Thailand

Thailand is known for its food, martial arts, beaches, temples, and islands. And I can promise you that none of these things disappoint! Whatever kind of adventure you want to have in this singularly beautiful country, this Thailand travel guide has everything you need for planning a trip!

Thailand is one of the Best Destinations For Solo Female Travelers and one of my Top Budget Destinations Around The World!

Chiang Mai and Bangkok are the most visited cities in the country. Both of these are worth visiting, and they make for great “home bases” for day trips to other towns and sites. You should also visit at least one of the islands – I would recommend Phuket, the Koh Yao Islands, or the Phi Phi islands.

Ready to plan your trip? Then here’s your ultimate Thailand travel guide!

Top Places to Visit

Typical Costs When Traveling

Exchange Rate

The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (฿). Exchange rates are subject to fluctuations, so be sure to check this regularly as your trip approaches. On average, ฿1 is equal to about £.02 British Pounds $.03 U.S., €,03, and .23 Chinese Yuan.

Accommodation

A budget hotel room is in the ฿500–1000 a night range (£12.50-25, $16.50-33, €15-30, 116-232 Yuan). A mid-range hotel can be anywhere from ฿1000–4000 a night (£25-98, $33-132, €30-119, 232-928 Yuan). More luxury accommodations start at around ฿4500 a night and go up from there (£110, $149, €135, 1044 Yuan).

Airbnb prices usually average less a night than their hotel counterparts. So consider the location, amenities, transportation, and services you’ll need/want from your accommodation when choosing between a hotel/hostel or Airbnb.

November to February is Thailand’s peak tourism season, so travel costs will be higher during these months.

Food

Meals from a market or street stand will only be about ฿70 (£1.75, $2.25, €2, 16.25 Yuan). Western lunches and a traditional Thai dinner will be between ฿150–350 (£3.75-8.50, $5-11.50, €4,50-10,50, 35-81 Yuan).

In Thailand, when you dine with a group, it’s customary for one person to order multiple dishes for the table. Then everyone shares the food “family style.”

A meal at a fine dining restaurant will be anywhere between ฿350–1000 and up (£8.75-25, $11.50-$33, €10,50-30, 35-232 Yuan).

Alcohol is relative cheap in Thailand, with a beer averaging ฿75 (£1.85, $2.50, €2,25, 17.50 Yuan) and a cocktail averaging ฿100 (£2.46, $3.25, €3, 23 Yuan).

Transportation

Bangkok has a sky train, subway, and water taxis. But a Tuk Tuk, motorbike or bus are the best ways to get around Thailand’s cities – big and small. Plan to spend ฿20–50 (£.50-1.25, $.65-1.65, €,60-1,50, 4.50-12 Yuan) per day on public transportation within a city or town.

Renting a motorbike for the day will be ฿150–250 (£3.75-6, $5-8, €4,50-7,50, 35-58). A private car and driver will start at ฿900 per day, plus tips (£22, $30, €27, 209 Yuan).

Plane, train, and bus are your best options for going from city to city. For train and bus travel, it’s best to get your tickets ahead of time. The Man in Seat 61 is my favorite booking site for trains. Depending on how far you’re going, costs for long-distance travel within Thailand are:

Buses – ฿240-1150 (£6-28, $8-38, €7-38, 56-38 Yuan)

Trains – ฿360-1780 (£9-44, $12-59, €11-59, 84-413 Yuan)

Flights – ฿910-3140 (£22-77, $30-105, €27-94, 211-729)

Thailand has an extensive ferry network that runs to and from the mainland and islands. Ferry tickets are around ฿400 (£10, $13, €12, 93 Yuan) depending on the island you’re visiting. It’s best to buy your ferry tickets ahead of time online.

Other Expenses

I’d budget around ฿150 a day (£3.75, $5, €4,50, 34.75 Yuan) for entrance fees, tours, guides, snacks, tips, and souvenirs. Organized and guided tours will cost about ฿1000–1500 (£25-37, $33-50, €30-45, 232-348 Yuan).

Most places in Thailand only accept cash. Some travel agents, upmarket hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls accept foreign credit cards. But you need to always have enough cash on you for anything you want to do or buy. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted debit and credit cards. American Express is usually only accepted at high-end hotels and restaurants.

ATMs are common in Thai cities of all sizes. Thai ATMs charge a ฿220 (£5.50, $7.25, €6,50, 50 Yuan) foreign-transaction fee in addition to whatever currency conversion and out-of-network fees you’ll already be paying. So, check to see if your bank or private money changers will offer better foreign-exchange rates for cash exchanges before your trip.

Tipping

At many hotel restaurants and more upmarket eateries, a 10% service charge will be added to your bill. Otherwise, tipping isn’t generally expected in Thailand, but it’s appreciated to leave the change from a large restaurant bill if you pay with cash.

Suggested Daily Costs

These budget estimates include eating and drinking out at least once a day and a couple of train, bus, or ferry rides.

Lower End: ฿1400 a day (£35, $46, €42, 325 Yuan). Midrange: ฿3000 a day (£74, $96, €88, 675 Yuan). Higher End: ฿5000 a day and up (£123, $161, €147, 1125 Yuan).

When To Go

Thailand’s High Season is from November to March. During these months, everything is open – sights, tours, transportation, etc. But accommodation prices and tourists can be double what they are for the rest of the year. This is the country’s cooler and dry season when the landscape is most lush and temperatures are most comfortable.

The Shoulder Season is from April to June and September to October. April to June is generally very hot and dry, especially in the jungle and island parts of the country. September and October are close enough to the rainy season that you risk some bad weather in the mainland part of the country. So the islands are your best best for these two months.

The Monsoon Season is from July to October. During these months, you’ll encounter less-desirable weather conditions in all parts of the country. Expect rain every day and be prepared for flooding to affect your transportation around the country. Many hotels, sights, and restaurants shut down, especially on the islands, and ferry schedules are limited.

Thailand is one of the Best Destinations To Visit In November

What To Pack

In addition to your usual travel essentials, you’ll want these items in Thailand:

Slip-on shoes because you’ll regularly be taking your shoes off and on when you visit temples, homes, many shops, some restaurants, and massage parlors.

Water bottle to save on plastic and because you can refill water bottles with filtered water for just a few cents here.

Bug spray and sunscreen: You’ll constantly need both of these things. But bring these with you from home because they are very expensive in Thailand.

Rain jacket because there’s always a chance of rain, even when it’s not the monsoon season.

A couple of layers to cover your arms when entering a temple and for the cooler nights from December to February.

Sturdy hiking shoes when visiting the rural or jungle parts of the country.

Electrical outlets in Thailand are Types A, B, and C. Types A and B will fit U.S. plugs, but the current in Thailand is different in the United States. So Americans, along with British, European, and other travelers, will need an adaptor.

What To Wear

Men and women need to dress reasonably conservatively in Thailand. Please refrain from wearing tank tops, short shorts, or crop tops. This would be disrespectful, especially in Southern Thailand, where there’s a large Muslim population.

Many establishments and religious sites won’t let you enter if you’re not dressed appropriately.

If you’re visiting a religious site, wear clothes that cover your knees and elbows. Swimsuits are fine on a beach or in a pool, but cover-up when going to and from the beach or pool.

Have you been to Thailand? Comment below with anything you’d add to this Thailand travel guide!

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This Thailand travel guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Thailand travel guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Thailand travel guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.