Sawatdee ka สวัสดี, hello!
(Even though I've worked in a Thai restaurant for a year I am still completely hopeless at speaking the language, but hey I'm trying).
Through November to December, I embarked on a venture through the beauty of Thailand, from the chaotic rush of Bangkok to the more tranquil tropics of Phuket. As I don't think I would have survived my trip without gaining prior cultural knowledge from experienced friends, I am here to give you my two-cents on things I learnt during my short yet profound time abroad, for first-time travellers who plan to see the wonders of Thailand.
My 2 amazing weeks in 1 minute:
Preparation and Planning:
Thailand being a Southeast Asian destination praised for its budget holiday disposition, didn't require breaking the bank nor the usual intense period of financial restricting, therefore making it ideal for students and youth like myself. Allow yourself one week minimum to experience the entirety of what it has to offer and to relish in the diverse culture, or two weeks which provides the optimum time to engage in total relaxation and indulgence whilst having time to explore.
To avoid agency fees, the entirety of my trip was booked online by myself with the help of trusty old Expedia and WotIf to find my accommodation, and Web Jet to book return flights and connecting domestic flights. Flying with AirAsia demonstrated to be the cheapest option even though it meant paying for additional baggage costs and lengthy international stopovers, yet all worth it for the savings in my humble opinion, (equals more shopping money).
Below are the three hotels I stayed in, all of which were chosen for their exceptional prices for such luxury, proximity to tourist locations and amazing facilities:
Avani Atrium, Bangkok - The hotel was a modern design with my favourite room interior of the trip, on top of a romantic spa bath and gorgeous roof top pool
BanThai Phuket, Patong Beach - Located centrally on the main tourist strip and beachfront, the villa was decedent yet tropical with direct entry to the pool from our room
Pacific Club Resort, Phuket, Karon Beach - Although a bit further into the hills away from the tourist rush, the hotel exuded lush traditional Thai vibes and had an amazing rooftop horizon pool
Travel insurance only set me back $70 which can be purchased online or through an agent, but is a necessity and completely worth it for the peace of mind knowing you are covered for any unforeseen predicaments such as medical expenses, loss or theft of goods and travel delays.
In relation to costs, I spent well under $1000 during 2 weeks of travel including 3 meals a day, taxi travel, day trips and tours, and an intense and impressive collection of shopping. An additional $1000 for return flights and luxuriant accomodation on top of this totalled my entire trip to an impressively affordable approximate of $2000.
Travel Checklist:
‣ Passport
‣ Itinerary with hotel confirmations
‣ Exchanged currency - Thai Baht
‣ Drivers licence and debit card
‣ Airplane tickets with return flight details
‣ Travel insurance information
Essentials to Pack:
‣ Wall socket adapter for phone chargers
‣ Swimwear
‣ Light and breezy clothing (the heat is ridiculous)
‣ A sarong/long skirt is handy to take if you plan on visiting sacred temples or religious sights
‣ A secure bag/backpack to keep your goods safe from potential pick-pocketers
‣ But pack as little as possible because you'll need all the space for your copious shopping goodies
Shopping in Thailand:
No one leaves Thailand without indulging in a bit of retail therapy, how could you resist when everything is so ridiculously cheap? However the process of shopping is quite different to Western normalities, as in market places and stores outside of established 'set-priced' businesses, bartering and bargaining is allowed and encouraged. Bartering is simply negotiating a price with shopkeepers and vendors to agree on a sale price. The best things to buy in Thailand are clothing, (especially replica brand names), handbags, electronics, silver jewellery, dvd's, shoes, art and souvenirs.
Shopping Tips:
-Keep the process fun and friendly with the seller for a better chance of the sale being cheaper
-Use lines like, "I've seen this cheaper somewhere else" or use Thai phrases to make yourself appear less like a gullible tourist
-Never accept the price first offered, and don't feel like you're ripping off the store by offering low prices, because they will never sell at their own loss.
-Be prepared to walk away if the vendor is asking too much without negotiation, and if your offer is reasonable they will generally chase you back and agree on your price.
-Having the calculator app on your phone makes the process easier to determine how much money you're spending in your countries equivalent currency.
How To Get Around:
Transport options in Thailand are both fun and considerably cheaper than travel options in Australia. During my time overseas I mainly relied on Taxi's to get from A to B, with a 35 baht flag-fare and perhaps a 50 baht total for a few kilometres around 20 minutes, (roughly $2 AUD). Make sure you choose taxi services with meters to save you from being ripped off at the end of your journey, and make sure they reset the price when you first hop in.
You should experience riding a Tuk-Tuk at least once during a trip to Thailand, but they are better for taking short trips as you are being exposed to the polluted air, especially in Bangkok. Pre-determine a price with the driver before your trip. In Bangkok, the BTS skytrain, MRT subway and riverboats are also all cheap and easy ways to see what the city has on offer.
What to Eat:
I arrived in Thailand with full intentions to embrace the culture and eat street stall foods, however after seeing the conditions of food sitting out in the sun all day it seemed a bit tedious. Therefore I steered away from meats and barbecues but tried the thai pancakes, fruit and smoothies from the street stalls. Meals in local Thai restaurants are generally equivalent to $5 AUD, but Western chains such as Starbucks and McDonalds were a bit more expensive yet still significantly cheaper than what you would pay in Australia. Tipping is customary, but not expected; I tipped with loose change and small bills at restaurants, and tipped most taxi drivers and bell boys at hotels.
DO- try the curries, stir fry's, pad thai's, mango sticky rice and nutella banana pancakes, I fell in love with them
DONT-drink water unless it is bottled and sealed, and try to avoid ice cubes in drinks, although my stomach wasn't affected by them
What to See:
Like most visitors, Phuket was my favourite region to explore in Thailand. Personally I enjoy tropical beach locations more-so than chaotic cities, and I believe there was more to see and do compared to Bangkok. Bangkok is worth the visit if you are interested in high-end department shopping with some of the largest shopping centres in the world, as well as a number of beautiful sacred temples to visit. I stayed for 5 days, although I believe 3 days would've been enough to explore the highlights.
In Phuket I recommend staying in Patong rather than Karon, because it is more central to shopping markets, restaurants, night life and saves taking a 10 minute taxi ride to hot spots. Karon Beach is more suited for older couples or families who want a more relaxed holiday away from the busy party scene with less hawkers.
Must Sees:
‣ The Big Buddha
‣ An elephant sanctuary or rescue park where you can bathe, feed and play with elephants
‣ a Phi Phi Islands tour
‣ James Bond Island
‣ Floating markets
‣ Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew temples
‣ Full moon party
‣ an infamous ping pong show
‣ MuayThai boxing match
‣ Get a traditional Thai massage (they cost around 200 Baht/$7 AUD an hour, so cheap!)
Your trip will be what you make of it, whether you'd prefer a relaxed, tranquil escape or an action-packed sight seeing holiday, Thailand is definitely one to add to the travel bucket list.
Happy travels xxx