Coming up next:  More on our Thailand  adventure and how to experience this country on a budget (even with kids!). Want help planning your Koh Samui  adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our travel planning tools below to get best prices for flights, hotels and more: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from UK to Bangkok . Then domestic flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui  with the best prices at the time. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog! Here’s our curated list of the Top things to do in Koh Tao. This tiny island packs in plenty of adventure, natural beauty, and laid-back charm. And is a boat ride away from Koh Samui and a must for and Gulf of Thailand Island Hopping itinerary. But before reading on don't forget to checkout our other Koh Tao Travel blogs: See our Best Beaches of Koh Tao here | See our Koh Tao you big show off blog here | See our Koh Tao with Kids blog here. Ready to dig deeper and find out the Top 10 Things To Do on Koh Tao... Let's go: 🌴 Top Things to Do in Koh Tao, Thailand 1. 🤿 Go Scuba Diving – Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s Top Dive Destinations Koh Tao is world-famous for its affordable, beginner-friendly diving. It’s one of the cheapest places in the world to get PADI certified, with dozens of dive schools and vibrant dive sites like: - Chumphon Pinnacle – best for spotting barracuda and whale sharks - Sail Rock – one of the top dive spots in the Gulf - Japanese Gardens – great for beginners and snorkelling too 2. 🐠 Snorkel in Crystal-Clear Bays If diving’s not your thing, Koh Tao’s shallow reefs make it a snorkelling haven. Some top spots include: - Shark Bay – known for reef sharks and turtles - Ao Leuk – calm waters and coral gardens - Hin Wong Bay – colourful reefs and plenty of fish 3. 🌅 Hike to a Viewpoint Koh Tao has some incredible hiking trails that lead to epic island panoramas. Don’t miss: - John-Suwan Viewpoint – short but steep hike with stunning views of the southern coast - Mango Viewpoint – gorgeous sunset spot overlooking Sairee Beach - Love Koh Tao Viewpoint – easy access with cafes nearby 4. 🏝 Visit Koh Nang Yuan Just a short boat ride from Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan is a postcard-perfect trio of tiny islands connected by a sandbar. Great for snorkelling, relaxing, and climbing up to the iconic viewpoint. 5. 🧘 Try a Yoga Class with a View Koh Tao’s tranquil vibe is perfect for wellness. Join a class at places like Shambhala Yoga or Ocean Sound Yoga, many with sea-view decks and calming natural surroundings. 6. 🍛 Take a Thai Cooking Class Learn to make classics like green curry, pad Thai, or mango sticky rice in a relaxed, island setting. It’s a fun and tasty way to connect with local culture. 7. 🛶 Go Kayaking Around the Island Rent a kayak and explore Koh Tao’s quiet coves and hidden beaches at your own pace—especially in the early morning when the sea is calmest. 8. 🐢 Volunteer with Marine Conservation Projects Many dive schools and local NGOs offer short-term volunteer opportunities where you can help with reef cleanups, marine research, or turtle conservation. 9. 🌃 Enjoy Sunset Drinks at a Beach Bar Don’t miss sunset on Koh Tao—it’s magical. Head to Sairee Beach for beachfront bars, fire shows, and chilled-out vibes. Popular spots: FIZZ Beachlounge, Lotus Bar, or Maya Beach Club. 10. 🏄‍♂️ Relax and Unwind Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing at all. Koh Tao is the perfect place to slow down, swing in a hammock, and soak up the island energy. Coming up next:  More on our Thailand  adventure and how to experience this country on a budget (even with kids!). Want help planning your Koh Samui adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our travel planning tools below to get best prices for flights, hotels and more: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. For Koh Tao, you will need to fly to Koh Samui first and get the ferry to Koh Tao from Koh Samui. We used this flight checker to get flights from UK to Bangkok . Then domestic flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui with the best prices at the time. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog! Everything first-time visitors need to understand Thai culture with confidence. Cultural Customs and Manners in Thailand The Do’s and Dont’s for your Thailand Holiday. This is your practical list of 12 cultural "do’s"  in Thailand to help travellers show respect and blend in smoothly: The Do’s in Thailand Do greet with a “wai” (the Thai bow): Place your hands together in a prayer position and move them toward your chin, then bow your head slightly forward as a respectful greeting—especially to elders or officials. This Thai bow is used to greet, to say goodbye and as of a way of saying thank you. Thai people love when you make this gesture! Only the king and monks are exempt from the obligation of greeting back with a wai. Wais are best done empty-handed. Do remove your shoes before entering homes and temples: Always check—if there are shoes outside, yours should join them. As is the case in many Asian countries, it is considered proper to take off your shoes before entering a temple. The same goes for people’s homes. Do dress modestly when visiting temples or religious sites: Cover your shoulders, chest, and knees. Avoid tight or revealing clothing. Do respect the Royal Family: It’s a serious offence to criticise or mock the Thai monarchy—be mindful in conversations and