Name: Hire Car
Rating: 4.6

Thailand – dream destination also for hire car travellers

Bangkok – Love at second sight

The journey begins in Bangkok, the country’s metropolis. At first glance, the city is a shock. Cars and all sorts of two- and three-wheelers line up close together. Everyone seems to be in a permanent traffic jam, the shimmering hot air is saturated with exhaust fumes. High-rise buildings line the streets. But then you discover a Buddhist temple in an alley, step through the gate and find yourself in a world of peace and meditation. So don’t leave right away, but give Bangkok a few days to show its true colors. Start your tour in the city at the Royal Palace. Exotic and fearsome statues guard the gold-adorned buildings. Inside Wat Phra Keo, you will find the Emerald Buddha, one of the country’s shrines. Countless worshippers pay homage to him on their knees. Feel free to take half a day to visit the palace at your leisure. And be sure to dress appropriately. Tourists in shorts or skimpy tops are often turned away by the strict palace guards. Afterwards, take in a bit of the city from the river. Hop on one of the express boats on the Chao Praya. Enjoy the cooling breeze and let the sea of houses pass you by.

Now you can delve a little into the past and visit the Jim Thompson House, for example. The successful silk merchant Jim Thompson had a residence built for himself in 1959 in the old Thai style. Here you get a good idea of how it used to look in Bangkok. There are many other sights to discover. Stroll through the market in Chinatown. Everything from lucky amulets to live frogs are sold here. Or enjoy a Royal Thai meal at Bussaracum restaurant. This place serves Royal Thai cuisine that’s not as spicy as the usual street food.

Prachuap Khiri Khan – Magnificent view and dangerous monkeys

If you steer the hire car southwards, you will reach the provincial capital of Prachuap Khiri Khan after 280 kilometres. Unadulterated Thai small town life awaits you in this place. Climb Khao Chong Krajok, the mirror mountain, and enjoy the view of the breathtaking coastline. At the summit, you’ll find Wat Thammaikaram. Here you can observe Buddhist monastic life.

When climbing the mountain, keep a close eye on your valuables. The monkeys that live here are talented pickpockets.

Hua Hin – Royal seaside resort with flair

Hua Hin, the royal seaside resort, forms the end point of the road trip. Here you’ll find endless sandy beaches, stroll through a beautiful night market and snack on Thai specialties, or try your luck at one of the nearby golf courses.

The restaurants on the harbour offer the best seafood dishes and there is also a special hotel to discover in the village. The Centara Grand Beach Resort is all colonial style. It was opened in 1923 as the Railway Hotel and has retained much of the flair of days gone by. The trees in the spacious park are trimmed into animal sculptures by skilled gardeners. The house offers every luxury, all rooms are stylishly furnished. Several restaurants and bars await the guest. At one of the four pools of the house it can relax wonderfully and the central location invites to explore the place.