Famed for its blend of Buddhist traditions, crazy nightlife and breath taking nature; Thailand is a beautiful mix of culture and party. No wonder it is a backpacking hotspot and notorious holiday destination for millions every year. I first visited in November to December 2023 and can see why people just keep returning.
when to go
Thailand is wonderfully warm all year round, but weather conditions can be hectic to say the least.
The wet season from June to October it likely rains every day, however this may last only a few hours per day. Weather patterns do vary throughout the country and the rain often persists on the eastern island. The less reliable weather does mean fewer crowds and the temperatures still average 28-32°C.
Cool season, from November to February, is Thailand’s busiest period, with prices often rising at this time especially with its growing popularity. Despite the inevitable crowds, there is a reason this time is so popular. Lower humidity and chance of rain (be aware the later months still mean rain is likely in the eastern islands) means most days will be clear blue skies and warm temperatures.
Hot season is from March to May when it is mostly 30-35°C but can reach 40 regularly so this might be the time you would want to avoid cities such as Bangkok if you don’t want to lose 10 kilos of water weight an hour. This is still a beautiful time to visit coastal or mountainous regions if you can handle the heat and crowds may be slightly less due to the temperature.
visas
Talking from the point of view of a Brit, no visa upon entry is required for up to 30 days in the country. If you are looking to stay for longer it is possible to extend your visa at one of the many immigration offices in the country. This will then cost you a further 1900 Thai Baht which you can pay on the day and get a further 30 days. Some people also opt for visa runs or travel a round route in South East Asia so they do not spend more than 30 days at once in the country, as the visa is renewed every time you leave and re enter the country. This may be something to consider if you don’t want to spend a whole day at the immigration office because this can be a lengthy process.
When I was extending my visa in Chiang Mai it was super busy and ended up taking us 7 hours! So it really is a whole day long process. Some people find it doesn’t take this long and some immigration offices are less busy than others. Although it takes ages, the process is relatively straight forward you just need your passport as well as photo copies of your stamp in the passport and a passport style picture. All of this can be done at the office for minimal money so you don’t have to stress about it before you arrive.
Over staying your visa leads to fines for each day you outstay, so definitely avoid this: you don’t want to get into trouble with Thai police, especially if you don’t have the budget for it.
backpacker budget
The currency used is Thai Baht (THB).
Thailand is notoriously a very accessible country for all budgets but it definitely varies from region to region. Expect to pay 10-15£ per night for a budget hostel in peak seasons and food can be cheap as £1 in northern areas for a classic pad Thai.
My advice for accommodation would be being open to all options. A hostel may not always be the cheapest option if you travel with a friend or meet people along the way willing to share rooms with you. Budget hotels split between two will often be a similar or cheaper price and you can get more bang for your buck this way. If you worry about meeting other travellers while staying in hotels, be sure to visit other hostels to socialise; don’t think that just because you aren’t staying, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the bars and parties going on here.
Backpackers used to say that you could easily get by on £1000 budget for the month but in more recent years this doesn’t give you as much freedom. Don’t get me wrong it is still possible but if you don’t want to limit yourself or constantly be stressing about money I think at least £1500 is more realistic.
I noticed by far the island of Koh Samui to be the most expensive, probably due to the abundance of tourists staying in resorts here. That being said you can still get yourself a beer for a few quid and a meal shouldn’t set you back more than a fiver. More Northern areas are definitely noticeably cheaper so adjust your budget depending on where you plan to spend your time.
getting around
Thailand is a vast country so definitely don’t underestimate the size of it and how long it takes to travel around. Buses, ferries and sleeper trains are all popular ways to get by but also flying where you have the budget to do so may save you a lot of time.
The classic backpacker experience in Thailand is getting the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. This 13 hour journey is not nearly as horrendous as it sounds as long as you get at least second class tickets meaning you have a fold out bed to sleep on. Unless of course you fancy roughing it with no aircon and uncomfy seats for the journey. Be sure to book these tickets in advance at least a few days, as well as other ferry tickets as they do tend to book out.
If you are looking to make long journeys for example from Northern Thailand down to the islands, make sure you check flight prices if this is an option for you. AirAsia offer affordable internal flights that could save you a lot of time by getting an hour flight to the airport in Surat Thani (to access the eastern islands) as opposed to an overnight bus, and they are often very similar in price.
Thailand is very well travelled and well connected so these bookings can all be done online through 12GoAsia, or by speaking to reception at any hostels and they will be sure to help you.
As for getting around town locally, it is very popular to hire bikes and this is probably the best way to get around if you can ride. It gives you total freedom and makes for a really fun experience with friends. Make sure you only do this if you are comfortable to do so, and as a rule of thumb, if you have never ridden at home before, don’t make this the place to learn. Roads can be absolutely crazy and you don’t want to end up in an accident sending you home early. As much as it sounds boring.
If this isn’t an option then it is super simple to get around by taxi, tuktuk or grab. Grab is Asia’s answer to Uber and is super affordable and reliable. If you want the experience of riding on a bike but can’t yourself, then this is my answer. Similarly, local taxis and tuktuks are super affordable just make sure you agree a price before getting in, and/or ask for them to use a meter so you don’t get scammed. Go into the situation with a price already in mind and be strong about it (you can ask how much you should be paying at reception ect. if you are unsure).
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