It's been 10 years since I first visited Thailand. I went with my parents last time and I can’t even remember half the things we did back then. There are a lot of things that can happen in a place in 10 years. Now that I’m older and a bit wiser, I was more observant this time.
Thailand is similar to the Philippines in some ways – warm weather during the day and heavy rain in the afternoon. Their surroundings, streets & highway architecture, and heavy traffic.
As you walk through streets of Bangkok you will see tributes to King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) the longest reigning monarch in Thai History [70 years in service], arguably Thailand's most well-loved king.
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| Wat Pho, The Temple of the Reclining Buddha |
Where
can I get cheap airfare?
I always try to find cheap and promo flights for my trips. There are lots of airlines that release promo fares during summer so make sure to keep an eye out for those discounts before they end. I suggest that you sign up for newsletters or turn on your notifications for airlines or travel pages of your choice! ;)
I booked our September trip to Thailand last February using Cebu Pacific’s Mobile App. It was the last day of the promo and the website kept crashing so I figured I'd try the mobile app and voila! Haha! Anyway, I was originally planning to book a trip to Palawan but tickets were already sold out. :(
Our airfare was 4,910.64 exclusive of travel tax and check-in baggage. I will make a breakdown of expenses at the last part of this post. ;)
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| Ratchathewi District / Ratchathewi Park; full of different graffiti wall arts |
How to get around the city?
One thing you should consider every time you book a hotel is its accessibility to public transport. And also to check if they offer airport transfers.
One thing you should consider every time you book a hotel is its accessibility to public transport. And also to check if they offer airport transfers.
Thailand’s main transportation are their metered taxi, tuk-tuk (similar to a tricycle in the Philippines), Bangkok MRT and buses. It is fairly easy getting around the city wherein almost all the places are just minutes away from each other.
For tourists like us, metered taxi is a bit expensive if you are in a tight budget – some taxi drivers offer up to 300baht (which is expensive knowing that the place is just near). Make sure to haggle as much as you can, if they agreed to the 150baht offer, grab it! You can also try booking via Uber; Yes! They have Uber in Bangkok, it’s cheaper by 100baht that saves you a couple of bucks.
We were able to ride Bangkok's MRT only once. And I must say, theirs is waaaaaay better than our own MRT.
Where can I stay?
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| Buddhas inside Wat Pho |
Like what I mentioned earlier, always consider a hotel's accessibility to public transportation, shopping areas, and the places you plan to visit.
Our hotel, the Baiyoke Boutique Hotel, is near the shopping area and is very accessible. You can book other Baiyoke Boutique affiliates like Baiyoke Sky and Baiyoke Suite if you are okay on spending a bit more for your accommodation. Nonetheless, our time in the Baiyoke Boutique Hotel was good and smooth throughout our stay.
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| Wat Mahathat, Temple of The Great Relics |
Travel Tips
TRAVEL TIP #1: Buy a local sim card. Every time I travel overseas (which is not a lot), buying a local sim card is normally not in my budget. Most Thai don't speak English quite well. Some don't even speak English at all which makes asking for directions a hassle. Purchasing a local sim card (with unlimited data) is practical and useful for navigating your way around the city. And it is best to buy a sim right away at the airport after you land. Cheaper and more convenient.
TRAVEL TIP #2: Be prepared for the traffic. You have to book for tours that start in the morning rather in the afternoon ones. I learned this the hard way because being stuck in Bangkok traffic really costed us precious time. Bangkok traffic is almost similar to what you'd experience in EDSA during rush hour on a Friday - it's frustrating!
TRAVEL TIP #3: Buy now or Cry later. If you love buying cheap but quality products, Thailand is the best place for you. There are several night markets all over the city and we were lucky enough to have one near our hotel. THE STALLS CHANGE THEIR PLACES EVERY NIGHT so if you find stuff that you like, BUY IT RIGHT AWAY!
TRAVEL TIP #4: Street food everywhere. What you will absolutely love while strolling around the city is that you won't get hungry! Bangkok street food is nothing but the best. You have to try they Pork Barbecue (10 baht) - really tasty and tender. They have a wide variety of skewers - crab sticks, scallops, fish cakes, etc. Make sure to try legit Thai Cuisine especially Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice. Explore their broad range of food choices for the best gastronomic vacation!
TRAVEL TIP #5: Respect their culture. Every time we travel out of the country or to other places foreign to us, we have to be mindful of their traditions and their culture. Make sure to dress appropriately when visiting their temples. Wear ankle length pants or skirts and long sleeve blouses. Keep your voice down as respect to people praying inside the temples.
