Bangkok's food, Ko Samui's beaches, Sukhothai's ruins - we've selected the most iconic sights and incredible places so you can enjoy the real Thailand with minimum fuss. Highlights reveal the must-see attractions and unbeatable experiences ; Itineraries make planning your trip simpler than ever ; Local Experts recommend what not to miss ; Pull-Out Map puts the streets of Bangkok and Phuket in your pocket.

China Williams first came to Thailand to teach English in Surin way back in 1997, a few months prior to the country's currency crisis. Since then she has shuttled across the Pacific to work on various Thailand guidebooks. This is her third trip with her son, who is now four years old. Be assured that all the beaches in the Upper Gulf and Eastern Seaboard have been kid-tested and mother-approved, including the wholesome bits of prostitute-city Pattaya. China lives in Catonsville, Maryland (USA), with her husband, Matt, and son, Felix. After receiving a scholarship to study journalism, Mark Beales worked as a reporter for 13 years. In 2004 he swapped the chilly shores of England for the sunnier coasts of Thailand. As well as being a freelance writer, Mark has worked as a teacher and TV presenter. Highlights on this trip included waking up to a giant hornbill attempting to prise open the door of his tree-top cabin and meeting an impossibly cute one-day-old elephant in Ayuthaya. When Mark isn't on the road, he teaches English at an international school in Rayong. While growing up, Tim Bewer didn't travel much except for the obligatory pilgrimage to Disney World and an annual summer week at the lake. He's spent mort of his adult lite making up for this, and he has since visited more than 70 countries, including most of those in Southeast Asia. After university he worked as a legislative assistant before quitting to backpack around West Africa. It was during this trip that he decided to become a freelance travel writer and photographer, and he's been at it ever since. When he isn't shouldering a backpack somewhere he lives in Khon Kaen, Thailand. where he jointly runs the Isan Explorer