Thailand is one of the most popular Southeast Asian countries, along with Indonesia, Malaysia
and Singapore. This Buddhist country is well known for its highly developed tourism industry. There are many reasons to visit Thailand.
If you intend to travel there, reading this article thoroughly is highly recommended. You might not
find very detailed information, for example, how you traveled from Bangkok to Trat or where
you can watch Thai kick boxing but the 15 points below are an outline of what you should know
before setting foot in the White Elephant Land.
What follows is based on our experience.
1. Yellow Fever Vaccine
As soon as you get the vaccine, you can just go. Once you arrive at Bangkok airport, before immigration, stop at Health Control to validate the vaccine.
Some people board without the vaccine and sign a disclaimer. Some destinations like India cannot board without the vaccine.
2. Pass and travel time
It takes approximately two days to go and two days to return.
3. Prices in Thailand
Everything is very cheap there (food, taxi, massage, hostel). In Thailand you will probably spend much less than you would in Singapore, but more than in countries like India, Nepal, Indonesia or even neighboring Malaysia. How much you will spend will depend a lot on your travel style.
Some go hard core backpacker style and spend only about $ 30 a day, stay and all.
It’s possible, but you may have to face a lot of 7eleven fast food in the process. Some want to stay in Bangkok’s trendy 5-star hotels (which are cheaper than in other parts of the world, of course), go to rooftop bars and luxury beachfront resorts. In this case, the sky is the limit for how much you can spend.
For those who live in the middle class of the travel world – that is, with some comfort but without too much stewardship – I believe a reasonable value is between $ 50 and $ 60 a day for food, tours and lodging.
4. Thai food
The food is very good (spicy, tasty, spicy), for those who do not like pepper it is good to ask first if the dish is spicy.
The dishes are based on curry, coconut milk, lots of rice, noodles, pepper, spices. Thai beer is Singha or Chang. On the islands, prices are a little more expensive.
5. Taxi
Taxis are cheap in Bangkok. There is tuk tuk in Bangkok and Phuket. Taxi drivers often try to trick us (either close price before and pay twice or turn on the meter and have a chance to be fooled). In Koh Samui, it’s nice to rent a scooter for 200 baht a day and know the beaches, have few taxis and the ones that are expensive.
In Aonang and Phiphi everything is done by walking. It may not seem like it, but Thailand is a relatively large country to travel by land. A trip from Phuket to Bangkok, for example, takes about 16 hours. So do yourself a favor and buy a plane ticket. In advance you can find interesting prices at low costs like Air Asia.
6. Hotels and Hostels
You will find a hostel in Thailand from $ 10 per night per bed. We stayed only in a
hotel, all well located.
7. Massage
One of the best things in Thailand is cheap massage. Half an hour for $ 15 and an hour for $ 30.
It has foot, back and neck massage with oil and tiger balm and Thai massage.
8. Temperature and time to go
It can be very hot in Thailand – reaching above 30 degrees in the Winter.
We went in Dec / Jan which was very high season, islands completely full and the temperature was high. The best time
to go is between Nov and Feb, the rest of the year rains far beyond having the monsoons and rainy seasons.
9. Buddha and Religion
Thailand is mostly Buddhist, the people are very religious and the temples are wonderful and unmissable. In temples have to go with covered shoulders and legs too.
The establishments (hotels, restaurants, houses) have small temple outside for veneration. There were no Christmas and New Year is made for tourists. Everything worked normally. There is a lot, but a lot of Buddha, but it cannot be used as decoration, tattoo, to take to our country, because the Buddha is sacred.
Many places like shops, hotels and restaurants have to take off their shoes to enter, a sign of respect and not to bring impurities from outside.
10. Bangkok
The city is a mega metropolis (with traffic, dirty, chaos), sometimes stressful. I found Bangkok to be a safe city to walk, just like the islands.
11. Currency and Shops
The currency is in Bath, one dollar equals 35 bath. I haven’t seen many department stores, malls and well-known brands, only in one specific area of Bangkok, Siam Sq.
12. Thai people
Thai people tend to smile a lot, they usually communicate in English. In thanking them, they bow a little with their praying hands.
13. Tourists
Many young tourists mainly in Koh Phi Phi and Bangkok, many backpackers, few children and seniors. I found more Americans in Koh Phi Phi, the rest most are European and Asian.
14. Thailand Itinerary
An itinerary to explore the depths of Thailand may include:
4 days in Bangkok to adapt to the time zone
3 days Koh Samui / Koh Tao
3 days Aonang / Railey
3 days Koh Phi Phi / Maya Bay
1 day in Bangkok.
We didn’t go to Phuket (I read on some blogs that it wasn’t worth going to Phuket) and Chiang Mai.
We decided to stay only in Thailand to enjoy it more and as the islands are far from Bangkok (600km), sometimes it takes half a day or more to arrive.
15. Organization
All tours, transfers, travels are very well organized and punctual.
A love called Thailand; massage every day, spicy food, wonderful beaches, warmth, Buddha,
nature and cheapness.
We hope by reading this article you can gain some benefit.