Discover our helpful tips on Thailand travel...
Full moon party…
Every month around 20,000 people gather on the beaches of Koh Phangan to celebrate under the full moon; it’s the number one party spot in Thailand.
Decorate your body with U.V paint and be ready to party at dusk. Take a copy of your I.D with you and leave the original at home along with your bags, you’ll have to put them down on the beach and it’s likely you’ll forget them or they will be stolen.
Broken bottles sometimes appear on the beach so avoid getting glass in the bottom of your feet and wear shoes.
Remember, when the sun comes up it will get very hot very quickly so make sure you’ve got sun cream on to avoid getting burnt, then party on till evening.
How do I get around?
Most tourists choose to fly between major tourist cities in Thailand as it’s the fastest and most frequent option, it’s not very environmentally friendly but if time is of the essence it’s probably your best route.
Trains can be an amazingly cheap way of getting around Thailand but depending on how far you’re travelling, they can be quite time consuming.
However trains in Thailand are reasonably comfortable, safe and offer a wonderful view and experience of the beautiful scenery.
Driving in Thailand may have its advantages but it’s not recommended.
Thailand roads aren’t very safe as the locals have poor driving habits. Nonetheless if the comfort of travelling in your own vehicle is too hard to resist, lowcostholidays.com recommended you hire a car with a driver; they’re likely to have Thai driving experience and it’s practically the same price as hiring a car on its own.
Barefoot massage:
Experience an old-style massage and relieve all your tension. Traditional Thai methods are different to those used by the Western world. If you’ve never experienced pressure point massages you may find it slightly painful.
Experience a barefoot deep tissue massage where lightly built girls will walk over your back and massage you with their heels, typically the massage will finish with a crack of your spine when you sit up. Remember to communicate how you’re feeling to avoid any pain.
Money:
The Baht is the currency of Thailand; one Baht can be subdivided into 100 Satang. The best exchange rates can be found in Thailand Banks, typically open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. ATM’s are abundant in city and town centres so you won’t need to carry wads of cash around. Unlike neighbouring countries, foreign currencies will not be accepted but, travellers cheques are exchanged in all major banks and hotels but remember the rate may be considerably lower.
Thailand is generally very cheap; expect to eat a good quality meal for100-120B and around 70B for a tuk-tuk ride - depending on your haggling skills!
Eating in Thailand:
Rice is eaten with practically every meal in Thailand; expect spices, sweat and sour flavours and fresh ingredients for a special dining experience.
Eating from market stalls and street vendors is usually ok but check the cleanliness of the stall and general hygiene of the chef to determine if you want to eat from there. If it looks clean you should be ok to eat the food, stay away from food that has been out in the sun all day especially fish and fruit should be washed and pealed before consumption.
Remember it is considered rude to sniff food before eating it, even with good intensions intentions in mind.
Immerse yourself in the local culture…
The lively floating markets of Thailand are amongst the most photographed attractions in the country. See the colourful boats filled with a wide variety of fresh produce, tropical fruits and flowers.
Damnoen Saduak floating market, located just 100KM from Bangkok, is Thailand’s most famed floating market. Filled with hundreds of vendors and garden-fresh crops, make sure you get up early to grab the bargains. The best way to fully appreciate a floating market is to hire a long-tailed boat for the day, climb boat to boat like the Thai do to get your fruit.
Beaches:
Every tourist wants to see the beautiful beaches of Thailand. With so many to choose from it may be difficult to decide where to go; Patong beach is the biggest beach on the island of Phuket and is also the country’s most popular, it’s a great starting point if you don’t know where to go first. The tropical climate has high temperatures of 36°C so make sure you wear plenty of sun cream if you don’t want to burn.
Stay healthy:
Visit your local GP or travel health centre a few weeks before departure as you may need vaccinations to prevent you from the following diseases; Hepatitis A and B, Malaria, Rabies, Polio, Typhoid and Tuberculosis.
Sufficient fluid intake is essential, especially in cases of traveller’s diarrhoea. Don’t drink the tap water or ice and to be on the safe side, use boiled or sterilized water to brush your teeth.
HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases are prevalent, make sure you have contraceptives with you and avoid sharing needles.
Other useful tips:
- Greeting in Thailand is referred to as the wai. Place your palms together like you would in prayer and take a slight bow. It’s also used to say thank you or apologies, give it a try on your Thai break.
- Do not step on raised thresholds; make sure you step over it as thresholds are considered to be a sanctuary for spirits. Particularly keep this in mind when you visit temples and places of worship.
- Avoid public displays of affection as it’s culturally unacceptable.
- Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body it’s a taboo to show the bottom of your feet or even point with them.
- Most socket plugs are designed for two pin plugs so don’t forget your plug adapters.
- Don’t pet stray dogs, they may be dangerous and even carry rabies.
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