Here’s part two of our very quick and very selective guide to some of the best travel opportunities for people teaching English in Thailand. This article covers Bangkok and the surrounding areas of central Thailand. Read part one here.

Bangkok and the Home Counties

For many people wanting to teach English in Thailand, Bangkok is the place to be. There are loads of language schools and institutes, a huge ex-pat population and more TEFL jobs than you can shake a stick at. It’s also much easier travelling around central Thailand and Bangkok than it is to get around in the far North and South of Thailand. So if you tire of the many delights of teaching English in Bangkok, you can jump on a train, a bus, a minivan or even a ferry and be somewhere more laid back and relaxing in a couple of hours.

So here are our top three ‘must-do’ travel experiences if you’re teaching in Bangkok and Central Thailand. The first one is nice and touristy, the second is a little more adventurous, while the third is designed to make you feel like you had a proper break and have done something very intrepid and, ever so slightly off-the-beaten track.

Partying on the Khao San Road

It is practically a visa requirement that any independent traveler under the age of 65 heads to the Khao San Road to organize their travels, find a cheap bed and party until the lights go out. It’s also a good place to meet fellow TEFL teachers and see if there are any good teaching jobs going. Beware of some of the dodgy TEFL agencies that have set up around that way recently, and steer clear of the fake TEFL certificates too!

Ayutthaya

There was a time when the old Siamese capital of Ayutthaya was one of the most beautiful and influential cities in all of Asia. Nowadays, its ruins offer travellers an insight into a more glorious past. It’s easily reached from Bangkok and while it can be done on a day trip, you really need at least a weekend in Ayutthaya to have a good look around.

Sangkhlaburi

If you fancy a taste of adventure and want to get an insight into the tribal heritage of Thailand, head out to Sangkhlaburi. It’s seven hours in a minivan from Bangkok, but it might as well be a world away. The laid-back town looks out over the huge Khao Laem Reservoir and due to its proximity to the Burmese border it’s home to a remarkable blend of ethnic groups: Karen, Mon, Lao, Burmese and Thai to name a few. A great place to unwind after a semester or two of teaching English in Bangkok!

About The Author: Helen Hargreave is one of the TEFL Experts at i-to-i TEFL