About Discover Thailand

Our 15-Year Love Affair with Thailand

We're Scott & Jenice — Americans who first landed in Bangkok in 2009 and haven't been able to stay away since. From training Muay Thai in Phuket to navigating Isaan by bus, from the JW Marriott Bangkok to a $15 guesthouse in Pai, we've seen Thailand from every angle. After 15+ years and more trips than we can count, we finally built the travel guide we wished existed — one with real prices, honest hotel reviews, and the kind of detail you only get from actually going there.

Scott · American · First Thailand trip: 2009 · Muay Thai trained in Phuket

Thailand has been my constant for 15 years now. It started in 2009 — a week at the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok, completely overwhelmed by the city, the food, the temples. I went back in 2015 for three months, living the Green Bus VIP life from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, training Muay Thai at Kingka Supa camp in Rawai, and discovering that Udon Thani and the Red Lotus Sea exist.

I've stayed at the JW Marriott Bangkok and the Courtyard Marriott Pattaya more times than I can count. I've researched The Sarojin in Khao Lak and the Pimalai on Koh Lanta for future trips. I know which Sukhumvit soi is for nightlife and which one is for sleep. I know the ฿220 ATM fee exists and that Kasikorn Bank has the best exchange rates.

I'm not a travel blogger. I work in healthcare IT. But Thailand keeps pulling me back, and I finally decided to build the resource I wished existed — a site with honest prices in THB and USD, video content from places I've actually been, and an AI trip planner built on 15+ years of firsthand experience.

Our Story

15 Years in the Making

2009
First Landing: Bangkok

A week at the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok. First taste of Thai street food — pad kra pao from a sidewalk stall that changed everything. Completely overwhelmed by the city, the temples, the energy. The Thailand addiction begins.

2015
The Deep Dive

Three months in Thailand. Green Bus VIP from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, white temple visits, Muay Thai training at Kingka Supa camp in Rawai. Discovering Udon Thani and the Red Lotus Sea. Phuket, the islands, and the realization that Thailand has endless depth.

2016
Bangkok Life

Sukhumvit condo living. Understanding the BTS/MRT system, learning which sois are for nightlife and which are for sleep. JW Marriott Bangkok becomes a regular. The city transforms from overwhelming to home.

2023
The Return

Two-week Bangkok stay after the world reopened. Planning begins for Discover Thailand — a proper travel resource with real prices, honest hotel reviews, and the kind of detail that only comes from actually being there.

2025
Discover Thailand Launches

The travel guide Scott & Jenice wished existed finally becomes real — with video content, an AI trip planner, and 15+ years of firsthand experience powering every recommendation. Not a side hustle with recycled content. A real guide built by people who keep coming back.

Meet the Team

The People Behind the Pages

Scott Murray
Scott
Founder · Writer · Videographer · Muay Thai Enthusiast

Healthcare IT professional by day, Thailand travel obsessive by every other waking moment. Based in San Diego. First trip was 2009 to Bangkok — a week at the Royal Orchid Sheraton that sparked a 15+ year love affair with the country. Trained Muay Thai in Phuket, navigated Isaan by bus, lived in a Sukhumvit condo, and knows which Bangkok soi is for sleep and which is for nightlife. 40+ countries traveled, but Thailand is always the one that pulls him back.

15+
Years in Thailand
6+
Major trips
40+
Countries traveled
Our Promise

What You'll Never Find Here

I built this site because I got tired of Thailand travel content that's secretly a press trip recap or a sponsored hotel review dressed up as honest advice. Discover Thailand exists because I wanted the resource I wished I had back in 2009.

0
Sponsored posts
ever
0
Press trips or
free hotel stays
15+
Years of
Thailand experience
100%
Real prices in
THB & USD
If I recommend it, I've been there. If I list a price, I've paid it. If I tell you to skip something, I've wasted my own money there first. This is a truthful, fact-based site — and I want you to feel like you've experienced it with me.
What We're Building

More Than a Travel Blog

Discover Thailand isn't a collection of "Top 10" listicles. It's a living resource built on 15+ years of real experience and technology that actually helps you plan a better trip. Here's what makes it different:

  • 🎥 Video guides for select destinations — see the temples, streets, and beaches before you book
  • 🤖 An AI trip planner that builds custom itineraries with real prices, not hallucinated estimates
  • 💰 Every price listed in both THB and USD, updated regularly based on what I actually pay
  • 🏋️ Content from 15+ years of firsthand experience — from Muay Thai camps to luxury resorts
🏝️
Destination Guides
Deep dives into Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and more — neighborhood-level detail with real logistics.
📹
Video Content
Real footage from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, and more. See it before you go.
🗺️
AI Trip Planner
Describe your dream trip and get a custom day-by-day itinerary built on 15+ years of real experience.
📧
Itinerary Downloads
PDF itineraries you can take offline — complete with maps, booking links, and insider tips.
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