Advice for Thailand
Posted by Zestyclose_Golf_3422@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Hello everyone!
I will be solo-traveling and visiting Thailand for Songkran (Thai New Year Festival) and I will be there for 19 days. I’m visiting Bangkok, Pranburi, Koh Tao, Khao Sok and Krabi. My budget is around $600 USD for the entire trip but I’ve been nervous because I’ve heard that things tend to be expensive in Thailand.
Are there any tips/tricks that you can give me that will help me limit my spending but also help me get the most out of my experience? I’ll be staying in hostels and eating mostly street food so I think I should be good on that front.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA!
Adventurous-Woozle3@reddit
People are being a little ridiculous. Cheap is somewhat possible still but you might need a different itinerary. We've spent a lot of time in Thailand over the past few years.
In Bangkok we can pay 80 baht a meal pretty easily if we want to from street food. We often choose to spend more but on a 19 day trip I think that's possible there. The food court at Terminal 21 will also be your friend. It's really cheap and comfortable and fun to explore.
The cheap bubble tea is from Moma I believe (?) it's the one across the street from Siam Paragon if you go left when you get to the BTS stop and down the stairs instead of to the right into Siam Paragon. That one can still be under 40 baht which is awesome.
You could add Pattaya for something closer that is still cheaper with real street food, etc.
Can you switch and stay in Bangkok and maybe do one island just for a couple of days?
Island food is both terrible and expensive. There isn't much street food and the tourist stuff is closer to $10 a meal right now (maybe $8). Not a day. A meal. So that adds up quickly. I guess nice places to stay can be cheaper there though. Don't linger in the islands (don't extend your stay there). It's safe to visit but not to live there as a Westerner right now.
Water is going to be a fairly large expense for you too with such a small budget so keep that in mind.
Getting around isn't that cheap either, both the BTS and taxis aren't free by any means. We usually pay for three people but I believe it's about $3 by transit to get across Bangkok one direction (the boats are cheaper and are a lot of fun though! I think they are 40 baht each way). A taxi can cost up to $8-$10 using Grab depending on where you are going within the city and when you take it.
Goodnight_April@reddit
Plenty of meals in Krabi and islands like Koh Lanta for 100 Baht
Fantastic-Goat-2593@reddit
So, I am going to assume that your flights to and from BKK are NOT included.
600 USD/20 days= $30. Current exchange gives you about 1000 THB a day.
This is unreasonable as travelling from BKK to Pranburi to the islands and krabi will be pretty expensive.
Accomodation and food aren't as cheap as they used to be. Especially during songkran.
Days of cheap Thailand are over. Indonesia and Vietnam are the new cheap places to travel.
Adventurous-Woozle3@reddit
This is the good cheap bubble tea in Bangkok still: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8begoFwD2Nq9Yu5w9?g_st=ac
welkover@reddit
Thailand is not expensive but you should have more than 600 dollars to travel and have a place to stay and food to eat for 19 days.
You could just sit in one place and eat the cheapest food you can find and that would run about 800 baht a day. You have about 1000 baht a day. It's not 2005 any more.
starrae@reddit
Not realistic
OneTravellingMcDs@reddit
19 days is 57 meals. Even street food (which you probably should not eat for 19 days straight) will eat up most of your budget.
If this is also supposed to include hotels, transport and other expenses, you do not have enough budget for a worthwhile trip.
The holiday period, transportation is more expensive than normal and/or already sold out.
politebuzz@reddit
Transport between these places will be the most expensive. Hopefully thats already been paid for.
Avoid alcohol. It’s quite pricey compared to street food.
Depending on what part of Krabi you go to (Tonsai/Railay) there isn’t much street foot. There are some “boats” in Railay but the food is quite pricey. Tonsai restaurants are more affordable.
mljunk01@reddit
Do these 600$ include your emergency cash?