My wife and I’s love of independent travel began with Thailand when we first came here as tourists on a package tour.
Before that, we spent several years in Turkey and Egypt in a row and had no idea that vacation could be different: informative, interesting, diverse and colorful. Thailand radically changed our outlook: we decided that we would never go on all-inclusive tours again.
At the end of 2019, we returned to Thailand on our own to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Turns out the country uses the Buddhist calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar. That’s why they always have 543 more years.
In the article I will tell you about the main resorts of Thailand: how much it costs to rest, what to see, what dishes to try, where to buy gifts and how to avoid trouble so as not to spoil your vacation.
Introductory data
When the season: you can vacation in Thailand all year round, even in the rainy season does not pour 24 hours a day. But the most comfortable time for a vacation is from November to April.
Average seasonal temperature: +30 °C.
Currency: Thai Baht, 1 THB.
Language: Thai.
Weather
In Thailand, some resorts are located in the west, in the Andaman Sea, and some in the east, in the Gulf of Thailand. The country is stretched from north to south, so the climate in its different parts is different: in the north – tropical, in the central part – subequatorial, and in the south – equatorial. There are three seasons in Thailand.
May through October is the hot and humid season. The average air temperature at this time is +33 °C and the average water temperature is +29 °C. There are often short rains. After them the sun comes out, everything quickly dries up and you can swim in the sea again. In my opinion, the wet season is the ideal time for sightseeing and excursions.
November through February is the warm and dry season. The average air temperature at this time is +28 °C and the average water temperature is +27 °C.
March through April is the hot and dry season. The average air temperature at this time is +35 °C and the average water temperature is +29 °C. It is unbearably hot, sweltering day and night. Air conditioners and fans work on the limit, and constantly thirsty. It is extremely uncomfortable to go sightseeing in this heat.
The island of Samui does not fit into the general characteristic. The rainy season there begins in September and ends in December. The most comfortable time for vacation is from January to March. From April, the hot season begins. This is one of the few resorts in Thailand, where you can relax in the summer and not be afraid of rain.
Pattaya
Pattaya is the most affordable resort. It is often visited for its nightlife, bars and discos. The main local attraction is Walking Street, where they offer sex services and invite you to dirty shows. We came to this street for curiosity’s sake, but it was uncomfortable to walk along it: too much noise and street harassment.
The water in Pattaya is not as clean as on the islands. The beach is urban, there are a lot of people, so you sometimes come across bags and other garbage in the sea. But the sea is warm and you can swim when it gets dark: the embankment is illuminated by powerful spotlights. To swim in the clear blue water and take a photo on the white sand beach, tourists have to take a tour around the islands.
Families with children also have a lot to do in Pattaya. For example, you can visit the famous Nong Nuch Tropical Garden. In February 2023, admission costs 500 THB for an adult and 400 THB for a child. In the botanical garden of 240 hectares in several themed gardens in addition to plants there are many beautiful locations for photos and an exhibition of rare cars. You can also watch national Thai dances here. When I remember vacation in Pattaya, I necessarily associate it with the garden “Nong Nuch”.
There are many Buddha statues on the Big Buddha Hill in Pattaya. for tourists they perform a symbolic ritual: they hang a white rope on their hand. As soon as it is cut, the wish will come true. There are also many traditions in the temple. For example, you can rub Buddha’s belly for good luck, get a coin in his navel to increase your wealth or count the number of steps when climbing. The number of steps is different for each tourist, but the closer to the exact number – 120 steps, the more righteous life a person leads. Entrance to the temple is free, but donations are welcome.
I also recommend a boat ride to Monkey Island, which is included in the program of many sea excursions. The cost is about 1000 THB. I remember how one monkey ate watermelon on my shoulders and spit the bones on my head.
In general, I liked my vacation in Pattaya: for the first acquaintance with Thailand this city is perfect. I liked the local excursions the most: we spent half of our vacation on them.
Phuket
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand in the Andaman Sea with a developed tourist infrastructure. There are not only sights, entertainment, cafes, bars and shows, but also an excellent beach vacation. Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you can get there by bus. For example, a ticket from Bangkok at the end of 2019 cost me only 640 THB.
