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Thailand is an amazing country. It is in fact, one of my favourites.  

It is a country filled with beautiful scenery, a relaxed atmosphere and tons of fun. 

When it comes to backpacking, this is one country you cannot miss.

Ironically, Thailand was never a country I felt I needed to go to. Until traveling sort of just ‘happened’ for me. You can read more about this in my about me page!

But, once I got there it was amazing. I remember landing in Bangkok after a long flight from Greece. I was jet lagged and in a horrible mood.

The first thing I noticed is that they drove on the left side of the road!

I bought myself some coconut ice cream and found my hostel. There were so many people and the streets were filled with merchandise! Bangkok is definitely not one of my favourite places (or favourite smells… ew) but it’s great for buying cheap things. 

 

I have been to Thailand twice now and really feel I have gotten to know the country well. After backpacking the country, there are many things I wish I knew before heading to Thailand.

 

• Don’t plan your vacation. 

  If you read my post on things you need to know before backpacking Asia, you probably have already heard this. But, the first time I traveled Thailand I planned everything to a T. My hostels, my day trips, buses and everything. Wow, did I ever regret it.

  Asia is unbelievably relaxed and all I really wanted to do was chill out on the beach and get to know the people in my hostel.

  If you rush your time in Thailand you’re going to lose out on a lot of amazing opportunities.

  It is not like Europe. Pre-planning Thailand can potentially cost you. This is Thailand were speaking of, an island. Island people with an island mindset. It is not fast-paced.

  The second time I went to Thailand. Everything I planned was last minute and I really enjoyed myself more this way. Though they have thousands of backpackers, there is always additional room for people to join in on day cruises and events.

  I cannot stress this enough! I enjoyed my second time in Thailand more than the first because I got to really experience everything.

  I woke up late, had breakfast, met new people, decided to go off and do something with them and then sign up for day trips last minute etc.. It is really worth it.

  Make sure to read up on my tips for backpacking Asia and you’ll really get what I mean.

   

• Street food is cheap food. 

  If you want to travel Thailand on a budget, food prices are what you must focus on.It’s very difficult to keep track of the differences in currency while traveling and especially in Thailand, things seem like such a good price.

   

  To help, I downloaded the currency exchange app and it really helped me understand how much I was paying in Can. Dollar. There are many restaurants that will charge you extra money for a meal that would be worth less than 50 baht. This is why street food becomes your friend.

  My friend and I never spent more than 50 baht for a meal. I remember one night on Koh San Road, I bought vegetarian spring rolls and Pad Thai for less than 50 baht and it was the most delicious meal in Thailand I’ve ever had!

   

• The cheaper the hostel, the more the fun. 

  Of course, you can never go wrong with a hostel in SE Asia. Their laws and regulations are completely different than the ones in North America, Oceania, and Europe so it’s not rare to see a slide in a hostel. 

  Some of the best hostels I’ve been to have been the best hostels I’ve ever been to. I never paid more than about 6$ for a hostel per night. Thankfully, all of these hostels ended up being so much fun and I met great people here.

  Thailand really counts on their tourism. So they really have the best and cheapest options when it comes to backpacking. Many of their hostels include breakfast, pools and great accommodations for cheap.

  Interested in a “best hostels in Thailand” post? Let me know down below.

   

• If you want to see the area…
  
  RENT A BIKE. First time in Thailand, I was terrified to rent a bike. The only time I did so was to go visit the big Buddha in Phuket and drove at around 20 km/h max.Second time in Thailand, I relied on renting a bike in every city I went to because I knew, that that was the only way I was going to get the most of the city while trying to save money.

  My best days in Thailand were when I rented a bike and drove from town to town and I got to see the unbelievable landscapes. Also, another great thing is I was able to stop whenever I wanted to check things out. If you’re cabbing or taking an uber you don’t exactly have the control to do these things.

  I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of horror stories from people biking through Asia but usually, accidents happen when people aren’t careful. Therefore, make sure to take it slow, get used to the roads and take your time.

  Remember, everything is slow pace in Thailand. There is never a rush!

   

• BANGKOK* Khaosan Road is fun.. but there’s better.
  

  This is where the hangover was filmed!

   

  Khaosan Road is potentially one of the most popular places for backpackers in Thailand.
  It is a street filled with plenty of restaurants, clothing, food, art stands… It has everything. From people selling ping pong shows to people giving massages. This is the ultimate street to visit when backpacking Thailand.Now, the only thing I must say is that this road is expensive. Everything on Khaosan is expensive. It is unbelievably touristy therefore they increase the prices of all products on that road. 

   

  I personally found the street before (or after depending where you’re coming from) is much better.

   

  It is called Rambuttri Alley. It is a bit cheaper but just as great!

  As well, the road across from this is Soi Ram Butri and here I found unreal prices. I found cocktails, food, clothing and massages for really cheap!
  Also, it is beautifully lit up and filled with music at night.

   

  I actually enjoyed this road more than Khaosan.

   

• Bargain everything. 

  I feel like sometimes I bargained so much my friends were embarrassed to be around me. But then again, they always asked me to buy their things since they knew I could get the best deal.

  In Thailand, everything is about bargaining. It’s actually part of their culture and they do it within themselves as well. 

   

  If you’re at a restaurant.. do not bargain. This is the only time where it does not apply. 

  Other than that, when you’re trying to buy something on the road go ahead and bargain at the best of your abilities. This country is run off of it and if you don’t, you will be ripped off. 

  For some reason, (well probably many) Thai people love to rip off tourists. There are so many tourists running through the streets, that the Thai’s sometimes double the prices of things the second they know you’re not from Thailand. 

  This being said…. You must still remain respectful when bargaining. These are people with feelings and they’re usually selling items that they have worked extremely hard to make.

   

  Bargain but do not insult them.

   

   

Like I said, Thailand is still to date one of my favorite countries. It is beautiful, cheap and so much fun. I felt as though there was so much to do there and so many beautiful places to relax to.

If you’re interested in seeing more about Thailand like best hostels, must do things, must see places; send me a comment down below! 🙂 

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