Thailand is one of the most popular and attractive destinations for tourists from around the world. Here, you will find everything you need for an unforgettable vacation: picturesque beaches, exotic nature, rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and a plethora of entertainment. However, to ensure that your trip to Thailand goes smoothly and without any issues, it's important to be aware of certain aspects of the country and prepare in advance. In this article, we will guide you on how to travel to Thailand independently, how to choose a resort, where to stay, what to see, what to try, and how to save money on your journey.
How to go to Thailand independently
If you want to travel to Thailand independently, you need to buy your plane tickets in advance, reserve a hotel, obtain insurance, and prepare necessary documents. Here are a few tips on how to do it right:
- FlightsIt's advisable to search for tickets well in advance, around 2-3 months before your trip, to secure them at a favorable price. You can use specialized websites and apps to compare and find the best prices for flights, such as Skyscanner or Aviasales. Pay attention to promotions and special offers from different airlines, often available on their official websites or social media. While flights with layovers are usually cheaper, direct flights offer more convenience and time savings. Airlines like Aeroflot, S7, Nordwind, Azur Air, Royal Flight, and others operate flights from Russia to popular Thai destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, and Krabi. Flight durations from Moscow to Bangkok are approximately 9 hours, to Phuket around 10 hours, to Samui about 11 hours, and to Krabi approximately 12 hours.
- HotelThe choice of a hotel in Thailand depends on your preferences, budget, and vacation plans. Thailand offers accommodations for every taste and budget, from budget guesthouses and hostels to luxurious resorts and villas. You can book a hotel in advance through online platforms like Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Airbnb.com. This allows you to compare prices, view photos, read reviews, and choose a suitable option. While it's possible to find accommodation upon arrival in Thailand, you risk not finding available rooms or may end up paying more. When choosing a hotel, consider its location, amenities, services, food options, and reviews from other travelers. It's important for the hotel to be close to the beach, transportation, shops, restaurants, and attractions. Check if the hotel offers free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a safe, a pool, and other amenities. If traveling with children, opt for hotels with a playground, entertainment, a kids' menu, and rental services for child-related items. For a peaceful stay, choose hotels in secluded areas or on islands. If you seek nightlife and entertainment, opt for hotels in the city center or close to nightlife areas.
- InsuranceWhile travel insurance is not mandatory for Thailand, it's highly recommended. Unforeseen events like illnesses, injuries, thefts, accidents, or natural disasters can occur. Having insurance covering medical expenses, transportation, legal assistance, and other unforeseen circumstances is wise. You can purchase insurance online through platforms like [Cherehapa.ru], [Sravni.ru], or [Ingos.ru]. Compare conditions, prices, and reviews of different insurance companies to choose the most suitable option. Pay attention to coverage amounts, policy duration, included and excluded risks, deductibles, payment methods, reimbursement procedures, and contact information for the insurance company and its partners in Thailand. On average, insurance for a 2-week stay in Thailand costs between 1000 to 3000 rubles, depending on selected parameters. Carry a copy of the insurance policy and the contact details of the insurance company. In case of an insurance event, contact them as soon as possible and follow their instructions.
- DocumentsFor a trip to Thailand, you need a valid passport that remains valid for at least 6 months after your planned return date. Citizens of Russia do not need a visa for stays in Thailand of up to 45 days, a rule effective from October 1, 2022, until September 30, 2023. Upon entry, you'll receive a stamp in your passport as proof of legal stay. If you plan to stay longer than 45 days, you must obtain a visa from the Thai embassy or consulate in Russia or a third country. Different types of visas are available based on the purpose of your visit, length of stay, and number of entries. For example, the tourist visa (TR) allows for a single or multiple entries, each for up to 60 days, extendable for an additional 30 days within the country. To obtain a visa, you need to fill out an application, provide a photo, a copy of your passport, flight and hotel reservations, proof of income or a bank statement, and pay a consular fee. Visa costs depend on the type and number of entries; for instance, a single-entry tourist visa (TR) costs $40, and a multiple-entry one costs $200.
How to Choose a Resort in Thailand
Thailand is not only the Land of Smiles but also a country of contrasts. Here, you can find resorts to suit every taste and budget, ranging from vibrant and lively to tranquil and secluded, from modern and stylish to historic and exotic, and from beachfront to mountainous and jungle retreats. Before heading to Thailand, it's crucial to determine what you want from your vacation and which resort aligns with your preferences. Here are some criteria to help you choose a resort in Thailand:
- ClimateThailand has a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. However, climate variations exist between regions and seasons. Generally, Thailand experiences three seasons: hot (March-May), rainy (June-October), and cool (November-February). The hot season is the hottest and driest, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The rainy season brings frequent and heavy rains, especially in the southern regions. The cool season is the most comfortable, with temperatures ranging from 25-30 degrees Celsius and infrequent, short rains. Depending on your preferred travel time, choose a resort with a climate that suits you. For instance, if you plan to visit Thailand in winter, consider resorts in the south like Phuket, Samui, Krabi, and others, where it's the dry season, and temperatures hover around 30 degrees. For summer trips, opt for resorts in the north and east, such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, where the rainy season is milder, and temperatures are slightly lower.
