Travel Thailand Cheap

Travel Thailand Cheap

Written for Startbackpacking.com by Lindsay Lafreniere

There is such a large price range when it comes to everything available in Thailand. You can pay $600 for a Gucci dress in Siam Paragon or walk into Siam Square and find a chic dress for $6.  This range makes it possible to travel through the country on very little money – if you are careful and know a few tricks. Below are some ways to get as much value as you can out of every last Baht.

Cheap Food

It’s very easy to save money on cheap food in Thailand, but the number one rule is – do not eat Western food! Western food can easily be three times the price of Thai food and, more often than not, is very disappointing.

Did you really come to Thailand to eat banana pancakes and hamburgers?

Eat as often as you can at small, family-run, Thai restaurants or off the street. In case the restaurant has no menu or one written in Thai, learn some basic Thai regarding food.

Some cheap meals are:

• khao phat (fried rice)
• som tam (papaya salad)
• pad krah pow (meat fried with basil)
• pad see ew (noodles, meat and vegetables in soy sauce)

And remember to specify what meat you like: gai (chicken), moo (pork), tow hoo (tofu) or mai sai neung sat (no meat).

Food on the islands can be particularly expensive. Try to eat away from the beach and more into the towns. To keep water prices down, buy larger containers and fill up smaller bottles. Find a water refill machine; these are usually located at convenience stores and along main roads. In Bangkok, water here is only one baht per litre!

Thailand Accommodation

To travel Thailand cheap, always do the legwork yourself. At most bus, train and boat stops, there will be people trying to solicit for a particular guest house. These guest houses are generally not the best available, they may be far from the beach or town and expensive.

A good way to go about finding a room is to consult a guide book or other travelers and find an area that sounds like what you want (for example, cheap and near the party scene or nice and secluded). Once at the destination, head for this area and start checking out guesthouses.

Try to look at a handful of guesthouses, until you find something you like in your price range. Always ask if there are cheaper rooms available, the more expensive rooms will usually be offered first. Make sure to see the room first to check that it’s clean and safe. Sometimes the price can be negotiated, especially if you are planning on staying for a few days.

To travel Thailand cheap, do not get rooms with air conditioning and hot water. Learn to rough it. There is nothing wrong with flushing your toilet with a bucket – this is Thailand! Sleeping under a mosquito net in a wooden bungalow with the sounds of noisy geckos and the ocean right outside can be a great experience.

Also, try to share rooms wherever possible, which can cut costs in half. Ask about rooms for odd numbers. There is a guesthouse in Ayutthaya that has a room with seven beds!

Cheap Transportation

For travel within Bangkok, use buses and the BTS and MRT train systems whenever possible. Always make sure that taxi drivers use the meter. In heavily touristed areas, they will try to take you for a flat rate. This rate will always be higher than the meter price. If you cannot find a driver that will use the meter, simply walk a block or two to another area with less people.

Though tuk-tuks can be quite a thrill for the first couple trips, they surprisingly are not the cheapest options. Tuk-tuk drivers almost always charge more than a taxi meter will. You’ll soon find that air-conditioned transport is a lot nicer than breathing in exhaust.

Take night buses and trains for long-distance travel, which will save on a night’s accommodation.

Do not take VIP or first class buses or trains. A first class sleeper ticket to Chiang Mai costs 1,353 baht but a second class sleeper with fan costs 531 baht. Try to buy tickets directly from the train or bus stations, instead of through travel agents who will certainly take a cut.

Thailand Travel on the islands can get expensive. Always try to negotiate sawng taew prices and check maps to see how far the beach really is. On Koh Samet, the beach is only a 15 minute walk from the pier, while a sawng taew can cost 60 baht.

Activities

When trying to travel Thailand cheap, it is important to occasionally spend money on non-essentials like fun activities. But pick activities wisely and shop around for the best prices. If you may do a lot of scuba diving, consider taking a course, which will make each dive much cheaper. Also ask for discounts, especially if you are with a group of people.

Don’t purchase tours if possible. Many travel agents will sell tours for waterfalls, parks, boat trips and other activities. While tours can make things easier, quite often you can arrange to see a sight by yourself and for much cheaper.

For example, at Khao Yai National Park, there are park tours available for around 1,000 baht a person. But it’s also possible to rent a car and driver at approximately 1,000 a day and split the cost with other travelers.

By far the biggest money waste is alcohol and partying. Paying 100 baht for a beer at a bar may seem cheap compared to home. But after spending 40 baht on dinner and 150 baht on a shared room, a few beers can relatively become very expensive.

