Useful Thailand travel information – Thailand trip planner

Thailand travel information

Time and time once more you’ve seen pals return from their travels sporting saggy elephant pants you wouldn’t dream of sporting within the US, with arms filled with rope bracelets and an ideal tan, musing about their fabulous journey to Thailand. They inform you how a lot they’ve realized about themselves, the tradition and most significantly, how cheap it’s. It’s all surprisingly endearing isn’t it? So, for those who’re fascinated about touring to Thailand and experiencing this superb nation for your self, you may wish to arm your self with our cheat sheet – highlighting every part you want to learn about this Southeast Asian paradise.

 The most effective time to journey to Thailand

• March – June is the new season (highs of 32C – 40C / 89F-104F). In direction of Might and June, clouds will start to roll in because the wet season approaches.
• July – November is the moist/inexperienced season. The primary few months see sporadic showers all through the day, whereas the latter months see heavier rains.
• November – February is the cooler season (common remains to be round 25C/77F)

It completely relies upon what sort of climate you’re on the lookout for whereas touring. In case you are somebody who can tolerate the warmth and doesn’t thoughts crowds, then the new season could possibly be best for you. Alternatively, for those who’d moderately be at a extra snug temperature, the place prices of hostels and accommodations could possibly be cheaper because the vacationers aren’t pouring in (excluding the excessive season vacation charges round Christmas and New 12 months) then go for the cooler season.

Thailand language

Songkran Water Competition

Having good manners is vital, so if you wish to sound politer when greeting somebody in Thai, you should definitely add ‘khrap’ to the top of the greeting for those who’re male, and ‘kha’ for those who’re a feminine. Listed below are 5 phrases you need to nail earlier than you discover the nation:

Sa-wad-dee khrap/kha (howdy)
Used for each howdy and goodbye accompanied with “wai” gesture (two palms locations collectively over the chest with a slight bow of the top)

Khop koon khrap/kha (thanks)
How you can present your appreciation when you’ve been handed your Singha beer and pad Thai.

Gee baht khrap/kha? (how a lot)
Important for all of the buying you’ll be doing, or when haggling with tuk-tuk drivers.

Yoo tee nai khrap/kha…? (the place is…)
Invaluable when misplaced! Simply level at a spot in your map or in your guidebook and say ‘yoo tee nai’. It’s also good to have a normal thought of the place you’re going. Having a Thai sim or a global knowledge plan in your telephone that lets you use your map utility can be very helpful.

Mai ow khrap/kha (don’t need)
Helpful for keeping off persistent road distributors or just saying no thanks.

5. Thai meals you need to strive

Pad thai: A tasty stir fried rice noodle dish with egg, bean sprouts, and your alternative of meat (if you’d like it) and topped off with peanuts and garnishing herbs. Yow will discover this dish completely all over the place, however you’ll be able to snag nice ones from road distributors from as little as 30 baht (approx. 90c / 1 US greenback).
Thai curry: The place else do you have to do that spicy creamy curry than in its homeland?! The extra standard curries embody inexperienced and crimson curries in fact, however the recipes are nearly the identical. They use several types of chilis that may give both a inexperienced or crimson tint. You’ll by no means have the ability to purchase the sauce in a jar once more.
Massaman curry: Should you sweat at a korma then possibly a Thai inexperienced curry isn’t the selection for you, nonetheless the Massaman curry is a light however equally scrumptious native curry made with potatoes, coconut milk and peanuts. The dish is historically Indian Malaysian in origin however is now built-in into Thai delicacies.

Mango and sticky rice: On a sizzling day, there’s nothing like a ripe and juicy mango to chill you down. These scrumptious mangoes are paired with sticky rice combined with coconut milk for a really perfect dessert after any (learn: each) meal.

Som Tam: Papaya salad is historically from Isan (Northeast Thailand). Thinly sliced inexperienced papaya are combined in a motar and pestle with chili, tomatoes, dried shrimp, peanuts, fish sauce, and lime. There are completely different variations of the dish however is supposed to get up your style buds.

5 must-visit locations in Thailand

Bangkok: The cosmopolitan facet of Thailand, Bangkok mixes the trendy with the ‘genuine’ Thailand. In some locations, like Koh San Street, you’ll discover a variety of vacationer traps, however go for a wander and also you’ll discover temples, landmarks and markets dotted alongside the streets. Take a taxi to a floating market, go to Wat Arun temple or the Grand Palace, or stroll by the Ratchada Prepare Market to fill your luggage with goodies to take house. Wish to discover out extra? Try our Bangkok metropolis information.

Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai is a few 9 hour bus journey or a 1 hour flight north of Bangkok and is well-known for its elephant sanctuaries. Keep for a bit of longer and also you’ll uncover temples and shrines round each nook, a well-known evening market within the Outdated City, and plush jungle and waterfalls as a part of Doi Suthep-Pui Nationwide Park. To get extra inspiration, go to our Chiang Mai vacation spot information.

Pai: An ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of metropolis life, Pai is positioned about an hour north of Chiang Mai within the province of Mae Hong Son, with lodging nestled into fields, nightly meals markets, lovely pure environment and calming hippy vibes.

Koh Phangan: A little bit slice of heaven by day, a loopy social gathering scene by evening – not less than when the Full Moon Social gathering is going on. Should you take pleasure in chilling on a seashore but in addition respect a great social gathering, Koh Phangan is the place to go. When there isn’t a full moon social gathering, the island is quaint and serves as the right getaway for well being and wellness seekers. Yow will discover out extra about Koh Phangan right here.