- InfrastructureThailand is a country continually developing and modernizing. Resorts vary in the level of infrastructure development, from modern and comfortable to simple and rustic. Depending on your desired level of comfort and service, choose a resort that meets your expectations. Luxury hotels with pools, spas, and restaurants are abundant in well-developed areas like Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya. If you prefer a more cozy and peaceful atmosphere, consider resorts with simpler and village-like infrastructure, such as Ko Chang, Ko Lanta, Ko Tao, where guesthouses, bungalows, and hostels provide budget-friendly accommodation options.
- AttractionsThailand boasts a rich history, culture, and diverse natural landscapes. Resorts offer different attractions, ranging from historical and cultural to natural and exotic. Choose a resort with attractions that align with your interests. For those interested in exploring Thailand's history and culture, resorts with ancient temples, palaces, museums, and monuments, such as Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, would be suitable. If you want to immerse yourself in Thailand's nature and exotic beauty, resorts with scenic beaches, islands, national parks, waterfalls, mountains, and jungles, like Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Phangan, Ko Chang, offer opportunities for water sports, diving, rafting, trekking, elephant rides, and visits to wildlife and plant sanctuaries. Additionally, Thailand features numerous unique and unusual places worth visiting, such as floating markets, the Bridge over the River Kwai, the Golden Triangle, the long-necked women's village, the Tiger Temple, snake farms, and more.
Staying in Thailand: Accommodation Tips
Thailand is a country that offers tourists a wide range of accommodation options to suit every taste and budget. Here, you can find hotels of various categories, guesthouses, hostels, apartments, villas, bungalows, and other accommodation options. When choosing accommodation in Thailand, you need to consider several factors, such as:
- PriceAccommodation prices in Thailand depend on various factors, including the season, location, comfort level, meals, and additional services. On average, for a night in Thailand, you can pay from 300 rubles for a simple room in a guesthouse or hostel to 30,000 rubles for a luxurious villa with a pool and a sea view. You can compare prices for different accommodation options using booking websites, where you can also view photos, reviews, and descriptions of the accommodation. You can also arrive in Thailand without a reservation and look for accommodation on the spot, but in this case, you risk not finding available rooms or overpaying. When choosing accommodation based on price, pay attention to the fact that in some hotels, a 7% tax and a 10% service charge are added to the room rate. Also, in some guesthouses and hostels, the price is per person, not per room. Also, consider that in some hotels, meals are included in the room rate, while in others, it is not. If you want to save on accommodation in Thailand, the following tips may help: Book accommodation in advance, especially during the peak season (November-February) and during holidays when accommodation prices increase, and available places are limited. Choose accommodation in remote or less popular areas where prices are lower, but make sure there is transportation, shops, restaurants, and other amenities nearby. Opt for accommodation with shared facilities, such as a bathroom, toilet, kitchen, which you will share with other guests, as they are usually cheaper than individual facilities. Choose accommodation without air conditioning if you are not afraid of the heat or with a fan, which is usually cheaper than air conditioning. Choose accommodation without breakfast if you are not used to Thai food or prefer to eat at other places where food prices are lower than in the hotel. Choose accommodation with a minimum number of stars if you do not need a high level of service and comfort. The main factors are cleanliness and safety. Choose accommodation based on recommendations from other tourists who have stayed there and left positive reviews. This way, you can avoid unpleasant surprises and disappointments. Build friendly relationships with the hosts or accommodation staff, who may offer you a discount, a free upgrade, free transfers, or other bonuses. Stay in accommodation for an extended period if you plan to stay in one place for several weeks or months. This way, you can get a more favorable price than for a short period. Share accommodation with other tourists if you are traveling alone or in a small group. This way, you can split the accommodation expenses and make new friends.
