Tips for those who fly to Thailand for the first time. What is the first thing a tourist needs in Pattaya? We are looking for an inexpensive flight ticket to Thailand on our own

Every year hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists visit Thailand. Many people go to this country not for the first time. But there are always those for whom this is not only the first trip to Thailand, but also the first trip abroad.

There are several options for visiting the Kingdom of a Million Smiles, as Thailand is commonly called. You can go on an independent trip or use the services of a travel agency. What's better? It all depends on the preparedness of the traveler.

Holidays in Thailand: on your own, on a tour. Where to stay

One of the conditions for an independent trip is knowledge of English. However, in the resort areas of the country you can do without it. In Thailand hotels where they usually stay Russian tourists The staff speaks at least a little Russian. Often, many Thais associated with the tourism business know a few necessary Russian words. But still, if the trip is the first, it is better not to rely on own forces and knowledge. This is usually what they do, choosing the simplest option - a trip on a tourist package.

Most Popular resort areas Thailand is a city and an island. Which one to choose? It depends on the interests of the traveler. If he prefers beach holiday in Thailand, then an island is selected. Distinctive features Phuket - clear sea, great beaches, excursions, the main purpose of which is exciting vacation in Thailand.

A beach holiday in Thailand is also possible in Pattaya. True, most of the beaches in the city are narrow strips of sand. And the sea water near the shore is not clean. But having chosen a city, it is easier to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the country. Along with excursions similar to those in Phuket, there are many that are educational in nature. Moreover, getting to interesting places from Pattaya is easier and faster. As for a beach holiday, there are good beaches. You can easily get to them. A trip to the island of Koh Lan, which is also in close proximity, is also possible.

Quite often, Russian tourists, going to Thailand and choosing the resort town of Pattaya, stop in its southern part. The fact is that it is here that Thais working in the tourist industry are better prepared to communicate with Russians. Going on your first trip, it is better to choose a hotel located on the first line. In the southern part of the city (Jomtien district), only a street separates such hotels from the sea. To be on the beach, just cross the roadway.

Another convenience - here along the beach is constantly moving public transport. Thai minibuses, called Tuk Tuks, are quite comfortable. They stop on demand. The fare in the southern part of the city is ten baht. When traveling to the center after the overpass (it is the only one in the city), the cost is twenty baht.

What currency to travel with

Getting ready for the road is easy for experienced travelers. Sometimes going on vacation in Thailand is not the first time just waiting last days before departure. Usually at this time, travel agencies reduce prices. In addition, there may be "hot trips". The cost of the ticket is also reduced for early bookings.

The vast majority of tourists go abroad together. In this case, the costs for each are significantly reduced. If the tourist is alone, then he tries to find a fellow traveler. It is not difficult to do this if you take care of it in advance. Going on your first trip, if possible, it is better to choose someone who has already been to Thailand as a travel companion.

Sometimes, going on the road, beginners try to take more clothes with them. You don't have to do that. According to the rules, if available return ticket, an air passenger can carry twenty kilograms of cargo in checked baggage and five kilograms in hand luggage free of charge. Outerwear, ladies' and men's handbags, cameras, laptops are not weighed.

Extra items of clothing taken to Tai will not be needed. They are just additional, albeit insignificant, weight. But you always want to bring home as many fruits and souvenirs as possible. And you never know what else you want to buy in Thailand.

A few more words about luggage. A large beautiful suitcase is, of course, good. But his own weight can be five kilograms. That is, the payload (souvenirs, fruits, something else) is only fifteen kilograms. Instead of suitcases, many tourists use large bags or suitcases. The latter, having a large capacity, are equipped with wheels and a retractable handle. The weight of such bags does not exceed two kilograms. Of course, a gain of three kilograms can be called insignificant, but it allows you to bring home more cargo.

As for the currency, opinions about it are different. Of course, getting more than three thousand baht for a hundred dollar bill in a Thai street exchange is much better than (at today's exchange rate) having less than five hundred baht for a thousand rubles. But before buying dollars in Russia, it is advisable to make simple calculations. As a result, it turns out that exchanging rubles for baht in Thailand is a little more profitable than making a double exchange: ruble - dollar - baht. In addition, if dollars are not bought in advance, visiting a bank to purchase them is additional expenses time.

As for the amount that you should take with you, it all depends on your own capabilities. With some savings, 20-25 thousand rubles per person will be enough. In this case, the main part will be spent on excursions.

Arrival in Thailand and check-in at the hotel

Planes with Russian tourists traveling to Pattaya land either in the capital Suvarnabhumi airport or in located much closer to the resort town of U Tapao. In the first case, the trip to the resort takes about two hours, in the second, forty minutes.

The capital airport in terms of passenger comfort is significantly superior to U Tapao. There are almost no delays at the points passport control. Although the terminal building is simply huge, it is difficult to get lost in it. In addition, those who have flown here for the first time have a reliable reference point - fellow travelers who know where to go.

The disadvantage of this airport is that quite often you have to wait a long time for luggage. It happens that he appears on the conveyor only an hour after passing through passport control.

As for the duration of the trip from Bangkok to Pattaya, in two hours tourists receive more than full information. In addition, there are stops along the way.

If the plane lands in U Tapao, then passengers usually get out of the terminal building faster. Although passport control and other procedures are slower here, luggage appears on the conveyor almost without delay.

Each bus that brings travelers to the city has two guides - a Russian and a Thai. However, the latter usually only counts passengers, since he does not know the Russian language to the proper extent.

It happens that almost all the tourists on the bus go to different hotels. In this case, some travelers are transferred to a minivan, and then they are accompanied by a Thai guide.

Guides are also involved in paperwork when checking into hotels. So there are no difficulties for Russian tourists who came to Thailand for the first time. The only inconvenience is the check-in time. It is good if travelers get to the hotel after twelve o'clock. If this happens in the morning, then they have to wait. True, many people prefer to spend this time with benefit. Leaving the luggage in the place indicated by the hotel staff, they go either to the nearest cafe or to the sea.

All tour operators have different prices, so you need to make your own choice, or use the level.travel tour aggregator. They often come across tours at very attractive prices.

The most popular is Pattaya. There is a wide range of hotels good vacation economy class, a lot of entertainment for every taste. You yourself determine the area of \u200b\u200bits relaxation depending on your preferences. For families with children, I would recommend Jomtien (south, cleaner sea) or Naklua (north). For young people - the center of Pattaya (the most famous street is Walking street).

Thailand is a visa-free Kingdom for citizens of 26 countries of the world, including Russians, but only for a visit that does not exceed 30 days. If you want to stay longer than the specified period, you will have to apply for a visa, which you need to pay. In the case of a visit for the purpose of tourism and for a period not exceeding 15 days, citizens of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan can receive a visa stamp upon arrival at the airport. The residents of Belarus were the least lucky, they need to obtain a visa to the country of smiles in advance.

