I am planning a trip for next year and have decided on Thailand. I am a total noob when it comes to this region and was wondering if there was anyone out there who could give me some pointers on fun things to do. I like to just go out and explore, but I'm bringing someone else who has never left the states and I want to have some things pre planned out before we get there.
"I am a total noob when it comes to this region .....pointers on fun things to do."
Seriously - buy a travel guide! If you are in the US you can even check a couple out from the free library in your town.
From the US buy round trip plane tickets to Bangkok. (Cheaper than 2 one way flights.) Tourists visit Thailand every month of the year. But more tourists visit end of November to end of February (high season) when the weather is milder. Don't be afraid visiting during the "rainy season" or the "hot season" if that is the only time you can spare. Visit for no less than 2 weeks if you can. Thirty days or less (US passport) you can enter with a free Visa Exemption stamp you get at the airport. (With verifiable flight out of Bangkok.)
From Bangkok you have some good transportation you can book after you arrive if you want. Buses, trains and discount airlines available. Look at a map of Thailand. Chiang Mai at the top and Phuket area at the bottom are popular destinations. But there are many other places you can visit if you have time and money.
What is a "fun thing" to you? If you are curious about something Google it up first, then verify the accuracy with some research. Skydiving - Google it! Fishing - Google it! Getting wasted in a beer bar - Google up nightlife for Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, etc. Flight of the Gibbon - Google it! Boob jobs, nose jobs, cheaper dental - Google it up! (Dental work is cheaper than the US.) Google up "scams to avoid while you are at it!
Like all enterprises - start with a budget. Know how much money you want to spend on a hotel each night and how much you have each day for everything else after buying plane tickets. Fit your vacation to what you can afford. Look over some of the many posts on this forum for pointers. Visits close to Christmas and New Years Day holidays are most expensive for hotels and plane rides from US.
Passport, budget (unless you are rolling in $$$$ and cost doesn't matter,) choose when to visit, check with your doctor for shots, read up on TSA rules if you haven't flown before. Choose airline and sign up for frequent flier program. Or use an airline you have a an affiliation with and maybe elite level giving you perks. (You get a heck of a lot of free FF miles on trips to and from Asia. Good for upgrades and free flights and eventually even shorter check-in lines too!)
Notify your bank that you may be using their debit cards overseas - before leaving home. When bringing cash stick to the hundred dollar bills that are not old, dirty or torn. No problem changing USD to Thai baht AFTER you get to Thailand. (Better rate in Thailand and you can change some money 24 hours a day at the airport. Have more than one source of spending money. Don't rely on a single debit card. (In Thailand you can find a bank or bank kiosk for money changing every day and even late into the evening sometimes. Rates change daily.)
When you fly home you will be able to get rid of your Thai baht at the airport anytime of the day.
That's enough for now.
[ 13-Jan-2015, at 17:15 by karazyal ]
"I am a total noob when it comes to this region .....pointers on fun things to do."
Seriously - buy a travel guide! If you are in the US you can even check a couple out from the free library in your town.
From the US buy round trip plane tickets to Bangkok. (Cheaper than 2 one way flights.) Tourists visit Thailand every month of the year. But more tourists visit end of November to end of February (high season) when the weather is milder. Don't be afraid visiting during the "rainy season" or the "hot season" if that is the only time you can spare. Visit for no less than 2 weeks if you can. Thirty days or less (US passport) you can enter with a free Visa Exemption stamp you get at the airport. (With verifiable flight out of Bangkok.)
From Bangkok you have some good transportation you can book after you arrive if you want. Buses, trains and discount airlines available. Look at a map of Thailand. Chiang Mai at the top and Phuket area at the bottom are popular destinations. But there are many other places you can visit if you have time and money.
What is a "fun thing" to you? If you are curious about something Google it up first, then verify the accuracy with some research. Skydiving - Google it! Fishing - Google it! Getting wasted in a beer bar - Google up nightlife for Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, etc. Flight of the Gibbon - Google it! Boob jobs, nose jobs, cheaper dental - Google it up! (Dental work is cheaper than the US.) Google up "scams to avoid while you are at it!
Like all enterprises - start with a budget. Know how much money you want to spend on a hotel each night and how much you have each day for everything else after buying plane tickets. Fit your vacation to what you can afford. Look over some of the many posts on this forum for pointers. Visits close to Christmas and New Years Day holidays are most expensive for hotels and plane rides from US.
Passport, budget (unless you are rolling in $$$$ and cost doesn't matter,) choose when to visit, check with your doctor for shots, read up on TSA rules if you haven't flown before. Choose airline and sign up for frequent flier program. Or use an airline you have a an affiliation with and maybe elite level giving you perks. (You get a heck of a lot of free FF miles on trips to and from Asia. Good for upgrades and free flights and eventually even shorter check-in lines too!)
Notify your bank that you may be using their debit cards overseas - before leaving home. When bringing cash stick to the hundred dollar bills that are not old, dirty or torn. No problem changing USD to Thai baht AFTER you get to Thailand. (Better rate in Thailand and you can change some money 24 hours a day at the airport. Have more than one source of spending money. Don't rely on a single debit card. (In Thailand you can find a bank or bank kiosk for money changing every day and even late into the evening sometimes. Rates change daily.)When you fly home you will be able to get rid of your Thai baht at the airport anytime of the day.
That's enough for now.
Thank you for the advice, my cousin bummed around Thailand for a while, she did the couch surfing thing and there is the work abroad programs that you can do. , I mean there are ways around to make traveling cheaper. Sounds like you travel a lot, have you been to any other exotic places that would be interesting to travel to?
Myanmar (Burma) is interesting.
A way to travel cheaper. My opinion, if paying 500-800 baht per night is too much for accommodation stay for a shorter amount of time so you have more spending money each day. Yes, some "tourists" do find some sort of work under the table. It is illegal to work without a work permit. Some tourist women sleep around for extra money too. Doesn't make it right though. Get caught you get in trouble. Some really young kid tourists think they can play Tarzan and sleep out in the bushes. That is not a good idea either. Out in the boonies, all alone, means you are ripe for the picking. You may not think you are wealthy but your camera, cell phone and other stuff will be worth more than some guy makes working 12 hours every day at hard labor. Not to mention if your friend is a woman that is another bonanza for anyone who finds you out in remote areas all alone.
Bus travel is not too expensive.
Having a "go home date" means you can use a round trip plane ticket. Do the math. Round trip might save you a lot of money vs two one way flights. More money in your pocket means a better place to stay in.
I have heard wonderful things about Burma! I will take a closer look in the planning process. I also am planning on staying within the law of each country, during this trip. So no worries about me joining an illegal trade ring. There are better ways to earn travelling money that are safer and honest. I will definitely aim to set a "go home date," but I'm not sure I can make myself stick to that.
Are the buses in Asia typically reliable?
Buses are normally a good way to travel, but for your own sake mind you stuff. Travel from the bigger bus stations, with respectable companies, instead of the buses booked by travel agencies at tourist hotspots like Khao San road in Bangkok. In countries like Loas, with really bad roads, you might want to opt for a mini van, instead of the bigger, slower and less comfortable busses.
About setting a home date, take notice of the maximum number of days you can spend in a country, and if you already need to provide a ticket out of the country upon arrival.
Ok thanks for the info folks. I'm going to do some more research and check out some Thailand specific forums. I'm also going to check out some other countries as well. Again , thanks everyone for your input!
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