Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos
I was excited to have the opportunity to review Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition: With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos .
But now that I am sitting down to write about it, it is quiet a difficult task.
Why? Because I have been to Thailand more than 30 times in the past 6 years. Not to mention all of the time I have spent in Laos.
Thailand is very dear to me and in some ways very familiar.
Happily, there are lots of places that Fodor and I agree are “must see”, but of course some places were left out that I personally would have included.
However, I also recognize that MOST people who are traveling to Thailand and using a Fodor guidebook aren’t going with young children in tow. So, where I get excited about a good zoo, they would be more excited about something called “night life”. Go figure.
When going to a new and exotic place, I put great importance on knowing something of the history and culture.
Here, Fodor does a very thorough job, devoting a large section to Understanding Thailand, which touches on language, culture, religion, and food.
Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition: With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos is also visually rich, with more than 250 color photographs.
There are also great color maps, which will be handy when walking or communicating with a taxi or tuk tuk driver.
The areas of Thailand that I am most familiar with are Bangkok, Northern Thailand, and Isan.
In the Bangkok section, I was happy to see Jim Thompson’s House , Chatuchak Weekend Market included as “musts”!
Also in the guide are great suggestions for restaurants, hotels, and entertainment.
I’m not familiar with Khaosan Road where all of the backpackers spend their time; in fact I encourage you to get OUT of that (shady) area and explore the rest of the city.
Whenever I go to Bangkok, I always think satisfied thoughts about how Bangkok is the perfect balance of East meets West. The best of both worlds!
Chiang Mai is a favorite Northern Thailand destination for foreigners of every corner of the globe.
My “must do” things in Chiang Mai would be a visit to the Night Bazaar, taking a Thai cooking class, the Chiang Mai Zoo, a visit to Mae Sa Elephant Camp, and dinner at Whole Earth.
In the Isan area, I’m most familiar with Nong Khai and Udon Thani.
In agreement with Fodor, I can endorse the Ban Chiang Hotel, , Charoensri Grand Royal and City Lodge Hotel as good places to stay in Udon Thani, as I have been to each of them more than once!
In the Isan region of Thailand, Nong Khai is the “end of the line”. From there you can cross the bridge by bus, and cross the boarder to Laos, in Vientiane.
I think it is great that Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition includes enough information about Laos and Cambodia to get you by on a short boarder hop (just a couple of days). If you want to spend more time, I would recommend getting guidebooks specific to Laos or Cambodia.
The language barrier in Thailand can be a frustration, especially in the less developed parts of the country. To make yourself clear, other than taking Thai lessons (snicker), I recommend the book Me No Speak. It is a a passport-sized, 95 page booklet with pictures and Thai phrases written in both Thai and English. Just flip open the book, and point to the picture. Bingo, you have communicated with a Thai person! Pictures and point-to-phrases; so easy a caveman could do it.
They also have Me No Speak books in Mandarin and Japanese.
I’m in love with Thailand and could talk about it for ages; I have had to show great restraint in this post so that it won’t be the length of the guide book (over 600 pages!).
At Fodors.com, you can find information about all of the Fodor’s guides, as well as an online community of travelers who can answer your questions about your next destination.
Thanks to the lovely people at Fodor, I have FIVE guidebooks to giveaway. You can choose from these three new editions: Thailand, Israel, or Turkey!
1). To enter to win, leave a comment here letting me know which title you want to win (Thailand, Israel or Turkey), and where you dream of traveling?
2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.
Already a subscriber? Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.
Want to subscribe? Just click here: Subscribe to Mom Most Traveled by Email (Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)
3) You can tweet about this giveaway once each day for extra entry. Be sure to include a link to this post and @MomMostTraveled. Or, just copy and paste this text below for your tweet:
Fodor’s Guidebook giveaway @MomMostTraveled 5 winners! http://bit.ly/aNb1n
Leave a comment here for each tweet. Be sure to include your twitter ID.
4.) One extra entry for every social bookmarking site you submit this post to (examples: Digg, StumbleUpon, posting on Facebook). Leave a comment for each with your user name.
5.) Blog about this giveaway, including a link to this post.
This giveaway is open to US residents. This contest will close on October 16, 11:59pm CST
Disclosure: Fodor’s gave me one Thailand guidebook for the purposes of this review. Over the past 7 years, all of my traveling in Asia has been paid for by myself and my husband. The country of Thailand did not pay me to enjoy my time in their country. I just actually like going to Thailand. This statement is for the benefit of the FCC and FTC. My appologies to intelligent readers everywhere.
Giveaway closed and winners selected!
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08 October 2009, 3:16 am
I am not a US resident, so I cannot win the guidebook to Tukey, which is really just a hop skip and jump from home here in italy and yet i’ve never been!
BUT - i’m going to retweet this article anyway, and i just LOVE the FCC declaration (i detect a little cheek, but really, it’s good to know).
08 October 2009, 3:58 am
[...] Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos Review and Giveaway | Mom Most… mommosttraveled.com/fodors-thailand-11th-edition-with-side-trips-to-cambodia-laos – view page – cached I was excited to have the opportunity to review Fodor’s Thailand, 11th Edition: With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos . But now that I am sitting down to — From the page [...]
08 October 2009, 6:15 am
I love Thailand too. I have not been to Israel, but would like to go someday. A Fodors book would be great.
08 October 2009, 9:37 am
I’d love to go to Thailand. My friend lives in Malaysia and I’ve always wanted to visit her and take a trip up to Thailand. Do the whole tour. That would be awesome. I heard on NPR that Turkey is a hot destination as well, that would be my second choice.