There are beaches in Phuket to suit all tastes: party and crowded, with developed infrastructure and almost wild. There is even a beach, over which airplanes fly low and you can make a beautiful photo. But you will not be able to relax on it: airplanes are too loud and raise sand in the air. If you want night entertainment and discos until morning, it is better to choose a party beach Patong. A more relaxing vacation – on the well-equipped beaches of Karon and Kata.
We spent our vacation at Karon, which turned out to be one of the best beaches I’ve been to. The water in the Andaman Sea is clear, and the sand on the beach crunched like snow under our feet and reminded us of Christmas. It also has very beautiful sunsets.
To diversify your beach vacation in Phuket and see the main sights, two days is quite enough. Once on our way to the beach, we took a sightseeing tour of Phuket’s main sights for 500 THB at a street travel agency.
In my opinion, the Big Buddha Hill and the Chalong Temple Complex are the most worthwhile attractions on the island. The Big Buddha statue is located on a hill 400 meters above sea level, so it offers a magnificent view of Phuket. There you can make a wish, make a donation or get a blessing from a monk. On the way to the statue there is a large gong that starts to sing when rubbed.
Chalong is the largest and most popular temple complex in Phuket. It houses a holy relic – the shoulder bone of the Buddha. In one of the buildings of the complex is an active crematorium. Tourists are not allowed there. Also on the territory there is a fountain and a special furnace in which firecrackers are exploding. According to one of the versions, so the Thais scare away evil spirits. I liked the architecture of the temple most of all: it is worth coming there, if only for its sake.
Many people who have been to Phuket take a tour of the archipelago of Phi Phi Phi with picturesque bays and white sand beaches. Filmmakers have long loved these places: the movie “The Beach” was filmed here and there is even James Bond Island. Speedboats take tourists from island to island.
On one they admire the monkeys, on another they have a buffet lunch, and along the way there are stops for snorkeling and diving. At the end of the boat trip, there are a couple hours left to relax and swim on an island with crystal clear waters. In 2019, it cost 1,000 THB per person. In February 2023, prices are slightly higher, from 1200 THB.
Samui
Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand. We liked it for its quiet and peaceful beach vacation, small number of people and authentic atmosphere of the island resort. There is something for everyone to do here.
The infrastructure on the island is moderately developed. for me, there is an excellent balance of tropical resort and civilization, which I can’t say about Pattaya and Phuket. Samui is worth coming to for its beautiful nature, diverse beaches and provincial simplicity.
There are not so many interesting sights on the island: a mummy of a monk, Rachatammaram temple, a magical garden of statues in the forest, Big Buddha and several waterfalls. If you want to see them on your own, a couple of days will be enough: the island is small and most of the attractions are located near each other. Entrance to all temples and waterfalls is free of charge.
The mummy of a monk is sought after by many tourists on Samui. It is not a mummy, but a real mummy of a monk who, according to legend, knew the date of his death and died while meditating. It is said to still grow hair and fingernails, but this is nothing more than a tourist tale. Here, just like in Pattaya, a monk can perform a ritual and tie a wish-granting string on your arm. The temple with mummies is small, you can see it in 15 minutes.
Rachathammaram Temple is a newly built temple that looks as spectacular as a landmark. The exterior and interior of the temple are decorated with three-dimensional images of Buddha, dragons and scenes from holy books. The building is clearly visible from the main road – it is difficult to pass by and not pay attention to it.
The territory of the temple is small, there are few tourists. You can go down to the sea, sit on a bench and enjoy the peace and quiet. Those who do not like pop tourist attractions with a lot of people and shops, this place is likely to be to their liking.
The thing I liked most about Samui was the Magic Garden, which is located high up on a mountain amidst the jungle. The road to the garden is scenic, the climb is not too steep, and there are several viewpoints along the way. On the territory of the garden among the forest – a lot of statues, which are partially overgrown with moss and look very old. In fact, these sculptures are not ancient: they were created by a farmer when he retired.
The atmosphere here is mysterious and very quiet. There is a small Tarnim waterfall on the grounds, the water from which flows through the whole garden. The entrance fee in 2019 was 80 THB. My acquaintances were there in January 2023 and told me that the price has not changed.
