Few people know that traveling to Thailand on your own is not at all difficult, but many have heard that Russian tour operators are experiencing difficulties because of which innocent people are suffering. We bought a ticket but couldn’t go on vacation! Can you imagine yourself in the shoes of these people? If you have any idea, you don’t have to: after reading our instructions, you can easily travel to Thailand on your own.

How to travel to Thailand on your own: instructions in 5 steps

Actually, the writing of this article was prompted by the increased demand for. People have begun to trust travel agencies less and want to try to come to Thailand on their own. And we’re not talking about young people who are knee-deep in the sea: pensioners, mothers with babies, and entire groups of 12 people fly to Thailand on their own! Because it's easy to do - you just need to follow 5 steps.

Step 1. Buy an air ticket

An independent trip to Thailand begins with the purchase of air tickets. There are two options: search on airline websites or on aggregator websites. Aggregator sites are search engines that receive information from all airlines and reservation systems.

The most important thing: the aggregator site does not inflate the price of the air ticket, as some people think. The aggregator site receives a commission from the airline, and this constitutes its earnings.

Step 2. Book a hotel in Thailand

I think everyone has heard about the Booking.com system :) But Booking is only one of many booking systems. We usually use hotel search engines that compare prices in different booking systems and automatically find the best options. Our favorite hotel search engine is Hotellook.

If you decide to go to Thailand on your own, you can also choose accommodation:

• manually on the Internet, finding hotel websites (similar to airline websites);
• on Airbnb.com and similar sites to rent an apartment or house directly from the owners. By the way, if you register on Airbnb follow this link, you will receive a discount of 27 euros on your first booking of 58 euros or more.
• on the websites of real estate agencies located in this city (also for renting houses or apartments). List .

By the way, in a separate article we have already written about that and other cities in Thailand.

Step 3. Buy insurance

Before you travel to Thailand on your own, be sure to purchase insurance! This is done in 3 minutes. Last year we had Ingosstrakh, this year we had Liberty; We have already gone to the hospital five times through our insurance. But this year Ingosstrakh has risen in price a lot, and Liberty has also risen in price, but not as much. And according to reviews, Liberty is even better.

The complete algorithm for purchasing insurance online is described in our article. Take a look at the article and see for yourself how easy and quick it is to purchase travel insurance abroad.

Or you can immediately go to the website of the Liberty insurance company and apply for a policy there, here is a direct link to the policy purchase page:

Don't forget to print out your insurance policy and write down the phone number to call if you need to go to the hospital.

By the way, the full algorithm of actions in the event that you need to use insurance is described in our article, which, according to the laws of the genre, I cannot help but advertise :)

Step 4. Decide on transfer from the airport to the hotel

To travel to Thailand on your own, you need to figure out in advance how to get from the airport to your desired destination.

If you are traveling to Pattaya, then buses run constantly from Suvarnabhumi Airport to this city. They depart from Gate 8 every hour from 6:00 to 22:00. Ticket price is from 120 to 135 baht (it changes throughout the year).

Other cities in Thailand also have different transfer options. For example, in Bangkok you can get from the airport to the city by metro, at Chiang Mai airport there is an inexpensive taxi service that will take you to any hotel for just 150 baht, and a bus runs from Phuket airport to Phuket Town several times a day. And of course, local taxis are at your service at any time of the day at all airports in Thailand!

How to travel to Thailand on your own? Directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport you can go to Pattaya, Hua Hin or some of the islands, and Bangkok can be reached cheaply by metro.

Step 5. Write down the necessary words in English

I will never cease to be amazed that people are afraid to travel abroad due to the language barrier. You'd think there would be long philosophical conversations with you here in English!

In Pattaya, Phuket and many other regions of Thailand, there are no fewer Russian tourists than Chinese. And I will not open America for you by saying that most of them come either without any knowledge of English, or with basic-basic knowledge. You didn’t come to London to study, but to Thailand to relax at the seaside. Basic English or sign language will be sufficient. There is so much here in Russian - the menu, the excursions, and the names of products on the market!

But my recommendation is that if you are really worried about not knowing the language, before you go to Thailand on your own, just write down the words that will be useful to you for your vacation. To do this, you can enter the phrase “a short English phrasebook for tourists” into a search engine and look for the necessary expressions there.

If you want to travel to Thailand on your own, you need to master English and Thai perfectly. Just kidding 😉

Tips and useful information for those planning an independent trip to Thailand. When to go, how to find cheap flights and hotels, visa, price overview in 2019, low-cost airlines and transport rental, money and ATMs.

All information is current for 2019 and is based on personal experience of independent travel to Thailand.

Exchange rate: 1 Thai baht (THB) ≈ 2 RUB.

Flights to Thailand

Air travel from Russia to Thailand eats up most of the budget of an independent traveler. Tickets for flights with transfers to Bangkok and Phuket - from 25 thousand rubles, tickets for direct flights are more expensive - 30-50 thousand rubles.

Here are some helpful tips for buying tickets:

Tours can be used instead of one-way flights. Do the math for yourself: a standard non-stop ticket from Moscow to Phuket costs about 40 thousand for one, and a tour costs from 60 thousand for two. At the same time, you still get everything that is included in the package: hotel, meals, transfer, insurance. Isn't that a cool way?

Last minute tours search on the services and - they will find the best offers among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

Thai visa

Russians can enter Thailand without a visa - upon arrival they are stamped for 30 days.

If you are going on holiday to Thailand for a long time, then:

1. Apply for a visa in advance in Russia(on your own or through an agency).
2. Apply for Thai visa in neighboring countries. For example, you can simply get a visa in Laos and Malaysia in 1 day. You can get a visa in another Asian country and go to Thailand, or you can fly straight to Thailand, get a stamp for a month and only then go abroad to get a visa.

About border runs. Previously, people lived in Thailand for years without obtaining a visa: they traveled once a month to another country and returned the same day. However, since the summer of 2014, the authorities have tightened migration policy so that tourists obtain visas. Now malicious border runners may not be allowed into the country.