After choosing a resort, you will have a long flight to this magical Kingdom. On the plane, you will be given a migration card (consisting of two parts), which you will need to fill out in advance. It turned out that there were not enough migration cards and we had to fill them out at the airport. But this should not bother you, because in front of the border control there are tables with filling samples, including in Russian. Some used the services of airport staff and for $ 5 they filled out cards.

It must be filled out in English. When approaching border control you must give the migration card and passport to the border guard. After verifying the identity, the migration service officer will stamp the border crossing passport and collect the right side of the migration card. The left side of the card is attached to your passport, as you will need it when you leave.

Thailand has import restrictions alcoholic products(1 liter per person), tobacco products (250 grams of smoking tobacco or up to 200 cigarettes), photo and video equipment (1 photo and video camera). And, of course, a reasonable amount of personal items.

Recently I read about selective requirements of border guards for tourists to present sufficient funds for a holiday in Thailand. Minimum amount is $600 in cash! I haven't experienced this myself, but be prepared for it.

All calculations are made in local currency- "bat". Basically, euros and dollars are accepted for exchange, although it is possible to exchange other currencies, including rubles. If you have dollars, it is more profitable to change banknotes of 100 and 50 denominations, the exchange rate is higher for them. Therefore, it is better to stock up on them before leaving Russia. You can exchange currency at the airport, but the rate there is much lower.

Never change the entire amount at once. Keep money, passports, valuables in a safe. As a rule, every hotel has safes. In the hotel where we stayed, the safe was at the reception.

Thailand is called the land of smiles because the Thais are welcoming, friendly and smile a lot. All this seems to be in their blood. And that is why there should be reciprocity towards them.

If you smile back at them, the attitude towards you is more loyal. Thais love white people. They consider them beautiful. And, if on the beach or on the street they ask you to take a picture with them, you should not refuse.

We were in Thailand in February. There was no trace of the last summer's tan, so we felt beautiful. We noticed one more feature: while you are not yet tanned, when buying, sellers do good discounts and the original price of the item is not too high.

After a week's stay, when the tan has already set on the skin, it becomes more difficult to bargain and the initial price of the goods is quite high. But in any case, you need to bargain and at the same time you should not forget about a smile. After all, the more you smile at them, the more discount they can make. And most importantly - approach all this with pleasure. I wish you a successful trip to Thailand.

Many have already visited Thailand, but not everyone was able to fully experience it. It's no secret that resort places everyone is alike, whether it's Asia or Europe: hotels, well-groomed areas, a buffet and smiling staff. But if we move away a little resort areas, then there you can see the very real Thailand. Moreover, it does not have to be related to everyday life ordinary people, with the simplicity of their dwellings, or the dirty interior of Thai cafes. The outside can be deceiving.

So, this is your first time in Thailand. The first rule to remember is don't be afraid. It is safe here, people are kind and helpful. Yes, of course, anything can happen, but in terms of crime, Thailand is on the outskirts of various ratings. You should not forget about the usual precautions, but after Russia you can relax.

The second rule - do not lie all day on the beach. Well, did you fly here for 9 hours just for this? Try to taste all the delights Thai life, and perhaps you can understand why so many people try to come here not just for a vacation, but for the whole winter. Some of them then remain for several years.

What is so unusual here? To be honest, it is very difficult to describe in words. From what is immediately clear - this is a significant cheapness. Even with Russian salaries, you can relax here and live more comfortably than in your homeland. The standard of living rises by about two times.

After a while, you begin to pay attention to the fact that people in shops, in cafes, random passers-by on the street often smile. And if in a hotel this can be mistaken for etiquette at work, then when they smile just like that, you begin to think about the patterns of this. If you plunge a little into the worldview local residents into their religion, it will be understood that there is nothing surprising in this. Despite the sometimes difficult conditions of their lives, they always try to enjoy everything around and share this joy with others, just like children. You can, of course, doubt the sincerity of their smiles, but, as practice shows, this is not so. Moreover, the farther from tourist area, the more smiling faces.

Even during those short 1-2 weeks of vacation, vacationers manage to feel some lightness of Thailand in everything. This is exactly what is difficult to explain to a person who has never been there, but what is clear from the first word to those who lived there. It is here that one feels that life is something more than the daily whirlwind. And now you can live and enjoy every minute of your existence, letting go of problems and worries.

What should you try when you are in Thailand for the first time to feel the beauty of paradise life? Of course, Thai cuisine and Thai massage!

You can write an ode to Thai food, and a long poem to tropical fruits. However, we confine ourselves to just advice - try everything! Moreover, it is best not in a civilized Europeanized cafe, but where the locals themselves eat. At first, everything may seem very sharp to you, but over time it begins to even be missed. And once you try Thai mango, you strive to become addicted to this divine fruit.

Do you know how much Thai massage costs in Russia? It’s better not to know, but just to be like him for a week without a break in Thailand, and find out what body massage, foot massage, back massage are. Most likely, then you will miss it very much.

After all of the above, go to the Thai market, there are a lot of interesting things. Do not forget to launch a sky lantern, preferably for some holiday and together with everyone. Go to a Buddhist temple, not necessarily a famous one, and just sit there alone. Rent a bike and ride to remote beaches.

The list could go on, but let's stop here. It may well happen that a couple of weeks is enough for you to understand this amazing country and get into it. Just keep in mind that there is a certain risk in this, since it may well be that you will soon have to change your whole life.

