4 Tips and Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting Thailand On a Budget

Traveling is one of the greatest pleasures in life and most people cannot wait to visit the next country on their list. Whenever it is time to pick a new destination there is a special feeling of exciting and happiness. The more you travel the planet the more you become a part of the world. There is hardly a better way to get to know the cultures, traditions, and languages than to experience it first-hand as you visit country after country. It is also quite addicting and when you start traveling more than usual, you only want to do it more and more.

Summertime is the time of year when most people travel. It makes sense because you can swim in the oceans and visit the beaches. The days are longer so you get to do and see more stuff. However, when you travel to a tropical destination, it hardly matters what season it is back home. This is certainly the case with the magical country of Thailand, the star of our article today. Thailand has risen to new heights as one of the most popular destination on the planet in recent years. Make no mistake, it has always been attractive and popular, but it has enjoyed a surge of visitors in the last 5 or so years.

In 2023 it remains as such so why not visit it yourself? Before you do this though you have to know a thing or two about the place. Traveling blindly can be fun and many people prefer to be surprised, but if you want to experience it in the best way possible you should do some homework and research it. This is particularly true if you are visiting on a budget. Making the most of the situation is prevalent when you have a limited amount of money to spend. There can be no unnecessary spending so keep reading to learn what mistakes to avoid and what tips to implement when you finally go there. Once that happens, make sure you book your trip through Eco Friendly Thailand Travel Agency.

1. Eat Mostly Street Food

Thailand is famous for its magnificent cuisine. Every traveler wants to try out the local dishes and who can blame them? Trying out the food of a country you are visiting for the first time is an amazing way to get an insight into its cultures and traditions, as well as to try something completely new and authentic. In Thailand, you can do this with street food. It is both the best way to check out many different dishes and the cheapest way to do so. You will have no trouble doing so as there are food stalls and local cafes literally everywhere. Most importantly for your budget traveling, the difference between street food and restaurants is significant. And make no mistake, it cannot be considered junk food just because it comes from small food joints. A lot of Asian countries are popular for their street food choices and they are actually the most authentic, made with all the right ingredients. From pad thai and pineapple rice to papaya salads and green/red curries, there are many local favorites to munch on no matter how long you stay.

2. Change Money Beforehand

You should definitely get hold of the local currency before you arrive to the country regardless of your destination. There are high fees that local ATMs charge when you withdraw local currency but have a foreign one on your card. Also, local exchange offices may have unfavorable rates and you may lose a lot of money in the process. This is important whenever you want to save up and not spend as much on your travels. It could be a problem to find the Thai baht in your own country as it is not that common for exchange offices or banks to have it. Scheduling a date with them may be necessary until they get enough for you. Ordering a few days in advance should do the job. If you are unable to do this before arriving to Thailand, withdraw everything at once to minimize the charges. Keeping a small amount in dollars or euros is a good idea too, just in case something happens.

3. Use Local Public Transport

There are many convenient ways to go about your way when you visit Thailand. There are tuk-tuks at every corner with drivers eagerly awaiting their next customer. Most hotels and hostels have door-to-door transport to popular sights and destinations. However, these are the premium choices to pick and they cost the most. Instead of this, seek out the nearest bus routes and use public transport. A tuk-tuk ride of some 9 kilometers will cost you about 150 baht (USD $4.5), while the same distance by bus only costs around 7 baht (USD $0.2).  Inter-city transport is the same, with hostel transport options charging 350 baht to the next city while regular, scheduled bus station prices charge 130. The easiest way to travel within the city is to rent a bicycle. A full day is only 60 baht and you can go wherever you want. If you ever need a taxi or a tuk-tuk, be sure to ask for the fare before you get in and start the drive.

4. Visit the Free-of-Charge Cultural Sites

The best kind of sightseeing is the kind that is free. When you think about the most popular tourist sites in the world, most of them are not free. Some have reasonably priced tickets while others are straight up expensive. Luckily, Thailand has many cultural sites that are entirely free. More and more of them are introducing entrance fees but there are still some amazing things you do not have to pay for to experience. Some of the best ones that are free include the Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi Province, the Blue Temple in Chaing Rai, and numerous small temples no matter where you go. You can always ask the local guides or the front desk of your accommodation for the best local sites to see that lack entrance fees.