TRAVEL TIP #6: Siam Niramit: a must-see show. You have to watch this spectacular play! Dubbed as one of the largest stage productions in the world, it highlights Thailand's ancient history and culture. Amazing stage effects and superb acting will leave you amazed for days. You can purchase a ticket (with optional buffet dinner) via Klook and present the confirmation code at the counter.
Here's the breakdown of our expenses:
TRAVEL TIP #1: Buy a local sim card. Every time I travel overseas (which is not a lot), buying a local sim card is normally not in my budget. Most Thai don't speak English quite well. Some don't even speak English at all which makes asking for directions a hassle. Purchasing a local sim card (with unlimited data) is practical and useful for navigating your way around the city. And it is best to buy a sim right away at the airport after you land. Cheaper and more convenient.
TRAVEL TIP #2: Be prepared for the traffic. You have to book for tours that start in the morning rather in the afternoon ones. I learned this the hard way because being stuck in Bangkok traffic really costed us precious time. Bangkok traffic is almost similar to what you'd experience in EDSA during rush hour on a Friday - it's frustrating!
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| Bang Pa-in Palace, also known as Summer Palace |
TRAVEL TIP #4: Street food everywhere. What you will absolutely love while strolling around the city is that you won't get hungry! Bangkok street food is nothing but the best. You have to try they Pork Barbecue (10 baht) - really tasty and tender. They have a wide variety of skewers - crab sticks, scallops, fish cakes, etc. Make sure to try legit Thai Cuisine especially Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice. Explore their broad range of food choices for the best gastronomic vacation!
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| Thailand's version of Pork Barbecue, this is only 10baht and you will be craving for more! This skewer is basically everywhere and I swear it's really good and so tender! Pair it with rice and you'll be solved! |
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| Authentic Pad Thai,. Tastiest Pad Thai we had during our trip |
TRAVEL TIP #5: Respect their culture. Every time we travel out of the country or to other places foreign to us, we have to be mindful of their traditions and their culture. Make sure to dress appropriately when visiting their temples. Wear ankle length pants or skirts and long sleeve blouses. Keep your voice down as respect to people praying inside the temples.
TRAVEL TIP #6: Siam Niramit: a must-see show. You have to watch this spectacular play! Dubbed as one of the largest stage productions in the world, it highlights Thailand's ancient history and culture. Amazing stage effects and superb acting will leave you amazed for days. You can purchase a ticket (with optional buffet dinner) via Klook and present the confirmation code at the counter.
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| Wat Chaiwatthanaram, One of Ayutthaya's most impressive temples. A Royal temple that was used by the King and other members of the Royal family. |
What I love most about Thailand? I love how it's like a better version of the Philippines.
- Transportation. Their trains are efficient, advanced and better looking than ours. Hehe!
- People. Thai's are very respectful; they always greet you with a smile on their faces. And also how they showed their love for their longest reigning King.
- Culture. Even with the number of tourists they have every year they have preserved their rich culture and respect to their religion.
- Airport. I have a big admiration with efficient and beautiful airports. In comparison to ours, it's really a shame that our airport will never look as good as Thailand's.
TIP: If you are worried about the expenses, Thailand is almost as cheap as the Philippines.
฿1(1 baht) is equal to ₱1.55(1.55 pesos). Your peso, can really go a long way in Thailand - can even buy lots of pasalubong for the family!
Breakdown of Expenses
Breakdown of Expenses
SPENT
PER PERSON
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ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE
(Cebu Pacific)
|
P4,910.64
(exclusive of
travel tax and baggage allowance)
|
TRAVEL TAX
(to be paid before the flight)
|
P1,620
(paid per person) |
EXTRA BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
(roundtrip)
|
P1,660
(15kg & 20kg
baggage allowance)
|
ACCOMMODATION
(Baiyoke Boutique Hotel)
|
P1,835
P9,162 (group of 5, 2 twin rooms)
(4 days, 3 nights)
|
AYUTTHAYA TOUR
(inclusive of lunch and car transfer)
|
P2,020
(though we paid in
baht - ฿1,300)
|
SIAM NIRAMIT
(inclusive of buffet dinner)
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P2,180
(booked via klook)
|
PASALUBONG SHOPPING
(includes clothes and food pasalubong)
|
P1,000
(฿500 in baht)
|
FOOD & TRANSPORTATION
(allotted for 3 days)
|
P2,000
(P1,000 for food /
P1,000 for transportation)
|
P17,225.64
|
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I will most likely go back and visit other parts of Thailand. We are planning to go to Chiang Mai and volunteer at the Elephant Sanctuary, plus the weather there is a bit cold since it’s in the provincial area of Thailand. J