First. Where to begin?
Start by applying for a passport. It will take a month or two, and during this time you will have time to decide - where are you want to to go and where to go allow Your savings. First, decide with whom you will spend your vacation. If you want to completely relax and get new information to the extent that you like, leave the children at home with their grandmother. If you can not afford it - issue passports for children. Two nuances - firstly, it is easier to apply via the Internet on the website of public services, and there is no need to run and immediately pay money for a passport photo. The photo that you attach to the application form will not be pasted into your passport - the Migration Service will take a picture of you themselves. So take a picture of yourself and your loved ones on an ordinary soap dish, hanging a white sheet behind your back, edit the size in the photo editor so that the photo can be inserted into the questionnaire, and that will be enough. Second - be sure to check the correctness of filling in the column "FLOOR". I didn't know this, but my travel agent checked it for me several times. It turns out that the most common reason not to let you or your child out when going through passport control is an incorrectly filled in the Gender column.
Second. We decide on the direction of travel and the choice of a tour operator.
I didn’t have to choose a direction for a long time, since I got a vacation in November. I did not want to freeze, but I wanted to enjoy the warmth and the sea. Therefore, where it is now warm and worth going to. By and large, the choice was between Thailand and Vietnam. But since my temperament does not correspond to a purely "mattress" pastime, I decided to go to Pattaya - and the sea of \u200b\u200bexcursions and the sea, as such, is available.
Then it was necessary to understand where and when to buy tickets. In Barnaul, we most often buy vouchers from Pegas Touristik, Anex, Biblio-Globus. I just went to their websites, compared prices, departure times, living conditions. I took a ticket not from a tour operator, but from a travel agency. Same price. Only the tour operator will give you a discount right away (Pegasus 7, Anex 3-4 percent), and the travel agency will say that only for you and only now they provide this same discount as a great gift. It does not change the essence of the matter. I chose the Tabio travel agency. Simply because it is near my house, and I know people who have already taken successful trips there. As a result, I went from the Anex tour, simply because it was the beginning of the season and under the same conditions Anes had five thousand cheaper, and since I went with my husband, the savings of ten thousand per family seemed to me significant.
Third. IN choose a hotel.
Well, here all means are good. The first means is to communicate with those who have already been there and lived somewhere. Second - go to different travel agencies and talk with travel agents who sell tours. For them, the tour operator organizes tours where they spend every night in a new hotel, so they most often have experience, I was really dissuaded from several hotels.
What I paid attention to was that there was not an ancient hotel, but a relatively new one, that it was not far from the sea, and the sea was always on the beach, and not only at high tide, so that there were no demonstrations from drunken Russians and Chinese on the street every evening. So that the hotel has a swimming pool, and in the room there is an air conditioner, a refrigerator and hot water. In principle, there was also a TV, but I watched it only on the day of my arrival for 10 minutes and did not turn it on anymore.

As a result, I went to the hotel Seabreeze that on Jomtien. It's far from the center, where there is shopping, and partying, and a pier, but at the end of the trip I so famously learned how to use a tuk-tuk, where the fare is only 10 baht per person, so the remoteness from the center did not bother me at all. Three star hotel. But not very new - built in 2007-2008. In general, I got the impression that everything shines with the Thais from afar, and everything is close to small Kotska and imperfections. Yes, there is air conditioning, but it leaked profusely on the last day, and there is a bath with a shower, but it leaks from below, so after washing the floor is sea. Yes, the sink is beautiful, but there is rust around it, and there is a pool, but it is forbidden to swim after eight in the evening (but if it is done slowly, then you can). Wi-Fi in the hotel is paid 50 baht per hour. This hour can be extended over several days.
If it is important for you to feel like kings in a luxury hotel - choose the one with more stars, if the little things do not infuriate you, then 3 stars is a good option. There are a lot of hotels, but look at the map how far it is from the sea - the hotels are in the center of city life, the sidewalks are narrow, the constant crush can ruin evening walks. But walking along the embankment is a pleasure. But again, this is for a lover to walk, not hang out. If you are a fan of nightclubs and the embankment is not interesting to you, then in the center of Pattaya you can choose very a budget option.
Fourth.When to buy a ticket.
Everyone advises that the sooner the better. I took four months. The risk of force majeure is high. We are all human, we can get sick or something. If you are afraid, then you can take out insurance against non-departure, this is about a thousand for two. In principle, I tracked the sites of tour operators, prices do not change much over time. the closer to the New Year, the more expensive. But it is more expensive in July and November if you buy a ticket for December. The only thing I noticed is that the earlier you buy a ticket, the more hotels to choose from. My fellow travelers on the plane took a ticket in August and also wanted to Sea Breeze, but they didn’t get a ticket there.
Fifth. Departure, or what to do at airports.
Let me remind you that this was my first trip abroad. I flew on an airplane last time in high school in some sort of unconscious state. The only thing I remember from that flight is that I want to sleep, and my head falls off somewhere all the time, and the words of the class teacher who was sitting in front of me - "How did you gouge my back with your knees!"
Therefore, I bought inflatable neck pillows so that my head would be supported, and secondly, I needed places where my knees would not poke into other people's backs. And not only mine, because my husband is two meters tall and his knees are generally a separate story.
Therefore, my task was to grab just such places at the stage of issuing boarding passes. It turned out that this can be done.
I knew on which plane I would fly, so I found a picture with a diagram on the Internet seats. At the check-in stage, we arrived at the airport early to be at the front of the queue. Then I simply ASKED for seats at the exit of the plane. And they just gave me. On the way back at the Bangkok airport, I showed the diagram, jabbed my finger at it, and in broken English also simply asked, and again they GAVE me what I wanted. One remark - it's blowing at the emergency exit, so take a blanket from the stewardess right away, or you can take woolen socks from home.
As for the passport and customs control- just follow the crowd, don't rush anywhere. Everything you have been given boarding pass- They won't leave without you.
Another question is how to secure luggage. We just bought a lock for the mailbox, threaded it through the lugs of the runners on the suitcase and it began to lock. We also used this at the hotel, leaving equipment, a tablet and cosmetics in a locked suitcase so that no one would smear it in my absence. They wrapped it with cling film at home, put it cling film and tape and inside the suitcase. On the way back, you can wrap your bags and suitcases yourself at the hotel, which will save you up to a thousand rubles.
Upon arrival in Bangkok, do not be afraid that a person with a sign of your tour operator will not rush to meet you at the entrance. They are not allowed there. Just follow the crowd, even if it goes the wrong way, the Thai airport employee, looking at your ticket, will show with a gesture where to go and where to go through passport control, there will be no such disgrace as in our Barnaul airport. There will be a lot of tails at the queues, they will move quickly, and the luggage will already be waiting for you on the tape. In any case, that's exactly what happened to us. On the plane, they will give you to fill out a migration card, so fill it out, otherwise you will have to give it in line on your knee. The name of the hotel must also be written. Then move behind the crowd and find a person (and in our case, a chain of several people) with the desired sign. Follow the chain to the bus. on the way, go to the toilet at the airport and calmly replace jeans with shorts, and put warm clothes in a large bag taken from home. They won't leave without you, don't rush.
A few words about what to carry in your suitcase. Clothing - swimsuits and bandanas. (A hat can be bought for 100 - 200 baht in each store) One T-shirt, because immediately buy yourself an elephant or "I love Pattaya" t-shirt for 100-300 baht depending on the size. Flip flops for the beach and strappy sandals for excursions. Linen, hair dryer, some cosmetics, medicines, photo and video equipment. chargers for it, flash drives, additional batteries. It's all about clothes. I was in vain carrying high-heeled shoes, a shiny dress and white trousers with me. You can easily do without all this. Paphos, as in Turkey, in Thailand is not in sight! A sundress, a tunic, a pareo for 150-300 baht will be bought by any Russian woman on the street, and a Russian woman with a size of no more than 46 will buy a lot of other junk. But when you are going home, extra clothes will really interfere with you, because no one has canceled the baggage allowance, and you will have to pay for the excess from your own pocket.
Sixth. Money.
How much to take and where to change. In principle, the rule "When you go to Thailand, take as much as you paid for the tours, and to Europe twice as much as you gave for the tours" is valid. I took one and a half times more and did not save on entertainment and food. If you want jewelry, latex pillows, crocodile bags, then take more money. Take dollars, they have a better exchange rate than rubles. Change little and often. It's easier than running around to change or spend baht at the end of the trip if you have a lot of them left. Exchangers on every corner, you can't miss. The Visa Classik card also works in Thai stores, I do not advise you to withdraw money from ATMs - pay an extra commission. If you are going to use the card, go to the bank in your neighborhood - they will explain what needs to be done so that after the first purchase your card is not blocked. Since Thailand is considered by our banks to be an unreliable country in terms of possible fraud. And make a photocopy of the card just in case.
I did all these procedures myself, but I never used the card there - I had enough cash. You can keep money (and passports) in a safe (someone has it right in the room, we have it on the first floor of the hotel), I didn’t make an inventory, but nothing was missing from the safe.
seventh Check in hotel.
Perhaps now, in someone's opinion, I will write nonsense, but for me these things turned out to be unexpected and if someone warned me about them, I would be grateful, because I would not have to be nervous.
Transfer to the hotel. The hotel website always says how much money you need to leave as a deposit. If you did not use the mini-bar and did not break anything, this money will be returned to you. I knew that my hotel would ask for 1000 baht. But I thought that dollars would suit them too.
No, they did not, and I had to run around the hotel and urgently change dollars. Fortunately the exchanger is very close.
The second - check-in began at 14-00. It turns out that this is the generally accepted check-in time at the hotel. We arrived at 10 am and had to wait. Fortunately, we were offered to put our luggage in a special room, and we could take a walk. (Once again I will say thanks to the people who advised me to change clothes at the airport, in jeans and sneakers I would just cook).
When we were given a key with a huge rectangular keychain and we opened the door of the room, we did not know that the keychain was not for beauty. It must be inserted into a plastic pocket at the entrance to the room and then electricity, light bulbs, air conditioning will work. And we had to go down and find out why we have "no electricity"? And yet, we only found out on the third day that the light bulb in the table lamp did not burn out, but simply the switch was not on the wall, but on the cord, since it was very carefully disguised under the table.

