WHY VISIT THAILAND?
IT’S INEXPENSIVE
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how far your USD will go in Thailand. In fact, I never spent more than $10 on a meal in Thailand. You can even enjoy a big city, like Bangkok, on a budget! They have budget-friendly airlines, allowing you to get to different areas of the country with ease.
If you’re looking to ball on a budget, Thailand is definitely the place for you!
FRIENDLY LOCALS
Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles”. I think Thai people dubbed this nickname to boost tourism, but there’s some truth to it. Maybe it has something to do with their traditional greeting – the Wai? The slight bow with their hands in a prayer-like form really makes you feel at peace. Or, at least it gave me that feeling.
Whatever it is, all I know is that the Thai people I interacted with were SO friendly and helpful. And oftentimes, they had a smile on their face while helping.
DELICIOUS FOOD
Not only is the food cheap, but it’s also delicious. Thai food is so diverse, you can have seafood one day and traditional Pad Thai the next. I noticed that some of the food options changed depending on where I was. For instance, I found a lot more seafood options in Krabi than in Bangkok. One pretty consistent thing is rice, almost every dish I ate included it. Unless, of course, I was eating soup.
WILDLIFE
If you’re an animal lover, there are tons of opportunities to see them in their natural habitat! From monkeys to elephants. My biggest advice would be to PLEASE do your research before going to any “sanctuary”. Unfortunately, some places in Thailand do abuse animals for entertainment. Yes, even though they call themselves a sanctuary. So, just be sure to do your due diligence before giving away your coins to these companies.
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
Thailand boasts some of the most beautiful beaches. There are a plethora to choose from. I went south where I saw islands surrounded by beautiful limestone caves and cliffs.
SOLO TRAVEL FRIENDLY
I saw a lot of backpackers and solo travelers while in Thailand. It seems to be THE place to go to as a solo traveler and/or backpacker. It’s more than likely because everything is affordable and the locals are friendly. Plus, Thailand’s a relatively safe country, so it’s a great place to go as a solo traveler.
Basically, to sum up all my points above, Thailand has something for everyone. Are you a foodie? There’s no shortage of delicious cuisine to try. Do you like diving? Head to one of the many islands to go snorkeling. Do you want culture? Check out one of the many temples in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Love to shop? There are so many markets you can go to and shop till you drop. Well, maybe not really till you drop since everything in Thailand is inexpensive. Want some nightlife action? You’ll have the time of your life in Phuket. There’s something for everyone.
GETTING AROUND THAILAND
- Bangkok: I usually opt for public transportation in cities as it’s a great way to interact with locals. But with my jet lag and the heat, I knew I wouldn’t manage. So, I took Uber instead which was fairly cheap – especially since I was splitting the cost with a friend. Southeast Asia also has a ride-sharing app called Grab. While I didn’t personally use the app, I did download it and it was very easy to understand. And unlike Uber, you can pay with cash if you’re not comfortable linking your debit/credit card.
- Krabi: Since my hotel provided hourly shuttle rides to Ao Nang beach, I didn’t need to take a tuk-tuk. Walking back to my hotel only took 15 minutes. However, tuk-tuks would be the best way to get around Krabi if you don’t have a shuttle service. I did check to see if Grab or Uber worked, but it looks like they aren’t available in the area.
- Phuket: I didn’t go out of Karon beach when in Phuket, besides to the elephant sanctuary. But, there are tuk-tuks everywhere and Grab works as well.
7 USEFUL TIPS FOR THAILAND
- Be Cautious of the Tap Water: I made the mistake of brushing my teeth with their tap water on the first night and instantly had stomach problems. In my defense, I was jet-lagged and hadn’t brushed my teeth in 24 hours. I’d advise using bottled water when brushing your teeth. All of the accommodations I stayed in provided two freshwater bottles a day, which I utilized for drinking and brushing my teeth. If you’re at a restaurant, always ask for bottled water and beverages with no ice.
- Pack/Buy Medicine for Stomach Problems: This may be TMI, but traveler’s diarrhea is a real thing y’all. You have no idea how your body will handle new food, and a new environment overall. I didn’t have to deal with stomach problems when traveling to Europe, the Caribbean, and the States. To avoid feeling like s**t, pun intended, pack medicine that’ll help with stomach problems. You can also buy medicine in Thailand as there are 7-Eleven’s all around.
- Don’t Book Things in Advance: This makes me cringe as I like to have EVERYTHING booked and solidified before leaving home. But, as I learned through research and insight from others, it’s best to hold on booking things until you arrive in Thailand. Prices online can be more than what you’d pay once there. The only things I booked in advance were my accommodations and the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, as I wanted to make sure I had a spot on their tour.
- Bring Toilet Paper & Dispose in Trash Can: It’s advised that you dispose of toilet paper in the trash can after use and not in the toilet. I ain’t gonna lie, I slipped up a few times and accidentally threw some in the toilet, but just try to be mindful. My first hotel in Bangkok didn’t ask for us to dispose of toilet paper in the trash can, but my other accommodations did. I’d also have some toilet paper with you as there could be the possibility of some restaurants, etc. not supplying any.
- Be Prepared to Take Your Shoes Off: It’s common in Thai culture to take your shoes off before entering certain locations. If you’re a slight germaphobe, like I am, I’d advise bringing wipes so you feel somewhat cleaner. I’d also suggest bringing shoes that are easy to slide on and off for convenience.
- Don’t Lose Your Departure Card: You’ll receive a departure card when arriving in Thailand that asks basic questions. DON’T lose this card as you’ll have to show it at your accommodation. If you’re visiting more than one place in Thailand, you’ll have to show it multiple times. You’ll also need to present it when leaving Thailand and going through customs. I slid my departure card in my passport and never touched it, unless necessary.
- Drive Safely: If you’ll be renting a car or motorbike, please drive carefully. Unfortunately, Thailand has the world’s second-highest rating on road accident deaths by the World Health Organization. I thought this might be an exaggeration until I got on the road in Thailand. It felt like everyone was speeding and cutting each other off. I saw, and was somewhat part of, an accident en route to Phuket from Krabi. Someone on a motorbike tried to cut off my van but lost control, hit the back of my van, and fell off his bike onto his back. Of course, he wasn’t wearing a helmet either – making his impact on the concrete that much harder to witness. There were people around to aid him, but it was definitely scary to witness.
