Budget Travel In Thailand: How To Travel In Thailand With Style And Without Bankruptcy

Budget Travel In Thailand: How To Travel In Thailand With Style
And Without Bankruptcy
By Ella Evans

Thailand was my first tourist destination outside Europe and
North America. Based on the sage advice of my
Thailand-experienced friends, I was sure that this paradise
vacation would be carried out on ridiculous costs. However,
back home, I have found out too late, that during my little
Thailand adventure I have spent almost the same amount of money
as one of my regular surges to Europe. If only I knew that
carefully planning your trip to Thailand can manifest itself in
huge savings. The following list includes some solid advice that
can help those novice Thailand visitors to save significant
amounts of cash and still enjoy their vacation:

1. Season choice. Traveling in Thailand Islands during the low
season can save you up to 25% of the accommodation costs (up to
25$ per bungalow per night if you choose high standard – not
luxury - accommodation). Similar to many other world locations
that are based operate seasonally; there is a significant price
fluctuation across seasons. Not less important is that fact that
the weather in Thailand is quite pleasant even during the low
season. The temperatures’ difference between the “hot season”
and the “peak season” is miniscule, and during the “wet season”
one can experience only a mild occasional rain. Therefore, in
Thailand one can lower accommodation costs by avoiding the peak
season without paying the price of suffering from unbearable
cold or coping with endless monsoon.

2. Transportation. Getting from Bangkok to your final
destination in one of the Southern Islands by train or bus
instead of by plane can save you up to 80$ each way. You can
save a bundle if you arrive to Bangkok International Airport in
the evening. In this case you save, besides the gap between
relatively expensive airfare and train or bus ticket, the first
night’s accommodation cost as well (40$ - 100$ per bungalow per
night in high standard – not luxury - accommodation).

3. Food. In Western style countries, the more you pay for your
dinner the better it is, so everyone can make a personal
decision about getting an appropriate cost – benefit balance. In
Thailand, and especially in the Southern Islands it is much
simpler: in most cases, the cheaper the better. Expensive
restaurants in Thailand Islands usually specialize on Western
food that is neither authentic nor of superior taste; a standard
dinner will cost you 10$ - 30$ in a restaurant of this kind.
Alternatively, the dinner in a cheap restaurant with plastic
chairs will cost you 3$ - 8$ and it is usually both tasty and
authentic. My most disappointing Thai dinner was served in a
fancy restaurant in Bangkok and had cost 120$ for a couple,
whereas my best dinner was served in a cheap family restaurant
in Koh Phangan. The owner - young mom named Mam – prepared the
meal for us exactly as we wished it would be and charged us with
measly 5-6$ per person.

4. Air Conditioning. The presence of air conditioning in your
room can make a huge difference in accommodation rates. For
example, the same room rates in the same resort can vary from
15$-30$ for a bungalow with a fan to 40$ - 100$ for an
air-conditioned bungalow. Although choosing an air-conditioned
room during the hot season (such as March – April) is crucial,
if you visit Southern Thailand during the rainy season – a
bungalow with a fan can both satisfy your needs and cut your
expenses in more than a half.

5. Location choice. Similar to the principle held in most
places in the world, the accommodation rates in Thailand Islands
depend on your location choice. The bungalow in the central
beach, close to the airport or seaport full of thriving
nightlife will probably be twice as expensive as the same
bungalow in a remote quiet beach. However, accessibility is an
issue in the Thailand Islands, and the taxi fares and taxi boat
fares operate under the same principal as the accommodation
rates. So there is a rule you may adopt: if you are looking for
social activities and busy nightlife– stay close to the airport
or seaport; otherwise make a little effort and move after your
arrival to a remote beach. You will save up to 60% on the
accommodation rates this way.

6. Communication. It will probably not come as a complete
shock, but the use of cellular phone from outside of Thailand
could be extremely expensive. To save on communication costs you
can either buy a local cellular phone with prepaid SIM card or
use the Telephone & Internet centers services. Mind you that the
cost of these services may vary. As usual, if you’re calling
overseas from your resort’s office – it will be more expensive
than using a call center in the town. The cheapest solution is
probably giving your phone number to your friends or relatives
overseas since every call center has a phone number that can be
used for calling back.

7. Price negotiation. In tourist locations in Thailand
negotiation is a necessity or a way of life. Likewise, in the
less touristy islands and areas price bargaining is accepted as
well. Just try it – in Thailand price negotiation isn’t
considered an embarrassing behavior, so you have nothing to
lose.

8. Psychology. Although, in Thailand everything is perceived to
be cheaper than in your home country, don’t be fooled by the
seemingly low prices and control your expenses. Buying an
enormous amount of inexpensive things can really add up to a
surprisingly large sum of money.

During my last visit to Thailand, I followed these guidelines
with persistence and I was happy to disclose, that budget travel
in Thailand can be more than just an economical issue, it can
also be enjoyable. Interestingly enough, in Thailand, the less
you spend – the closer you get to the local authentic
experience.

About the Author: Independent researcher, MA in anthropology,
and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade
exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits
of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website:
: http://www.kohphangan.eternaltravel.net

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