Travel idea: 7 reasons to visit Thailand

It's not surprising that Thailand attracts more visitors than any other country in Southeast Asia. Laos and Cambodia border the country to the east, to the south lies the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia and to the west you'll find the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. But Thailand's rich culture, hospitable people, delectable cuisine and inherent natural beauty make it a dream destination with something to offer most any kind of traveler. Here are seven reasons we think you should visit Thailand.

1. Fabulous food
In most metropolitan cities across North America and Europe, Thai restaurants abound. And the food you'll find in Thailand is quite similar to the dishes you've come to love here at home ... it's just better. It's possible that everything just tastes better because of its authenticity or perhaps it's that the ingredients are impossibly fresh. Either way, food in Thailand is delicious and healthy. Thai meals typically incorporate five different flavours: Spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter. This winning combination makes each meal an exciting adventure for your taste buds. While Thai cuisine has very distinct flavours, it draws great inspiration and influence from the foods of nearby countries, particularly India and China. Commonly used ingredients include shrimp paste, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, tamarind, coconut milk, lime juice, and palm and coconut sugars. Cilantro, oyster sauce and various chili peppers are also used frequently to give Thai dishes some kick.

2. Massages
Massages are notoriously inexpensive in Thailand. An hour-long, full-body massage can cost as little as $6 for an hour. Massage parlours abound (make sure you find one that's offering legit massages and not those "other" kind) and your options are plentiful, from traditional Thai massages to reflexology and foot massages.

3. Beautiful beaches
Thailand's beautiful beaches are one of the country's main draws, luring sun- and sand-seeking travelers from all points of the globe. One of the most popular beach destinations is Phuket. It's the largest island in Thailand and is a major international resort destination. Due to its popularity, Phuket is typically crawling with tourists so it's not exactly the place for escaping. If you're looking to get far from the madding crowd, try the Evason Phuket and Six Senses Spa. The best part is the private island reserved exclusively for guests. Bon Island is a quick 15-minute boat ride away from the resort (the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle long-tail boat) and is a perfect island paradise. The island has an on-site restaurant and bar and it's the perfect place for swimming and snorkeling. Here, the sand is soft, the water warm and the view ... well, let's just say you'll be dreaming about it for months afterwards.

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