Seventh. Communication.

What language to communicate with local population? Here we were in for a surprise. We speak the same English with them! That is, such stupidity as the correct construction English phrases, you can generally neglect. "Here is the price" or "how much" is enough for any seller to understand you, take out a calculator and write down a figure. With the help of fingers and the same calculators, you can further bargain. I bargained like this - I have a crowd of relatives who wanted T-shirts with elephants, so I didn’t take anything one by one, and for wholesale (and 2-3 pieces is already wholesale), Thais always reduce the price. Everyone is pleased - and I do not look like a miser, and the merchant is pleased. Moreover, if there is no right size, they can run for you, find out, and show the shop where it is.
Eighth. Excursions.
On the first day, your tour operator's guide will come to you and offer you excursions. Immediately agree to a free review, and about the rest, find out the details and prices and say that you will think it over. Then decide where you are still going, and go for a walk. On the way you will be invited by local tour agencies. Come in, don't be afraid. I used the services of "Coconut Travel" and "Watermelon", I know from the reviews that "Captain Vrungel" is well served. You can contact Kokos from home via the Internet, and they will send you a price list, and upon arrival, call and they will send a car for you to take you to their office. They will take money in both dollars and baht, but in baht it is more profitable for you, since they underestimate the exchange rate compared to the exchanger. Some plan their holidays in advance, scheduling every day, and buying excursions from one tour desk. I didn't do that. You can buy at least every day. If you have time to call before six in the evening, you can book an excursion and pay in the morning directly with the driver or guide. Once they came for us at eight, and we did not have time to change dollars for baht, so they took money from us after the tour, when we were able to pay off.
Concerning own experience, then the quality of services of the street bureau and your tour operator will be approximately the same. On a trip to the River Kwai from Cocos, we stayed in the rooms of the same hotel as Pegasovtsy, but the rooms were right by the pool, and they were on the outskirts. We ate in the same restaurants, visited the same objects, the buses were the same in terms of comfort. But we sailed along the river at seven in the evening, after excursions and in the heat, and they were at eight in the morning in the cool and after breakfast. So we got a lot more for a lot less. (And boldly divide the prices of tour operators by two - get the price of a street bureau).

You can turn out of the tour in two days with the loss of money. So I'm glad I didn't buy a tour of the islands because on the way to Kwai I tripped and flayed my finger. I could walk, but I was afraid to swim with an open wound. So I would lie on the shore for two days, sadly envying those who swim in the sea. (A small observation - a Thai bandage cannot be torn by hand, like our domestic one. Only cut!)

But in reality, instead of the islands, I just went to Mini Siam and the Gallery of 3D paintings. I advise you to go to Mini Siam in the evening, when the right lighting makes this little world magical (although with good morning lighting and no crowds, the pictures also turned out great), and to the Gallery in the morning, by ten o'clock, and on your own, and not as part of an excursion, then calmly take a picture without having to wait for your turn.

Of the distant excursions, I was only on the River Kwai and I was so tired of the five-hour return journey on the bus that I no longer left the outskirts of Pattaya. I'll leave it for my next trip.
And another note. Sometimes it is even cheaper to go as part of an excursion than on your own, because the bureau has discounts on tickets, but you do not. So I went to the dolphinarium. Taxi 200 baht, two tickets 500 baht and taxi back 200 baht. And in the bureau I would pay for all 800 baht. I won’t write more about excursions, just carefully read what is included in it. Therefore, you will not be surprised that after the crocodile farm you will find yourself in a jewelry factory and will yourself look for a free transfer to take you to the hotel.

Ninth Shopping.

I combined it with excursions. Excursion in the morning, shopping in the evening. From shops I choose Central Festival and Tuk Kom. In the first, I bought bags, in the second, phones. Everything else, including souvenirs (and by and large, bags and phones) can be bought on the street. We were near the hotel night market, but in general there are a lot of them in Pattaya. He worked from four to ten in the evening. There prices are lower than during the day. As for the prices for equipment, they are many times lower. Specially compared.
Tablet samsung tab 3, we have 18500, in Tuk Kom 14500. I also visited shops oriented towards Thais, not tourists, for example, BIG C, Franchship mo., Nothing that I could not buy at the night bazaar, not saw. As for the shops where they offer a free transfer (take free Pattaya cards at the counters and you will know the phone number you need), the feeling is twofold. Prices are inflated somewhere at times, somewhere a little, it is impossible to bargain in most cases. But if you want to choose something thoughtfully, without crowding, then you can use it. I bought souvenirs, wallets, T-shirts in Otope. Then in the bazaar the same thing is cheaper, but not by much.
Take latex pillows - carry them in your hand luggage, it is not weighed, and pillows weigh a lot. Two pillows and a mattress - 20 kilograms. I bought at Central Festival. Three times cheaper than in the factory. There was a certificate for the pillow. But I will not campaign - the worm of doubt about its authenticity remains.
Eleventh. Crime.
They scare with motorists who rip off bags. Therefore, documents in a safe, a bag over the shoulder, orienting it in the opposite direction from the roadway. No one has ever demanded documents from me, no one has bothered me, no one has made dubious offers. Perhaps because I was always accompanied by my husband, two meters tall, over a hundred kilos in weight.
She tried not to throw garbage on the ground, although it is doubtful that anyone would be fined for this. With the great love of Thais to buy food on the street in disposable containers, and then throw it at the place of the meal, all the roadsides are covered with a thick layer of plastic and paper waste. This is depressing. But for some reason there are no flies, or a little, which is surprising.

