Thailand Travel for Cheap
When I first went to Thailand in 1997 it was a very cheap country. Accommodation, food and transport only cost a few dollars and it was never very difficult to find cheap deals for things.
People in Thailand are very friendly and if you are patient and don’t lose your temper you can usually get a discount or the same price as the locals. Things have changed in Thailand though. Let this short post serve as a basic Thailand travel guide and introduction to Thailand culture before you head off on vacation. The major change since the late nineties is that costs have risen dramatically. This is partly due to the increase in oil prices, but mostly because tourists are paying over-inflated prices for things without blinking an eyelid.
The result is a triple pricing system that exists in many tourist destinations. There is the real price that Thai people pay, there is the friend of a Thai price, and there is the tourist price which is often 50% more than the real price. Just being aware of this system can save you money on your Thailand vacation. I often get a Thai person to buy me a drink at a bar. Admittedly, I buy him or her a drink as well so don’t make any saving, but pride is salvaged. On a more serious note, learning a few words of Thai, especially numbers will quickly pay dividends in reduced prices, as will stopping to make small talk with the locals.
If you are planning to travel to Thailand, there is another thing that you should keep in mind. There are thousands of tour companies in Thailand. Every hostel, hotel and resort in Thailand seems to have a ticket desk. Sometimes they take their commission from the transport company; more often they take it from you. Travel on local buses or go direct to the transport company for a better price.
Phu Chee Fah, Chiangrai, Thailand
The same goes for booking rooms in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Bangkok, Phuket or any destination in Thailand. Except for at Christmas it is cheaper just to arrive at a place and find a room. Don’t book through the internet as you are paying a middle man fee, no matter what they will tell you otherwise. Many bungalow places and even hotels are open to negotiation over room rates, especially during the low season. If you are planning on staying a month you can often get a monthly rate which offers a much better daily rate.
Finally, to save money in Thailand you should avoid places where tourists go to eat.
Firstly, you will not be eating authentic Thai food but some milder version, and often you will be eating Chinese food. Street food in Thailand is normally clean, delicious and cheap. It is a great way to experience real Thai culture. Drinking in bars is fun but also expensive. You will pay 3 times as much for beer. Check out 7-11’s and supermarkets such as Tesco Lotus for how cheap alcohol really is in Thailand.
These are all basic tips for traveling cheaply in Thailand. The great thing about Thailand is that it is a laid back country, not chaotic like India and thus very easy to move around independently. If you do decide to do Thailand on the cheap you will learn far more about the country and have a more interesting experience. There is more to traveling than lying around pools sipping cocktails.
Category: Out and About