On the border. When you go through passport control, keep a printout of your return ticket or ticket to a third country handy (you can also print it electronically). According to reviews, it is advisable to have at least 20,000 baht per person in cash. Money is rarely checked, mainly from border traders in order to receive a bribe. They never asked us for a ticket or money, but it’s better to at least be safe with a ticket.

Prices in Thailand - 2019

Due to the crisis, Thailand is no longer a cheap country to live and travel independently. Local prices now need to be multiplied by almost two to convert into rubles. However, you can still live there on a fairly budget if you try.

Prices vary among resorts. To give you an idea of ​​prices in Thailand, here are the main ones:

We go to Southeast Asia primarily for tropical fruits - they are tasty and cheap there. We have created a guide with prices, names and photos.

Housing in Thailand

If you have planned an independent trip to Thailand, you need to approach the issue of housing responsibly. To stay in a good hotel at a low price, especially during the high season, you need to book several months in advance. This is not necessary during low season. Are you traveling for a long time? Then book a hotel for the first days and look for accommodation locally.

When is the best time to go to Thailand?

The question of when is the best time to vacation in Thailand is more of a concern for package tourists than for independent travelers. Usually people travel to Thailand on their own for a long period of time (at least a month), so it is not so important for travelers how often it rains. On the contrary, the rainy season is a wonderful time: an abundance of fruits, low prices, few tourists, the most beautiful sunsets. Still, before your trip, read about the peculiarities of the weather in Thailand, so as not to die from the heat and smog or not to celebrate the New Year on Samui in the pouring rain.

Thailand is crowded with tourists in winter and spring. This is high season, the weather is dry and clear. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until November.

Where is the best place to relax in Thailand?

In Thailand we lived in Bangkok, Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket. Of these four places, the best is, of course, Phuket. Most tourists limit themselves only to Pattaya and Phuket. We want to gradually travel around the whole country.

Bangkok- for lovers of cultural and excursion leisure. Interesting international city.

Phuket- a classic beach resort. Excellent beaches, clean water, many natural and cultural attractions.

Pattaya contradictory: Russians go there with their children for a relaxed beach holiday and excursion holidays, and the rest go there for nightly adventures. The beaches and sea at the resort are bad.

Tourists speak favorably of the islands Samui, Chang And Koh Phangan- there are much fewer tourists there than in popular resorts, and the nature is beautiful. However, the infrastructure is not very developed.

In the province Krabi gorgeous cliffs and a good beach. There are no package tourists here. IN Hua Hine the beaches are so-so, but the city attracts with its difference from other cities: it is neat, well-groomed and Europeanized.

On Phuket We lived three times and explored the island best. Here are useful articles about it:

Low-cost airlines in Thailand: low-cost airlines

Thanks to low-cost airlines, you can travel independently within Thailand and to other countries in Southeast Asia conveniently, simply and on a budget. Often a flight is cheaper than a bus ride - tickets cost $10-30.

Transport rental in Thailand

It’s hard in Thailand without renting a bike or car: you’ll have to spend a lot of money on taxis or excursions to see all the beauty. And you can rent a vehicle very cheaply! Regular price - 200-250 baht per day + deposit and passport.

Personal experience. In Phuket, we rented a bike on the website for 250 baht per day, and the owner did not ask for a passport as deposit. In Pattaya we rented a cool Kawasaki chopper for only 200 baht per day and also without a passport! True, he is already a little tired and shabby, but he’s a chopper. The rental point is called Tom Pattaya bike and car for rent (tel. 081 356 4906).

There are many bike rental points at the resorts, but renting a car is more difficult. You can rent a car on the Skyscanner Car Hire website from 700 baht per day (in Phuket).

What's worth knowing:

• The traffic is on the left and chaotic.
• Driver's license required.
• Do not give your passport as collateral.
• Photos of all scratches on the bike are a must.
• Helmet and insurance are required.
• Red and white markings - parking is prohibited.

We rented a chopper in Pattaya for only 200 baht per day.

Money and ATMs

Take money in euros or dollars. There are many exchange offices and banks at the resorts, the exchange rate is adequate. At ATMs the commission is 200 baht + commission of the issuing bank.

What advice can you give to those who decide to go on an independent trip to Thailand? Here are some recommendations based on our experience:

• Book hotels in advance during the season to have time to find a good option in terms of price-quality ratio.
• Make sure that the hotel has mosquito nets on the windows. Use repellents and other mosquito repellents.
• In Thailand, as in all of Asia, you cannot hide from nosy ants - do not leave crumbs (especially sweet ones) and fruits, throw away garbage immediately.
• For safety and peace of mind, we recommend taking out insurance.
• Read in advance about how to get from the airport to the city so as not to overpay.
• Big C and Tesco Lotus supermarkets have discounts on perishables after 6pm and 7pm.
• At Big C, you can ask for your purchased seafood to be cooked for free.
• Drinking water can be purchased from special vending machines (1 liter - 1 baht).
• If you have a long flight or travel on an air-conditioned bus, have a sweater. The air conditioners are on full blast and it's very easy to catch a cold.

Introductory image source: © DeeMakMak / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

How to travel to Thailand yourself.

From the notes of one experienced traveler.

This article may seem a little boring, but I will try to describe at least the basics of the mentality and culture of the Thais. And I want to note - this is not a step-by-step instruction, like,

Point 1: When getting off the plane in Bangkok, smile;

Point 2: When meeting a girl on Walking Street - Remember! Isn't it

surprise?!!!

Speaking of pricing of stores, prices for some tours or excursions, if I don’t forget, I’ll devote a few paragraphs. I think this information will not hurt those who first time visiting Thailand.

Before go to Thailand on your own, you need to understand the difference of this country
from other countries described on this site, I don’t know how, well, not in a nutshell, but at least I’ll try to describe Thailand in some general way. Probably, only after three flights to a given country, you will be able to have a different understanding about this land.

Your own impressions of Thailand will of course depend very much on your expectations.

What do you hope to gain from this visit? I
I will try to highlight some of the pros and cons of this country of smiles, so to speak, a small guide to the provinces and resorts of Thailand.