Twelve. Home.
This turned out to be the easiest. There were scales in the hotel. 10 baht coin - and in 15 seconds you have time to weigh 4 bags. We were scared by the guide that the suitcase and bag each should be no more than 15 kilos. That's how it is, and people at the airport paid for the excess, but if there are two of you, they will weigh 2 suitcases at once, so 10 in one and 20 kilos in the second is also an acceptable option. Hand luggage was not weighed, so in vain I left all the pills in the room, antibacterial wipes and advertising brochures. People carried fruits in baskets in hand luggage, and in Barnaul no one took them away at the airport. Although in Krasnoyarsk, according to reviews, they were taken away.
Alcohol - no more than 3 liters per person. Here they followed it clearly - customs officers in Barnaul confiscated it in my presence. Liquids in unpackaged containers were confiscated at the Bangkok airport in front of my eyes. No one was detained, no one was fined, they just let go further in peace.
To find out the departure time and what time the bus would pick us up, we had to do it ourselves by looking at the hotel's anex folder. But there was no information in the folder. Then I started calling our guide, but he only promised to call me back. Then my phone ran out of money - I went to replenish the balance and met people about whom I knew for sure that they were returning on the same plane to Barnaul. They found out that the guide who knows about the flight is sitting on the couch in a nearby hotel. We ran there, and the guide said that he had already cut off my phone. At the same time, he dialed the number with me - and only then did I hear the incoming call. I still don't know - glitch local communications and Russian gouging made me worry. But the guide said that even if she hadn’t called, she would have come to our room herself to provide information. By the way, at one in the morning she called and said that the flight was being postponed.
And on the bus, we had to wait for three more tourists, who spent three hours at the hotel, waiting for the bus that did not pick them up. Then someone in the annex checked the lists and remembered them. Why people did not call anyone and meekly waited - remained a mystery to me. There were people on our charter flight who did not fly from the annex, so they were brought to the airport 10 hours before departure. This is where they really screwed up.
At the airport, after check-in, luggage check-in, passport control (where it turned out that the migration card must be filled out on both sides), we ended up in the Duty Free zone. Shops nemeryanno, do not rush into the first one, they are repeated. I can’t compare prices, I’m only sure that the goods are not fake, so we bought perfume and alcohol. By the way, Thai balm can be bought in a beautiful package, so if you take it as a gift, buy it there, and not in a pharmacy or in a bazaar.
The last test - the airport in Barnaul. I don’t remember such a feeling of being a herd of animals waiting to be slaughtered since Soviet times. Hello Motherland!

I remember how we decided that we were going to Thailand on our own, and how long we thought about where it would be better to go for the first time? How many options were sorted out, forums and blogs re-read, what a mess in my head! Therefore, I decided to write a small FAQ about Thailand, what you need to know before your first trip. It turned out not just step-by-step instruction how to prepare for a trip to Thailand on your own, but a good article with a lot of nuances, which I myself would like to read before our first trip to Thailand.

From the article you will learn:

Preparing for an independent trip to Thailand

How to prepare for a trip to Thailand on your own:

We check the documents: foreign. The passport is valid for 6 more months from the date of entry into Thailand.
We buy air tickets to Thailand on our own - if the vacation dates are fixed and known in advance, it is cheaper to buy a round-trip flight at once. Detailed article, and.
We book a hotel in Thailand ourselves - here is a detailed one.
We buy insurance for ourselves and children - instructions,.
Decide if you need a visa. Ukrainians can. Russians - a stamp for 30 days. Belarusians need to apply for a visa in advance. If you are flying for longer, then there are several options:
- Get a visa in advance in the country of residence: Ukrainians and Belarusians -, Russians - get it in Moscow.
- Arrive on a short-term visa / stamp, and then go to one of the neighboring countries for a longer-term visa (tourist or student). We received a Thai visa (the most undemanding and loyal Thai consulate in Southeast Asia), in Malaysia and.
If you plan to rent a car or motorbike in Thailand, make sure you have international law. A paper book with a translation into foreign languages. A bike without a license will be handed over to you, but a fine for driving without a license is $15, and in any accident, all the blame will be on you.
A few days before departure, warn the bank that you are going abroad so that you do not have your card blocked the first time you try to withdraw money in Thailand.
Vaccinations are not required before traveling to Thailand. We only got the yellow fever shot for 10 years, but we didn't have to.
Sort out the travel first-aid kit - take only the most necessary medicines. Usually these are nurofen (pain reliever), mezim (to improve digestion), espumizam (for bloating), loperamide (for diarrhea) and smecta (for poisoning).
Check if you have debts that prevent you from being released abroad. This can be done independently on the website of the FSSP of the Russian Federation or on the website Nevylet.
Before leaving for the airport, check all documents: passports, airline tickets, hotel voucher, printed insurance policy, permission to take the child out if the other parent is not traveling. If you will receive a visa on arrival, then do not forget the documents for the visa.
When we go to Thailand, we always take part of the money in cash dollars ($200-$300). In general, it is better to go to Thailand not with rubles or hryvnias, but with dollars or euros. And we take large bills of $50 or $100 with us, because small bills in exchangers change at a low rate.

What to do upon arrival in Thailand

Immigration cards (form TM.6) are handed out on the plane. They must be filled out and presented at passport control.
At the hotel or apartment, be sure to find out if the host has registered you at the Immigration Office? Homeowners must register foreigners within 24 hours, otherwise the foreigner will not be able to extend the visa, run into a fine, and at the same time the homeowner will be fined.
If you have a tourist visa, do not forget to renew it. A visa is issued for 60 days with the right to extend for 30. It is usually extended 7-10 days before the end of the first 60 days of stay. How to extend a visa.

We are looking for an inexpensive flight ticket to Thailand on our own

There are quite a few airlines flying to Thailand. In summer, flying to Tai is more expensive, because. summer is off-season in Thailand, and carriers reduce the number of flights. But every autumn, tickets to Thailand please with their prices. For example, you can fly directly from Moscow to Bangkok for 20,000 rubles.

