THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE VISITING THAILAND
17 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO THAILAND
Before leaving for Thailand, it is important to be aware of some basic information. Following these tips will allow you to make the most out of your trip to Thailand in a safe and respectful way.
DECIDING WHEN TO GO:
Thailand has two seasons: a rainy season (from May to September), during this period there are fewer tourists and the cost of accommodations is about 10 times lower; and a dry season (from November to April), during thi time there are many more tourists and the cost of accommodations is much higher. The rainy season also tends to arrive earlier in the mountains, while in the city it arrives during the month of June.
In addition, the weather and temperatures also change depending on where you are, for example, Bangkok tends to be very humid and hot, while Chiang Mai is slightly more ventilated; In the south, the sun is stronger but there are much cooler and breezier days.
Don’t be scared of traveling during rainy season, in the whole month that I spent in Thailand during May, the rainy days were very few and mostly limited to a few minutes or a few hours.
FOOD:
Thai food is one of the best I have eaten and also extremely cheap but be careful if your tolerance to spicy is low as many dishes are served more or less spicy. When choosing where to eat, I personally keep in mind the fact that there must be local eating inside, that's how you can be sure that the food is going to be good and cheap. A great alternative are also the many markets all around Thailand, from weekend to night markets, here you can find a lot of local street food and as well as many souvenirs at very low prices, with great vibe, lots of people and often live music.
MOVING AROUND:
Thailand is one of the easiest countries to move around as it is very well connected and you have so many options to choose from.
In Bangkok the best way to get around is the BTS, which is the subway system, and buses, the prices are very low and will take you anywhere inside the city.
For the buses just get on, tell the ticket inspector the name of your destination, and pay according to the latter. The traffic in Bangkok is crazy, especially during rush hour so I strongly advise not renting a scooter or taking a taxi to move inside the city if you don’t wish to get stucked.
To move the surrounding of Bangkok an excellent alternative are the collective minivans, especially for visiting places like Ayutthaya.
In Chiang Mai, the ancient city is perfectly walkable, to move around it and its surroundings the best way is to use the SONGTHAEW, which are red trucks open at the side that you will find only here, used as collective taxis, they have the destination written on the side. To get one, just go in the street, stop one, tell them your destination, and agree on a price.
For moving in the South and the Islands: the best way would be to rent a scooter, since the transportation here is very limited, there is no subway or buses, and even Grab, does not go everywhere.
In addition to the scooter, you could find some tuk-tuks and minivans.
Generally speaking, a cheap way to get around anywhere in Thailand is by using the Grab app, that you can easily download on your phone. I’ve personally used it a lot around Thailand and for my trip to Vietnam, i find it so much cheaper than regular taxi drivers.
While if you are planning to move, for example from the North to the South and viceversa you can look in options for any budget, from trains to buses and planes on 12go.asia.
Personally to move from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and from Chiang Mai to Krabi I decided to opt for the plane as it is very fast and prices range from 40 to 50 or 100 euros if you are in 2. As always for a great deal I booked using Skyscanner.
SCAMS:
Obviously any nation has its own scams created ad hoc for tourists, personally the only one I encountered and a very common one was in Bangkok.
When you go to visit some temples or the royal palace, you could be stopped near the entrance with the excuse that the place you want to visit is currently closed because national holiday or some sort, in reality, it is absolutely not true, they do it to offer you crazy long and expensive tours that go around and around with the excuse of waiting for it the temple to open.
SIM:
I personally like to stay connected wherever I go, especially if I have to use maps, call a taxi or book Grab. so for me it is essential to have internet on the go.
You can either buy an e-sim online or buy a sim one directly at the Bangkok airport; head to the baggage claim and choose the internet plan that suits you, they are the only ones where you can pay by credit card.
HOW TO PAY:
It's almost impossible to pay by credit card unless you're in a supermarket or a big chain like Starbucks. Anywhere else like markets, vendors or for paying for taxis and transportation, always carry small cash with you, they do not always have the chance to change large banknotes.
ATM:
The best way to withdraw money in the local currency would be to either do it inside a bank or to an ATM, but keep in mind that the ATMs will always charge you a fee of 220 bath, which is around 6 dollars.
BUDGET:
Now the question is, how much money can i spent when traveling to Thailand? Well, it can differ a lot from how you want to experience Thailand, in fact, it can be a budget country friendly or expensive according to your priorities. Generally speaking, Bangkok and the north of Thailand are a lot cheaper than the south of Thailand.
SEEING ELEPHANTS:
I know that Thailand is famous for seeing elephants, I personally decided not to see them because the vast majority of places or sanctuaries that claim to be ethically correct towards these giants are in fact the opposite, especially if they include in their package bathing with them or taking a ride over it, 9 times out of 10 are unethical. The only real sanctuary that deals with rehabilitating these animals, previously exploited and mistreated, of which I heard about is located in Chiang Mai and is called “elephant nature park”. In general i do suggest you do youw own research about tha place that you intend to visit.
SHOW RESPECT:
Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, so always try to show respect, especially when visiting temples, it is required that the shoulders are covered and do not wear short skirts or shorts, generally dressing modestly is always recommended.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS:
In Thailand they drive on the left side
Try to stay away from the ice that is served at restaurants
Learn how to say thank you and good morning in Thai, it goes a long way
Alcohol is sold only after 6pm
A great budget-friendly alternative are the 7Eleven or Cmart that are everywhere in Thailand
Before you trip, subscribe a travel insurance, If something were to happen, like a food poisoning or anything else, the hospital fees for foreigners are very expensive
And lastly don't be too surprised by the great kindness and respect you will encounter in Thailand. And yes, people really are like that!