Want to go to Thailand but you’re in a tight budget? I can help you with that.
AIRFARE
PAL has always been the first choice back in the days. But now that there’s Cebupacific, most budget travelers opt take this airline primarily because of its cheap airfare. It is true that you won’t have free meals, a blanket or airplane freebies compared to what PAL provides to their travelers. But the fact that they have enticing promos such as the P1,499, P888 or even the P1 is what’s important for those who are living within their travel budget. Other airlines also offers an array of promos. You can also check Thai Airways International, Kuwait Airways, Air Macau and many more. Try to visit this website www.farecompare.com.
Here’s a sample of Cebupacific’s Round trip Airfare (per person):
MLA-BBK / BBK-MLA
- P1,499 Promo – P8,+++
- P888 Promo- P5, +++
- P1 (Piso) Promo- P2,+++
The air fares are so cheap that makes you want to travel evey month. However, since it’s affordable there are some down side from getting cheap air fares (1) No Free Meal (2) Seats are made to make your back hurt (3)Don’t even bother to think of getting a peaceful rest in the plane, beacuse it won’t happen. (3)Some seats are defective. They won’t recline. And if they do, it’s as if it just tilted a few inches and that’s it. (4) No Freebies (5) Flight scheds are 90% delayed (6) Limited flight sched
ACCOMODATION
For hardcore backpackers, the best place to go are those buget hostels/inn/guest houses in Khao San Road. The place might be of a shock for those who have not been to Quiapo, Escolta, Divisoria or Malate. Khao San Road is very much similar to those places I just mentioned. The interesting part though, is that most of the people you’d see are foreigners (brits, ausies, japs, koreans, etc.) So you can consider that it’s highclass Divisioria. Life in Khao San Road never stops. It’s a 24/7 party pack steet. From 6AM you’d see people preparing their “tiangge” goodies. Others are already putting up their side-street tatoo parlor and dread locks salon. Some bars are already open as ealy as 6AM others I think doesn’t close at all. Action starts around 4 or 5PM where street performers, walking vendors selling weird looking head gears and miniature wooden frogs for display are all over the place. You’d be offered to take very cheap thai massage for only 180bhat (P240-depending on the excahnge rate) for 1 hour. You can drink in the streets when it gets dark. Street food experience is worth a try. Start by ordering fried noodles with egg or what they call Pad Thai. And if want take your adventure a bit further, you can walk a few more blocks and you’ll find stalls/carts selling fried rats and lizards (eeewwww!)
Here are some budget hostels:
- Sawasdee Budget Hotels- 500 bhat to 900 bhat (www.sawasdee-hotels.com)
- Rambuttri House- 900 bhat to 1200 bhat
- New Joe Guest House- 350 bhat to 700 bhat
- Amarin Inn- 550 bhat to 1250 bhat
- Chat Guest House- 250 bhat to 500 bhat
We stayed at Sawasdee Banglumpoo Inn. You have to walk in a dark “eskinita”/alley to get there. But the place is really nice, cozy and the employees are really friendly and accomodating. You’d always have fresh towels and clean room everytime you’re off to take your tour.
If you want to splurge, you can always take 5-star hotels such as Shangri-la, Peninsula, Marriot etc. There are also 3-4 star hotels which are 1000 to 2000 cheaper. You can go to Vientai Hotel in Rambutrri Road, Bayoike Suite, Bayike Sky First House etc.
For online reservation, you can go to this website- http://www.agoda.com. They offer cheap accomodation with wide selection of hotels from the most popular to the lowest rate. You will also earn rewrads points with your first booking. And as you continue to use their service, you’ll earn more points which you can use as discount privilage depending on the number of points earned.
TAXI/CAB FARE
Getting a cab in Bangkok is the same in Manila. Either they set for a fixed price (kontrata) or they use the meter. From the Airport going to the city proper it’s around 400 to 500 bhat with 30-45 mins drive. Yes, if you convert that to peso, it’s quite expensive. From Kao San Road to shopping mall areas it ranges from 50 to 70 baht. Make sure that before you get in the cab, you ask the driver to use the meter. If he says otherwise, close the door and hail for another one. Don’t bother to haggle as there are a lot of taxis in BBK. You won’t ran out of them. Another way of touring around is by getting a “tuk-tuk” ride. Don’t bother to make a converstation with them as they will try to lure you some place else and the fact that their english is really bad you’ll just end up getting a headache. Just keep saying “No. Thank you.” And make sure that before getting in, you have a set price so they won’t charge like hell.
TOURS
If you only have two days to do your tours and shopping, be sure not to skip the Grand Palace tour. Entrace is 250 bhat, which gives you free entrance to the museum. If bystanders with good English tells you that the Palace is close for a ceremony and takes you to a gem factory tour instead, don’t bite it. Because 99.99% it’s not true. Better check it out for yourself. Just keep walking until you see foreigners forming a line to the entrance. You can finish this tour half-day, which means that you have an option to either take another tour which is the Canal Tour or go shopping in MBK, Siam Square (ala Greenhills/Tutuban).
On your second day, you can choose to hit the beach in Pattaya or enjoy magnificent structures and ruins in Ayutthaya. Better make your tour resrevation online while your in Manila. We decided to take the Ayutthaya Day Tour Cruise 1500 bhat/head. Check out this website- CCT & T Co., Ltd” - http://www.travelconnecxion.com. The tour will take you to visit the Kings Summer Palace then head straight to the oldcity where you can take as many photo-op as you can. On your way back, you’ll be boarding a cruise ship where buffet lunch will be served, coffee/tea for snack.
For sports fanatic, you can watch Muay Thai (Thai kick boxing) in Lumpinee Stadium or Ratchadamnern Stadium:
The schedules are:
LUMPINEE STADIUM, Rama IV Road
Tuesday and Friday: 18:30 – 22:30
Saturday: 17:00 – 20:00 and 20:30 – 24:00
RATCHADAMNERN STADIUM, Ratchadamnern Nok Road
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday: 18:30 – 22:30
Thursday: 18:30 – 22:30
Ticket Prices: 220, 440, 1,000 baht (ringside); special discount on Sunday nights
Other Tourist Attractions:
- Jim Thompson’s House and Vimanmek Mansion Tour
- Rose Garden Tour
- Sampran Elephant Tour
You can do your own tour to save more money. You just have to get a map and know where to get a ride.
FOOD
Aside from being a shopping haven for most biyaheras, BBK is also known for its food! If you’re in a tight budget, just like in Manila stalls and food carts are seen everywhere. You can get noodles for 20-30 bhat a spring roll for 10 bhat. If you’re the typical health and sanitary conscious type, there restaurants in every corner. And if you still prefer to take what’s familiar and safe, there are Mcdonalds, KFC, Subways and Starbucks in the malls.
TOUR BUDGET 3D 2N
Airfare Cebupacific 888 promo - P5+++
Accomodation in Khao San Rd - 2,000-3,000
Tours with 1 package (Grand Palace & Ayutthaya)- 2,500-3,000
Cab Fare (Roundtrip airport & BBK tour) 1,500-2,000
Food (Midclass resto & Street food experiance) 1,500-3,000
Shopping (Pasalubong) 5,000
Incidentals 3,000
TOTAL 20,500- 25,000
(For sure marami pang sobra jan!)
Enjoy your trip!