Firstly: to this day, Thailand is still a good choice for tourists to explore, after all, it is mostly mass tourism that exists now. This is really the key thing to understand. You can imagine Thai as an unknown and exotic place. While here, make no mistake: this place is one of the top 10 places in the world, which is crowded every day with crowds of tourists from every corner
peace. If you're looking for a secluded beach experience, be prepared to be disappointed. If you are looking for some precious stones, then do not consider this option. There are precious stones in the country, but not enough. How do you want it? You're at a resort! Are there fewer vacationers in Turkey?!

But this does not mean that it is bad to relax here. You see, here...well, it’s just an amazing vacation! Tropical beaches in the south, with all water sports, great opportunities for snorkeling. And in the north of the country, you can go into the jungle, visit old Buddhist temples or relax in the healing hot springs.

Thailand is firmly on the tourist map, so you can give it a lot of advantages.

Firstly, everything is easy for a traveler here. And if you have little experience in another country, here traveling from point A to B will be the easiest. For example, what may seem difficult to you are such steps as purchasing a ticket for bus routes, or on the same day sailing to one of the islands in a boat to take a walk in the park. In fact, it will be an easy task, thanks to convenient schedules and always available tickets.

And remember, the real Thailand opens up for tourists not on the beach, but in completely different places. Just then, the main crowds of tourists relax by the sea. But I always ask: “I don’t understand! Why fly 10 hours across three nine lands to lie around like a flounder by the sea???” With the same success, you can stand in a traffic jam for two hours and also relax with your grandmother on Klyazma, swimming and sunbathing.

Don't worry about anything.

I remember the first time, taking a ticket with a friend, we flew to Phuket. Bangkok airport, customs, a slight after-plane hangover, a bunch of our tourists. It feels as if we are still somewhere in Domodedovo. And it began - to fill out some papers, I want to note, in English. I only remember German from films. But as always, being surrounded by a Russian unshaven booth helped us; by the way, we were flying in the company of a very nice and intelligent company. Well, everyone was just going on vacation.

It's an hour's flight from Bangkok to Phuket, there's no customs there. We are already in Thailand! Of course, our Russian ranks thinned, and at the exit from the airport we were left alone.

Remember - our tour operators, in my opinion, they are there somewhere... They just are! Because no one met us with a screaming sign on a sign: “Guys! You are in Phuket! This is Tai!

Like everywhere else at the airport there is a taxi service. There are private owners, and there are official or state taxi services. Private traders can heat up the money a little, but you can also heat them up. We just don’t know British, and they don’t understand Russian, whoever utters the most strange words wins. Approaching the officials, this is a stand similar to the one where the microphones are when the president speaks, only it is covered with all sorts of bright advertising booklets. There was a cute Thai girl or girl behind the counter... I think there was a girl. At the counter there is a neat price list and a map of Phuket. Why do we need English?! Our documents indicated our specific hotel,
in English.

800 Baht and we are already in a taxi. But I still didn’t understand why private traders were so intractable, charging an amount of 1,500 Baht. This then dawned on me as we drove and drove and drove through Phuket, to our hotel. The driver, who had stopped smiling, called the smiling operator to clarify the address. It turns out that where we were going, there were two such addresses, they were different in some way, but somehow it didn’t bother us.

Indeed, I would pay for such a long journey, all two thousand. But it only cost us
800 Baht.

Well, yes, the taxi operator girl is cool and sweet, she smiled very beautifully!

Well, there's nothing to worry about. Here's a trivial example: we got to the hotel for half the price.

And one more thing, never look for a freebie in Thailand, just relax, and the freebie will find you on its own. Respect what is happening around you. Smiling Thais, you understand, they are at work, you, that is, tourists, you brought them some money.

Free breakfast at the hotel.

Oh, of course yes! We crossed half of Russia on a plane, India - when I woke up near the window, and I had a salad in my sneaker, we crossed the whole Indian Ocean, well, certainly not in order to wake up at eight in the morning for breakfast, which is included in our stay in hotel. Imagine a picture - such a cool restaurant at the hotel, all in palm trees and monkeys, women in sundresses, some men with them, fussing with full trays, all you can hear is: Valya - Valera, bring it - Sasha, wrap it in a bag. Lord, are we really on our beloved Klyazma!?

This was our first and last free breakfast. The following days, we had breakfast and lunch at other times or outside the hotel, for money. On vacation, it’s better to do everything for money: eat, swim, drink, get drunk, hang out. But for the money! Let it be for big money or little.

By the way, about money in the land of smiles.

Remember - here they cheat you, they smile and cheat you out of money. But in reality, this is quite normal, it looks very nice, funny and very cultured, and so, you know, unobtrusively. Therefore, always smile too, but don’t pay money yet.

Firstly, first understand for yourself whether you need it. Why pay 100 Baht when you can pay 50. But in Thailand, as elsewhere, not everything is measured by money. Although for some service you can pay not fifty, but three or ten more and you find yourself permanent
client, some salon or grocery store at the market, and the entire subsequent vacation will be served to you simply for free. Even this word “Free” somehow sounds insulting to our Thai friends; perhaps the expression “Without money” is more suitable. For example, I really liked Thai girls for their inner selves, they are beautiful, sexy, there is no debauchery in them, they are very simple, and the most important thing that struck me is that they are faithful to the core.

My friend and I lived in different rooms. After one walk on Bangla Road, we made our first friends and two lovely girlfriends. My friend had his own beauty, I had another. At night we
hung out with girls in Phuket bars and slept until late in the morning. This is what I'm getting at. Their women are faithful, for example, my friend’s girlfriend did not come to my room for any money. I certainly appreciated it!

So what am I talking about?

About the cultural scam for money in Phuket.

Wind it. By the way, representatives of our tour operator, still on the third day of our stay on the island, were somewhere here, nearby. On the fourth day, a slick, tired tie appeared with a folder in his hands, half asleep I listened to him. For some reason, what he said was not interesting. Maybe because he also felt bad and sad. He handed us a price list with prices for all sorts of entertainment, such as: unforgettable fishing on the high seas and everything else, everything as it should be - at the lowest “cosmic” prices. Do you hear? Never take excursions from your tour operator. It’s better to use the difference in money to buy souvenirs for your relatives.

