Hat Yai Holiday Deals

Holiday In Hat Yai

You’ve heard all about the appeal of Bangkok and Phuket. “I took a tuk tuk through the streets!” said your roommate. “I rode an elephant!” your primary school buddy wrote on Facebook.

But before you book your tickets to a common Thailand destination, ponder the benefits of a Hat Yai holiday. It’s where the scent of curry leads your nose right past a cosmopolitan mall and then to a gigantic spiritual monument. The city is most popular among regional travellers, mostly because it’s so close to the Malaysian border. Depending on who you ask, you may learn that Malays often weekend in Hat Yai for the nightlife and…adults-only type of fun. But don’t get us wrong, you can have the time of your life in Hat Yai and still look the huge Buddha statue in the eye. No matter what draws you to this mystical place, lastminute.co.nz’s packages to Hat Yai make it easy to visit Southern Thailand without going broke.

Things to Do in Hat Yai

Start your day in Hat Yai with a trip to the floating market. Walk along the boardwalk and stop off at floating sampans that catch your eye or nose. Don’t be fooled by the benign bowls of candy and other confections the market is also hawking some more…interesting fare, including fried insects (yum, protein). A shutterbug, are we? Head to the Hat Yai Municipal Park via cable car or one of our Hat Yai car hire deals and check out vistas of the city and a modern observatory. Your cultural tour continues with a trip to the massive leaning Buddha statue on Phetkasem Road. The temple is an obligatory photo op as well as a respected local landmark.

Shopping, Dining & Nightlife

Now it’s time to spend some of the cash you saved booking Hat Yai packages. Hat Yai is a bit undecided about its retail identity, which works out to your favour. Choose between local markets with myriad of street vendors, or go to the Lee Garden Plaza and whip out your credit card to show you mean business. Central Festival also makes spending easy—just don’t get lost in this labyrinth of an entertainment centre. A word to the wise: Counterfeit goods are everywhere, so bring your trusty magnifying glass and examine the labels on too-good-to-be-true designer duds.

Hopefully you don’t mind hearing other people eat, because your holiday in Hat Yai is going to be full of slurping, chomping and plenty of crunching. Dim sum, curry and satay are just the beginning. Between the street vendors and restaurants you can’t help but be seduced by the scents of traditional Thai cuisine wafting through the streets. And can you believe that one of the most popular eateries is Gäp's Garten, a German beer garden? Ja!

Bars and clubs in Hat Yai start throbbing with live music around 9 p.m., and the party lasts until your feet are screaming at you and it’s time to pass out. Most venues are on Thamanoonvithee Road, and include bustling nightclubs and small bars with outdoor patios.

What’s Next?

Book your holiday to Hat Yai on lastminute.co.nz today, then prepare your palate for some authentic Cantonese cuisine. Have an itch for more of Thailand? Just get one of our Koh Samui holiday packages and take a side trip to this upscale island!