Going to Thailand

[emilymamu]

I am setting off on my first visit to Thailand very soon. Can anyone recommend the best travel book? What innoculations do you really need? What is the most essential thing to pack, apart from the very obvious? What part of Thailand is the most beautiful?

I have gleaned information from friends who have been before, but I would appreciate some extra input. Thanks

[chrisrob]

When we went, we found the Rough Guide very useful.
Chang Mai is a great place to make for - overnight trainfrom Bangkok. We did a three day trek from there in the jungle with bamboo rafting and elephant trekking part of it. Find Eagle House in Chang Mai and use them - they're more ethical / ecologically minded.
A day's bus ride north is Pau (an old hippy hangout that hasn't moved on): a great place to chill.
If you're happy to, hire a car in Chang Mai for a one week journey driving round the Mae Hong Son loop. (Car hire is ridiculously cheap.) That has stunning views to Myanmar (Burma).
Innnoculations: depends on what you're doing. We had tetonus, hep A and hep B. You'll also need anti-malarials. See your travel nurse at your surgery.
It's a wonderful place. You can eat and stay really cheaply if you're so minded.
Have great time.

[VHG]

I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

Some of the answers there may help.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question 706178.html