Good on the streets

Phuket, every twenty meters there are shops selling various entertainment and three times cheaper.

And one day before that we went on a free sightseeing tour, you know, an introductory tour, so to speak, to prime the tourist.

The excursion included: the observation deck of Promthep Cape - a very beautiful place, it is better to go there not during the day, but either at dawn or at sunset; then to the Wat Chalong temple, also an interesting place, you can take a lot of photographs of ancient buildings. And then, at the next stage of the excursion, the funniest thing happened. They took us to a snake farm. I have the impression that these farmers, seeing another bus with tourists, begin to smile more than usual. And you smile too. But after a show with snakes, you have to throw money at these poisonous guys, well, sort of, and it’s not convenient to refuse.

And I liked the show!

Then one good Russian woman took us into some kind of large office, seated us and began, smiling (excuse the expression), to write in our ears about alternative Thai medicine, about the benefits of dried snake organs infused in alcohol. Of course, everyone tried 50 grams. It’s good that purchasing such organs was not our responsibility. Then we were taken to another crazy farm, where they made orthopedic pillows from something or other. Let's ignore this, they also offered to buy it there, because without this pillow, it’s simply impossible to live. That's what they said.

The next stop, ours free excursion, was “the cheapest a souvenir shop that supplied all the souvenir shops on the island. Well, yes, we went and looked at all sorts of shells, figurines, trinkets. I bought a couple of trinkets that fit into my pocket and didn’t get in the way, because like the others, I didn’t want to carry these shopping bags.

Guys!

The same trinkets that I bought were in souvenir shops in the center of Patong, five times cheaper. Fun huh!?

But that’s normal, we’re tourists.

Let's go back to Wat Chalong. There was an urn at the temple where they threw pieces of paper, I also threw it in, after writing something (I don’t remember), on the back I had to write my coordinates.

A day or two later, the phone in my room started working, and someone on the phone said that I “Won!” The voice said that they would come for me in the morning. And so it began. I didn’t say goodbye to my sidekick, promising to return. Indeed, in the morning an expensive foreign car stopped by, they sat me down and drove me away. The voice spoke, but now I saw it, a typical slicked office tie, patent leather boots, feet that were probably sweating.

And the Voice took me to all the luxury hotels, and they gave me everything to feed and drink. In short, they offered to join the club, I’ll skip all the bullshit, they brought me to a luxurious office building, took me from office to office, told me how cool they were, and everything around was so expensive, starting with the wooden bridge in the hall, spanning the pond. In short, to join the club, you needed two thousand dollars. I immediately remembered the taxi drivers at Phuket airport. They harassed me from morning until lunchtime. Of course, I didn't join the club. But! At the beginning of the conversation in the morning, it turns out that I won, according to them, a ticket to Phi Phi, and I could even go with a friend.

Basically, I only tolerated these office ties because of Phi Phi. Another chic Thai freebie!

And also, don’t buy leather products: crap made from stingray skin, belts made from cobra or crocodile. All this is cheap consumer goods and money down the drain. All good leather products are an hour's flight away in Indonesia. If you find real quality in Thailand, it will cost more than in Moscow and Europe. All leather in Thailand is from Indonesia. If you want quality, then come to Bali.

Indeed, if you wish to wander around a country where you are usually at least a little based, then Thailand is an excellent choice. To find housing, you just need to turn around, it is anywhere, cheap or expensive, but it is there.

Don't speak English? This way people will still understand you.

Do you want to know more about safety in Thailand? This place is probably safer than our cities in Russia.

Due to the country's popularity, sometimes during peak season it's not always easy to find a free bungalow if you're traveling on your own. The overall ease of traveling to Thailand also makes for independent travel . In fact, this country occupies not the last place among ordinary countries, allowing tourists to move freely. Stay in inexpensive hotels , you are guaranteed to meet interesting travel companions.

So everything is very positive.

What about the negatives?

The popularity of Thailand pushes prices upward, which in certain areas may also delay some trips until the budget is replenished. Beaches and islands in the south are rising in price at the level of middle-income countries.

Bangkok and other large cities are becoming more and more of the highest class.

But one place in Thailand to this day remains a relic of true low-budget backpacking, this is the north of the country. Here you can travel for 2 times cheaper. By the way, this is really a very large part of Thailand, with a lot to see.

The north of Thailand is a unique place.

(for example, a temple in Bangkok) are simply inundated with tour offers and tourists. Tourists are not only from the West, but also a lot from China and other Asian countries. Despite the masses of tourists, it remains one of the best countries for mountaineering; try it, even if you don’t have enough experience. In the next one I won't describe
attractions of popular holiday destinations, and I will try to highlight some other unique travel destinations.

Never shy away from street food. Believe me, it’s very tasty and not expensive.

Climbing steep rocks is where many people get their first experience in mountaineering. It's safe, cheap and easy. With such skills it will be easier for you to move through mountainous terrain.

The splendor of cities and night streets.

Walking around Bangkok or exploring the night markets of Chiang Mai will captivate you, especially if this is your first visit to Southeast Asia. You will immediately feel like you are in another world.

Holidays in paradise.

Why wander from crowded beach to beach. Travel to Pai in the north of the country, where you will leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind, where you will be greeted by rice fields and bamboo huts.

Another great selection for a party.

If you are young, then you will find a more energetic leisure activity - this is Phi Phi, the nightlife on Khao San Street in Bangkok (not for the faint of heart), this level of partying can be described as post-apocalyptic.

Nice beaches.

For good beaches, I would recommend the Philippines (they are much less crowded). However, Thailand has some excellent beaches and islands, many with beautiful karst cliffs and blue lagoons. Very well suited for beach activities, snorkeling and basic swimming.

The best food in the world.

