Bangkok may be known as the City of Smiles, but it's also an incredibly fast paced center that is bound to exhaust even the most experienced traveler. Fortunately, the City of Smiles is also home to some of the most wonderful spas and massage parlours in the world, and this is no surprise as Thailand is, after all, the country that invented the Thai massage.

Upscale day spas and massage parlours in Bangkok are divided between those that are affiliated with, and located inside, certain hotels and those that are independently run. The Ananda Spa, for instance, which is universally acknowledged as one of the best in the city, is located in the President Solitaire Hotel on Sukhumvit Street, and another renowned "hotel" spa is the Mandara Spa at the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa in Riverside. The independently situated spas that visitors have to choose from include the Orientist Spa, which has two locations in the city, and the Apsara Day Spa, which is situated on Silom Road.

Every visitor to Bangkok should, however, try to spend a little time at the Dusit Thani Hotel's Devarana Spa, which, in 2008 alone, was the recipient of the Best Spa: Living in Thailand Award and the Best Urban Spa: Lifestyle+Travel Magazine Readers' Choice Award. Ananda, Mandara and Devarana are, furthermore, only a few of the numerous first-rate hotel spas that are available, and these spas are not available exclusively for hotel residents and welcome visitors for day spa packages.

Located midway between India and China, Thailand is nestled in a fertile monsoon belt. The monsoon season in Thailand gives rise to its incredible lush forests, while the tropical warmth makes its beaches delightful for anyone tired of cold, grey skies. Here's a closer look at Thailand's climate, so you can judge for yourself when the best time to visit this Southeast Asian paradise would be.

North Thailand

The northern part of Thailand is mountainous, with its highest point reaching 2,565 metres, or 8,415 feet. This is easily as high as some of the famous skiing mountains in the western United States. Thanks to the higher elevation, the climate is more agreeable for most Brits than central and southern Thailand. During the cool season, which lasts from October to February, daytime temperatures average around 21 degrees Celsius, with nights that are much cooler. December and January are the coolest months. March through May is the hot season, with average temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius. The rain starts to pour down in early June, with the highest rainfall in September.

Central Thailand

Thailand is a nation that loves its holidays and celebration. From Children's Day to the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran Day, every month in Thailand seems to have at least one special holiday. Here's a description of some of the best festivals in Thailand.

New Year's Festivals

Thailand has not one, not two, but three different New Year celebration. On January 1, the Thais celebrate the western New Year. In Thailand, this includes a gift exchange, dawn rituals for an auspicious new year by devout Buddhists, and general afternoon and evening merry-making.

In early February, Thais celebrate the Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year. In Thailand, February is the beginning of spring, so sometimes the Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival. During the Chinese New Year in Thailand – not unlike other Chinese New Year celebrations throughout the world – firecrackers, dragon dancers, and parades march down the streets. Thai children love this time of year, not just for the dragon dancers, but also for the Ang Pao (red envelopes filled with money).

Two days before Chinese New Year's Day, food markets are filled with people stocking up on food and offerings. On New Year's Eve, shops are closed, and people of Chinese heritage make prayers, offerings to the gods, and to their ancestors. In the morning come the prayers for the Gods of the Land; at noon come the prayers for their ancestors; in the afternoon come prayers for the wandering souls who have no relatives to pray for them. After each prayer, the Chinese faithful burn golden paper, which they hope will become money in their afterlife.