Every September the same conversation comes round at the office. The Greek summer closes, winter looks long, and someone asks: “we’re thinking of somewhere exotic — is Thailand worth it?”
Rather than answer ourselves, we’ll let the people who went speak first.
What our travelers say
“Together with the Penguin Travels and Tours crowd we had the trip of our lives in Phuket, Thailand! Thank you for this wonderful experience and we can’t wait for the next one!!” — Anna Georgakli
“Absolute professionals, the team at Penguin Travel. They organized our trip to Phuket in Thailand and everything went beautifully. Activities, hotel, all of it flawless.” — Sotiris Stavropoulos
“We’ve just got back from Thailand, we had a fantastic time, and we thank Pete and Stavroula for the flawless organization. I recommend them without reservation.” — Eleni Bizimi
Three different groups, three different trips, and one word that keeps coming back: organization.
Why winter is the right season
Thailand has a clear season. From November to March the south and centre of the country sit in the dry period: sun, sea at 28 degrees, evenings that don’t melt you. It’s also when Bangkok is genuinely visitable, without the summer humidity.
For a traveler from Greece the timing is convenient: when it’s 8 degrees and raining here, that’s the best moment of the year there.
Which means one more thing: bookings happen now. Flights and good hotels for December through February start going in September.
What it actually looks like
A Thailand trip isn’t one destination but two or three. The classic pattern that works:
- Bangkok, two or three days. Temples, markets, the river, street food. Enough to understand the city, not enough to exhaust you.
- The islands or Phuket, five to seven days. Beaches, boat trips out to the limestone islets, diving, or simply resting.
- Optionally the north — Chiang Mai, mountains, a different cuisine — if you have two weeks.
The flight from Athens runs with one stop and a total travel time of around twelve hours. Domestic connections are cheap and frequent.
What to watch out for
- Distances deceive. Thailand is not small. Three regions in ten days means two of those days spent inside airports.
- Health and paperwork. Check travel insurance and current entry requirements before you book — not in the final week.
- The cost isn’t in the airfare. Accommodation and food are affordable; excursions and transfers are where the money goes if they haven’t been arranged properly in advance.
- It’s a country that rewards guidance. Language, transport, prices: with someone who knows it, the trip is a different thing.
Want to talk it through?
At Penguin Travels & Tours we run Thailand trips with small guided groups, and individual itineraries for people who prefer their own pace. Either way, the programme is built around what you want to see — not around a ready-made brochure.
Thinking about somewhere exotic this winter? Stop by our office in Kalamata (Vasilissis Olgas 4) or call us at +30 27210 80701 — this is the season when the good ones get booked.