There are many good beaches on Samui. Chaweng will suit lovers of partying and discos. We found Crystal Bay beach pleasant for swimming, but there were the most vacationers here. Lipa Noi beach looks like a wild island, where palm trees lean over the water and there is almost no one.
On the neighboring island of Phangan, the Ful Moon Party is famous for its large scale. They are organized once a month under the full moon. The parties last for three days and thousands of people from all over the world come to the island to party.
Krabi
Krabi is a resort in southwest Thailand with many islands in the Andaman Sea. Krabi is easily recognizable by the lone forested rock pillars rising straight out of the water.
The resort is suitable for families with children, a romantic trip and just for people who are tired of large, noisy megacities and urban bustle. There are a huge number of beaches in Krabi, but the most popular one with developed infrastructure is Ao Nang.
Popular attractions include the Raleigh Peninsula Lookout and Caves, Tiger Cave Temple and Emerald Lake. The Raleigh Peninsula is separated from the mainland by high cliffs, so it is only accessible by boat. The beaches here are better than on the mainland of Krabi. There are also many climbing enthusiasts on the peninsula, who combine their favorite activity and beach recreation.
There is a legend associated with the creation of the young temple “Tiger Cave”: allegedly, the founder of the temple lived and meditated on the top of the rock, and the tiger hid in the cave from the heat. There is even an imprint of the animal in the stone in the temple.
To climb to the “Cave of the Tiger”, you need to overcome 1237 steep steps. But from the top of the rock on which the temple is located, the view is breathtaking. This is a kind of reward for those who will overcome such a difficult path. Entrance to the temple is free, but donations are welcome.
The Emerald Lake in Krabi province is striking with its blue water color. You can also swim in it. The water is mineral and very warm: the temperature reaches +50 °C. Not only crowds of tourists, but also locals come there to have a good time. The road to the lake goes through the forest, which actually stands in the mineral water – a very unusual sight. Nearby is another lake, whose water is even bluer, but it is forbidden to swim in it. In 2019, the entrance ticket cost 200 THB.
Just like in Phuket, many tourists buy a tour of the islands of the Phi Phi Phi archipelago in Krabi. In 2019, such tours cost about 1000 THB. There is clear blue water, snow-white sand, and in some places you can snorkel.
In Krabi resort, I recommend taking a boat trip around the nearby islands. I have never seen such beauty anywhere else
Khao Lak
Khao Lak is a mainland resort in the Andaman Sea, about 100 km north of Phuket. This place is not as popular with our tourists as other resorts, although tours are sold there. The main contingent is elderly Europeans. Perhaps that is why Khao Lak is on average a more expensive resort than, for example, Phuket or Samui. But it is cleaner, cozier and few tourists. Khao Lak is not a party place at all, it is more suitable for a quiet beach vacation.
The main attractions of Khao Lak are the national park of the same name and Khao Sok Park, Cheo Lan Lake. There, too, they offer excursions to the nearby islands. Those who love natural beauty, jungles, caves, rivers, waterfalls and lakes, should like these places.
This is a completely different Thailand, with unusual landscapes. In the national parks you can raft down the river on a bamboo raft or canoe, ride elephants, see a pineapple plantation. The most popular activity in Khao Sok is a guided search for a huge and rare flower – rafflesia. An entrance ticket to Khao Sok National Park in February 2023 costs 200 THB.
Cheo Lan Lake is often included in a tour of Khao Sok National Park, but is about 70 km away. The views here are truly mesmerizing. The verdant rock pillars rise out of the water, reminiscent of the landscapes of Krabi and Phi Phi Phi.
On the lake, you can spend the night in floating bungalows – such a trip will leave many vivid impressions. In 2019, accommodation and meals cost 1000 THB per person. The boat that takes tourists to and from the floating houses is paid separately. You can discount the boat as a group, they can accommodate up to 20 people. There is no fixed price, you need to bargain with the boatman, but in 2019 the average was 2500 THB.
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is located on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 200 km south of Bangkok. It is the oldest resort in Thailand, where the active royal residence is located. The place is clean, quiet and orderly. In addition, Hua Hin is considered one of the safest and quietest resorts in the country. There like to rest wealthy residents of Bangkok and middle-aged and elderly tourists from Europe, so there are almost no parties and discos until morning.
