With its breath-taking beaches, vibrant jungles, incredible food, and relatively cheap prices, Thailand attracts approximately 26 million tourists per year. Bangkok is a large travel hub in the Southeast Asia area, which makes it appealing to arrive in Thailand via Bangkok for most vacationers and backpackers. Thailand is a well-known and extremely popular destination for backpackers because of convenience, ease of travel and cheap accommodations located throughout the country. All of your dreams can become reality in Thailand.

 

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Getting There And Around
All visitors to Thailand are required to carry a passport that is valid for more than six months and proof of onward travel. Some nationalities are required to have a valid visa, so make sure to check your country’s entry requirements. If you arrive in Thailand via air travel you are permitted to stay in the country for thirty days. If you arrive in Thailand via land, you are permitted to stay in the country for fourteen days.
Transportation in Thailand is cheap, easy to find, and convenient. Public transportation in the larger cities tends to be crowded and not air-conditioned but a much cheaper means of transportation than taxis and tuk-tuks. Tuk-tuks tend to be pricey, although they are the most fun and authentic way around any city. Make sure to negotiate a price with the tuk-tuk driver before hopping in. Some cities, like Pattaya, have baht buses which are a cheap and fun form of transportation.
Trains, buses and ferries are easy ways to get around from one location to another. When getting to the islands, it is always cheaper to buy the joint bus and ferry ticket versus purchasing them separately. I really liked the professionalism, speed and ease of dealing with Lomprayah.
*When taking a taxi anywhere in Thailand, make sure the driver turns on the meter. It is actually illegal for them to drive without the meter on, but many of the drivers don’t turn it on anyway and charge a ridiculous fee. To prove this fact, I took two taxis the same distance. One taxi driver turned on the meter and the fare was 67 THB. The second taxi driver didn’t turn on the meter and the fare he demanded was 500 THB. If the driver refuses to turn on the meter and you are desperate for a cab, make sure to negotiate with the driver before you get into the vehicle.

 

Money
The official currency in Thailand is Thai Baht. 1-10 THB are coins, and 20-1000 THB are bank notes. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, and it’s easy to exchange foreign currencies at exchange places, which are abundant throughout main areas. Bangkok had extremely fair exchange rates for foreign currencies. Large hotels and some restaurants will accept major credit cards, but many smaller places do not accept credit cards, so it’s good to keep cash at hand.

 

Language
The official language in Thailand is Thai.
Hello – Sawadee Kah
Thank You – Kah Pun Kah (Female), Kah Pun Khap (Male)

 

Housing
Accommodations in Thailand can be inexpensive, but the prices vary greatly depending on the season. During the high season, late October through late February prices skyrocket, and sometimes accommodations can be hard to find in the popular tourist destinations during this time. During the rainy season, April through August, prices tend to be lower. Pricing starts at around 200 THB and upwards depending on the accommodations and location.

 

Food
The food in Thailand is unique, flavorful and cheap. Street food can be as cheap as 20 THB, and it is pretty safe to eat. If you notice the locals crowded around certain food stalls – go there! The locals wouldn’t be eating at those food stalls if the food wasn’t delicious and safe to eat. My favorite dishes in Thailand came from small street stalls.

 

Save Cash
Luckily, there are many ways to save money in Thailand. Book a guesthouse that has breakfast included. Eating street food is quick, safe cheap. Take public transportation. Book your excursions and activities with groups of people for discounts. Traveling alone? Make friends with fellow travelers and book a fun day trip with them. When traveling from place to place, make sure to pack a lunch and bring snacks. Quite often the buses stop at over-priced and dirty locations that give them a cut of the profits. When shopping at markets, if there is no price marked on the item that you would like to purchase, make sure to bargain with the shop owner to get a good deal.

 

Stay Fit
The drastic change in climate and diet can wreak havoc on the stomachs of some travelers. I recommend drinking bottled water only, and choosing eating establishments with care. Mosquitoes may also be a problem for some people, and it is recommended that you check with your physician before traveling to certain areas. I didn’t take any malaria medication during my extended time in Thailand, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. There are many clinics and pharmacies (unregulated) throughout Thailand if you do happen to fall ill, and if you don’t happen to see any around, ask reception at your accommodation for the location of the nearest clinic or pharmacy. I had a terrible incident in Koh Tao where I lost my entire toenail. The woman at the pharmacy gave me everything I needed and was extremely helpful, despite her lack of English. Luckily, nothing crazy happened and I fully recovered.

 

In Your Bag
I quickly discovered the abundance of squat toilets and lack of toilet paper in Thailand and completely revamped my purse accordingly. I kept toilet paper, individually wrapped baby wipes, hand sanitizer, Imodium, 5 THB coins (yes, you pay to use a toilet in some establishments – even if you are a customer), bottled water, and a scarf in my bag at all times. The scarf is handy for women to cover up their shoulders so they can respectfully enter religious temples.

 

Stay Connected
It is easier than ever to stay connected to friends and family back home. WiFi is available at most guesthouses and hotels, and many local bars and restaurants. There are Internet cafes available in the main tourist locations. Sign up for Skype, which allows you to connect to WiFi hotspots throughout the country and make calls and send texts home for much cheaper than your wireless provider. Postage is cheap in Thailand, so if you’re like me and like to send postcards and trinkets home it’s easy to do! All of my packages and postcards sent from Thailand made it to their destinations.
The 240V, two-prong European style type-C/F electrical outlets are used in Thailand.