Key travel destinations. Independent travel to Thailand or buying a hot tour? How to relax in Thailand yourself

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How to travel independently to Thailand: seaside holidays, hotels, prices

If you are traveling to Thailand for the first time- prepare a little in advance, select the places you want to visit via the Internet, select hotels and places you want to see. For example, if you like a quality, relaxing holiday for two or with your family, without extreme sports, I do not recommend going to Pattaya. Well, if you go without a travel agency, then choose the best - clean sea, beautiful beaches. At least .

2. Russians do not require a visa within a month. This means that you don’t have to do anything in advance - take your passport, a round-trip air ticket, and get on the plane.

3. Arriving at Suvanapum, Bangkok airport, take Bangkok map- you will not be able to pass by the information desk. Then you can get to the city by taxi or bus. By bus - more interesting, more impressions. You can find out where the buses stop and what route they take on the airport website.
Since 2010 - inexpensive and without traffic jams.

4. The hotel can be booked in advance via the Internet or on site. There is this peculiarity: if you rent a room directly from a hotel while in Bangkok, it will be more expensive, so go to the nearest information agency and book. Moreover, you can first go to the hotel, look at the rooms, and then, if you like it, book... around the corner at the information center. It is surprising that in the middle of a noisy street there can be a hotel with quiet, cozy rooms. In the photo: we had such a number in Bangkok. Price for two: 580 rubles (including 30 minutes of free internet, breakfast for two).
I recommend:

5. The most economical way to go to the sea- by bus from Khao San. Choose in advance where you want to go, map out the route. In Khao San, at the information center, buy a one-way ticket and a hotel for one night. I don’t recommend buying a return ticket right away, because... It’s not at all a fact that you will want to sit in one place for the entire vacation.
Transfers are possible on the way to the sea. Don't be afraid to get lost! Thais will lead you by the hand and stick colored pieces of paper on your T-shirt depending on your destination so you don’t get lost. Most importantly, do not forget the name of your final destination.
Traveling between beaches is convenient and inexpensive on a motorbike - the most popular means of transportation in Thailand.

6. Hotels, bungalows. Having reached the place, you can go around all the surrounding hotels, change them at least every day, choose islands for relaxation and bars for evening gatherings. By the way, here you can negotiate directly with the hotel/guest about the price of a bungalow or room. Don't be surprised that prices for bungalows by the sea may be less than in remote hotels. In January 2008, we lived 50 meters from the sea in a bungalow for two for 600 rubles/night (translated from baht). A simple, clean bungalow, with a shower, a refrigerator, daily linen change and room cleaning - it was enough for us to “just spend the night.”

7. Food. Immediately forget about European food - in Thailand they absolutely do not know how to cook it, and the price is several times more expensive than Thai food. Feel free to take Thai food - it's incredibly delicious. Just don’t forget to tell the waiter “No spicy, please” (not spicy).
Prices approximately the following, translated into rubles: fresh orange juice - 20 rubles, omelette with shrimp - 30 rubles, a bowl of tuna salad - 25 rubles, an average dinner with beer for two - 300-500 rubles.
Below, see the menu in the cafe on the street, on the left is the European menu, on the right is the Thai menu. Prices in Thai baht (1 baht is approximately equal to the Russian ruble):

Having been to Thailand once on my own, you will never be able to travel through a tour operator again. Feel the difference! For some reason, Russian tourists are afraid to travel on their own. This is strange, because you have to try very, very hard to get lost in Thailand. In addition, Thailand is a safer country than. About languages ​​- school English is enough to get where you need to go. Feel free to communicate with your hands :-). If you don’t know a word of English, it’s better to write down important destinations on a piece of paper and carry a dictionary, pen and notepad with you. At the hotel, be sure to take a business card with the name of the hotel written on it in Thai- so you can easily return to the hotel by taxi.

The only thing you can be afraid of in Thailand is forgetting what date it is and missing the return plane.

Thailand is perhaps the most convenient country for independent travel. Almost year-round season. Lots of flights to Bangkok at reasonable prices. Tour offices throughout the country where you can buy any excursions. Ideally developed connections within the country - Thailand is the best place to start the practice of independent travel (or enjoy it - if you are an experienced traveler). This article contains basic guidelines for those who want to plan an independent trip to Thailand, as well as links to articles and services that may be needed.

COMPARISON OF PRICES FOR AIR TICKETS AND HOTELS ON DIFFERENT SITES

Weather in Thailand. Seasons

The main question travelers ask: when is the best time to go to Thailand? The ideal time to visit all resorts in Thailand is from February to May. However, the “wet season” and “rainy season” concern more the central and northern parts of the country, and almost all resorts are located in the south. Thailand can be recommended as a country for year-round holidays - but with some minor nuances:

Holidays in Thailand

The most popular resort in Thailand is where people go for a regular beach holiday, which is best suited for families with children. Young people and 30-year-olds often prefer yuppies - the parties there are not as crowded as in Phuket, but the crowd is more adequate. Those who want to be away from mass tourism and general hustle and bustle choose the islands of Akhripelakh. SPA connoisseurs don’t hesitate to go to. Those who have visited Thailand more than once choose small, little-known islands and regions -. At the same time, you can always find an exclusive SPA hotel on Samui, a secluded place in Phuket, or have a great hangout on the small islands. About how to create a route for an independent trip to Thailand - written by professional travel journalists ().

The best hotels in Thailand

Thailand on the map

View on a larger map

Bangkok- starting point for traveling around Thailand. Many airlines fly to Bangkok, both direct and with transfers. We recommend direct flights for those traveling with children. Flights with transfers are much cheaper, and there are noticeably fewer children on board. If you book early, you can buy air tickets to Bangkok and back for RUB 17,000. The usual price is in the range of 23-27 thousand rubles. The flight is quite long, so if funds allow, it is better to buy business class.