08 October 2009, 9:37 am
I’ve always wanted to go to Isreal.
08 October 2009, 9:37 am
I’m a subscriber
08 October 2009, 9:38 am
Email subscriber. By the way, I thought your disclaimer was great.
08 October 2009, 10:30 am
I’d love the Thailand guidebook, but I must say that Cambodia is awesome, too! There’s so much more than just Angkor Wat. Check out http://www.umbrellatours.com for a local’s insight to tour planning.
I’d really like to go to South America, or visit my Compassion-sponsored child in Rwanda.
08 October 2009, 12:16 pm
Hubby and I have been talking about going to Thailand. This book would be great to plan that trip.
08 October 2009, 12:17 pm
Subscriber!
08 October 2009, 5:16 pm
I would love to visit my dear friend in Turkey. I haven’t seen her for years. So, Turkey, it is.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
08 October 2009, 5:16 pm
Email subscriber.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
08 October 2009, 8:42 pm
I would chose the Thailand guide book — I have dreamed of going to Thailand forever! I would love to spend time on the beaches as well as in Bangkok. Thanks!
08 October 2009, 8:54 pm
I subscribe to your blog feed via email.
Thanks!
08 October 2009, 8:56 pm
Tweet: http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4724367404
Thanks!
09 October 2009, 9:56 am
turkey. Ive always wanted to travel to ireland.
09 October 2009, 3:11 pm
I would love to win the guide to Turkey because I really want to travel there - i have heard wonderful things about Istanbul and Anatolia!
09 October 2009, 5:28 pm
I want to win the Israel guide because I’d love to go. However, my dream travel experience is to go back to Ireland with no return date.
09 October 2009, 6:05 pm
isarel mverno@roadrunner.com
09 October 2009, 8:24 pm
I’d take the Thailand guide if I won. Just back from a trip to Burma, I’m all about the Asia travel right now.
09 October 2009, 9:08 pm
Daily Tweet: http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4752399930
Thanks!
10 October 2009, 1:01 am
i want to win the thailand book, my dream travel is to brazil for carnival
10 October 2009, 3:08 pm
I would choose Thailand. I dream of going to Australia!
10 October 2009, 5:44 pm
Daily Tweet: http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4771766673
Thanks!
10 October 2009, 10:35 pm
I would pick Israel because I would love to go there one day.
11 October 2009, 12:00 pm
Turkey: This is actually the next spot we plan to visit. Off to Spain on Tuesday!
11 October 2009, 4:12 pm
I’d love to win the Turkey book. We’ve been to Laos an Thailand and Turkey is definitely on the list of places to go.
11 October 2009, 7:24 pm
** Daily Tweet **
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4797635325
Thanks!
12 October 2009, 6:37 pm
** Daily Tweet **
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4822102375
Thanks!
13 October 2009, 10:44 am
I would love love love the book about Thailand. I’m heading to Asia for a year and Thailand is on my list of definite places to visit!!
13 October 2009, 1:20 pm
It’s Thailand for me. A group of us plan to visit in 2011. Can’t wait.
13 October 2009, 8:16 pm
** Daily Tweet **
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4851675689
Thanks!
14 October 2009, 5:08 pm
** Daily Tweet **
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4874172535
Thanks!
14 October 2009, 9:35 pm
I’d like to win the Israel guide since there is a chance we may go there. Thanks! I dream of returning to Thailand though.
14 October 2009, 9:35 pm
I’m a subscriber. Thanks!
14 October 2009, 9:36 pm
Tweet: http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/4880292685
15 October 2009, 3:37 pm
I would like to win the Israel one.
madamerkf at aol dot com
15 October 2009, 3:39 pm
please add to previous post:
That is where I would love to go!
15 October 2009, 3:40 pm
http://twitter.com/madamerkf/status/4899239286
I tweeted!
madamerkf
15 October 2009, 4:39 pm
** Daily Tweet **
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/4900361275
Thanks!
15 October 2009, 5:51 pm
Israel; I would like to go to Italy!
15 October 2009, 7:03 pm
I dream of going to India or Germany, I would like the Turkey travel guide!
15 October 2009, 7:40 pm
I’d like the Turkey guide
15 October 2009, 10:51 pm
10/15 Tweet:
http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/4908696012
16 October 2009, 3:41 am
I would be interest in any of the three. I guess I’d say Thailand 1st, then Israel. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway
16 October 2009, 6:50 pm
I’d love to win the Turkey version, and would love to travel both there and Australia.
16 October 2009, 6:51 pm
email subscriber
16 October 2009, 6:52 pm
http://twitter.com/soluckyducky/status/4930986006
16 October 2009, 8:19 pm
I would like to win the Turkey copy. We travel quite a bit, but we still have an extensive wish list, if you will, and Turkey is on there.
16 October 2009, 10:08 pm
I would like Israel. I dream of going to New Zealand.
16 October 2009, 10:23 pm
I would like Thailand. I dream of going to France.
16 October 2009, 10:24 pm
Israel and Italy
16 October 2009, 10:25 pm
I have never been to any of those places but I want to see them all someday. Thailand first. If I win I would like to get the Thailand guidebook. Thanks.
16 October 2009, 10:26 pm
I am an e-mail subscriber and I an interested in the guidebook contest. Thailand especially.
16 October 2009, 10:52 pm
Please enter me into the contest for the Thailand one. I would love to go to Europe!
16 October 2009, 10:54 pm
I subscribed by email.