To travel Thailand cheap, buy drinks from 7-11 at a third of the cost. Or share a cheap bottle, such as whiskey, with friends at the bar. Many places in Bangkok have happy hours or other discounts, check event websites and free publications, such as BK Magazine, for more information.

Planning a trip to Thailand? Check out our partner site for Thailand tips!

Meet the Author:

Lindsay comes from Canada and has endured intense humidity, chaotic traffic, noisy children, and the spiciest food she’s ever eaten for the opportunity to live and work as an English teacher in Thailand for a year. The weekends away at the beach made it all worth it!

Thailand Tips Part 2

Thailand Tips – Part 2

If you haven’t already, go look at Thailand Tips – Part 1

Check out the brand new Thailand Trip hub to get a feel for a typical Thailand trip.

Thailand Tips for Money and budget

• Nearly every price for everything is negotiable. Fixed prices would include prices in chain supermarkets, department stores, drinks, and transportation tickets. You will get a feel for when you can negotiate. Never take the first price!

• Always expect to pay more in touristy areas. Negotiation will be much tougher as well because the package tourists generally do not negotiate prices.

• Large denomination notes can be very difficult to change or use. Unfortunately, this is what you will receive from most ATM machines. When entering an amount, choose a number that ensures at least a few smaller bills. (ie 900 Baht as opposed to 1000 Baht)

• Large notes such as 1000 can generally be changed at supermarkets (7-11), fast food places, and for transportation tickets without much hassle.

• Do not accept torn notes or notes that are too faded to read – they may be difficult to spend.

• Many taxis and vendors will conveniently have no change so that they may keep the difference in price. Try to have smaller bills in your pockets at all times – but see if they will take the larger ones first!

• In markets, the first sale of the day for a vendor is the “lucky sale” and you have much more negotiation power and can land a better price. Arrive early to markets as vendors are setting up if you are after a major purchase.

• ALWAYS negotiate a price first before getting inside a taxi. The meters are most likely “broken” and you will pay an outlandish price if you close the door without establishing a rate first.

• ATMs usually offer the best exchange rates. Otherwise, be wary of changing money on the street or on the black market. Count your money before the guy walks away, don’t let him do the counting for you. A small calculator can be handy for clearing up any disagreements.

• Many prices such as for long distance transportation tickets or activities such as diving are fixed in an area, so shopping around can be based on the appearance of the company rather than price.

• If using Traveler’s Checks, carry larger denominations such as $50 or $100. You will be charged a fee per check when cashing them and this can add up if you have a lot of small notes.

• If you are going to be in an area for a few days, buy a large 5 liter bottle of water and use it to refill smaller bottles. This saves money and keeps you from contributing to the existing refuse problem.

• Never ask a taxi driver for accommodation or restaurant recommendations. They will always plug a family member’s business. Never let them talk you into changing your original destination, many times they get a comission and you get to pay the difference!

• “Farangs” or people that are not Thai, will usually pay a higher price for services and goods in markets.

Thailand transportation (how not to explode when your bus breaks down)

• Things in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, move at a different speed. Don’t be in a hurry! Bus and even train breakdowns are common. Don’t lose your cool, remember – mai pen rai!

• TAT is NOT a government office and they are there for one reason – to make money! Book tickets directly yourself and save a bundle.

• Always settle on a price to a destination before getting inside a taxi.

• Taxis in the queue directly in front of the airport or an event will ALWAYS be more expensive than flagging ones on the street yourself.

• To hitchhike, you point at the ground in front of you rather than sticking your thumb out.

• When you hire a motorcycle, be sure to point out any defects or scratches before you take it. Sometimes a stiff inspection follows after you return a bike.

• Don’t agree to allow your tuk-tuk driver to stop at shops you are not interested in for “fuel vouchers”.

• Keep your knees and elbows tucked in tight when riding on the back of a motorcycle taxi!

• Always wear sunglasses when driving a motorbike. Not only will you look cool, it will keep the masses of insects from hitting your eyes at high speeds.

• For good cheap maps of a new area, search for the town name on http://images.google.com and print them for cheap in the internet cafes.

• Night trains are a cheap (and enjoyable) way to get from A to B. You save a night’s accommodation price and wake up at your destination. Top bunks are smaller but cheaper. Beware of extremely expensive food and drinks! The attendants work mostly for commission so they can be pushy.

• When choosing your seat on the bus, take into consideration which direction you are traveling and which side of the bus the sun will be hitting. The closer you are to an axle, the bumpier the ride. If there is AC available, count on it being cold enough to snow inside to have something warm handy.