Railay Seashore: Tucked away within the Krabi province, Railay seashore is barely accessible by lengthy tail boat. It’s well-travelled by backpackers, in all probability because of the various way of life which you can take pleasure in whereas being there. Famend for mountaineering and cave exploration, Railay seashore has epic rock formations alongside the seashore is a should for many who simply wish to have a little bit of journey in paradise.

What to pack

Not at lot – It’s so sizzling you’ll barely find yourself sporting a lot, plus you’ll want all of the area in your case to fill up on all of the elephant pants and beer-branded vests your coronary heart wishes. Don’t overlook your plug adaptor although!

A great pair of flip flops or sandals – You’ll stroll, lots. So, get an honest pair of footwear to do it in – none of this $1 nonsense.

Digital camera with waterproof casing/GoPro
Thailand will flip you right into a mermaid with all its swimming, snorkeling, waterfalling and diving actions. You wish to ensure you seize the footage!

A great guide – you’ll tally up a great variety of hours on coaches/trains/planes or simply chilling on a seashore – pack a great guide to cross the time, then look out for the guide swaps round Thailand so you’ll be able to change it out without cost when it’s carried out!

How you can get round

Taxi or tuktuk: Uber is changing into increasingly more standard in Asia, however GrabTaxi is simply pretty much as good – basically it does the identical as Uber, nevertheless it hooks you up with registered taxi drivers who don’t rob you blind. Obtain each apps and use as you need.

After all, there’ll typically be instances while you don’t have entry to any web or knowledge to order a taxi on and subsequently, you’ll be able to resort to the normal Thai tuktuk. These are low-cost, zippy and hella enjoyable – simply ensure you ask the motive force to make use of the meter to keep away from being ripped off.

Sleeper practice:
A good way of saving on an evening’s lodging, and one of the enjoyable methods to journey – you’ll get a bit of bunk along with your journey buddies versus busses the place you’re continuously struggling to discover a snug place.

Bus
Though it won’t all the time be essentially the most snug, it’s typically the most cost effective approach to journey the nation they usually’re actually common. Plus, you get to see much more of rural Thailand this manner.

Ferry
The one possibility of getting about with regards to the islands within the south of Thailand.

Airplane
You’ll be able to fly domestically at low-cost costs in Thailand – generally you simply don’t fancy a 6-hour coach when you may get a 1-hour flight!

Scooter
Or for those who’re feeling as much as it, go to a neighborhood scooter store (you’ll discover them all over the place) and lease a scooter for nonetheless lengthy you need! They’re tremendous inexpensive, and a enjoyable method of getting round – simply be sure that to take images of the scooter while you get it so that you just don’t get fooled into paying any cash for current damages.

High Thailand journey suggestions

Don’t go loopy simply because it’s inexpensive
We’ve all been there – utterly disregarding how a lot cash you’ve since you suppose you don’t want to fret… meals is like, 40c proper?! Positive, you’ll be able to go a bit of crazier in Thailand as a result of their insanely low costs, nevertheless it’s nonetheless useful to offer your self a every day finances.

Haggle
Thailand is the right place to follow your haggling abilities – virtually all over the place the costs are negotiable. Please be aware of what ultimate and never over-barter. The native distributors nonetheless have to dwell!

Get a journey cash card
Eliminate these annoying financial institution charges and keep away from getting screwed over by fee and alternate charges by getting a journey cash card. A great deal of them don’t cost you for utilizing your card/withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Hostels are an ideal worth
Yow will discover some superb hostels in Thailand for as little as $10 evening – no joke. Do some digging round, learn the critiques and you would be saving tons of cash, which implies additional for consuming your physique weight in scrumptious meals/diving actions/shopping for a ridiculous quantity of elephant pants/volunteer initiatives with elephants.

Eat like a neighborhood
In every single place you go you’ll discover road meals stalls lining the pavements promoting every part from banana and Nutella roti to mouth-watering curry, normally lower than half the value of what you’d pay in a restaurant and it’s normally simply pretty much as good, if not higher.

Be spontaneous
Thailand is a very excellent place to determine issues final minute, whether or not that’s a tour, a hostel, a coach journey or a completely new vacation spot! Don’t get slowed down sorting every part out earlier than you go – simply type out what you want for the primary week and provides your self the prospect to journey spontaneously.

If you wish to see elephants, be accountable and do your analysis
Elephants are lovely and majestic creatures, so it’s no surprise that the majority vacationers wish to see them after they go to Thailand. However simply double verify the place you’re going to first – in the event that they allow you to journey them, they’re a no-go. Ensure that no elephant suffers for the sake of your enjoyment. Sanctuaries are the best way to go.

Journey as a lot of it as you’ll be able to
Thailand is so various, one second you would be enjoyable in paradise, the following you would be trekking within the jungle – for those who’ve bought the time, journey the size of the nation, you would discover someplace you’d by no means even heard of earlier than (they usually normally find yourself being your favourite!)

Obtain maps.me – it’s superb anyplace you go!
Maps.me is an app which lets you obtain the map of the realm you’re presently in after which use it offline – no pesky knowledge costs for you!

Now we’ve armed you along with your survival information to Thailand are you able to guide your flight? Head over to our flights web page now, or for those who’re simply on the lookout for some extra vacation spot inspiration take a look at our Thailand journey information.

Wish to WIN a visit to Thailand without cost? Thought so. We’ve bought you lined right here. Go, go, go!

Learn Extra

35 best places to travel Thailand in 2019

Cheap places to travel in Northern Thailand

A Thailand Itinerary from Chumphon to Mae Hong Son