Bus, Train or Flight?

Trains are the most economical method of travel in Thailand, definitely cheaper than buses. Before you book that internal flight ticket to go from one place to another in Thailand, remember that if you take the night train for destinations that are far; you end up saving on hotel costs during the travel journey as you can sleep comfortably in the train. We may think that booking cheap flights in advance can maximise the time spent in the destination but that may not always be true in terms of value. The hotel cost saved by taking a night train is a cost-effective and practical tip. Also, the train network in Thailand is quite extensive so a train to your destination is more than likely.

Tuk-Tuk prices should be agreed before getting in one of them. Songthaews (large tuk-tuks) are the cheapest means of public transport and the best way of going around town at proper local prices. In big cities like Bangkok, download the app Grab (its like Uber). The prices are quite reasonable and there’s no chance of getting scammed this way by the notorious taxi drivers of Bangkok!

Where to stay?

Remember than hostels may not always be the cheapest places to stay. If you are two people travelling together, a guest house will usually turn out to be much cheaper than a dorm. Plus, you get your personal space that you may not always get in a dorm setting. This tip may not be useful for those who stay in hostels to actively seek company for travel and local sights.

Except Bangkok, one can find accommodation in all other popular tourist destinations like Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui etc for 300 THB to 600 THB per night. If it is shoulder season, it might be a good idea to just land up in the destination and work a price directly with the guest house or hotel. That way you can see the room before confirming and get it at the best possible price, and also work out if a room price (including breakfast or without breakfast) is better.

Pack Light

Packing Light is a universal trip for backpacking but it is never more eminent as in the case of Thailand. Thailand is blessed with warm weather in most places that you are likely to visit and that eliminates the need for a jacket and winter clothes that occupy a lot of space. Also, if you are travelling long term then you can buy clothes on the street in Thailand (P.S. They are very cheap).

If you carry less weight on you, it increases your mobility for moving around and you end up exploring more. Also, when you pack light you understand there are only so many things you need, freeing up space for shopping (if you end up liking something enough to buy).

Sim Card for Phone and Internet

Although, these days wi-fi is ubiquitous in restaurants and cafés, at hotels and guest houses, I still recommend buying a sim card so that you can access the internet at your convenience. Having a sim card with internet ensures that you can book a Grab taxi in Bangkok, search accommodation on the go and research about the right places to eat and see while on a bus or train. dtac Happy Tourist Sim Card is the no.1 sim card in Thailand and is easily available at Thailand’s major airports, Family Mart and 7-11. Indian travellers can avoid every hassle and buy it in India itself at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata airports.

Check the link here : dtac Happy Tourist Sim Card

dtac Happy Tourist Sim Card is perfect for tourists and has suitable 4 day/8 day/15 day packages and is priced reasonably at 149/299/599 Baht. Among the reasons why I recommend it are – 0.6 THB per minute for calls, special offers at shops and restaurants across Thailand, 8 days unlimited data for 299 Baht package, 8 days free chat on 5 apps, free 15 baht call credit included, with good network across Thailand and the internet at fast 4G speeds.

Experiment with local Thai Food

Try and look for stalls where the locals are eating. It sort-of guarantees that the food will be tasty and fresh. If you are unsure of the rates, always remember to confirm the price before eating the dish. That way you can’t be conned. Eating at a local stall is generally the best way to immerse into the local food culture and Thailand is no different. Just use your common sense and eat where it appears neat and clean and looks hygienic. Street food tends to be fresher than restaurant food in Thailand because of the faster turnover of locals eating the cheaper street food. Below is a short list of dishes that you can try.

Pad Thai – The most popular and ubiquitous Thai delicacy. It is a noodle dish mixed with tamarind, spices and lime juice. It can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Priced in a range from 30THB to 80THB.

Tom Yum Soup, Som Tam Salad (Green Papaya Salad), Khao Soi, Tom Kha Soup are some other Thai dishes that you can try in the local street food markets. Available from 20THB to 50-100 THB. For vegetarians, ask if they have tofu. Mango Sticky Rice for dessert! Also, the fruits in Thailand are super tasty and super cheap.

Avoid buying a plastic bottle for drinking bottled water; instead, carry your own water bottle and refill it at one of the shops where they are happy to refill it at 1 Baht or for a similar sum of money.

Exchanging Local Currency THB – Thai Baht

Thai ATMs are known to make a fixed charge on cash withdrawals of around 200 THB (over and above your local bank charges), hence withdrawing money from an ATM may not always be the best idea in Thailand. I’d recommend either carrying cash or one of the pre-loaded cards with unlimited cash withdrawals.

Also, carrying THB – Thai Baht from your home currency may be convenient but the exchange rate will most likely involve a 3-4% exchange loss. If you are ok with the hassle then its better to carry USD from your home country into Thailand and exchange into Thai Baht locally. Usually, converting to the Dollar involves 0.70% exchange loss and USD to THB rates in Bangkok are excellent and convertible at an exchange loss of 0.60%. So, total exchange loss is 1.3% which is really good. As you know, every penny counts and the extra THB you save on the currency exchange might be enough for a night’s stay or an entire day’s meals!

Learn Basic Thai

Download Google Translate or an app that has translation of simple, everyday use basic phrases from English to Thai. Below are some useful words translated in Thai.

Watch where you Drink

Avoid that cocktail on the beach! Beers (Singha, Chang, Leo) in Thailand are available at shops (say 7-11) for 40-50 Baht (THB) while the prices for the same beer can go up to 150 Baht in the bars or restaurants. Although this is true for every city in the world, sometimes its the simplest things that can help us save money. Hence this basic tip.

Note : This post has been written in collaboration with dtac Happy Tourist Sim Card. However the content, photographs and words are all mine.