Hua Hin has noteworthy historical sites. The local architecture has been greatly influenced by European culture. This is what makes Hua Hin different from other resorts in Thailand.
Klai Kangwon Royal Palace is the current summer residence of the king and his family on the seaside. The palace is built in the Spanish style. When the royal family is not in the palace, it is open to the public.
Hua Hin Station is Thailand’s oldest train station and a building with unique Thai-European architecture. The station was built when the city itself was founded. The brightly colored wooden station is very popular with tourists.
Rajabhat Park is one of the young attractions in Hua Hin. It was opened in 2015. The territory is huge, in the park you can see statues of seven kings of Thailand, there is a historical museum and a square for military parades.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Hua Hin, go to the neighboring resort of Cha Am. It is cheaper there, but the tourist infrastructure is not as well developed.
Chang
Chang is an ecologically clean island in the Gulf of Thailand, near the Cambodian border. The tourist infrastructure there is weak and there is no environmentally harmful production. Most of the island is covered with mountains and jungle. There are not as many tourists on Chang as on the popular Phuket or Samui.
Most people go there for the beaches: there are few sights. But still, a tourist will find something to entertain himself. You can, for example, ride elephants, visit several small waterfalls and temples, or take a boat trip to neighboring islands.
Chang means “elephant” in Thai. You can ride or feed elephants in Thailand at almost every resort. We limited ourselves to feeding them
Money
The national currency is the Thai baht, denoted by ฿. I advise you to fly to Thailand with American dollars and exchange them there for baht. But euros are also accepted.
It is not profitable to withdraw money from ATMs in Thailand. For each withdrawal, regardless of the amount, they charge 220 THB fee. This rule was in effect in 2019 and will remain in effect in 2023.
In the past in Thailand, you could go to a bank teller’s office to withdraw cash from your card. In this case there was no commission. But in 2023, according to people I know, there is also a fee at the offices.
Housing
Accommodation in Thailand can be found for every taste and purse – from small rooms in hotels to luxury villas with a swimming pool and sea view. In the resorts, the price of accommodation depends on the distance from the sea and the tourist season. In high season prices increase due to increased demand. To find a decent and inexpensive option, look for options 3-5 months in advance.
At the end of 2019 in Pattaya, we rented a room of 18 m² in a hotel within walking distance from the sea. It had everything we needed: air conditioning, fridge, TV, wifi, safe, iron, fan and hairdryer. This budget option cost us 15$ per night. In February 2023 prices are almost the same.
In Phuket, for the first time in our lives, we had to cancel our booked accommodation and urgently look for a replacement.
The room cost 700 THB per night. The photos were not true, the window was broken and the bathroom was missing part of the ceiling. The money was refunded in full.
Perhaps the owner’s idea is that through this hole in the ceiling you can admire the starry sky when you take a shower
Luckily, we didn’t stay outside that day. Our friend quickly found the only available hotel nearby, but more expensive – 1600 THB per night. We had no choice, so we decided to walk to the hotel, check out the room and pay on the spot if we were happy with everything. There was a large triple room in a new building with air conditioning, fridge, TV, safe and balcony. We asked for a discount and the receptionist gave us this room directly for 1300 THB.
Our friend was wintering on Koh Samui in late 2019 and rented a two-story house with a roommate for 13,000 THB. Utilities were included in the rent.
Of course, intermediaries rent a house from Thai owners for cheaper than resale. But such houses, as a rule, meet European needs, are better equipped, and any question can be promptly resolved in the native language. A friend rented a similar house next door for us for the New Year holidays directly from the owner. Daily rent is 500 THB, monthly rent is 10,000 THB.
Intermediaries match prospective tenants with owners. In 2019, they asked for a one-time commission, such as 3000 THB. This is a market relationship – either agree or not. I have not been able to find information on whether they take commission in 2023.
Some tourists find their favorite accommodation on booking sites, and the owner offers them a lower price. In this case, he demands that the prepayment be transferred to him directly, bypassing the website. You have to transfer it at your own risk. You may run into a fraudster and end up without money and without accommodation.
National cuisine
Thai cuisine is all about seafood, chicken, rice, noodles, vegetables and fruits. Much attention is paid to spices, herbs and sauces in the cooking process, which makes the dishes spicy.
