Thailand for me is the ultimate holiday destination and one of my favourite places in the world - great food, fun bars, markets galore and of course an amazing culture.

Bangkok is the usual first stop, and sometimes gets a bit of bad press, but I highly recommend spending a few days exploring its temples and colourful markets.

There are a range of places to stay in Thailand but the best for me is the gorgeous island of Ko Tao, renowned for its amazing diving and picturesque beaches. There are still a few bars and restaurants to keep you entertained in the evening; most of them play host to fire-jugglers which is a definite must-see. If you love walking there are plenty of tracks which take you all over the island including some hidden coves and beaches, which make a beautiful evening stroll. If you like authenticity, there are plenty of beach bars where you can sit on mats and take in the view whilst enjoying an ice cold beer.

I love eating Thai food and I found the best places to eat were the food stalls which are dotted around on pretty much every street corner. You can watch your food being cooked right before your eyes and they always use fresh ingredients - yummy! Whilst enjoying your Pad Thai you can watch local traders selling their goods from the plentiful quaint little market stalls; Bangkok's Kho San Road is famed for them. I find bartering great fun and an experience not to be missed, a little tip - whatever the asking price is, halve it, then take a little more off, then you have a price you should be paying!

No visit to Thailand is complete without a visit to Koh Phi Phi another one of the small yet perfectly picturesque islands whose beaches are so perfect that they were used in the film 'The Beach' plus a few Bond films. The island is stunning and makes for great holiday snaps, so be sure to take your camera - I'd definitely recommend a few days here, though I ended up staying two weeks but who's counting!