I always thought I was always familiar with Thai cuisine , from our Russian version of a Thai restaurant. Believe me, for just 100 Baht, under a faded umbrella on the Phuket embankment, an elderly Thai woman will feed you something that you will never try in expensive restaurants in your hometown, even if the chef is Thai.

Chiang Mai Center.

There you can relax in the company of the most beautiful waterfalls.

In popular guidebooks, only the main attractions of Thailand are indicated, with short descriptions to get some idea. Of course, the majority of tourists go on vacation for an average of two weeks. And where, after your hometown, make anyone climb palm trees, hit your knees on rock ledges and walk along hard-to-reach paths in the jungle. But, if you know such paths, then you can get such relaxation at the “exit”, near any waterfall or mountain lake. And no beach can compare with such a vacation.

In the north of Thailand around Chiang Mai, there are a lot of ancient Buddhist temples, hiking in the mountains will give you new acquaintances with the indigenous hill tribes.

Chiang Mai itself is considered an ideal place to explore the northern region; it is located next to the Golden Triangle - the intersection of three borders: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Starting your journey from Chiang Mai, there is no chance that you will get lost. Eventually, traveling along any road will lead you back to it again through some of the more remote areas of Thailand. Recommend this if you want to see the northern countryside.

The town of Soppong on this route is a great collection of exciting tourist adventures, and Pai is both a huge popular hiking destination and a great nightlife destination.

Inland, there are a ton of archaeological sites in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. In Kanchanaburi you will see the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. The other bank of the river is only a 3-hour drive from the capital and is considered a fairly famous place for tourists.

About the beaches and islands of the south.

For a holiday, consider a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand, and popular resorts on Koh Samui, Full Moon Party on Phangang, and Koh Tao have become some of the cheapest and best places in the world to take good diving courses.

And in the west of the Adaman Sea you have the province of Krabi, famous for its gorgeous karst limestone cliffs. This area has become something of a mecca for climbers, where you can climb the rock under the ocean waves.

The neighboring islands of Koh Phi Phi are more party places, which became famous thanks to L. DiCaprio; The islands of Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta are more laid back. You can also find small rural islands, deprived of civilization and banal electricity.

From the point of view of an independent route, as a rule, it makes sense to have a direction to the north of the country. And if we move south, we end up straight on lazy beaches, and we lose all motivation to look for another place to relax.

In the north there is more active recreation, unique nature and cultural and historical attractions, so this is a wonderful place. It’s like at home: All week in a stuffy city, and on Friday we are stuck in traffic jams, just to get away from the city noise in the country. The north of Thailand is a great idyll to be alone with nature.

Places in Thailand that are not written about in the tourist guide.

In my opinion, these are some places that are worthy of tourist attention:

֊ Explore the markets of Bangkok and visit Chinatown. Rent a bike, visit the lively Chatuchak Sunday market, and explore the Chinatown districts where you can get lost in the endless maze of its narrow streets. You will see how fish is cut, which will be prepared for you right there, all sorts of strange and unfamiliar products. By walking, you'll have a wonderful opportunity to explore some of Bangkok's hidden streets.

Master Thai cuisine, it's incredibly delicious.

Thai cooking courses can be found in many places in popular cities. I spent some time relaxing at a local farm outside of Chiang Mai where you will be introduced to the mysteries of local cuisine. You will learn how to cook real Thai curry so you can take this knowledge home.

Muay Thai boxing.

Having visited such a match, you will see dizzying, tough and beautiful fights. Muay Thai is performed in many places in Thailand and the islands.

Koh Tao Island.

By purchasing profitable tours to Thailand, you will receive a diving certificate on this island. This place has become one of the top places in the world for scuba diving and learning. Diving prices here are the lowest, because there is very tough competition among dozens of internationally accredited diving schools. True, on the reefs, you will see more other diving enthusiasts than the underwater world, and yet this is one of the most comfortable and safe areas in the world.

Rent a scooter in Pai.

Pai is an amazing and relaxing place in the north of Thailand. Scooter rental is always available here, and you can rent one even without a license. On a scooter you can go away from the hustle and bustle into beautiful countryside, to waterfalls or lakes.

Bright excursions Pai.

Visit ancient Buddhist temples.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok with golden sparkling statues, of course this attraction will seem a little stressful due to the large flow of tourists. But there is an alternative - this is Doi Suthep, built on a hill in the Chiang Mai region, or the ruins of an ancient Ayutthaya temple a little north of Bangkok.

Koh Lanta is often characterized as an exceptional paradise for honeymooners and families with children. Koh Lanta is large enough to satisfy the tastes of various types of tourists. If Koh Phi Phi is noisier and famous for its wild parties, then Koh Lanta is the absolute opposite, there is no rush here, time passes for a long time, more lazy relaxation with a glass of beer at the bar in the evenings, and dancing to reggae.

Railay is a treasure trove for rock climbing tourists, located on a peninsula. There are few interconnected roads here, but the place is spectacular with its surrounding high karst rocks, an amazing sight. Mountaineering here is very popular even for beginners, because the rocks are easy to climb. And if this is your first time here, then consult guidebooks, because some rocks are only suitable for experienced climbers. Climbing up the cliffs is an amazing adrenaline rush, and from the top of the cliffs you'll enjoy fantastic views of the turquoise bay and Railay itself. Most tourists relax on Ton Sai Beach, which is popular for its low cost of service.

Festivals in Thailand.

Songkran, held from April 13-15, is a water festival in which everyone takes part with a water pistol and water balloons. By the way, foreigners are often a favorite target, so rather than being shot with water, it is better to arm yourself with a water gun.

Na Yee Peng is the Thousand Lantern Festival held in Chiang Mai every November.

Well, that seems to be all for now. The next acquaintance with Thailand will be a little later. Better yet, get to know each other yourself.

Break stereotypes -

When you have to work under the threat of layoffs around the clock and even on weekends, and your salary is either reduced or delayed, stress accumulates in unrealistic quantities. Only sun, sea and idleness can get rid of it. Buying tickets to Thailand is already the cheapest way to get summer in winter. But I can recommend 30 little tricks that will allow you to travel to Thailand as cheaply as possible. Bookmark this post. I wish you find it useful as soon as possible.