public spaces. Whilst sitting waiting for the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, there was a public announcement in Thai, followed by royal music and the whole train station came to a stand still and everybody stood up whilst ceremonial music played. We didn't know what was happening but after a few seconds we stood up and joined everybody. Thai people really respected this and many nodded in appreciation. And so by respecting the local cultures, you will gain the respect of your fellow man/woman. Even if at the time we didn't know what we were standing up for - other than the respect that this meant something to someone else, whose country we were in. Do use your right hand to give or receive items: The left hand is considered less clean; using your right hand (or both hands) shows respect. Use your right hand! When paying or handing anything over. The left hand is seen as impure because it gets used in the toilet in the absence of toilet paper. Do smile often—it's part of the culture: Known as the “Land of Smiles,” Thais appreciate friendliness and calm interactions. Smiling is something that’s deeply embedded in Thai culture. Always smile back. Also smile when negotiating, apologising and even if you disagree with someone. Do eat with a spoon: Chopsticks are mainly used for Chinese dishes, noodles, and spring rolls. And when it comes to cutlery in Thailand, it’s customary to eat with a spoon in your right hand and a fork in your left. Use the fork to scoop the food onto the spoon; the fork never enters the mouth. Do be polite and keep your voice down: Loud or aggressive behaviour is frowned upon and considered rude. Do show respect for Buddha images: Treat all images of the Buddha with reverence—no climbing or posing inappropriately. Do respect the monks: When traveling through Thailand you’ll come across lots of orange clad monks. Monks are greeted with a deeper wai than others. Also, they’re not obliged to greet back. All through Thailand, there are special areas for monks; in buses and trains, for instance. Women aren’t allowed to touch monks, sit or stand right next to them, or give them anything, as this might arouse lustful feelings in them; something which is strictly forbidden. Do be patient and flexible: Things may not always run on schedule—maintain a relaxed, respectful attitude. Do learn a few Thai phrases: Even simple words like “hello” (Sawasdee ka/krap) and “thank you” (Khop khun ka/krap) go a long way. And the Don'ts in Thailand - to help you avoid common faux pas and show respect for local customs: ❌ 10 Don’ts When Visiting Thailand Don’t touch anyone’s head — even children: The head is considered the most sacred part of the body (the highest) in Thai culture. Don’t point with your feet or touch things with them: Feet are seen as the lowest and “dirtiest” part of the body—never rest them on tables or point them at people, religious objects, or images of the King. Don’t raise your voice or lose your temper in public: Maintaining “face” and calmness is very important—getting angry is seen as losing control. Don’t touch monks if you’re a woman: Women should not hand anything directly to monks or sit too close to them on public transport. 5. Don’t kiss or cuddle in public: Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon, especially in rural or religious areas. 6. Don’t wear shoes indoors where it’s clearly not allowed: Especially in temples, homes, some restaurants, and massage shops—look for signs or follow what others are doing. 7. Don’t disrespect Buddha images or use them decoratively: It’s illegal to export Buddha statues and offensive to use them as decor or tattoos. 8. Don’t be overly critical of Thai customs or the monarchy: Thailand has one of the oldest monarchies in the world and it’s greatly loved by its people. Thailand has strict lèse-majesté laws; criticism can lead to arrest. The maximum sentence for insulting the king in Thailand is life imprisonment. 9. Don’t bargain aggressively in markets: Haggling is expected, but keep it friendly and respectful. 10. Don’t assume everyone speaks English: Many do, especially in tourist areas, but learning a few Thai words shows respect and effort. I hope this blog on the dos & don'ts in Thailand really helps you for your next trip. If in doubt, always check the Thai Embassy here for all up to date information. And remember, the Thai people are lovely people and as long as you show willing and try to embrace the etiquette and customs, they are accommodating and appreciative of the effort and willingness to learn. So jump on in and embrace the Thai ways for the most memorable holiday yet. Coming up next:  More on our Thailand adventure and how to experience this country on a budget (even with kids!). Want help planning your Thailand adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below and use our Thailand Planning Tools  Below to get best flights, hotels and more: On YouTube: 💡 HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡 ✈️ - FLIGHTS -  We use this flight checker  to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more 🏨   - ACCOMMODATION -  We use this hotels checker  to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to our Accommodation Planning Page for more 🧭🗺️👣   - THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES -  We use Get Your Guide  for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook  too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different. This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!