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Here is a pick of my :

                   ‘Top Travel Memories from Thailand’

Watch the insects create sand art on the beach

At first I didn’t believe it; while walking on a secluded beach in Krabi I observed the sand had beautiful patterns. As I kept watching, I realised that the sand patterns were being created while I was walking. Upon closer inspection it was understood that the insects were at work; basically they were scampering across the sand and into their burrow. While the insects may not have realised that their scampering was creating designs on the sand; I had a memorable time observing nature’s magic.

Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)

Wat Pho is set in a compound that has the largest collection of Buddha statues in entire Thailand and the star attraction is the humongous Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho). The structures in the Wat Pho complex are a classic example of Thai architecture. Although Wat Pho can get very crowded; it is well worth coming here for a sight of the stunning golden reclining Buddha (Also called Wat Phra Chetuphon). It is open on all days from 8 am to 630 pm.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)

In the same complex as the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew is a temple with a statue of the Emerald Buddha. It is considered to be Thailand’s holiest image and is also steeped in a feeling of monarchy since it is located so close to the Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew is a visual extravaganza and architecture wise is counted among Bangkok’s finest temples. The ornamentation on display in the main temple is astonishing and the colour used is predominantly golden. The Emerald Buddha statue is tiny (only 66cms high) and is said to have originated in the 13th or 14th Century. The Ramakian Murals (just outside the main temple chamber are not to be missed as they depict the Thai version of the Indian epic Ramayana.

Sunset watching on Ao Nang Beach

During my time at Krabi, on one of the days I wandered over to Ao Nang and was advised by the locals to stay back at least till sunset. And they were right, the spectacle of watching sunset at Ao Nang is impeccable! The sky is bathed in myriad hues of yellow, pink and orange as the sunset show plays across Ao Nang. There’s a promenade at Ao Nang; and a beach is nearby. I thanked the locals wholeheartedly and couldn’t quite believe what I had just witnessed!

Impeccable shades of green and blue in Krabi on the boat

It is one thing to come across those perfect beach photographs and an entirely different experience to see multiple shades of green and blue on a boat ride. In Krabi and Koh Samui, I went on different Long Tail Boat Rides and Speedboat rides. One of the long tail boat rides was a 4 island boat ride that covered the islands of Phra Nang Beach, Poda Island, Tup Island and Chicken Island. A long tail boat ride is a traditional boat used in these regions. We left in the morning and came back by evening after spending time on all four islands. As the sun moved from east to west the colours of the water changed from light green to dark blue. That was the day when I saw different shades of teal, blue, light blue, aquamarine and many more with my own eyes!

Bioluminescence on a night boat ride

For me, experiencing bioluminescence was a totally unexpected discovery. Originally I was supposed to be only on a day cruise but the boat company made some mistake and put me on an evening boat ride. It was a speedboat ride and after watching a memorable sunset when it became totally dark; one of the boat guys jumped in the water and brought the water to life in the darkness. I couldn’t quite believe it; especially because I hadn’t even heard about the phenomena of bioluminescence at that time. It was a New Moon day and in the absence of any artificial light, the bioluminescence felt simply surreal.

Traipsing on the Monkey Trail

When I was staying in Krabi; it was connected to the bigger town of Ao Nang through a staircase quirkily named the ‘Monkey Trail!’ It was so called as the trail passes through a dense green jungle inhabited by a lot of monkeys. I was initially a bit worried since the monkeys seemed very used to humans and tourists passing by. However there are signboards on the trail that instructed to not give them any food and that helped. The stairs continued well into the jungle and after climbing high, stunning views of a pristine beach were visible. After the initial skepticism of the monkey trail, I made it a point to cross it once more during my time in Krabi and Ao Nang.

It seems that now is a golden time to visit Thailand; with the Thailand Government announcing zero visa fees for Thai Visa on Arrival for Indian tourists till October 2019. Here are more details on the same : Thailand eVisa Indian citizens

Note : This post has been written in collaboration with ThailandVisa. However the content, photographs and words are all mine.

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Cheap airfares to Singapore and Thailand made me opt for this holiday and how glad in retrospect that I did.

It was a joy to dine beneath the stars and wake up to see the water change colours and show me pristine shades of green and blue.

There was something called the 4 island tour which goes to 4 different islands and various interesting points and I MISSED THAT!

But it turned out to be for the better when I was put on a night tour and it was heavenly to see the phenomena of bioluminescence. (The sea lights up when any activity happens in the water.)

After having missed the 4 island tour – the operator put me on a funnily named ‘7 island tour.’ It was another different island trip that took me to islands such as Koh Lanta, Ko Phi Phi Don, Koh Poda, and an island locally known as Chicken island. I also had a tryst with snorkelling and experienced how slow life could really be (underwater). It was pretty scary and exhilarating at the same time.

The pier in Krabi was located at Ao Nang which is a marketplace and also the starting point of these tours of different islands. I was excited to see the stalactites and stalagmites in the Viking caves.

I was happy to lounge on the white sands when the boat stopped on the island and see the sea change colour as the clouds turned stormy one day. Someone announced that we were in for a special visit to Railay and Phi Phi island too.

Until then I had been to Goa and Konkan coast for the beaches but this beauty, I was unprepared for.

There was the small matter of meeting a crazy couple, a French girl & a Polish guy – they couldn’t converse because Polish guy didn’t speak French and French girl didn’t speak Polska! But they were madly in love and the guy jumped in the sea on the night boat tour to spark the bioluminescence (whenever the girl wished).

Perhaps visiting the islands and unspoilt beaches of Krabi in Thailand spoiled me; now I don’t have the ‘wow’ factor of a beach destination in India.

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