Visa to Thailand

1. Russians receive a free visa to Thailand immediately upon arrival - they are given a special entry stamp. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s an airport or a ground crossing. The period of stay is limited to 30 days. To cross the border you need a Russian passport with a validity period of at least 30 days from the date of entry. It is advisable to have a return ticket in hand.

1. Those who plan to stay in the country longer must obtain a six-month visa in advance in Moscow or St. Petersburg. With it you can stay in Thailand continuously for two months, leave and return back within six months. This innovation appeared a year ago. A visa to Thailand costs $200.

1. The previously existing practice of visa-run (traveling to a neighboring country for 1 day in order to receive another 30-day visa-free stamp from the Thai authorities), unfortunately, was canceled a couple of years ago. The fine for overstaying a visa to Thailand is 500 baht per day, in addition, the violator is subject to a ban on visiting the country for 5 or 10 years.

1. But there is also good news. In 2012, Thailand allowed entry on a Cambodian visa for the duration of its validity. It costs $30 and is affixed to your passport at any Cambodian international airport or land border crossing (except the border with Laos). You can take advantage of this gift of fate when planning, for example, a route from Vietnam to Thailand via Angkor.

Tickets to Thailand

1. Since the beginning of the crisis, competition among carriers on the Thai route has fallen, and prices have risen. Thailand's premium airline Thai Airways even left Russia, but recently returned and now flies from Moscow to Bangkok. Tickets to Thailand cost from 24,500 rubles. Aeroflot operates on the same routes. He sells tickets from 27,000 rubles. Both companies also fly to Phuket. Both operate in the upper segment of air travel, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of the trip.

1. You can save some money by monitoring the sales and promotional rates of numerous European and Asian carriers that consider Bangkok a relatively cheap destination. A connecting flight also gives you the opportunity to fly directly to your destination.

1. The best thing to do before buying tickets to Thailand is to check different options and choose the most suitable one in terms of price, comfort and time. You can do this using the form I provide below. Enter your parameters into it (or edit the existing ones) and click “find tickets”. The Aviasales website will open in a separate window with tickets to Thailand filtered by price for the dates you are interested in. This is how I always look for and buy cheap flights and discount tickets.

1. While the ruble was not jumping and dancing, many stocked up on tickets in advance - it turned out cheaper. Now no one wants to take risks. In addition, if you deal with this issue closer to the departure date, the price will increase slightly. Tickets to Thailand can be purchased either six months or two weeks in advance. If you are planning a trip specifically for this New Year, then hurry up. I have insight from experts - here is a table of travel deadlines that shows by what date you need to buy tickets so that they do not become more expensive.

1. On the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the cost of tickets to international destinations is recalculated in accordance with the current dollar exchange rate. Accordingly, if the ruble has fallen during the week, then it is better to buy tickets on Tuesday, because the next day they will be a little more expensive.

1. If you can fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, you will be able to buy tickets a little cheaper than if you travel on other days of the week. The thing is that people usually go on vacation on Friday or Saturday, and most often fly out on a business trip on Monday. Tickets on popular days are naturally more expensive.

1. Another life hack is to use a low price calendar. It helps you analyze which months are cheaper to travel to Thailand (or any other country), and also calculate in advance the days when the cheapest flights will be available for purchase. Click on the most favorable value to go to the Aviasales website page with tickets filtered by price for the corresponding dates.

From airport to city

1. The easiest and cheapest way from Suwannabhum Airport to the city is via the City Line. Ticket prices range from 15 to 45 baht. The train arrives at Phaya Thai Station, where you can change to the city's BTS metro line or city bus.

1. If you have a ticket, you can get to Don Mueang Airport from Suvannaphum by a free bus.

Thailand, Phuket – hotels

1. Approximately one night in Thailand costs on average 150-250 baht in a good, clean hostel without breakfast or 350-500 baht for a room in a simple hotel. You can choose a hotel in a suitable location in Phuket using this interactive map.

1. Fans of the movie “The Beach” will, of course, remember Khao San Street in Bangkok, a paradise for independent travelers. Even with the smallest budget, you can find overnight accommodation in a hostel here for 80-200 baht per bed. Khao San Street is located in the very center, a stone's throw from the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and close to river piers, markets, bars and cheap street food.

1. The easiest and most convenient way to search, compare and book the cheapest hotels that suit you is using the Hotellook service - directly through the form below.

Cheap trips around the country

1. For some time now, Air Asia has become the ideal way to travel around the country. From Don Mueang it flies throughout the country, in particular to the popular Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi. Often, after playing around with the dates, you can purchase a ticket for $20-35.

1. But sometimes the company arranges big sales at a “zero” rate, that is, to buy a ticket you only need to pay a penny fee.

1. Other low-cost airlines in Thailand: Nok Air, Lion Air, Vietjet Air. It is better to buy tickets for them on the websites of the airlines themselves; aggregator websites may not see sale fares.

1. Personally, I have never tried hitchhiking, because I heard a lot of extreme stories from friends and I think that health is more valuable. But in Thailand everyone seems very nice. Why not try getting someone on a scooter? True, cases of falls from these vehicles and fractures of various parts of the body are also very high among tourists, so I wouldn’t risk it either. Especially if the driver does not have a second helmet.

1. The BlaBlaCar mobile application is successfully used all over the world. You register in the application, find a driver who goes where you need to go, and pay him a small amount set by him. It usually turns out cheaper than public transport - that’s the trick.

Cheap in Thailand: food

1. The topic of Thai cooking is truly endless, but its cheapest option is the trays (the so-called makashnitsa) and micro-canteens, which flood the streets in large numbers from the very early morning. Despite the seemingly unsanitary conditions from a distance, from a hygiene point of view, street food is all right; you don’t have to worry about digestion (it’s enough to use regular gel or wet wipes before eating). The diversity makes my eyes widen. To avoid immediately stumbling upon very spicy dishes, I recommend starting with noodle soup (broth with noodles) and Pad Thai (fried noodles with tofu and shrimp). Typically, a dish in a street cafe costs 30-80 baht, and a hearty lunch for two is unlikely to exceed 200 baht.