It is often cheaper to fly to Bangkok, and then either by bus or by a Thai low-cost airline (we will talk about them a little later) to get to the desired city. How to get from Bangkok to different cities Thailand, also painted a little lower.

When is a tour to Thailand more profitable than an independent trip?

There are several cases where it is cheaper to buy a tour to Thailand than to buy tickets, hotel and insurance separately. These are the cases:

if you are flying to Thailand for a short time (2-3 weeks)
if you buy tickets to Thailand during the high season 2-3 weeks before departure (December-March), tickets for regular flights are already sold out at this time, and the rest are sky-high
if you are flying to Thailand for the first time without knowing the language, you won’t have to get to the hotel on your own
if you fly to Pattaya / Phuket - there are many tours in these areas good prices. Detailed post about
if there are no cheap one-way tickets to Thailand, it is more profitable to buy a tour for 2-3 days to Pattaya or Phuket, and back by charter ticket just don't fly. Such tours cost 14-16 thousand rubles, while direct regular flight will cost from 20 thousand rubles

As experience shows, in the high season, only a round-trip flight to Thailand for two will cost at least $ 2,000. While this money can buy ready tour for 10 nights with accommodation, flights, transfers and insurance.

Tours to Tai at the best prices. For an example, compare prices for these last minute tours and airfare prices are higher:

When is the best time to go to Thailand?

In Thailand, there are no seasons familiar to us. There are seasons in Thailand. All three seasons - hot, cool, and rainy- beautiful in their own way. IN different corners In Thailand, the change of seasons occurs at different times.

It is believed that from November to March in Thailand high season. At this time, prices for everything rise noticeably.

Heat stands from March to May. Due to the high humidity, it is very difficult to tolerate, especially in stuffy Bangkok. In Chiang Mai, from late February to early May, the smog season is a terrible time. I highly recommend visiting Chiang Mai during this period.

Rain season starts at the end of May and lasts until October. Most of the rains are in August and September. But that doesn't mean it's raining all day long. Most often, it lasts a couple of hours, and then the sun warms up the beach, where you can safely find a free place. The biggest disadvantage of the rainy season is the turbulent sea and the ugly color of the water.

in Phuket low season June - October are considered, but most of the rains are in August and September (there are only two seasons in Phuket, hot and rainy), Koh Samui - mid-November - mid-December (on Koh Samui, almost the opposite is true), Koh Chang - from June to July.

If you are traveling to Thailand for the first time, then choose the period from late October to early March. The weather at this time in all resorts in Thailand is excellent.

Where to go: which resort / city in Thailand to choose?

Where to go to Thailand for the first time is another important question. It makes sense to choose one of the following resorts:

Phuket Island

The most expensive resort in Thailand with holidays for every taste: from a quiet family to a stormy nightlife. The island has international Airport, so you can get there without transfers. Phuket is a developed urbanized island with good infrastructure, stable internet, shopping centers, night markets and, of course, clean bounty beaches. Near Phuket there are many excellent places for diving.

andaman sea

Krabi - this is a unique province, folded like a mosaic of many islets. Business card - natural beauty. Here you can also find untouched corners but they are getting smaller. Diversity natural landscapes rolls over: national parks, rainforests, picturesque caves and waterfalls and even hot springs. A calm beach holiday is adjacent to an active one: rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, diving, etc. Krabi is worth seeing at least once.

andaman sea

The cheapest, noisiest, crazy resort. Pattaya famous for inexpensive and affordable sex. Nevertheless, cheapness, convenience of flight, many hotels, restaurants and beaches, shopping and entertainment centers and attractions attract budget travelers to Pattaya.

Gulf of Thailand

no beaches

Koh Samui

The coziest, in our opinion, resort in Thailand is an island Samui. He looks like tropical paradise with coconut palms, which have become the hallmark of the island. From it you can get to smaller and even more secluded islands (Phangan, Tao, Nang Yuai). There are hotels on Koh Samui for every taste and budget, as well as entertainment.

Gulf of Thailand

Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is a tropical paradise with palm trees, wild beaches and fiery sunsets. Once a month, Phangan hosts a Fulmun party, which is attended by hundreds of party-goers from around the world. Koh Phangan inexpensive resort There are no chain hotels here. The beaches on Koh Phangan are better than on neighboring island Samui.

Gulf of Thailand

Chang Island

Koh Chang- quiet and calm island. It is rustic in style. Life here is measured, there are no clubs, hangouts and parties like in Phuket or Koh Samui. But Koh Chang is the cheapest island in Thailand. If you are on a budget but want to relax on the island, Koh Chang is waiting for you.

Gulf of Thailand

Hua Hin- the oldest and safe resort, the favorite resort of the King of Thailand. There is the Klai Kangwun Palace (the name translates as “away from the hustle and bustle”), once a year the royal family comes here. This resort is not for the adventurous youth, but a resting place for the weary rich. There is everything for this huge golf course, white sand beaches and comfortable living conditions. Picturesque caves and national park Roy Yot himself will dilute beach everyday life. Hua Hin is well suited for kite surfing. Hua Hin is an expensive resort.

Gulf of Thailand

chiangmai

chiangmai – cultural capital Thailand. Chiang Mai is located in the north of the country. There are no beaches here, but there are mountains and. In the vicinity of Chiang Mai, tribes still live that do not enjoy the benefits of civilization. thai villages, majestic temples, orchards and rice terraces, waterfalls and exotic flora and fauna - all this can be seen with a tour or on your own. One of the advantages of Chiang Mai is cheap housing. A feature of Chiang Mai is that it is cool in January, in the evenings you want to wear something warm. In the spring, local farmers burn rice fields, and the whole neighborhood is covered in smoke for several days.

There is no sea

How to find accommodation in Thailand?

If you are going to Thailand for a long time, then first you check into a hotel / guesthouse for 5-7 days, after which you look for housing on the spot. It is profitable to rent housing for a period of 3 months, when renting for a period of 6 months, the price of housing per month drops by 2-3 thousand baht (60-80$) minimum.

For a short time, you can stay in a hostel, guesthouse or hotel. Housing in Thailand is very inexpensive, for $ 18-20 you can rent a room with a hot shower, air conditioning and breakfast. .

The hotel is easy to find: we recommend either Skyscanner (it can find hotels with discounts on different sites) or Booking (or Agoda - it’s like Booking, only in Thailand Agoda finds prices cheaper)

There are 4 main housing options on long term: house, condo, apartments and apart-hotel. All options have pros and cons.

A condo is a Thai version of an apartment without a kitchen. An apartment is a bedroom and a living room combined with a kitchen. Thais distinguish apartments as "one bedroom" ("van bedrum", one bedroom), "two bedroom" (two bedrooms), etc.