• Don’t pay extra for “VIP” buses. They usually aren’t VIP, or sometimes they conveniently “break down” and a regular fare bus is substituted instead (with no refund of course).

• Don’t looe your booking tickets from travel agencies. There is no common network and getting another printed could be impossible.

• ALWAYS use your motorbike lock chain that was provided – they have a high disappearance rate in Thailand.

• Believe it or not, there is a helmet law for people riding on a motorbike, and you could be given a fine on the spot. This is almost never enforced, but once you see the way people drive, you will want to wear it anyway!

• Wear your sunglasses if you are driving a motorbike. There are lots of rocks, insects, and dirt that seem to find your eyeballs at high speeds.

Thailand Tips for Staying Alive (and healthy)

• Some people do, but its best not to use local water for brushing teeth. Save a little of your bottled water and place it in near the toilet for brushing at night.

• Even small scrapes and cuts can become easily infected in a dirty and humid tropical environment. Popping blisters allowed bacteria inside. Carry a small bottle of liquid bandage to quickly apply to cuts and small scrapes.

• Only take anti-diarrhea medication if you will be on the move traveling or absolutely have to. You can control minor stomach fluctuations by eating bananas (to slow down) or drinking green coconut milk (to speed up).

• It goes without saying, but never drink local water. Brush your teeth with bottled water.

• TD (traveler’s diarrhea) is normal for the first week or two when you change bacteria zones around the world You can get your stomach back to normal by eating several bananas a day and drinking yogurt.

• HIV and prostitution are rampant in Thailand. Don’t let a thin piece of latex separate you from life or death.

• Local brand condoms have a high failure rate because of poor storage techniques in the hot weather.

• Sunblock prices and choices can be poor in countries where the locals have dark skin and generally do not use it.

• When swimming in the ocean, be conscious of drainage ditches and pipes, many times they may contain raw sewage.

• There is no vaccination for Dengue fever, which is common in mozzie areas around SE Asia. Be smart, take precautions to avoid bites such as using repellent and burning coils at night. Always use your mosquito net.

• Turn your lights off when leaving to avoid attracting extra insects. Check your mosquito netting for holes before going to bed in mozzie infested areas. Gecko lizards are noisy but eat other insects, so let them stay inside your bungalow!

• If you are refilling a water bottle, avoid touching the cap or the threads. Smell it first before drinking, and change it out every few days to avoid bacteria.

• Ginger is a great natural preventative for motion sickness. Dramamine works, but can double as a sleeping pill (not always bad on long trips) due to the side effects.

• ALWAYS carry toilet paper in your pocket. It will not be available in toilets – and never, ever flush it! Put it into the bucket or can with a lid near the toilet.

Good to Know while backpacking Thailand Tips

• Don’t take expensive sandals or flip-flops. It is almost guaranteed that someone will “swap” with you in the pile of shoes left outside entrance ways.

• People either love or hate Bangkok with a passion. It will be your first impression of Thailand when you fly in – don’t let it jade you!

• There are internet cafes virtually everywhere so there is no need to carry a laptop unless you are a full time writer.

• In internet cafes, always check the login domain to make sure it is not a screen designed to capture your email password. (It happens) Change your password frequently when on the road.

• If you pay to have your laundry done, CHECK for missing items before you walk away. It is not unusual for them to swap items with other travelers.

• Plan on your laundry taking over 24 hours to dry in the humid weather. In other words, don’t wash laundry the night before a long bus trip in the morning.

• You can save loads of money by learning your numbers, how to ask price, and negotiate in Thai. Vendors will almost always give you a smile (and a better price) when you try their language. Its not that hard!

• Leave the price tag on your books for more bargaining power later when you trade it at bookstores or with other travelers.

• It is useful to memorize your passport number or have it written on something handy – you will use it a lot when checking in. Don’t make a scene digging it out of your “secret” money belt in front of everyone!

• Be careful when approached to buy drugs from locals. Not only is it illegal in Thailand, but sometimes they work in pairs with police officers who will then relieve you of the drugs and your money! (in the form of a bribe)

• Always look at a room before you check in. Only pay for the first day, then renew later if it turns out to be ok. In the islands, check the beach at different times, you may have been checking in during high tide which would hide an unpleasant rocky sea floor.

• Cheap international calls can be made via Skype from internet cafes. Another option is to purchase phone cards, yellow or orange, from a 7-11. Before buying a card with a lot of minutes, make sure that type of pay phone is available in the area! Some pay phones will not make international calls.