There is no unequivocal opinion about the taste of Thai food. Some people in their home country look for restaurants with Thai food, and some people even on vacation in Thailand prefer dishes from other countries.
For those who like spicy and savory food, Thai cuisine is a real find. I found it too spicy. And, even when I told the waiters in the café the salutary “no spice”, and they smiled and assured me that everything would be like that, the dishes were still spicy.
I still managed to find two delicious, non-spicy and inexpensive Thai dishes. I ordered pad thai noodles or chicken fried rice for lunch or dinner almost the whole trip.
Tom yam is the most famous Thai soup that is cooked with coconut milk. It contains shrimp, tomato, onion, ginger, lemongrass and spices. The broth is spicy and tangy, and the ingredients are coarsely chopped: a quarter of a tomato or onion, a whole shrimp with the tail raw, inedible lemongrass leaves. I didn’t feel comfortable eating this soup.
I don’t share everyone’s enthusiasm for tom yam, although it is loved all over the world. A soup with a similar composition, but less spicy, is called tom kha. The main difference is that instead of shrimp, chicken is added to it. In 2019, a serving of tom yam or tom kha at a cafe asked for 120 THB.
Yellow, red or green curry is also a spicy, savory soup with the curry seasoning of the same name and other spices. The dish may include shrimp, seafood, fish, chicken and vegetables: cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots. Often a bowl of cooked rice is served with the soup, which makes the dish quite hearty. The price at the cafe in 2019 is 120 THB.
Pad thai is ubiquitous in Thailand: the dish is on the menu of all the cafes we visited. Pad Thai is fried noodles with egg, onions, soy sprouts, peanuts and various additives.
The dish has many variations. I mostly ordered the pad thai with chicken, I liked it better than the others. It cost 60-80 THB.
Kau-pad, fried rice in various variations, is a traditional dish not only in Thailand but throughout Asia. Usually fried rice is not as dry as boiled rice: oil, egg, various vegetables and herbs are added to it. In general, it is an independent and very tasty dish. The most common additives to rice are chicken and shrimp. In 2019, the dish cost 60-80 THB.
Sauté is a popular street snack in Thailand. They are small, about 10 cm, wooden skewers with chicken, shrimp or other meats cooked over charcoal.
Sauté can also be tasted in cafes. It is usually served with nut sauce and vegetables. I really liked the chicken sauté: it is tasty and not spicy. In 2019, one kebab cost 10 THB.
Chicken sauté with walnut sauce is a favorite of ours in Indonesia. Unfortunately, it’s not as good in Thailand
Som tam is another traditionally spicy Thai dish. It is definitely worth trying. It is a salad of green papaya, cherry tomatoes, Peking cabbage, beans, garlic, chili peppers, peanuts, sugar cane, fish sauce and lime juice. Its flavor is spicy, sour and sweet at the same time. In 2019, the salad cost 50 THB.
Often roti can be bought on the streets on mobile carts. They are made with different fillings. Our favorite is with chocolate paste and banana. The price for a pancake in 2019 was 50 THB.
The process of making pancakes, when they are masterfully flipped in the air, sometimes becomes a real show for tourists
Cafes and restaurants
There are many cafes in Thailand aimed at European tourists. The food in them is deliberately not very spicy, the interior is pleasant, and the menu is translated into English.
Spending New Year’s Eve 2019-2020 in a cafe cost an average of $100 per person. This amount included a banquet menu and a show program. We decided to celebrate the holiday at home, and at 12 am we went to the beach to watch fireworks.
In Pattaya, Phuket and Samui we ate only in cafes: we tried to try national dishes in different places and compared prices. This is how we came up with our favorites, which I would like to tell you about.
In Phuket, the cafe we liked the most was Reaun Talay Food. There was a great selection of food from all over the world, and the Thai food was especially good. Visitors were also allowed to bring their own alcohol and you could make yourself a free salad at the salad bar. The average national dish in 2019 cost around 100 THB.
Moonlight Cafe has become our favorite place on Samui. This place was recommended to us by a friend who winters on the island and often comes here. The menu is varied, you can try all the dishes of the national cuisine. The food is tasty and inexpensive, and the portions are large. They also made the most delicious mango smoothie I’ve had there for 50 THB. The average check per person in 2019 is about 120 THB.