If you do not want to look for accommodation on the spot, then you can book through airbnb. There are many in Thailand good options accommodation on airbnb, but the prices are slightly higher (as well as the quality of the apartment) than if you search on the spot. For example, here is an overview of the house we booked on Koh Samui through Airbnb:

Important! When booking for a long time, you need to leave some kind of deposit. Usually the deposit is equal to the amount of rent for 1 month.

If you haven't signed up with airbnb yet, get $20 off your first booking.

If you rent a condo in Thailand, then often there is no washing machine. You can wash in Thailand either in automatic machines (you throw money - usually 10 baht - linen, powder and it washes itself; so is the dryer), or give it to Thais for washing, where it says LAUNDRY. The regular price is 25-30 baht per kilo of linen.

Transport in Thailand

Public transport in Thailand: songteo, tuk-tuk

Transport in Thailand at first glance seems unsafe, unusual, and sometimes even dirty, but it's cheap and fun!

songteo(translated as “two benches”) is a pickup truck with two rows of seats in the back. Interestingly, the "type" of songteo depends on the area. Or from the route. For example, in Pattaya, white songteos are transit, and dark blue are urban. The price can be fixed and indicated on the plate (10 - 40 baht) or may depend on the distance.

Knock Knock It's a rickshaw with a motor. Tourists love it very much, although the tuk-tuk is very noisy and uncomfortable, especially during the rainy season.

Bangkok has a subway and regular buses (with and without air conditioning). The air-conditioned bus costs 13 baht, the regular bus costs 7 baht.

Metro in Thailand

There is only one metro in Thailand, Bangkok.

Metro in Bangkok there is underground (MRT), overground (BTS or Skytrain) and to the airport (ARL). Unfortunately, for all three lines you need to buy separate tickets, the cost of which is high and comparable to a taxi. But you can get to any part of the city without traffic jams from 6:00 to 00:00

The cost depends on the number of stations. If you pass more than you paid for, the turnstile at the exit simply will not let you through. There is always a booth with a subway worker next to the turnstile. Approach her, hold out a ticket, and they tell you how much you need to pay extra.

BTS tickets are single, one-day (the ticket is not valid for 24 hours, only during the day of purchase), 30-day (15, 25, 40, 50 trips, the length of the trip is not taken into account), and replenishable.
All MRT tickets are valid for 90 minutes only. If during this time you have not left the subway, you will be fined 40 baht. To not just ride)

Taxi in Thailand

There are many “stories”, incidents, divorces associated with taxis in Thailand. When valuables disappear from the trunk, or a taxi driver takes you in circles or bypasses, when they inflate the price, and at the end of the journey they say that the named amount is from each, and not the cost of the trip in general. Therefore, clearly stipulate the cost of the trip before boarding. Take your valuables to the cabin and track your route on the navigator, having previously voiced the understandable word GPS aloud to everyone.

Or use the international taxi services that are now available in Thailand. These are Uber and Grab taxi. How to use grab-taxi, .

Intercity transport: trains, buses, planes

The transport system in Thailand is well developed: trains, buses, ferries.

Tickets for buses, trains, ferries can be bought online

Intercity buses more popular among tourists than trains, because they are comfortable and inexpensive. Intercity buses are of two types: mini-vans and vip (large comfortable buses). The larger buses provide meals, blankets and a voucher that can be used to buy food at the bus stop. By the way, it’s terribly cold in mini-veins, that in large buses - Thais love air conditioners. We always take warm clothes with us, and I wrap myself in a scarf.

In one night from Bangkok you can get almost anywhere in Thailand. The only confusion arises with the "terminals", often it can just be some kind of office where you should expect to be picked up. This is due to the fact that there are a lot of transport companies, and they often cannot agree among themselves.

Railway communication is also well established - 4 main and 2 secondary lines. Prices depend on the class of the carriage, the speed of the train and the availability of air conditioning. The third class with hard seats is only suitable if you travel short distances, although the ticket will cost like a comfortable bus, second class long distance- These are already full-fledged sleeping places.

You can check the schedule and other details on the official website of the railway of Thailand http://www.railway.co.th/home/default.aspx?ID=&lang=EN

Low-cost carriers in Thailand

Sometimes a flight in Thailand can be cheaper than a bus ride. Here are domestic low-cost airlines that you can fly from $15: Orient Thai Airlines, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, AirAsia. Our favorite low-cost airline, AirAsia, runs regular sales during which you can fly from Bangkok to Krabi for 100 baht.

Low-cost airlines with which you can fly to neighboring and not very countries: VietJet, Tiger Air, JetStar Airways, Scoot, Malindo.

Movement in Thailand. What is better to rent: a car or a bike?

In Thailand, driving is on the left. At first it seems terribly chaotic, but then you get used to it. Of the features - there are almost no pedestrians, Thais move mainly on bikes.

Important! If you get on a bike without a license or without an officially accepted license in Thailand, then injury insurance will not pay for the costs.

All vehicles in Thailand must be insured. Local insurance is called PoRoBo. The lessor of the bike/car is responsible for the insurance. In the event of an accident, the insurance does not cover vehicle repairs, only medical treatment. What does the treatment of any victim - a passenger, a driver of both Vehicle in any accident, including a fall, even to pedestrians or other injured persons in the amount of a maximum of 50,000 baht.

This is how the motorbike driving test in Thailand looks like:

Thai licenses are valid in ASEAN countries, they can be driven in Malaysia, Laos and other countries. Also in the national parks and museums give a discount to holders of Thai rights.

If you've never ridden a bike, take a couple of lessons first. Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin there are people and schools where you can take private lessons.

Money in Thailand. Sberbank ATMs, commission and conversion

There are several banks in Thailand, all of them differ in color. There are purple, blue, yellow and green cans.

ATMs in Thailand are called ATMs (as they are in other countries). In all ATMs have a fee of 200 baht for withdrawing money. Moreover, when withdrawing from a non-Thai card (ruble, hryvnia, dollar - no difference), an additional charge occurs. convert card currency to Thai baht.

A green bank ATM (casicorn bank) is often confused by Russian tourists with a Sberbank ATM. No. There is no branch of Sberbank of Russia in Thailand.

Installed in ATMs limit on the amount that can be withdrawn at a time. Approximately 20 thousand baht($560 or 36 thousand rubles).

It is most advantageous to shoot at a bank branch, in a window. In the yellow bank (krungsri) they issue money from cards without any problems. All you need is a passport, a card and the word "cash". The limit on a one-time withdrawal at the bank's cash desk is 150 thousand baht. You do not need to pay a commission of 200 baht for withdrawing money at the bank's cash desk.

Opening a card in a Thai bank is possible only with a work permit or a long-term visa (not a tourist one).

Food in Thailand. What to try, how to eat

The basis of the foundations of Thai cuisine is rice, it turns out that it can be not only white, but black and red, fragrant, jasmine and sticky. Rice's sister is noodles, which also have a lot of varieties. And, of course, pepper. Lots of pepper! You can wash your face with tears from the most “not spicy” dish. “Know spicy” is your duty phrase.