- Rent accommodation through locals if you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Thai life and learn more about the traditions and customs of the people. Find unique and inexpensive accommodation options not offered on regular booking websites. You can contact local residents through social networks, forums, or blogs and negotiate accommodation directly. When choosing accommodation through locals, pay attention to the fact that in some cases, you will live with the owner or their family, while in other cases, you will have separate accommodation. Also, clarify the conditions of stay, rules of conduct, cost, and payment methods. If you want to rent accommodation through locals, the following tips may help: Be polite, respectful, and friendly to the host and their family who provide you with accommodation. Follow their rules, respect their privacy, avoid making noise, and do not bring strangers. Be open, sociable, and interested in the culture and life of the Thai people. Ask questions, listen to stories, participate in rituals, try national food, learn the language. This way, you can learn many new and interesting things and make new friends. Be grateful, generous, and attentive to the host and their family who provide you with accommodation. Express your gratitude with words, smiles, compliments, gifts, and invitations. This way, you can show your respect and appreciation and strengthen friendly relationships. Be flexible, adaptive, and patient with the host and their family who provide you with accommodation. Accept their peculiarities, habits, views, and opinions without criticism, sarcasm, or judgment. This way, you can avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, and offenses. Be honest, decent, and responsible to the host and their family who provide you with accommodation. Keep agreements, fulfill promises, pay on time, and do not cause harm. This way, you can prove your reliability, trustworthiness, and respect.
Eating in Thailand
Thailand is a country with an amazing and diverse cuisine that captivates with its aromas, flavors, colors, and shapes. Here, you can try dishes made from rice, noodles, meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, spices, sauces, and other ingredients, prepared on the grill, in a wok, in a pot, in a steamer, and various other methods. When choosing food in Thailand, you need to consider several factors, such as:
- Food PricesThe cost of food in Thailand depends on various factors, including location, portion size, quality, popularity, etc. On average, you can pay anywhere from 50 rubles for a simple dish at a street market or cafe to 5000 rubles for an exquisite dish in a high-class restaurant. You can compare prices for different dishes using websites like [Tripadvisor.com], [Foursquare.com], or [Zomato.com], where you can also view photos, reviews, and descriptions of the food. You can also arrive in Thailand without knowing the prices and choose food on the spot, but in this case, you risk overpaying or getting low-quality food. When choosing food based on price, pay attention to the fact that some restaurants add a 7% tax and a 10% service charge to the food price. Also, in some places, food prices may be inflated for tourists, so it's better to ask for the price in advance or check the menu. If you want to save on food in Thailand, consider the following tips: Eat at street markets, cafes, and food courts, where you can find delicious and affordable food prepared right in front of you. This way, you can experience authentic Thai cuisine, often better than in restaurants. Opt for local Thai food rather than Western, which is usually more expensive and of lower quality than in your home country. This way, you can enjoy the exotic and diverse Thai cuisine, including dishes like Pad Thai (noodles with shrimp), Tom Yum (spicy seafood soup), Som Tum (green papaya salad), Massaman Curry (meat in coconut sauce with potatoes and peanuts), Mango Sticky Rice (dessert with ripe mango, rice, and coconut milk), and more. Choose seasonal and local products, which are usually fresh, tasty, and inexpensive, rather than imported ones, which are often old, tasteless, and expensive. This way, you can enjoy fruits, vegetables, and seafood that grow and are caught in Thailand, rather than being transported from other countries. Eat at Thai restaurants rather than Western ones, which are usually more expensive and of lower quality than in your home country. This way, you can try authentic Thai food prepared according to traditional recipes, rather than adapted for tourists. Eat during off-peak hours when restaurants and cafes usually offer discounts, special offers, sets, business lunches, and other advantageous options. This way, you can save on food and avoid queues and crowds. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, as Thais often eat 4-5 times a day in small portions. This way, you can maintain your metabolism, avoid overeating, and save money on food. Cook at home if you have a kitchen in your hotel or apartment, where you can prepare your own meals. This way, you can control the quality and quantity of food and experiment with Thai products and spices that you can buy in markets or supermarkets. Eat mindfully if you want to maintain your health and figure in Thailand. Avoid fatty, fried, overly spicy, or sweet food that can cause stomach upset, allergies, diarrhea, or weight gain. Prefer light, steamed, raw, or sour food that can improve digestion, immunity, skin, or mood. Also, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration in the hot climate.