• Keep a journal of your trip from the beginning, you will be forever glad that you did. Better yet, start a travel blog and share your adventure with everyone!

• When uploading your pictures in internet cafes, always set the “write-protect” switch on your memory card to protect yourself from the viruses. IPODs can become infected too while charging!

• If you can, always return to support the same businesses such as internet cafes and markets. The will get to know your face, provide better service, and give you discounts!

• The best travel advice comes from other travelers – talk to everyone! If you show yourself friendly, you will make new backpacker friends faster than you can write down their email addresses.

Read How to travel Thailand cheap!

Thailand Tips

Thailand Tips

Many new backpackers begin traveling in Thailand because it is a relatively easy way to break into Asia and there is a highly established tourist and backpacker presence there. English is spoken in varying degrees of quality in all the tourist areas, so there is not much of a language barrier to deal with. Best of all, its cheaper than staying at home!

 

No matter what you are looking for, you can find it in Thailand. Elitist backpackers (gag) claim that the country has been “ruined” by mass tourism – not true! Go with the right attitude and you will make memories and friendships that last forever.

Many of the Thailand tips below can be applied to the rest of Southeast Asia outside of Thailand and to budget travel in general.

This disorganized page of my own travel notes somehow mysteriously ended up so popular that I decided to dedicate an entire site to Thailand tips. Go check out the brand new site!

Thailand Travel Guide

Local Feelings (how not to make people hate you!)

• The head is the highest and most sacred part on a person. Never touch someone’s head or ruffle their hair.
• The foot is the lowest and dirtiest part of a person, never raise your foot over someone’s head or step over them.
• Try not to point your feet at anyone, it can be disrespectful.
• Always remove your shoes and leave them outside when going indoors. This includes shops, restaurants, bars, and homes.
• In general, Buddhists are conservative in dress and in contact between the sexes.
• Never, ever disrespect the king in any way. Not only is it punishable by death but the Thai people love him!

Thailand Tips for Temple Etiquette (how not be disrespectful on accident)

• Monks receive the highest wai (prayer like gesture) when passing or in greeting.
• Remove your shoes at the bottom of steps in a temple or before approaching a Buddha statue.
• Many wats (temples) require long pants to go inside. Dress as conservative as possible when visiting the temples.
• Never turn your back on a Buddha statue.
• Monks usually do not eat after 12:00 noon, refrain from eating or snacking around them in the afternoon.
• If you take pictures inside a wat, leave a small donation in the metal box.

• Women should never touch a monk anywhere! When handing something to a monk, it must be passed through a man’s hands.

Thailand Tips for Eating and Drinking (Thai food is worth the long flight if nothing else)

• The proper use of utensils is spoon in right hand and fork in the left, using it to scrape things into the spoon.

• You will almost always get a straw with every can or bottled drink that you buy. It seems like a big waste of plastic, but there is a reason – things get dirty! Cans are stored in areas where rats, dogs, and chickens roam freely. Its best to pour your drink into a glass or use the straw.

• Don’t eat food that has touched the table or any other unclean surface.

• When choosing a restaurant, always look for a high volume of business. This ensures fresher ingredients and less chance of getting a stomach problem.

• There is no need to tip in restaurants and bars.

• Try to choose bottles of water containing minerals (like Minere), rather than just the cheapest. As you sweat day and night, you will continue to lose energy due to low sodium and potassium levels no matter how much water you drink.

• Unlike in the West, it is OK to loiter in restaurants for hours as long as you have purchased at least something small.

• The hosts will almost always try to seat you in a high profile place towards the front to show off their business. Sometimes this will put you at a bad table near the street, feel free to ask to be moved somewhere more quiet!

• Many restaurants in SE Asia will show movies and Western TV shows for customers, shop around and find something that you want to watch!

• Western food like burgers and pizza will almost always be an expensive letdown. You didn’t travel thousands of miles to eat something best done at home – eat local!

• When eating from street carts, choose an item that you saw come off the grill, not one that has been sitting in the sun for an undetermined amount of time.

• Don’t eat fruit without peeling it first. Washing will not always do the trick.

• Thai Curries take much longer to prepare, if you are in a hurry avoid ordering them! Fortunately, they are well worth the wait.

• Take the opportunity to ask your waiter how to properly pronounce one word in Thai from your phrasebook, or some object on the table. You will pick up words quickly that way

The Thailand tips are continued here: Thailand Tips Part 2