Thailand Travels
- peoniesandprosecco
- Mar 5, 2017
- 6 min read
Thailand. Thailand. Thailand.
A few years ago I travelled to Thailand with three of my closest friends. We booked the flights on a whim whilst at Uni and worked like dogs in various bars and call centres to save enough money to 'make it work'; and we did. We travelled for three weeks and had the most amazing time. I've decided to sum up my experience with some handy hints and tips for anyone thinking of jetting over there in the future!
Before we went we decided just to book the first nights accommodation and to just see where the wind took us on our travels. After trekking around Bangkok for hours in the stifling humidity with my life's belongings strapped to my back we eventually found a hostel. It was horrific to say the least. From that moment, after a mini break down from all of us on the floor of a £3 a night hostel, we decided we would go and book the rest of our trip down at tourist information. We booked it all. Now was this the most sensible option? At the time, to save us killing ourselves or each other, yes. In hindsight? I'd have booked the whole trip in advance.
There you go - Tip 1 - Book your trip in advance.
Air B&B and Booking.com are my go to favourites. That way you can ensure you'll have everything you're looking for and you'll know exactly how much it is going to cost you.
We travelled to Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Phuket and back to Bangkok.
From visiting all of these places I've tried to compile a list of top tips:
Pick Pockets
Luckily we didn't have any experiences of stolen items while we were away but we did see a lot of people chasing men down the street to get their things back. Invest in a secure bag which can be worn across your body. Alternatively you could join the traveller vibe and rock a bumbag - Something I wore with absolute pride. I tell you, it was the most convenient thing I've ever owned - They sell funky ones in all the markets in Thailand!
Tuk-Tuks
By far the funnest way to travel around the city but not always the safest or cheapest. We had an experience of a 'guide' who didn't take us to any of the places we had asked, but instead took us down several dodgy back streets to his 'friends' tailor shops. He got really angry when we asked him to take us back to the hostel and charged us a fortune for the privilege. Be aware. Fun for a little ride and a photo opportunity but regular taxi's are much safer and cheaper.
Food
The food all over Thailand is beautiful, we didn't have a bad meal. The street food is just as good as the restaurants for around a tenth of the price. You can get a huge bowl of Pad Thai for less than a pound from a street vendor! If you fancy a break from noodles and rice, they have lots of western restaurants and fast food chains to please the western palette. Maybe just what you need after a heavy night of partying! *side note* the toasties form the 7/11 stores will save. your. life.
Ping Pong Shows
Sticky Vicky Ping Pongs shows are all over Bangkok. Before we left we were adamant that we wouldn't be 'those people'; but curiosity got the better of us and we decided to have a peek. If you take anything from this blog post please let it be this - DO NOT GO TO A PING PONG SHOW. They are run by mafia style families who will charge you £100 each after they said it was free and will consequently get bouncers to chase you down the road when you won't give them any more money. *speaking from experience* - Trust me. It is not worth it to see a naked woman shoot ping pong balls at you.
Island life
Thailand is home to some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever come across, Koh Tao being my absolute favourite. However, be aware that not all islands have readily accessible cash points so it may be worth taking out some cash in a bigger place on your travels. Food on the islands is incredible and lots of hotels have beach BBQ nights which are lots of fun. The islands area great place for diving and they have diving lessons available all over the island!
Respect - take your shoes off
There are some stunning temples and statues of Buddha all over Thailand. As a sign of respect you will be expected to take your shoes off - shoes that are easily taken on and off are must. In some places we went to such as shops, cafes, pharmacy's and bars we were expected or encouraged to remove our shoes. Seems strange at first but after a few times its second nature.
Full Moon Party
Probably one of the most famous events in Thailand is the Full Moon Party. The party is absolutely amazing. You walk down the beach where there is club upon club, bar upon bar, endless dancing and drunk people as far as the eye can see. As with most busy nights out just have your whits about you, the last thing you want to do is miss your ride home or loose your wallet. There are designated 'sleep areas' which are manned by paramedics and volunteers - the ultimate disco nap. If you're planning on attending a full moon party make sure you book your accommodation well in advance as places book up really fast.
Floating Markets
The floating markets are definitely something I would recommend, You can book your excursion through tourist information or your hotel may even point you in the right direction. They are crazy busy and pretty manic. The items for sale on the markets are a lot more expensive than on the regular markets but I suppose you're paying for the experience.
Visit 'The Beach'
We had the amazing opportunity of visiting the spot where 'The Beach' with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. We canoed around all of the beautiful scenery and in the evening sat in a treetop bar and watched the film itself on a huge projector screen. Again - tourist information will help! *tip* - Invest in a waterproof bag for your phone/camera so you aren't afraid of taking it with you when you fall out of your canoe.
Health and Safety
There appears to be a lack of concern when it comes to 'health and safety' across most of the places we travelled. Just be brave and throw yourself into the ridiculous situations you may find yourselves in. You'll laugh about it one say i promise.
The night train
The over night train is a great way to get around without taking day out of your travelling. You have two seats opposite each other with a ladder to the side. At around ten o'clock the guard comes through and pulls out your beds, one person is on the bottom bunk and one is on the top. You get given a pillow and sheet and pull your curtains shut to create your little bed for the night. It surprisingly comfortable, if a little small, but much better than sleeping on a plane or coach! There is a luggage rack for your back pack but being the paranoid Patricia that I am i strapped mine to my leg and spooned it. You've gotta do what you've gotta do!
Elephant Trekking
Elephants are my favourite animal so when I saw the opportunity of meeting one face to face i jumped at it. Elephant trekking takes place all over the world and it is under scrutiny for the safety and well-being of the animals. the place we visited had a full back story that the elephants had been saved from poaching and it was a sanctuary for them. We arrived and the first part of the day was watching the elephants in a show where they painted pictures, did tricks and danced. it was so uncomfortable to watch that myself and my friend decided to leave and explore the place itself. we came across some baby elephants who were being cleaned out. the worker gave us some bananas to feed them and it was magical. Elephant trekking might not be something you're looking into, but if you are just be careful where you go. i might be completely naive in thinking there are reputable places where you can visit elephants and i apologise if that isn't the case. the only tip i can really give you is to research as much as you can before you go away - same can be said for the tiger temple, somewhere in hindsight i wouldn't visit again.
So there we are! My Thailand tips. It really was the adventure of a lifetime and created memories that i will cherish forever.
Would i go back? In a heartbeat.
If you've got any questions about Thailand, travelling or anything else just whizz me a message on instagram!
Jess x
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