Travel Organizer Thailand

View of Thai temples in Bangkok shining under sunlight

Dear Wandering Spirit,

In Winter 2019 I spent ten amazing days in Thailand. It was just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. In retrospect, I believe this holiday really helped me to slow down, find myself again, and collect the necessary strength for the coming period! 😊

During this winter break, I visited the capital city of Bangkok, the former capital Ayuttaya, the renowned Phuket Island, and the gorgeous archipelago of the Phi Phi islands. Want to know more about the cost of living and which activities you should go for?

Then you should keep reading for detailed info about my travel organizer in Thailand. 🧳

Disclaimer Prices are accurate as of December 2019, so may not reflect current cost.

Travel to Thailand

Travel by plane / train / car

The most famous destination for travellers is Bangkok. There are two international airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Several companies operate on this route, e.g., Emirates, Air China, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, Finnair, and many more. ✈️

Flight fare varies according to different criteria: booking date, direct flight or with stops in between, season of travel, and so on. I booked four months in advance and paid around 700 €/$ p.p., with one stop during the high season. Consider the current situation and the increased flight prices upfront. 💡

If you are in Asia already, you might consider train and busses to reach out Thailand. Nearby countries are Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

Main modes of transport

When in Bangkok, you might consider the metro (MRT) to move from the airport area to the city. The panorama is quite unique, and you soon understand how big this Asian metropolis is. You can grab a taxi and consider private transport solutions like Grab too. I paid around 50 to 100 THB (called baht, the local currency) for a short trip, which is about 1.5 to 3 €/$ max. 🚗
At least once, try the Tuk Tuk. This typical Thai transportation is a local attraction for tourists and quite funny. Consider the crazy driving, don’t be scared and you’ll be fine! On the islands, you might rent a moped. Prices vary from 15 to 30 €/$ per day.

Transport around the city

Once in Bangkok, I took a domestic flight to Phuket Island with the company Thai Airways. Several flights a day land in Phuket and the fare is quite cheap, around 30 €/$. The trip lasted 1.5 hours and was very pleasant. If you wish to take a bus or train, there are several options too. Make sure you check these prior to travel. 🛩️

Accomodation in Thailand

Where to stay in Thailand

Thailand is a destination for every budget. For backpackers, there are plenty of cheap solutions. For couples and families, there are apartments, hotels of any kind and spa resorts. All in all, I consider Thailand a convenient place to book even a spa retreat. 💆

For 4-star hotels, depending on the time of the booking, you might pay around 70-100 €/69-99$ per night. 5-star hotels might cost around 150-250 €/149-248$ per night, breakfast included. Consider condos for longer stay.

While I opted for an ocean-side spa resort on Phuket Island, I liked being in the buzz of the city in Bangkok. I highly recommend river resorts with swimming pools and rooftops, as the view is tremendous! After a long day walking around, you might want to put up your feet, grab a fancy cocktail and enjoy the sunset. 🌇

Where to eat in Thailand

It goes without saying, but Asian food is extremely tasty, varied, and cheap. Wherever you are ordering your food, whether street vendors or bistros, you will always find something that fits your taste.

Make sure that you take hygienic measures, especially in rural areas. I recommend always having enough tissues, hand sanitizer and maybe your own cutlery. Check out here for some fancy travellers’ solutions.

As for the typical Thai taste, expect sweet and spicy plates. I had my own introduction to spicy food here, as I kept ordering “no chili” food and, in the end, it was always quite spicy. 🌶️

What are the traditional Thai dishes you must absolutely try?

Start with the Pad Thai, a stir-fried rice noodle dish served in different areas with chicken, tofu, or shrimps. Rice has an incredible taste in every Asian country, therefore, if you like this food, go for the Khao Pad too. Thai people are also known for their incredible soups: the most famous is Tom Kha Gai, prepared with coconut milk and lemongrass. There are many varieties of noodle soups you can choose from.

If you are looking for a dessert, you can’t miss the mango sticky rice! Roti, a southern Asian pancake made of bananas, is also delicious. And for the drinks, do not miss fresh coconut milk or litchi juice. 🥥 Finally, if you are not into the local food, remember you will find international food chains at every corner in bigger towns.

Sight-seeing in Thailand

Museums & Activities

When in Thailand, you can’t miss a visit to one of the many beautiful and colourful temples. Especially in Bangkok, you will be spoilt for choice! Some temples might be free, most of them require a small fee around 200 THB (5.50 €/5 $).

