Chonburi accommodation from AU$39

The main attraction in Chonburi is Bangsaen Beach, which is only 10km from the city and provides an authentic Thai holiday experience. You'll sit shoulder to shoulder with Chonburi and Bangkok locals, and not have to worry about being ripped off by tourist traps. Another big crowd drawer in Chonburi is Khao Sam Muk, also known as ‘Monkey Mountain’, where you can see a colony of wild monkeys dwelling in the mountains. You can even buy fruit from the local vendors and feed some of the hundred or so monkeys. Watch the creatures play from a distance, but don't get too close – they can get a bit aggressive and some tourists have been bitten. Don't tease them and you'll be safe. If you'd like to see some of the fish and marine life native to Thailand, head to Bangsaen Institute of Marine Science at Burapha University. There are some interesting exhibits and regular feedings, which are pretty exciting to watch. For a taste of Thai culture, head to Nongnooch Garden, where there are Thai cultural shows, historical re-enactments and Muay Thai fights. If you're in Chonburi in October, you can get a taste of the sillier side of Thai culture. Head to the Buffalo Races, where the buffaloes compete in races and fashion contests. Yes, you read that right. The buffaloes' owners dress them up in wacky costumes and enter them in a competition, all for a bit of fun.

Who doesn't love Thai food? Chonburi cuisine is mostly made up of fresh seafood and spicy Southern Thai curries. Yum! Take some of the flavours of Thailand home with you by enrolling in a Thai cooking course, while you're here. You can pick up most of the ingredients that you'll need from one of the local markets. Ang Sila Market is a great one to visit. It's been running since 1876 and is the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs and sample some yummy Thai snacks. If you need to grab other essentials, there are a couple of malls here, as well as convenience stores and minimarts all over the place (as with most other regions in Thailand).

Getting around town is easy with the local taxis (tuk tuks) and red vans (songtaews). Alternatively, you can hire a scooter. Chonburi is about 44km from Bangkok airport, and almost the same distance to Pattaya, one of the party capitals of the world. So, for an authentic Thai holiday, book your flights to Bangkok and a room in one of our Chonburi hotels listed below.