Thailand is on the list of every traveler for numerous reasons primary one is the cost & ease of excess. Thailand has opened its door to everyone with a warm smile. A place where one can enjoy the time & life. Thailand tourism has constantly topped the chart in terms of the number of visitors visiting the place & why wouldn't they.
A place which is a perfect blend of natural landscapes & uber living. It is hard to ignore such rare places.
I only covered two places i.e Bangkok & Pattaya & this travel guide is focussed on that. However, I will keep on updating once I cover rest of the places. So, here is Thailand Travel Guide.
How To Reach Thailand:
Thailand has two big international airports. Bangkok & Phuket. One can easily find flights to these prime locations. I landed in Bangkok. Also, the flights to Bangkok is cheaper compared to Phuket. Based on what suits you one can book a flight to either of these places.Thailand Visa:
Thailand visa norms are very easy to follow & also the rejection rate is next to nill. Nearly everyone gets the visa. There is a list of 21 countries which can avail visa on arrival & India is on that list. So, Indians can opt for a visa on arrival. The other option is through VFS service. Further, Thailand offers a free visa to 55 countries. As one can see easy access is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Things To Do In Thailand
The best places to visit in Thailand are as follows:Bangkok:
Bangkok is one of the most famous places in the world. Every traveler must have visited this place or must be planning to visit it. The place is super cool & full of energy. The place is high on life & live up to the expectations. Bangkok is very famous among the youth for various reasons. So, don't hold yourself back & visit this awesome place.Pattaya:
A place famous for its adult nights & walking street. This place has nothing extraordinary to offer. But, the whole limelight of the place is focussed on its adult market. A 150 to 200 Mt long street is dictating the Pattaya tourism.Apart from the above places which I visit, below are the other destinations which are highly famous among the travelers.
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui
How Cheap Is Thailand?
Accommodation:
The hostels are spread across the length & breadth of the country. There are many options available ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. The cost of one dorm bed starts from approx INR 250 or 6$ for a dorm room with a fan. The rate for AC dorms varies & slightly more than the non AC dorm. Most of the hostels in Thailand are good to stay. I chose my hostels from booking.com. Further, if one is looking to stay for a much cheaper rate. Then, Couchsurfing can be one option. However, the success rate in Couchsurfing is a bit edgy. Hence, it is better to book a hostel prior. For someone who is looking for a 3 or more star hotel expect to pay approx 2000 INR or 25$ per day to stay. The rate might vary with the season. The best way to book a hostel is booking.com & for hotels check Agoda which is the best place to book hotels in Asia.Food:
Thai food has its own name & is famous in every country & the same is expected once you are in Thailand. The variety of street food is mouthwatering & hygienic. Food will never be an issue while in Thailand. The variety in taste & numerous options will only confuse for the good. Also, the cost of a noodle plate on street starts from INR 60 or 1$. People who are vegetarian shall not be disheartened as they too have lots of options available at the disposal.Site Seeing:
Depending on which place you are visiting, the cost of site seeing will vary. Also, the entry charges are very minimum however the charges to enjoy some activities like safari or scuba diving will cost more. Day trips will start from 1000 INR or 15$, but this will vary largely on the activity one plans to conduct. However, expect to pay at least this much amount.Commutation:
Thailand public transport is pretty cheap & the bus connectivity is great. The taxi options are available & great thing is that in big cities taxi runs on a meter. So, no more scamming here. Also, grab is an app which can solve your transport problem if there is any. Grab is like an uber in Thailand. So, download the app before the trip & never face a hassle while in Thailand.If you are staying in a hostel dorm room & eating on street the minimum budget you should consider is INR 1500 to 2000 or 25-30$ per day. However, the actual cost can be reduced by effectively planning the activities.
But, if one is looking for a more leisure & luxurious trip then prepare to spend a minimum of INR 6500 to 7500 or 80-100 $ per day.
How To Do Thailand On A Budget?
Stay local or hostel: Hostels dorm room or Couchsurfing will help you to minimize the rate. If you are able to find a host nothing beats that. Even if you are not able to find one book cheap hostel bed which will help you keep the rate pretty low.Eat street food: Street food in Thailand is cheap & tasty. So, eating street will not only keep the cost low but will also give you a taste of local food. A great technique to enjoy some local favorites.
Don't do everything: One is often forced to do all the activity which doesn't even interest you. So, if you are short on time & interested in only a few activities. So only those.
Use public transport: Public transport like buses, trains etc are pretty cheap. So, while commuting inside the city or intercity try using public transport. This will help you to keep the price on a lower side.
Buy beers from the supermarket: 7-11 chain is spread throughout the country. It is the best place to buy some beer at a retail price. The prices are pretty low & can keep the prices low. Also, there are many places which offer happy hours. Make use of such offers & enjoy your time in Thailand.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Thailand?
The best time to visit Thailand is from Oct to Feb. The dry climate & the temperature is preferable to everyone. Although, lately every season is a tourist season in Thailand.Some people prefer April to June to visit Thailand. As the rates are pretty low during this time & the rains are yet to arrive at the scene. But, the only drawback is the temperature which is hot & humid although it is manageable.
Is Thailand Safe To Travel Solo?
Thailand takes proud in their services & traveling solo to the place is very safe. Apart from a few scams like charging extra & snatching which is a norm at every touristic place, there is nothing to worry about. You need to careful & trust your instinct if something doesn't seem to be in place. Then change the place.I never encountered anything fishy while my stay at places like Bangkok & Pattaya. In fact, I had a great experience with a local where they went out of the path to help me in their full capacity. So, it really depends on how you conduct yourself in their soil.
Always buy travel insurance before traveling to a foreign country as it can help you overcome a difficult situation. The cost is pretty minimal but the benefits are overwhelming.
Handy Resources:
Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.Amazon: I am a member of Amazon affiliate programme. Amazon is probably the biggest market place there is. Buy your trip essential from this link
Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.
Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.
Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.
Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.
Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.
What To Wear In Thailand
Thailand is pretty hot & humid & at most of the places tourist can wear as per the requirement. Here are some of the basics required for a tripFlip Flops
Jeans
T-shirts
Sneakers
Shorts
Excellent article, Those photos are amazing. It’s really helpful when I planned to travel to that paradise. Thanks for sharing.
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