Entertainment in Thailand
Thailand is a country with endless possibilities for entertainment to suit every taste and budget. Here, you can engage in sports, arts, shopping, nightlife, excursions, and other activities that will make your vacation fun and interesting. When choosing entertainment in Thailand, consider several factors such as:
- Prices for EntertainmentThe cost of entertainment in Thailand depends on factors like location, duration, quality, popularity, etc. On average, you might pay anywhere from 100 rubles for a museum or cinema visit to 10,000 rubles for activities like skydiving or shark diving. Compare prices for different entertainment options using websites like [Tripadvisor.com], [Klook.com], or [Viator.com], where you can also view photos, reviews, and descriptions of the activities. You can also choose to explore entertainment options on-site, but in doing so, there is a risk of overpaying or receiving subpar service. When selecting entertainment based on price, be aware that prices in some places may be inflated for tourists, so it's better to inquire about prices in advance or check the menu. If you want to save on entertainment in Thailand, consider these tips: Look for free or inexpensive activities that don't require entrance tickets, equipment rentals, guides, or additional expenses. For example, explore parks, beaches, temples, markets, attend free museums, exhibitions, festivals, watch street performances, listen to live music, etc. Seek discounts, coupons, and promotions offered by various entertainment venues to attract more visitors. Buy tickets online in advance, use student, senior, or family discounts, visit entertainment places on weekdays, during off-peak hours, or in the low season. Explore alternative or less-known entertainment options that may be just as interesting but more affordable than popular or well-known activities. Try local sports like Muay Thai, sepak takraw, or Thai boxing, attend local workshops like Thai massage, Thai cuisine, Thai painting, visit unknown or hidden places such as Thai villages, caves, water features, etc. Look for entertainment options with other tourists if you are traveling alone or in a small group. This way, you can share the expenses and make new friends. Join group tours, excursions, events organized by various websites, apps, clubs, communities like [Meetup.com], [Couchsurfing.com], [Lonely Planet], etc.
- Seek entertainment with locals: If you want to immerse yourself in the Thai way of life and learn more about their traditions and customs, consider finding unique and inexpensive entertainment options not offered on regular booking sites. Contact locals through social networks, forums, or blogs and arrange entertainment directly. When choosing entertainment with locals, pay attention to the fact that in some cases, you will be entertained together with the host or their friends, while in other cases, you will have separate entertainment. Also, clarify the conditions of entertainment, rules of behavior, cost, and payment method. If you want to seek entertainment with locals, follow these tips: Be polite, respectful, and friendly with the host and their friends who offer you entertainment. Follow their rules, respect their privacy, avoid making noise, hosting parties, or bringing in outsiders. Be open, sociable, and interested in the entertainment and life of the Thai people. Ask questions, listen to stories, participate in games, jokes, songs. This way, you can learn a lot of new and interesting things, as well as have fun and relax. Be grateful, generous, and attentive to the host and their friends who offer you entertainment. Express your gratitude with words, smiles, compliments, gifts, invitations. This way, you can show your respect and appreciation, as well as strengthen friendly relationships. Be flexible, adaptive, and patient with the host and their friends who offer you entertainment. Accept their peculiarities, habits, views, opinions without criticism, sarcasm, judgment. This way, you can avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, and offenses. Be honest, fair, and responsible with the host and their friends who offer you entertainment. Keep agreements, fulfill promises, pay on time, do not cause harm. This way, you can prove your reliability, trustworthiness, and respect.
How to Safely Enjoy Your Stay in Thailand
Thailand is a country with friendly and hospitable people, but that doesn't mean you can be carefree and negligent during your vacation. Like any other country, Thailand has its risks, dangers, and issues that can spoil your mood or even harm your health or life. Therefore, you need to follow certain rules and precautions to safely enjoy your stay in Thailand. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in Thailand:
Follow the laws and norms of the country: Respect the Thai king and his family. Avoid criticizing or joking about them, as Thai law prohibits insulting the royal family and can result in up to 15 years of imprisonment. Respect Thai religion and culture. Do not offend Buddhist symbols and rituals. Avoid undressing or taking photos inside temples, pointing your feet at Buddha statues, touching monks' heads, or offering them food after noon. Follow Thai traffic rules. Don't exceed speed limits, overtake recklessly, drive without a license, drink and drive, ride a motorcycle without a helmet, or accept rides from unfamiliar drivers. Adhere to entry and exit rules: Don't exceed your allowed stay in the country, and avoid working without proper authorization. Comply with quarantine rules, don't bring or take out prohibited substances, don't forge documents, and avoid supporting illegal immigration.
Take care of your health and hygiene: Get vaccinated against major diseases such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid, cholera, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, dengue, and others. Consume only bottled or boiled water and avoid tap water.
- Ensure your safety and protect your belongings: Avoid dangerous places such as dark streets, deserted beaches, and high-crime areas. Do not resist during a robbery, don't trust strangers, refuse food, drinks, or gifts from them, and avoid illegal or suspicious offers. Be cautious with your possessions. Don't leave them unattended, carry a minimal amount of cash, documents, and valuables, use a hotel safe or bank for storage, avoid public Wi-Fi, protect your data and passwords, and be cautious with unfamiliar phones or computers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thailand is an amazing country that can offer unforgettable experiences. To ensure your stay is comfortable and safe, prepare in advance, choose the right season, resort, accommodation, food, and activities, adhere to the country's laws and norms, take care of your health, hygiene, safety, and belongings. By following these tips, you can maximize enjoyment and minimize potential issues during your trip to Thailand. Have a great journey and an unforgettable stay in Thailand!
