ITH its friendly smiles, spicy food, and sunny hide-aways, Amazing Thailand is an amazing escape for solo women travellers in search of a safe, nurturing retreat.

Often portrayed as an edgy male destination, Thailand has an engaging menu for women. The Tourism Authority of Thailand highlights everything from hidden islands and shopping to beauty treatments and spa escapes. If you're in search of a 'beautiful' look, shape, mind, retreat, or experience, Thailand is it.

Hospitals like Bumrungrad will do a quick health check or an amazing cosmetic work-up. Cool accessories are an abundant perk. While some like active sports, or golf, others can seek inner peace through yoga or meditation. Beaches at Koh Chang, Koh Tao, and Koh Lipe, serve up acres of rustic white sand with stays from backpacker chic to bold and beautiful. Destress with wellness retreats and menus from elegant city day spas or luxury hotel escapes

where exotic unguents, scrubs and wraps await. Be it the blooms of northern Chiang Mai, silk in Phrae, sedate Prachuap Khiri Khan or Hua Hin on the Gulf, or the blazing sun and party throb of Phuket, there's never a dull moment. The amazing grand sales are always fun but shopping is great year round whether hunting for designer brands in Bangkok at CentralWorld or Terminal 21, browsing the riverfront Asiatique, or visiting storied silk house Jim Thompson. This is a beautiful experience for women.