It is better not to drink spicy, but to eat rice, as the Thais think.

How to eat Thai food? Fork, spoon (2 different for soup and rice), chopsticks. No knives. To take a fork in your mouth is the height of indecency! The fork is just there to help put the rice into the spoon. Spoon in right hand, fork in the left. For example, spicy Tom Yum is eaten like this: take some rice with a spoon and soak it in the soup. Large pieces of meat or fish from the soup are eaten with chopsticks. Soup roots should not be eaten, well, unless you really, really want to.

If you are very hot, seize rice or drink beer, but not water.

Dangers in Thailand

You need to swim carefully, usually flags indicate safe places for swimming. In a storm, swimming becomes especially dangerous. Underwater currents are very common during the rainy season. It’s better not to joke with the ocean, here you can cut yourself with coral (the wound heals for a long time) through negligence and be stung by a poisonous mollusk, from whose poison death occurs after 30 minutes, if you don’t introduce an antidote.

Mosquitoes here are not just annoying buzzing creatures, but carriers of serious diseases, be sure to use repellents for prevention and protection. Do not forget about the fumigators in the room.

The most harmless in Thailand are “chin-choks”, as the locals call geckos. In Thailand, this is the most common animal. His paws are equipped with suction cups, which allows him to run on the ceiling. The worst thing he can do is fall on you or drop his waste products into your bed.

Chinchok's older brother is the toku gecko. They are also harmless and nocturnal animals. If you have a current in your house (usually under a roof), then there will be no snakes.

How to protect yourself from mosquitoes and what other dangers there are in Tae, we read in this

What is 7/11? Stores in Thailand

In Thailand (and in some other countries) there is a chain of convenience stores "Seven-Eleven" or 7/11. They sell semi-prepared food, groceries, drinks, and household chemicals. Moreover, sellers warm up semi-prepared food in the microwave, and if you buy dry soup or coffee, then the store has boiling water to brew. Seven Eleven is a real lifesaver in Thailand.

Alcohol in Thailand is sold only at certain times: from 11 to 14 and from 17 to 24.

What other shops are there in Thailand? There are large Tesco Lotus chain stores (there are also small Tescos), there are Big C and Makro (macro is mainly a wholesale grocery store). In Tesco and Big C, you can buy almost everything - from rice to shorts, an iPhone or a bicycle.

Big C and Tesko Lotus are usually huge food court stores. These shops have a cookery where you can buy ready-made food.

About shopping in Thailand. How to get a tax refund on purchases

In Thailand good shopping, and I'm not just talking about variety and prices. Leaving Thailand, you can get a 7% tax refund on all purchases. More

How to behave in Thailand

Buddhism and the worldview of the Thais are one. Modest, discreet, polite, good-natured - this is how Thais can be characterized, and these same qualities are expected from you. Yelling is simply unacceptable. You will either be stopped serving or taken to the police station.

Buddha and royalty- the most sacred for every Thai. Even the images, and they are on banknotes, they are very reverent. For insulting the royal family, up to 15 years in prison are provided, even for foreign citizens. Therefore, we do not recommend crushing, tearing and sticking banknotes with the Thai king into your back pocket.

In public can't show feelings openly such as kissing even if you are newlyweds.

Clothing should not be too revealing, and the rules for visiting any temples in any country are the same: no T-shirts and shorts, and especially swimsuits. Temples are not allowed enter in shoes.

Women are not allowed to touch monks. For this, they can simply be kicked out of the temple and call the police.

When communicating with Thais you can't touch their head. Head - sacred place, only for very close people. And if you touched the child's head, parents can easily go to court for insulting religious feelings.

Thais Very superstitious. They practically do not give flowers to women, but every day they buy flowers for spirits. You can’t smell these flowers - you will bring trouble on yourself, as the signs say. In Thailand, there are a lot of houses for spirits, it is impossible not to notice them. In almost all taxis, you will see a bunch of charms on the rearview mirror. And the Thais themselves often hang several amulets around their necks.

How to move to Thailand for permanent residence?

Moving to Thailand for permanent residence is almost impossible, but there are several options for how to live in Thailand for a long time:

Tourist visa - you will have to visa, i.e. travel every 3 months for a new visa to a neighboring country. Now there are problems with this method, because. Thais have become more demanding about issuing visas, and, for example, in Kuala Lumpur, a Thai visa is no longer available.
A study visa - all you need is to study at one of the language schools. There are many of them in Thailand. Last time language schools began to carefully check, and students still have to go to classes.
Volunteer visa - allows you to stay in Thailand for a long time, but you really need to be a volunteer.
Business visa - we open our own business in Thailand with an authorized capital of at least 2 million baht.
Work permit or work permit - you can get a job somewhere officially, which is difficult, or find a company that will make a work permit for you. It costs about 30 thousand baht per year. There are different work permits: one allows you to leave the country, others do not.
Retirement visa - only for people 50+, and there must be $ 26,000 in a Thai bank account.
Thai Elite program - allows you to stay in Thailand for 5 years for $ 15,000. There are different rates, including family.

First aid kit for Thailand

Attention! A first aid kit is not a replacement for insurance but just an addition.

Do I need special vaccinations to travel to Thailand? No, not needed.

When collecting a first aid kit, adjust it individually: if you are allergic, be sure to take something for allergies.

Almost everything listed below is in Thailand, so I added the Thai names in brackets:

Poisoning: activated charcoal, smectite.
Heartburn: phosphalugel. We also take mezim for heaviness in the stomach and espumizan for bloating.
Temperature: paracetamol (paracetamol in Thailand is called "Tylenol", the name "Sarah" is found, it is sold even in 7/11 and FamilyMart).
Colds: fervex.
Headache: Citramon, Nurofen.
Wound disinfection: hydrogen peroxide, iodine (an analogue of iodine in Thailand is called "Betadine" Betadine or Povadine)
For diarrhea: loperamide, smecta (loperamide should not be taken in case of poisoning)
Sore throat: septefril/strepsils (in Thailand for throat/angina - Mybacin Lozenges, Chrolehexidine C-20 gargle, Kamillosan spray, you can buy strepsils every 7/11)
Antiseptic: furacelin
Painkillers: nurofen, spasmalgon.
Mosquito bites: fenistil.

In Thailand, many medicines familiar to us have a completely different name. If you are already in Thailand and you do not have the right medicine, then the site http://www.mims.com/thailand will be a real lifesaver. If you register, he will pick up a Thai equivalent for the Russian name.

If we missed some topics or something remains unclear, ask in the comments! We will be happy to advise you that your first independent trip to Thailand remained unforgettable!

Hello!
My name is Tatyana, and I am glad to see you on the blog "Life is unpredictable!".
I love to travel, and I share my impressions, tips and other useful notes on my blog.

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