1. Personally, I usually do this. Having arrived at the place, I filter all nearby cafes and restaurants by price in the Tripadvisor mobile application, and then I go around the cheapest, but at the same time the coolest reviews.

Free Bangkok

1. With a ticket to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), you can visit Dusit Park with its extraordinary palaces.

1. Chinatown. In addition to the obvious Chinese exoticism, all temples in Chinatown are open to free admission.

1. When planning a boat trip on the Chao Phraya, the city's main river, choose boats with a blue flag. Although they are slower, the trip costs only 4 baht.

Phuket boats

1. On the Golden Mountain with the Wat Saket complex it is nice to see a free sunset, but you can also leave a donation of 10 baht.

1. A visit to the huge Chatuchak market is free, but of course you have to pay for goods. At the same time, no one bothers you to bargain until you lose your voice. There is everything from consumer goods to rare antiques.

1. Muay Thai is world famous. Want to watch a real fight for free? Head to MBK Mall on Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm and you can see the famous Muay Thai.

1) There is no such country as Thailand! The country is called Thailand!

2) What currency should I bring to Thailand?

The country's currency is the Thai baht. Stable regional currency. Widely used in Laos, partly in Cambodia and in the border states of Myanmar. No one needs dollars, euros, and especially rubles, they are not accepted for payment - you will still change at exchange offices - it is better to do this not on the street but in bank branches: in any of them there is an exchange, but there are no queues or rudeness. It is better to change large sums of over 10,000 USD in trusted Chinese exchangers - ask the old-timers. Take a dollar card and withdraw baht from it, or a ruble card if you don’t have a dollar card. For insurance (if your cash is stolen), you can get a credit card, the best one is from Alpha and

3) If you see an elegant image of a man on calendars inside houses, on framed portraits, on billboards or in any other places, it is almost certainly the King. If there is a woman in the image, it is the Queen. Thais idolize the royal family. The king really did a lot for the people. (Addition: Bhumibol Adulyadej - King of Thailand, died on October 13, 2016)

>>Last minute tours to Thailand from RUB 11,200 – public shock tariffs VKontakte

4) You shouldn’t joke about the King, even in Russian. For insulting the Royals there is a punishment, including prison. For the same reason, you should not throw money, burn it, tear it, or step on it. There is an image of the King on every banknote and coin.

5) Thais are extremely tolerant. Tourists will be forgiven for any ridiculous appearance, treacherous violation of local customs, or minor offenses. But this does not mean that you should behave like a complete pig, get drunk until you squeal, or walk around the city center in only swimming trunks.

6) Thais do not know how to say the word “no”. Therefore, if you cannot get an answer to some question for a long time, then you just need to retreat: ask another Thai in another place or abandon the original idea.

7) All the beaches of the country belong to the King. And they are allowed for free use by all local residents and guests of the country, without exception. This means that you can move along the coastline without hindrance, lie free on your mat anywhere, even if there is a five-star hotel opposite; usually the private territory of such hotels is fenced off with a decorative fence or other obvious elements.

There are no private beaches in the country. No one has the right to charge any fee for using the beach. The exception is the territory of national parks, for which a fee is charged for visiting.

8) Everything is fine with aviation in the country. There are large low-cost airlines, the most famous: Nok Air and Thai Smile. Traditional airlines: and. And regional airlines, for example Kan Air and R airlines, the existence of which even local residents hardly know. There are airports in the capital of each province and in other major cities and tourist centers.

Tickets are available to everyone. The average price for a flight within the country is 1000 baht. On sales you can get it for 300 baht. For some holidays and destinations, prices can reach up to 5,000 baht. The difference in prices between traditional and low-cost airlines is negligible, especially when you factor in baggage and other costs (for example), sometimes low-cost airlines have higher prices!

Tickets from Moscow in both directions cost from 20,000 rubles ()

9) There are two airports in Bangkok. Bangkok Airlines also fly from the first (Suvarnabhumi) - this is a large international terminal, with a metro going to it.

From the second (Dong Muang) low-cost airlines and nok air. There is a free shuttle between airports. It is better to go from the city to it by taxi. The airports are located at different ends of the city, but are connected by toll highways

10) The bus network covers all populated areas. Comfortable buses with air conditioning, comfortable sleeping chairs and toilets operate over long distances. There are buses with individual multimedia entertainment systems or a massager in the back of the seat. As a rule, all routes lead to Bangkok. There are a small number of direct buses between tourist centers. A wide variety of transport operates on regional routes: buses with air conditioning and regular seats, buses without air conditioning, minibuses, songthaew (pickup truck with a closed passenger body).

Unfortunately, according to one statistics, the number of accidents on the roads remains first in the world. It is advisable to buckle up on buses; there are times when they fly off the road.

11) There are rare, strange cases of missing luggage or individual items from luggage. It is better to travel only on official buses, tickets for which are purchased at the bus station at the ticket office. This will provide you with a guarantee of safety and liability for lost or stolen luggage.

In tourist areas they offer tickets for illegal charter buses. They are often cheaper. This is compensated by inconvenient transfers or the imposition of excursions or hotels upon arrival. These buses can arrive in places remote from the city, from where it is not easy to get out. And it is in such buses that cases of theft occur.

12) Less luck with trains. If memory serves, there are only five branches. North to Chiang May, south to Malaysia and further to Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and so on all sorts of shoots and stubs. Trains are incredibly late. on a 12-hour route they may be 6-9 hours late. There was a case when in 2 weeks a train derailed in the same place 6 times. After major repairs to open this section, the train derailed once again along with the Minister of Transport.

13) Bangkok is a name for foreigners. The Thais call the city Krungthep. Plan a stop in Bangkok for at least 2 days, in addition to the royal palace and Wat Arun, there are even alien sectarians there!

14) Farang is a name for a foreigner. Contrary to popular belief, it is not offensive. Applies to people of European appearance.

