Melanie Smith

Melanie is a 40 something, single mum to Jackson (11) who has a successful career in the hospitality industry, and currently lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand. She has lived as an expatriate for the last 6 years having given away the coastal seaside lifestyle of Terrigal to follow her dreams. She is an aspiring writer and shares her stories on her daily happenings and musings on life and love. You can follow her on twitter @lifeasanexpat or read her blog at www.lifeasanexpatriate.com

What do you miss about Bangkok when you are on holidays?Since I tend to holiday in beachside locations I miss Bangkok’s vibrancy, hustle and bustle (crazy I know!). I also start to crave Thai cuisine after a few days of being away, and often end up eating at Thai restaurants, even though I’m on holiday to experience something different.

What are your 3 travel essentials?

iPad – I find airline entertainment systems lacking at times, so an iPad stacked with the latest new releases gets me through the boredom of a long flight.

Sarong – It’s so multi-functional! I use it as a beach towel, a wrap to take me from the poolside to lunch, and a shawl for cooler evenings.

My son – He is so much fun to take on holiday and it’s great to see the world through the eyes of a child.

What has been your most memorable/favourite holiday?

One of my favourite holidays was spent at the Four Seasons Koh Samui. Koh Samui is a peaceful, laid back island and the service and facilities provided at the Four Seasons are second to none. It also has a great kids’ club, so my son was happily entertained while I relaxed by the pool.

Favourite travel tips?
Be sensible. If you wouldn’t do it at home you probably shouldn’t do it on holiday. I see so many tourists every day doing things they would never do in their home town, but because the laws are a little relaxed here in Thailand, or it’s more readily available, they give it a try. Sensibility goes out of the window. On the other hand I do advocate stepping out of your comfort zone and getting to know the locals and their way of life. Eat local, visit local, learn some local phrases. You will get so much more out of your holiday if you have a truly indigenous experience.