About Us
Hi, I’m Jack
I’ve been travelling to Thailand for the last 3 years and now spend most of my time living in Chiang Mai with my Thai partner and our small dog. Over the years I’ve explored islands, mountain towns, beaches, cafes, hotels, and local neighbourhoods across the country.
I created Where To Stay In Thailand to help travellers find the best places to stay, eat, and explore using real travel experience instead of generic tourist advice. From Chiang Mai cafés and hidden beaches to island hopping routes and hotel guides, everything here is designed to help you plan a better trip.
SOME INSIGHTS
My Favourite Places In Thailand
Chiang Mai
Mountain cafes, temples, night markets, and a slower pace of life. After travelling around Thailand for the last few years, Chiang Mai became the place I decided to call home. It’s one of the best areas in Thailand for long stays, local food, coffee culture, and exploring Northern Thailand.
Railay Beach
I fell in love with Railay Beach the first time I visited after staying at Blanco Hideout Hostel. It’s one of those places that instantly feels different, with huge limestone cliffs, longtail boats, beach bars, and incredible sunsets. I even ended up making an older friend called Bob and spent five unforgettable days getting up to no good around Railay and Ao Nang. Ever since that first trip, it’s become somewhere I make sure to visit at least once every year.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is another place I’ve returned to every year whilst travelling around Thailand. Over the years I’ve stayed everywhere from backpacker hostels to more luxury beachfront hotels, which has given me a good feel for the different areas and types of trips the island suits best. My partner loves the scuba diving around the island, while I’ve always enjoyed finding the quieter tucked away beaches, small cafés, and slower side of Koh Tao life.
Koh Samui
Every now and again I still like to let off some steam, and Koh Samui has always been one of my go-to islands for that. These days I’m not really into the packed party streets and huge backpacker nights out like I was when I was younger, but Samui has a good balance of nightlife, beach clubs, quieter bars, and more relaxed resorts. Alongside the nightlife, the island also has beautiful beaches, luxury hotels, great restaurants, cafés, viewpoints, and easy access to nearby islands, making it one of the most versatile places to visit in Thailand.
Why I Started This Website
When I first started travelling to Thailand a few years ago, I spent hours searching online trying to figure out the best places to stay, what areas suited different types of trips, and which places were actually worth visiting. A lot of the information I found felt generic, outdated, or written by people who hadn’t really spent much time there.
After travelling around Thailand for the last 3 years and eventually making Chiang Mai my home, I realised how much local knowledge and real experience can completely change a trip. Some areas look great online but feel very different in person, while other places end up becoming unforgettable once you know where to go.
I created Where To Stay In Thailand to help other travellers who were in the same position I was when I first arrived. Whether you’re looking for backpacker hostels, quiet beaches, island hopping routes, cafés, nightlife, luxury hotels, scuba diving, long-term stays, or hidden local spots, the goal is to make planning Thailand feel easier and more personal.
Everything on this website is based on real experiences, repeat visits, and places I genuinely love returning to every year.
Plan Your Thailand Trip
Before you travel, these are the companies I personally recommend using when planning a trip around Thailand.
Hotels & Accommodation
I've used Trip.com throughout Thailand and regularly compare prices when booking hotels. It's one of the easiest ways to find everything from budget hostels and boutique hotels to luxury beachfront resorts.
Ferries, Buses & Transport
Getting around Thailand is easier than ever, but booking ferries, buses, trains, and transfers can sometimes be confusing. I use 12Go to compare routes and book transport between destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan.
Tours & Activities
Whether you're looking for island-hopping trips, snorkelling tours, cooking classes, temple visits, or day trips, GetYourGuide offers a huge selection of activities across Thailand.
Shop My Recommended Travel Gear
I've put together a collection of travel products that I personally recommend for Thailand. Whether you're backpacking, staying in resorts, island hopping, or working remotely, these are items that can help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Why I Recommend These Companies
I've travelled around Thailand for the last few years and these are the companies I personally use when booking hotels, transport, tours, and travel essentials. I only recommend services that I've either used myself or would genuinely be happy to recommend to friends and family visiting Thailand. Using these links helps support the website at no extra cost to you and allows me to continue creating free Thailand travel guides.