15) Thais are terrible nationalists. Foreigners will never be put on the same level as themselves, but this does not mean that they will put themselves higher - no, just as if on the sidelines. Europeans are treated well, in wild places they even idolize them. They don't like Hindus, Chinese and blacks.

16) Absolute tolerance in matters of sexual orientation. In this country, everyone can identify themselves as any gender according to their feelings, regardless of the presence of body parts or, for example, clothing. The classification of possible varieties is very extensive and without one hundred grams it is impossible to understand it.

17) Contrary to popular misconceptions, outside the tourist zones of debauchery, the country is extremely puritanical. After drawing a picture of breasts on a federal channel, without any hint of eroticism, a huge scandal broke out.

There are no sex shops in the country and all such products are illegal. If you are lucky, a foreigner can order a parcel from abroad or use the black market.

18) There is a death penalty for drugs in the country. For consumption, a tourist can be fined and deported, but most likely they will extort a bribe. There are raids in nightclubs and places with a bad reputation.

19) There is no presumption of innocence in the country. That is, you will have to prove that you did not commit illegal actions.

Martial law is still in effect, giving the military and police virtually unlimited power.

In practice, everything is not so scary. Foreigners are of interest only to officers from the migration service, and even then only at the moment of crossing the border or during visits to the office for those who live in the country. Tourists are of no interest to anyone in principle.

20) Tipping is not accepted in Thai places. In very wild places they won’t even understand why you left the money. In tourist places you can leave a tip, but if you don’t do this, no one will be offended.

21) The rainy season is an amorphous concept. He is in different places in the country at different times.

The rain does not interfere in any way; it usually falls no more than an hour a day and mainly at night. You can and should go to Thailand at any time. Moreover, in the off-season in summer, a trip can become several times cheaper, but not a bit worse.

22) It’s always hot in Thailand. With the exception of the far north in winter. However, you will definitely need one warm item. There's a creepy glacier on planes, buses, movie theaters and shopping malls. Always take warm clothes to such places.

23) If in Bangkok they tell you that some place is closed and today is a day off, don’t believe it. This is the most important wiring. You will be offered an alternative excursion with a stop at shops.

For the same reason, you shouldn't take a tuk-tuk in Bangkok. You are almost guaranteed to be taken to a store whose owner issues gas coupons to the driver.

24) It’s better to get around Bangkok by taxi. No matter how strange it may sound, if there are two or more of you, then a trip by metro will be more expensive than a taxi.

If you have the skill to put on a serious face and point your finger at the meter, then you will be taken at the official price. A trip within 2-3 metro stations will cost 50-60 baht. A trip through the whole city, if there are no traffic jams, costs 100-120 baht. My most expensive trip lasted 2 hours and 37 kilometers and cost 210 baht.

You only have to catch a taxi that is coming. A red light means it is free. If there is no light, it means it's busy.

You can get away with a meter from special stands near large shopping centers. True, the queue is sometimes 10-15 minutes long. At the hotel, it is better to ask the staff to arrange a taxi. Then, again, you are guaranteed to be taken along the meter.

In Chiang Mai, the most affordable transport is Song Thaew, here it looks like big red cars (you can’t go wrong) - for 20 baht they will take you in a taxi around the city center, picking up other passengers along the way. Uber and Grab also launched in Chiang May.

37) Is it possible to go to Thailand with children?

Thailand is an ideal country for traveling with children. Thais adore children, and they just idolize the children of foreigners. You will never be left in trouble and will be happy to look after your child anywhere.

You can often see mothers taking their children with them to work. To a massage parlor, hairdresser or store. This is absolutely normal. Children do not bother anyone and children in Thailand can do anything.

38) Contrary to popular misconceptions, not all dishes in Thai cuisine are extremely spicy. There are a huge number of completely non-spicy dishes. Just really, really.

A tourist has virtually no chance of distinguishing a spicy dish from a non-spicy one. The only way out is to order another dish, some kind of pancake. Food still costs pennies.

39) In Thai, the emphasis is on the last syllable of a word. Foreign words (mainly names) should also be pronounced with emphasis on the last syllable, so they will understand you faster. I asked for a long time whether there was a mAcro store in Krabi and they refused to understand me. But when I asked about macro, they immediately told me the way to it. The same applies to popular stores 7-11 not sEven, but sevEn

40) A SIM card can be bought at any 7-11. They are often given out free of charge right at the airport upon arrival. Travel packages are almost guaranteed to have instructions in Russian inside. Or buy for travel.

41) Thai names are long, complex and incomprehensible to a foreigner. Therefore, everyone who works in tourism seems to have a simple and understandable name for a foreigner consisting of 2-3 letters: em, pie, may, fight...

42) You are almost guaranteed not to get malaria. Unless you're wandering around remote jungles for months at a time. Although Dengue fever exists (it exists even in space-modern Singapore), it is also carried by mosquitoes, there are no vaccinations or treatment for it, but no more people die than from the flu. There are more dangers in Russia.

43) Snakes, scorpions, scolopendras - there are somewhere in the forests. Sometimes you can see them from afar, but they are more afraid of you than you are of them.

44) Thais do not eat beetles, worms and locusts. This is entertainment for tourists and food for migrant workers from Cambodia. Thais eat chicken and rice, sometimes pork. But cows are not held in high esteem, both with meat and dairy products. Cheeses and sausages are a terrible delicacy.

45) There is a separate tourist police for tourists. She speaks reasonable English and helps resolve any everyday conflicts, look for forgotten things and lost documents.

Sometimes foreign volunteers are on duty at public events; they are registered with the tourist police and speak different languages.

Using Thai driving directions (on business cards or in brochures) is AD. The scales are not observed on them, but simply the indicated guidelines are schematically in their own way.

47) Thailand has never been anyone's colony. Although certain areas of individual cities are currently practically occupied by foreigners.

48) In public places: in markets, parks, stadiums, train stations, the national anthem can be performed at 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning, and at 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening. If all the Thais stopped or stood up, you should follow their example out of respect. Although you, as a tourist, do not have to do this. In the cinema, before the screening, they also play the anthem and show a film about the King.

Important: