Some call Thailand one of the most magical places on Earth. The Southeast Asian country has a little bit (or a lot) of everything–the opulence of grand palaces and temples, sensational food, out of this world shopping (check out the Siam Malls in Bangkok), dynamic culture and history, and last but certainly not least, some of the most magical islands you’ll ever lay your eyes on.

If all of those things don’t do it for you, these are some the reasons Thailand should be on your “must-see” list!

Affordability

Considering you’re traveling to the other side of the world, once you get to Thailand you can live like royalty, but still maintain a pretty conservative budget. Even if you’re on a shoestring, you can travel comfortably and still see all the sights and partake in local activities.

The average Thai resident lives on a little under 8,000 Thai baht a month. 1 U.S. dollar is equal to 35 Thai baht. So, if you live like a local you could possibly get by on 228 U.S dollars a month. Roughly, 7 U.S dollars a day. For transportation, a taxi may cost you around 80 Thai baht which is a little over 2 U.S. dollars.  So, if you really want to spend as little as possible, try living like a local.

Accessibility

With a 14 hour flight (give or take a few hours) you should take advantage of everything you’re able to see on that side of the world. When I traveled, I only had enough time to see Bangkok and Phuket, but many who venture to Thailand, use it as a launching point. You can travel to Thailand, and see the wonderful sights there like Chiang Mai, Pattaya and from there, make your way to the beautiful exotic islands of, Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Ko Yao Yai, just to name a few (we traveled from Bangkok to Phuket, and it cost about $70 dollars round trip). Also, from Thailand you can easily and relatively inexpensively travel to other Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, etc.

FOOD

There are so many different aspects of Thailand from the city to the islands and with each, brings a new and refreshing experience. I think there’s no better way to experience culture, than through food; and in Thailand there’s food EVERYWHERE. You can do traditional street food or you can go to an upscale restaurant in the city of Bangkok, and both options are practically just down the road from one another.

Culture OVERLOAD

Many of the must-see attractions in Thailand from the Grand Palace to Wat Arun (and so many more), are all full of history and are so amazingly beautiful and ornate, but the most striking experience is seeing people actually worshiping and praying at these sites. Even in middles of Bangkok, next to one of their most popular shopping districts, you’ll see shrines and people praying and lighting incense, right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. It’s truly inspiring and a reminder of how important it is to feed your soul.

For all of these reasons and a battery of others, I think Thailand is a travel gem. People who’ve gone, can’t stop talking about it and those who hear about it are always intrigued.  If you’re into traveling in the least, Thailand should definitely be on your list!