A friend who went to Moonlight in January 2023 said that the prices had risen slightly. She also advised avoiding the café in the evening, around 18:00-19:00: it’s rush hour, and there are so many customers that the kitchen and waiters can’t cope. You can wait an hour or longer for an order.
Stores
There are many shopping centers in Thailand. In them you can find almost any local or imported product. For the spoiled shopaholic, it is better to go to Bangkok: there are dozens of malls and the largest selection.
There are also good shopping centers in the resorts, such as Central Festival. This is a whole chain of stores popular with tourists that can be found in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui and other cities. They have stores of international clothing brands, cafes, restaurants, wine stores, grocery stores, electronics stores and others.
That’s where we were looking for Christmas gifts, but we didn’t go through all the stores. The shopping centers were decorated in New Year’s style, Christmas music could be heard from everywhere, and the employees were wishing us happy holidays.
Central Festival on Koh Samui becomes a tourist hotspot in the evenings with music and street cafes everywhere
Among the grocery stores, we can highlight the chain supermarkets Tesco, Big C and Macro. They have a wide range of products, you can even find rare imported cheeses, sausages or wines. As in any large supermarket, you can buy household chemicals, kitchenware, clothes and electronics.
The prices in these stores are slightly lower than in the small convenience stores 7-eleven and Family-mart. But the network of these mini-markets in Thailand has grown widely: they are literally at every step. In addition to buying essential goods and groceries there you can have a snack, drink coffee, buy a SIM card, souvenirs and much more.
Here are examples of prices for some products in Thailand at the end of 2019:
- ready-made sandwich – 26 THB;
- bread, 1 piece. – 25 THB;
- milk, 1 liter – 45 THB;
- sausage, sliced, 200 g – 50 THB;
- pork, 1 kg – 150 THB;
- chicken, 1 kg – 70 THB;
- eggs, 10 pcs. – 35 THB;
- processed cheese, 1 pc. – 100 THB;
- tea, 25 pcs. – 75 THB;
- beer, 0.6 liters – 55 THB.
Alcohol in Thailand is not sold around the clock: from 14:00 to 17:00 and from 00:00 to 11:00 the sale of any alcohol is prohibited. But there are retail outlets that do not comply with the law. In such places they simply do not issue a sales receipt.
The Tesco supermarket on Koh Samui was our favorite. We went there almost every day
Transportation
Motorcycle. If you have an international license to drive a motorcycle, you have solved the issue of getting around the resort. Bike is the most affordable and convenient way. Renting a motorcycle for a month in 2019 cost 2,300 THB, for a day from 150 THB. In February 2023, the demand for bikes is huge, so sometimes the price is greatly inflated. For example, my acquaintances couldn’t find a free bike for a long time, and when it finally happened, they were forced to rent it for 7000 THB per month.
The most popular models at rental outlets are Honda Click, Snoopy and PCX. As a rule, the condition of the bikes is good. The gas tank is full and must be returned full. Good helmets are issued for head protection. As a deposit most often take a passport or 100 $. Sometimes they ask for more – 200 $. It is not necessary to show a driver’s license when renting a car.
Tuk-tuks are a popular mode of transportation for tourists in Thailand. They look different in different resorts. For example, in Pattaya it is a large pickup truck with a metal frame and two long seats along the body, most often Toyota Hailax. In Bangkok, it’s classic, small, three-wheeled tuk-tuks for two passengers, converted from a motorcycle. In Phuket, it’s something in between: small cars with the body open to passengers, brightly colored and tuned. They often blast loud music. The only thing they all have in common is a lack of windows.
The confusion is that sometimes a large tuk-tuk can take people around as public transportation on a route with on-demand stops, and sometimes as a cab. In the latter case, you should negotiate the price and route with the driver in advance. Moving on tuk-tuks is not cheap: it is not transport, but rather a local color for tourists. For example, for a trip for a distance of about 2 km in 2019, the driver asked us 300 THB. Calling a cab through the app in this case was cheaper – 200 THB.
In January 2023, my friends used a tuk-tuk in Bangkok. It cost them 100 THB to travel a distance of 3 km.
