Thailand

(Posts coming soon)

Currency: Thai Baht ฿ (THB) (Click here for current conversion rates) 

Language: Thai

Visa: No visa is needed for visits under 90 days (Click here for the most up-to-date Visa information) 

Wifi friendly: Yes

SIM cards: TrueMove is the best Sim card for Thailand. Pay 299 baht ($9) for 8 days and receive 3GB of 100 mbps or 599 baht ($19) for 15 days of 100 mbps.

Unique tip/ Experience: Ride a motorbike from Chiang Mai to Pai. The views are amazing and the ride is freeing.

When searching for accommodation, keep in mind that the North of Thailand (Pai, Chiang Mai, etc) will be much cheaper than Bangkok and the Southern Islands

Hostels

Budget Hostel prices range anywhere from $4-$15. There is a wide variety of hostels in Bangkok alone whether it is art-themed, relaxed, or a party hostel. The price will vary depending on what you are looking for.

AirBnb

Studios can be found on Airbnb for as low as $18/night. High-rise condos can be found for an average of $50/night.

Hotels

Budget hotels can be found for as low as $14 in Bangkok, but if you are looking for something a bit more upscale they can be found for about $20 and up.

Cheap food is easy to find in Bangkok. A plate of Pad Thai on the street will cost you about 20 baht, while a beer will cost you about 60 baht. If you are scared to eat street food, just keep in mind that the more people— especially locals— that are eating at the stall, the safer it is.

Recommended Eats

khao soi– a dish similar to soup but made with a mix of deep fried crispy egg noodles, boiled egg noodles and meat (moo=pork; kaii=chicken) in a curry based sauce with coconut milk. 

pad thai– the most popular dish of Thailand, made with stir-fried egg noodles and egg with any combination of bean sprouts, green onions, chicken, shrimp, or pork, topped with peanuts and cilantro.

mango sticky rice– made with rice, fresh mango, and coconut, this is a traditional Thai dessert. 

The two main international airports are the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok and the Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) in Chiang Mai. The cheapest and fastest way to get to Bangkok from the airport is to take the train, the Airport Rail Link City line. It takes about 25 minutes for 45 baht. If coming from Laos, you can take a shuttle bus to Chiang Rai, or direct to Chiang Mai. If coming from Cambodia the cheapest way would be shared shuttle van to Poipet and then by train from Aranyaprathet, but it is an uncomfortable ride with no AC.

Tuk-tuks are a popular form of transportation throughout Bangkok, they are cheap, but be careful to always negotiate a price as some drivers are known to rip off tourists. Otherwise, taxis are widely available for tourists and the local bus system is free, but that’s because traffic is horrible in Thailand and there is no AC in any of the buses. But it’s free.

The overnight train is the most efficient and comfortable form of transportation if traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. It’s a sleeper train, meaning the seats turn into beds. The cheapest seat is about 300 THB. There are overnight buses as well and prices depend on how comfortable you want to be. From Bangkok to the islands, the cheapest and most convenient is the bus/boat combination packages which are around 1,100 THB ($33).

Hello= Sawadeeklap pronounced sah-wah-dee-clap (if you are male) sawadeekah pronounced sah-wah-dee-kaa (if you are female)

Thank you= cap kun klap pronounced cahp-koon-clap (male) cap kun ka pronounced cahp-koon-kaa (female)

How much= Tao dai pronounced tao-dye (male), tao rai pronounced tao-rye (female)