Money
At the moment the exchange rate is about 20.5 which is not great for Aussies but does make converting THB to AUD very easy – just multiply THB by 5. For example, 100THB is $5.
Cash is used a lot more than in Australia. But ‘Thailand Scan’ is very widespread. It’s what we use, however, one needs a Thai bank account. Even the street food carts, t shirt vendors, etc have it. However, for the most part you will have to use cash. Hotels take credit cards but not the restaurants we eat at. Cash, cash, cash.
Exchanging Money
The quickest way to depreciate your wealth is to withdraw cash from an ATM – you will cop a fee from your bank, a crap forex rate and an ATM fee of 150-200THB ($7.50 to $10.00). Travel money cards may seem like a solution, however, they have a poor forex rate.
Take Australian $100 notes. Try to ensure they are the new ones with the security strip and that they are in good condition.
No doubt you have heard that you should never exchange money at hotels or airports and that is certainly true at Travelex at Perth. But not so at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).. Super Rich Money Exchange is in Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok). https://cashchanger.co/thailand/mc/superrich-thailand-suvarnabhumi-airport/302
Bit hard to find. They are at the entrance to the trains, where the floor slopes down.
You will need your passport.
Exchanging money here (Super Rich Airport) is your best move because you will require a taxi to get to other money changers.
There is a Super Rich in CM if you need it.
I’ll give you some THB cash before you fly out.
Arrival
After clearing Customs (a joke) on 2nd floor, go downstairs to exchange money as per above. Then go to Departures on the 4th floor and catch a taxi there. Meter only. Show the driver the name of your pre-booked hotel on your phone. Taxis downstairs charge more plus takes a lot longer. This is particularly so if you arrive at DMK instead of BKK (depends on airline).
Phones
You’ll have to do your own homework because I have a Thai phone plan and can’t advise on tourist sims. All the Providers are at the Airport (at the Meeting Point after Customs) – before you go to the 4th floor. You can top up at 7/11 (they’re everywhere). Only a very few places in Thailand with no connectivity so you’ll be able to use Google Maps/Waze.
Bangkok
Lots of information online about touring BKK so I won’t weigh in on that topic, other than to recommend Chao Praya River Ferry https://www.adventures.net.au/thailand/chao-phraya-river-ferry-trip
I would visit Wat Arun by ferry. Check if you can visit the Royal Palace by ferry.
Best Italian food, best French food, best cuisine in the world in BKK. Taxis are cheap, tuk tuk drivers are crazy, motorbike taxis are dangerous.
Although it might seem obvious, because of the traffic in the city, stay as close as you can to the highlights you want to see. It may even be worth changing hotels, e.g. if you do the Chao Praya Ferry. For the tariff think around 1200-2000THB but there are plently of excellent hotels at the 1200THB mark.
Three or four days should be enough to see BKK.
Travelling to Chiang Mai
Flights are about $100 plus taxi to city.
I’ve never taken the train to CM We took the train from Khon Kaen to BKK, however, an overnighter to CM would be different and a lot more expensive. See this: https://www.adventures.net.au/thailand/khon-kaen-to-bangkok-by-train
Good hotels in CM 700-1200THB. No need to pay more. Tip the porter 20-40THB. Always have lots of 20 baht notes (green) on hand.
CM is second biggest city in Thailand. Now very busy and harder to get around, Doi Suthep, Old City Wall, real non-tourist markets, more Wats than you could ever see, and perhaps a day trip to White Temple at Chiang Rai.
Tuk tuks around the tourist spots are a rip off and they wont haggle. They know the next tourist probably wont know the value of baht or doesn’t care about overpaying (up to triple). Walk away from the hotspot and catch a taxi or just walk back to your hotel.
Details of CM later. Lots online of course.
Travelling Inter-City by bus in Thailand
Safe, reasonably fast, comfortable, cheap.
Numerous coachlines
Take water, snacks and screen.
Always first class.
Check that you can fit in the seats. Some headrests are not moveable and it will be in your back or on your shoulders!!
Return from Chiang Mai
I suggest that we tour magnificent Phimai Historical Park, near Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima). One can’t fly to Korat.
Consider a tour alongside the Mekong River by bus to Nong Khai (major border point with Laos) then bus to Khon Kaen (where we live). From there we would head south to Korat.
If you don’t want to go via Nong Khai there are buses that run directly to Korat or you could fly to BKK or DMK then take bus from Mochit Bus Terminal 2, also known as Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), to Korat. Flight about $100, bus about $20.
Arrival in Korat or Khon Kaen
We’ll pick you up at the bus terminal in either KK or Korat. If KK there is a great hotel walking distance from our house – 400THB
If you decide to travel directly to Korat we would meet you there and depending on arrival time, tour Phimai Historical Park. Probably stay overnight, depending on what time you arrive and we have a friend there who would join us for dinner.
On The Road
400 kilometres is a good day’s drive in Thailand. We aim for a certain destination and when about 30-40 minutes away Tassy starts phoning hotels. It’s an excruciating process (5 mins to advise no vacancy) that drives me nuts.
We stay in hotels around the 700THB mark. Generally not in the centre of town, close to a restaurant (easy to find) and with a 7/11 nearby. And we try not go above the 3rd floor when multi-storey.
Generally, we choose hotels without breakfast (crap and poor value unless a large hotel) preferring to find a coffee shop/breakfast bar on the road. 7/11 has a huge range of frozen meals that are good value and ok every second or third day. Always off street parking and free wifi.
Thailand gets up later than Australia – should suit you. We leave when we are ready without rushing.
Culinary Highlights
Somewhere we will partake of a Seafood BBQ, Mu Kratha style. About 300 THB.
Most Thai food is spicy hot but some can be prepared Mai Sai Prik (My Sigh Prik) which loosely translates to Dont Put Chilli. Often the chilli is on the side.
Touring Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand is more humid than Isaan though at certain times of the year (Songkran) there is no difference.
Lots of beautiful beaches (can’t drive on them, though), some mountainous country (not as much as CM) and more Farangs. Definitely greener than further north and we should be able to see the transition. It is absolutely fantastic touring. Roads are good. Traffic lights in towns are extremely annoying.
Listed below is our planned route. Click on the links to see the route in Google Maps.
Korat to Saraburi (150km)
Touring through countryside. Avoids busier routes.
Saraburi to Krasiao Dam (175km)
Gettimg into mountains.
Krasiao Dam to Sisawat Ferry (130km)
In the Tenasserim Hills. Very mountainous, twisting, turning road. Need to be careful because of the idiot drivers who overtake on bends.
Sisawat Ferry to Hellfire Pass (100km)
Ferry ride is different and Hellfire Pass is an eerie place. May go to Erawan NP on the way. Most Thai NPs are not worth the outrageous entrance fee charged for Farangs. This could be an exception.
Hellfire Pass to Kanchanaburi (90km)
Main interest at Kanchanaburi is Bridge on the River Kwai, WWII memorials, museums. For the most part, very well done. Read more towards the end of this photo-essay: https://www.adventures.net.au/thailand/western-thailand
Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin (210km)
Hua Hin is very touristy/Farang town on the sea. Famous for its golf courses.
Hua Hin to Surat Thani (460km)
Beautiful beaches.
Surat Thani to Nakhon Si Thammaret (145km)
Nakhon Si Thammaret to Hat Yai (200km)
Hat Yai to Satun (100km)
Satun to Trang (150km)
Trang to Krabi (110km)
Krabi to Phuket (160km)
Total Road Trip Distance 2000 km