Many people’s first foray in to South East Asia is Thailand. And why not? Crystal blue waters, glittering temples and internationally recognized cuisine are only a few things that make this an amazing country to visit. But like all places there are some things you should know before you go!
Money – The baht is the currency in Thailand and $1 = about 33 baht. Lunch at a street vendor will run you just a few dollars and even a 30 minute massage is less that $7. Be mindful when pulling money out of an ATM for your journey – you may not need to budget quite as much as you think.
Some Simple Thai Phrases – There are masculine and feminine endings in Thai and it is determined by YOUR gender, not the gender of who you are speaking to, so once you know what to say you never have to change! Ha! Take that high school Spanish teacher! 🙂
Krap (pronounced crab) = masculine and Ka (pronounced caw) = feminine
Hello and Goodbye – Bring your hands together in a “prayer pose”, bow your head and say “Sa watdii krab/ka” (saw wat dee crab/caw). Goodbye is La-Gorn-Krab/Ka
Thank you – Kob Khun Krab/Ka (cop croon crab/ka)
Yes and No – Yes = Chai Krab/Ka (hard ch – hi), No = Mai – Chai Krab/Ka (my ch-hi)
Tourist Prices vs. Local Prices – Have you ever been to a place that had different prices for tourist vs locals? We encountered that for the first time in South America when buying flights – it’s a bit odd but we understand some of the reasons behind it. Be prepared for some of that in Thailand. You will see separate prices and in some cases, separate entrances, to things like some temples, Muay Thai fights and other high traffic tourist areas. Try not to take offense to it!
Bargain– If you like to shop then Thailand is the right place for you! When it comes to food vendors the price is as posted. However, for any other goods feel free to bargain your heart out! Typically we started at half the posted price and went up from there. Also, check the item you are interested in and make sure it doesn’t have a “made in China” sticker on it…. buy at local spots!
Transportation – Thailand is full of transportation options, but unlike Europe they don’t have a super extensive country-wide train service. What they do have are a TON of domestic flight options! You can get some incredibly cheap flights – we are talking like $35 one way cheap – and many of them fly to smaller airports which makes getting to the more remote parts of the country easy. There are also very inexpensive bus options but they take much longer so check out flights first! We flew on Thai Smile, Thai Lion and Air Asia and had really pleasant experiences on all of them! Make sure to check the baggage restrictions prior to booking – most of them had a 44 pound checked bag weight limit so keep that in mind if you plan to fly throughout the country!
Temple Modesty- You may think this is a no-brainer, but we saw plenty of people being turned away from temples due to their attire. Understand that Thai culture can be quite conservative and they expect tourists to honor that when visiting. Both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders when entering sacred places and should wear loose fitting garments. This can be tough when you probably dressed in shorts and a tank top for the hot, humid climate – fear not – they often have fabric available at the entrances that you can cover up with. Or give in and buy those comfy elephant pants you see on everyone! Also know, you will most likely have to remove your shoes at the entrance to the temples. Some places give you a little bag for you to carry your shoes with you through the temple, while others simply make you take them off and then retrieve them when you are done. But don’t worry, everyone does it and ours were always there when we were finished!
Street Food – If you know anything about Thailand you probably know the cuisine. While there are plenty of great Thai restaurants, one of the best things about Thailand is the wide variety of street food available at all hours of the day and night. Don’t judge a place by it’s cover, some of the most modest stalls end up having the tastiest dishes! The markets are full of street food vendors and we loved stopping at each one to try their specialties! Use your best judgement when picking a vendor – we always look for a line of people (especially locals)!
“The Temple Is Closed Scam” – There are some common scams in Thailand (just as there are in other parts of the world) like taxi’s over charging tourists. But the “temple/palace is closed scam” is very prevalent in Thailand and especially Bangkok.
Here is how it works: You hail a taxi or tuk tuk and ask them to take you to the Grand Palace or some other tourist hot spot. They then tell you some variation of “The Grand Palace is closed today for a special Buddhist ceremony, but you are lucky because the XYZ Temple is open today and it’s only open once a year!” If you agree to have them take you to some other place then you will really end up going to a jeweler or tailor or some other random vendor that gives kickbacks to to the driver. Avoid this by checking the opening times online for the sites you plan to visit and prearrange your ride through your hotel if you can. If you do find yourself having to hail one on the go, just have them drop you off at your desired stop. The chances that a temple is actually closed is pretty low.
Tourist Police and Regular Police – Hopefully you never EVER need to deal with either while on vacation, but remember a few important points. Thai police are civil servants that are often over worked, under paid and over looked- so a little respect goes a long way with them. Make sure to be calm, respectful and courteous when speaking with them. Also, be prepared to “tip” the police if need be. This should not be seen as a bribe, as much as an appreciation for a job well done. As with all professions there are some corrupt police in Thailand, and tourist police would be the preferred people to deal with first and for smaller issues.
General Attitude – As always, it is important to remember your manners while traveling – especially in Thailand. Make sure to be respectful and calm when out and about. Don’t be too loud or boisterous, especially at sacred sights. Don’t run down the streets shrieking and try to keep it cool when you are out enjoying adult beverages. If you are part of a couple make sure to tone down the PDA. Basically – don’t be too extra mmmmk!
Hopefully these tips help you feel prepared to conquer amazing and beautiful country! Have you been to Thailand? What did you wish you had known before you went?