Cabs in Thailand’s resorts are quite expensive. For example, a 15km journey will cost about 550 THB. Such prices were in 2019 and 2023. Without sacrificing finances, a cab is fine for traveling for 3-4 people. To order a cab, it is best to use the Grab app. In it, you can select the route points on the map yourself and see the cost of the trip.
For long distances, it is cheapest to book a transfer. This can be done in travel agencies or locally: at the airport, on the pier, at the bus station. As a rule, these are minivans for 10-12 people. I will tell you about the prices at the end of 2019. A transfer on Koh Samui from the pier to anywhere on the island costs 200 THB per person. In Phuket, we booked a transfer from the hotel to the airport for 250 THB per person. We traveled about 45 km. A cab for that distance would have cost us about 900 THB.
Public transportation in Thailand was not very convenient for me. Information about routes and stops was often not duplicated in English, and I had to ask people on the street. I did not find any convenient applications not in Thai language, where stops are marked, routes are marked, there is a schedule and prices. Public transportation is also quite slow, and there is no air conditioning in the cabin. In addition, the stops were far away from tourist attractions or my destination.
In my opinion, without an in-depth study of the public transportation system, the average tourist is better off using cabs or buying excursions. But if you are not lazy and understand everything, you can get to the right place cheaply. For example, in 2019, from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, we took an electric train to the final station for only 5 THB. The distance is 27 kilometers. There we changed to a city bus for 8 THB and traveled to the place we wanted.
In Phuket, bus prices at that time ranged from 20 THB to 170 THB depending on the route and carrier.
The commuter train to Bangkok arrived a little late. Inside, the carriages are old and dirty
Internet
In 2019, the airport offered SIM cards with unlimited internet and validity for eight days for 300 THB. And in January 2023, according to friends’ stories, a SIM card for a month cost from 1,000 THB.
You can buy it for half the price if you order it in advance on the Klook website. We used to buy SIM cards using this proven method and pick them up at airports in Malaysia and Indonesia, but this time we were not satisfied with the validity period. It is worth taking into account that after exceeding the 3GB limit, the internet speed drops to 384kbps.
Thailand has three main telecom operators, AIS, Dtac and True Move H. In 2019, we made our way to the nearest Family Mart store and bought a Dtac travel SIM card there for only 49 THB. We already had 15 THB in our account. a passport was required for the purchase.
The salesperson offered to help with activating the desired tariff and topping up the balance, but you can do it yourself via the website or app. We chose a tariff on the Dtac operator’s website – 10 GB for 15 days for 300 THB – and topped up the balance with our bank card. In 2023, you can only do this if you have a card from a foreign bank.
Dtac travel sim cards are also called Happy tourist sims. They are priced differently depending on the tariff activated
There is no problem with wifi: it is everywhere. It is easiest to find it in hotels or cafes. We tried to connect to the network ourselves at the airport, but for some reason we failed and gave up. Wherever we managed to connect to wifi, the internet speed was normal. It was quite possible to surf websites, download something or work. But it was not possible to watch streaming video – in this case it is better to use the 4G network.
The wifi password is usually written on the wall or in the menu. As a last resort, you should ask for it. On our first day in Samui, the driver brought us to the point we had indicated on the map, dropped us off and left. When we realized that we had come to the wrong place, we started looking for where we could connect to the Internet. The issue was solved in a minute: a passerby gave us the password to the nearest hotel’s wifi. It was the phone number on the banner.
What to bring from Thailand
Souvenirs from Thailand can be brought to any taste and purse – from magnets to large statues. But you should take into account that Buddha statuettes larger than 15 cm are officially forbidden to export.
Souvenirs can be made of a variety of materials: ceramics, metal, wood, glass and even coconut. The price for the simplest souvenir starts from 1$.
Gazing at the various souvenirs in the night markets is one of the favorite activities of tourists in the evenings
Cosmetics are the first thing that comes to mind when you think of what to bring back from Thailand. The most popular among tourists are coconut oil, snail extract cream, body scrub, tooth powder, etc. The quality of the products is really good.
The prices of cosmetics are different. For example, snail cream in 2019 cost about 400 THB, coconut oil 200 THB.
There are several manufacturers of snail cream in Thailand, so the price may vary
Pearls are grown here on special farms. A grain of sand is placed in a shell and a pearl is grown from it. There are sea pearls with a smooth surface and river pearls with an uneven surface.
On sightseeing tours, tourists are sometimes taken to a store and told how to distinguish natural pearls from fake ones. The easiest way is to rub two pearls against each other. This should leave a trace of pearl dust, which can be easily wiped off with a finger.
The cost of the pieces depends on the size of the pearl, the complexity of the workmanship and the use of precious metals. In 2019, the average price for a pearl necklace was around 5,000 THB.
Leather goods. Tourists buy for themselves or as a gift wallets, belts, bags, shoes and even phone cases made of crocodile, stingray or snake skin. There are many crocodile farms in Thailand, so you can not worry about the naturalness of these products
The assortment in leather stores is very wide. With different colors, sizes and shapes, it is easy to find a product to suit your taste
Therapeutic ointments and balms are most often used for sprains and bruises, muscle and joint pain, but they also find other uses, for example, after insect bites. If you believe the sellers, in the composition – only natural components. Therapeutic ointments based on snake venom cost 100 THB.
Electronics. Thailand has most of the world’s brands of laptops, tablets and phones. When leaving the country at the airport, you can get a refund of part of VAT – up to 7% on purchases more expensive than 5000 THB – tax-free, or wat refund. You can calculate the exact amount of the refund using the table on the website of the Thai Tax Department.
Almost every tourist brings fruit for his family and friends from Thailand. It is best to buy a special basket for this purpose: this way the fruit will be better preserved and will not get crumpled on the way. You should not buy too ripe fruits: there is a high probability that they will not be transported.
It is officially forbidden to take durian, coconut, melon and watermelon out of Thailand, but some tourists still manage to do it. The reasons for the ban are different: durian smells terrible, ripe watermelon or melon can explode from pressure changes in the airplane, and coconut is not translucent during inspection. To pick a fruit basket in 2019, you could pick a fruit basket for 300-500 THB. In February 2023, the price is the same.
Safety rules
Thailand is ranked 100 out of 128 for safety in Global Finance’s international safety ranking. In order to have a trouble-free vacation, it is important to follow the traditions, rules of conduct and laws of this country:
- In all of Asia, not just Thailand, it is better to drink bottled water. Some people even brush their teeth with it, but that’s a bit too much in my opinion.
- In Thailand, the king and his family are revered, so their portraits can be seen everywhere. Any negative action towards the images can lead to trouble, up to and including criminal liability.
- Some beaches in Thailand are smoke-free, so pay attention to the signs to avoid getting fined.
- Thailand has banned e-cigarettes. They are equated with drugs. Importing, selling or using them can result in a real prison sentence.
- Religious sites should not be visited with exposed knees and shoulders, and it is customary to remove shoes before entering a temple. It is better to be photographed at such sites without unnecessary creativity, which can be seen as disrespectful.
- Some unscrupulous cab drivers take advantage of the language barrier with tourists for their own benefit. When you find out the price, it is not superfluous to clarify it again, and it is better to write it down somewhere and show it to the cab driver to exclude misunderstandings when paying.
- Thailand has left-hand traffic, so when crossing the road, you should look to the right first and only then to the left.
- When renting a bike, it is a good idea to take pictures of any damage, cracks or scratches and point them out to the owner or record them in the rental agreement. This way you can protect yourself in case the owner claims compensation for someone else’s damage.
- If there is an opportunity to avoid renting a bike, it is better to do so. Traffic in Thailand is unusual for our tourists, and the Thais themselves do not always strictly follow the rules. Accidents and falls from the bike are not uncommon. It is strictly forbidden to drive a bike under the influence of alcohol. Shortly before our arrival on Koh Samui there was another case of a fatal bike accident.
- Thais disapprove of overly emotional, loud and gesticulating people: even in conflict situations they try to be calm and restrained. You should not openly show your cordiality, either, by patting a Thai on the shoulder or touching him on the head.
- In Thailand, as in any other country, there is theft. Therefore, you should follow general safety rules: do not carry large sums of money, use a safe, do not leave valuables unattended.
