1

It's a matter of personal choice really. Both will list all the major attractions and (more or less) the same the places to stay, so there's not all that much difference in the content. Things change but not that much. You will have to add a few percent onto the prices of everything listed in either case.

If you want to save some money, buy a second hand one (from ebay/amazon or on the streetstalls in bangkok). You could also maybe borrow one from your local library for your planning phase.

I wouldn't get a whole book just for Angkor Wat. You could download and print the Angor section from the Cambodia guide, which would be more than sufficient IMO.

Pimsleur Thai is a good audio course.

Your guidebook will have a list of phrases and a bit about pronounciation.

The LP phrasebook is OK and pretty portable also.

2

The Southeast Asia LP Phrasebook is pretty handy and tiny. For a larger book with alot more phrases including the Thai writing system then a book by Benjawan Poomsan Becker called Thai for Beginners is amazing. Plus it comes with a CD too.

3

thank you inspiredbykrissi and wonderingstar for your great tips terrie

4

get the most up to date travel guide as the books are already 1 year out of date by the time they are published.

5

If I were you, I'll get the small one. It doesn't take so much space or so much time to read.