There are some very good guidebooks and other useful references for Thailand available from Amazon. A guidebook is probably a good idea for first time visitors to the country. The Eyewitness guide is our current favorite. We highly recommend it for first time travelers. Its small and highly illustrated, so you can decide if something is worth seeing — for you — before you go. It's not as exhaustive as Lonely Planet or Rough Guides, but it covers every place you're likely to want to see on your first visit. Don't worry about the publication date. The guide is constantly updated.