going to thailand in april.a week in bangkok and a week in phuket,does anyone have any advice or tips for a thailand virgin?:)

Yes, it's heaven on earth. You lucky fish.

Kho Pha Ngan is incredible and sooooo cheap. There are some lovely wooden huts ON the beach at Hat Salat, away from the full moon party beach of Hat Rin so they are nice and quiet but Hat Rin is also a place not to be missed. If you hire a motorbike, don't go to Hat Rin with more than one of you on the bike, going downhill backwards is very scary and plays havoc with your muscles.

It is well worth going getting up at dawn and going to the floating market. Be aware of getting ripped off though and check at your hotel how much you should be paying for a tuktuk ride to wherever you are going/taxi/meal, etc.

The Kho San Road is incredible, but not REAL Bangkok. Go there you'll meet some lovely people

The food in Bangkok is VERY hot and spicy and I like that especially the Tom Yum soup, but Phad Thai is usually OK if you don't do spicy. The further north you go, the less hot it gets.

Try and book a trip to Kanchanaburi, out to the Bridge Across the River Kwai, and beyond to the Kitty Raft. This is a raft guest house on the River Kwai, you can book a tour (3day 2 night) at Dior Travel (I know!) on The Kho San Road. For goodness sake, don't take any buses. The drivers race each other on the road, and drink maekong rhum with amphetamines in it, passing bottles of it to each other through the bus windows. I had planned to sleep but there was no way I was waking up dead. There was a fatal accident on teh road to Chiang Mai just after
we left Thailand which really freaked me out. Also, they play horrible films on the video system, and all the Thai people will push in front of you to sit at the front of the bus as they think that westerners (who they called Felang) smell of cheese. Try to take the train, it's much nicer and they serve lovely food, It's worth travelling first class, for the price of a bus ride to Chesterfield. And back.

I could go on for hours, but one last bit of advice; DON'T get talked into buying a tour at the airport as they'll take you on your tour alright, but via jewellery stores and tailor-made clothing shops.

Otherwise, it IS heaven on earth.

Go see the Kick Boxing (Mui Thai) at either of the main venues: Lumpini Stadium every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Even if you're not interested in the sport, it's a great experience to witness the antics of the crowd.

I've been to poundland:D

Bit flush I can only manage the 99p shop