Whenever you are going, always remember to go inside without shoes (as sign of respect) and wearing a sarong. A sarong is a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. It is worn by men and women with naked legs, as this is considered disrespectful. Make sure you buy one as souvenir or consider renting it outside the temple. Also be polite and quiet. 🤫

Thailand is a place full of activities for any taste. If you are into water sports, consider scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, and so on. Most equipment can be rented for a fee at the local provider, but it might be useful to have your own, especially if you are travelling often to these natural paradises!

Other activities include daily trips to other destinations, like uninhabited islands or floating markets all around. Half-day trips with local guides might cost around 30-50 €/$ p.p., and it is surely cheaper if you are booking for larger groups. 🏳️

Thailand is the birthplace of massages, and, for this reason, you should definitely have one. It is also a great deal, around 10 €/$ p.p. – they feel as if your bones are breaking, but then you are reborn and energised.

Bike rental - Costs

I haven’t seen many bike routes when I was in Thailand, but many scooters. You might consider renting one to move around. Be careful: traffic is crazy and road signs are more a decoration than a rule. Watch it carefully the first days and consider it only if you feel comfortable with the drive style.

Shopping & Souvenirs

When in Thailand, you will be tempted to buy great souvenirs at the many local markets! Consider most items to be really cheap, especially if you travel from the western part of the world, so 20 €/S p.p. per day should be enough, unless you are looking for specific items. ⚖️

Bargaining is a must in these places. Locals enjoy this, but please make sure you do it with respect of the local cost of life.

Unexpected Costs

I always count 100-150 €/$ per trip just to be sure. Cut these costs by being prepared prior to travel! By doing that, I rarely exceed my extra budget of 50 €/$. 😉

Especially if you are renting a bike, you might want to look for the route before jumping on two wheels. Be prepared: take with you a small bike phone holder to check your Maps.

Thailand Travel Cost Breakdown

7 days in Thailand Estimated cost per person per day (as of December 2019):

One-time costs

Flight 700 €/$
Extra costs 50 €/$
Transport from/to cities return fare 100 €/$

Recurring costs

Accommodation 7 x 100 €
Scooter rental 7 x 10 €/$
Food/drinks 7 x 15 €/$
Activities/Pocket money 7 x 20 €/$

around 266 € / 264 $ per person per day.

Let us get down to the nitty-gritty to organize your travel to Thailand at best.

Currency – Thailand’s currency is the Baht (THB or ฿). As orientation,
1 €/$ corresponds to approx. 35 THB. Use one of the many money converters for real-time results, like themoneyconverter.com.

Language – Thai is the national language of Thailand, but there are many more languages and dialects all over the country. English is the second most spoken language, due to the many international workers and tourists. Some people speak a variety of Chinese and, in the south of the peninsula, Malay is spoken too.

Power plugs – Voltage is 220V, frequency is 50 Hz. Sockets are of type A, B, C, F, and O.

Weather & time – Thai weather is tropical and dominated by monsoons in the north. Thanks to the oceanic influence, central and southern Thailand is relatively stable all over the year. There are two main seasons: wet season (May to October, with extreme rainfalls especially in the northern part of the country and muggy hot weather) and dry season (November to April, with lower humidity and slightly lower temperatures. In the northern part of the country, temps can reach 13-15 °C. temperatures are usually around 30-35 °C, but reach in March and April 40 °C too. Mid-December to Mid-January is the peak tourist season and it is usually more expensive. Thailand follows +7 UTC.

Main cities – Bangkok Metropolitan area, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hat Yai.

National public holidays – Chakri Memorial Day (April 6^th), Songkran Festival or traditional Thai new year (April 13^th to 15^th), Coronation Day (May 4^th), Queen’s Birthday (June 3^rd), King’s Birthday (July 28^th), Constitution Day (December 10^th) plus international festive days and Buddhist festive days.

Top 3 festivals – Songkran or Thai water festival, Lantern festival
(Yi Peng) in Chiang Mai in November, Lopburi Monkey Banquet or Thai Food Festival in Lopburi in November.

It goes without saying that Thailand is an incredible experience I would recommend to anyone. What are you waiting for? Book your next holiday to the beautiful Thailand and check out the travel journal for more information!

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