Thailand is fun and cultured in equal parts, with a world-famous party scene and a rich and ancient history. Colourful cities and towns such as Bangkok are surrounded by a lush heartland of forests and rice paddies, as well as glorious golden Buddhas and extraordinary temples. Last, but certainly not least, is the utopian coastline of tropical beaches, turquoise waters and jungle topped islands. This diverse destination glitters with potential and a visit can be tailored for anyone, from backpacker budget to first class luxury.
Weather
Thailand generally has a humid, tropical climate for most of the year. November to March is considered to be the best time to visit as it’s the driest and coolest time.
The area of the country north of Bangkok is mainly dry from November to May with the last three months being the hottest. From May to November the southwest monsoon occurs causing frequent rainfall.
The southern region of Thailand is a little more complicated but still split into wet and dry seasons. On the west coast the monsoons bring stormy weather from April to October, whereas on the east coast the most rain is between September and December.
High Season – November to March (Average 28˚C)
Shoulder Season – April to June / September to October (Average 34˚C)
Low Season – July to September (Average 29˚C)
Budgeting
The currency in Thailand is Thai baht. You can arrange a currency exchange before you travel, or exchange money once you have arrived. Most places in Thailand will only accept cash so having some with you at all times is necessary.
We have included below some average costs to help you budget for your trip.
Accommodation
1 Night in a Basic Room: £15 - £25
1 Night in a Double Room: £30 - £90
1 Night in a Luxury Room - £100+
Food
Budget Meal: £1 - £3
Restaurant Meal: £3 - £10
Luxury Restaurant Meal: £10+
Extras
Town Public Transport: 50p - £3
Beer : £2
Daily Car Hire: £20+
Private Tours: £50
Tipping isn’t really expected in Thailand but will always be appreciated. 10% or loose change in a restaurant is appreciated, and hotel staff or tour guides will happily accept a small tip.
Food
Food is quite often the primary reason that people visit Thailand, which sounds crazy considering the abundance of desirable factors as a holiday destination. However, once you discover the exciting variety of ingredients and flavours with influences from around the world, you’d understand. A notable point about Thailand’s food style, is that practically nothing is restricted to certain meal times so you will often see curry and rice or pork and noodles being consumed for breakfast which can seem pretty out of the ordinary for us Brits!
Gaang – This is often translated as curry but it is also used to describe any dish which is mainly made up of liquid such as soup.
đôm yam – This sour soup is given its spicy flavour with fresh chillies or chilli paste, and the sour comes from lemongrass and lime.
Pàt tai – A street food staple in Thailand, this noodle-based dish is a stir fry of shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu, egg and seasonings. Visit Thip Samai in Bangkok to sample a renowned classic yourself.
Phrases
The official language of Thailand is (surprisingly!) Thai. English is spoken in more touristy areas but it’s useful to have some handy phrases when visiting.
The Thai language changes slightly when the speaker is male or female with the addition of the word Krub/khrup for men and Kah/kaa for women at the end of a sentence to be polite.
Sawatdee (krub/kah)
(Saa-Waat-Dee)
Hello
Sabai dee ru (krub/kah)?
(sa-by dee roo)
How are you?
Kob Khun (krub/kah)
(khob kun)
Thank you
Chai / Mai Chai
(chi / my chi)
Yes / No
Interesting Facts
1. You can find both one of the smallest and largest creatures on the planet in Thailand. The smallest mammal is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat, also known as the bumblebee bat which you can find in western Thailand. The largest fish is the whale shark which you can go diving to witness in Koh Tao and the Similan islands.
2. Thailand is made up of roughly 1430 islands, many of which have become famous after being featured in Hollywood film such as Koh Phi Phi in The Beach which stars Leonardo DiCaprio.
3. Nearly 95% of the Thai population are Buddhist.
Call 0161 440 6735 to explore Thailand yourself!