We have an excellent guide to Bangkok - the City of Angels, which will be useful even to those who have been there more than once:

To the most famous and cheapest resort - Pattaya— from Bangkok it takes about 2 hours by express train, and if you mix up the flights and take the final stop, which is Sukhumvit Road, you will get all five. And on, which few people have heard of, it takes about 4 hours from the capital of Thailand. You will have to get to the islands either by bus (10 hours) or by plane, the latter option is preferable. That's why everyone books a hotel in Bangkok, for a couple of days at the beginning of the trip and for a couple of days before the return flight. This one will come in handy for experienced, sophisticated travelers. By the way, did you know that Bangkok has great shopping? Addresses and appearance-passwords - .

Cheap to Thailand: Pattaya

Holidays in Pattaya can be recommended to those who are going on their first independent trip abroad, when they are embarrassed by ignorance of the language, rules, customs and other nonsense, which usually dissipates by the middle of the trip. You need to understand that Pattaya is a city resort; there are no secluded villas or heavenly bounty-style beaches here. Huge city hotels and vibrant nightlife - that's what awaits you in Pattaya. There are so many hotels in Pattaya that it is quite difficult to make the right choice. Our guide to Pattaya can help:

For those who have done everything correctly and included a couple of days in Bangkok in their travel itinerary, you can get to Pattaya from Ekkamai train stations (located in the east of the city on the famous Sukhumvit Road) or Moh Chit (in the north, Kamphaeng Phet street) - buses run every half hour from 5 am to 10 pm. You can get to the stations from anywhere in the city by metered taxi (100-200 baht). In Pattaya, you just need to get in a taxi and say the name of the hotel (or better yet, show your voucher).

• CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY OF DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR HOTELS IN PATTAYA

Good: Holidays in Phuket

An ideal sea, absolutely transparent in the high season, water 30 degrees, a variety of beaches - from noisy tourist beaches to small secluded lagoons. Phuket is a versatile option. Here you can find hotels for every taste: luxury bungalows, hotels for families with children, Thai-style villas, and standard hotels on the coast. Where to stay to be guaranteed to enjoy it? Read our review of the beaches and best hotels in Phuket:

Secluded: the small islands of Thailand

Thailand is ideal for those who do not like to sit in one place. You can enjoy even a simple route, here are the most popular ones.

We studied information about how to fly to Thailand cheaply. We'll tell you how much a ticket to Thailand costs, when is the best time to buy it, and how to get to Thailand on your own without spending a lot of money.

The article was written primarily for travelers who plan to fly to Thailand on their own, rather than going on a tour. It will be useful both for those traveling one way and for those interested in round-trip tickets.

Let's start!

To search and compare prices, we personally use air ticket search engines - Aviasales and Skyscanner. There are enough of them to find the lowest prices for tickets to Thailand, and both sites have convenient functionality that makes searching easier (price calendars, ticket cost statistics, etc.)

1. Where is the cheapest place to fly?
2. Overview/pricing examples
3. Lifehacks and tips for finding tickets
   • Tickets via a third country
   • Tours and packages
   • Airline sales and promotions
   • Price tracking

1. Where is the cheapest place to fly?

Direct flights from Russia to Thailand are carried out only in two directions - to Bangkok and Phuket. These are the cities that are cheapest to fly to – both direct flights and flights with transfers.

Airplanes fly to Bangkok more often and, as a rule, tickets there are cheaper. Phuket is generally more expensive to get to, but flight options often appear with approximately the same price as to Bangkok.

What if I want to go to another resort?

Some Thai resorts can be reached by purchasing a separate ticket for a domestic flight - this way you can fly to Samui, Krabi, etc.

Other cities can be reached by land (for example, a transfer from Bangkok to Pattaya takes only 2 hours).

2. Cost of tickets to Thailand from Moscow and St. Petersburg

The cheapest tickets to Bangkok are usually from January to May, and to Phuket from February to June.

2.1 Direct flights

Direct flights between Moscow and Phuket are operated by Aeroflot, Azur Air and Nordwind Airlines, and to Bangkok only by Aeroflot and THAI Airways.

At the same time, it’s unlikely to be possible to fly to Thailand inexpensively: direct flights are usually 20-30% more expensive than flights with transfers.

From Moscow to Bangkok

Prices for flights from Moscow to Bangkok start from 24,500 rubles, but most options range from 26,000-27,000 rubles.

From Moscow to Phuket

Tickets for direct flights to Phuket cost a minimum of 29,000 rubles.

From Saint-Petersburg

It is impossible to fly to Thailand cheaply on a direct flight from St. Petersburg: tickets to Bangkok cost from 40,000 rubles and, in general, rarely appear on sale. Prices for flights to Phuket start from 56,000 rubles.

2.2 Flights with transfers

For those who are looking for a cheap way to get to Thailand, the best option is a flight with transfers. Most airlines fly this way, and it is easier to find such tickets.

The following companies fly with transfers:

• Qatar Airways – with a transfer in Doha (Qatar);
• Etihad – transfer to Abu Dhabi (UAE)
• Emirates and Flydubai – fly through Dubai (UAE)
• China Southern – via Guangzhou (China)
• Turkish Airlines – with a transfer in Istanbul (Türkiye)
• Finnair – Helsinki (Finland)
• and some others

When choosing flights, pay attention to the duration of the transfer: sometimes you come across good-priced tickets, but with a travel time of 35-40 hours.

From Moscow

The cost of a flight from Moscow starts from 20,900 rubles, but the flight duration is not the most convenient (16-30 hours). At prices starting from 22,800 rubles, you can find options with a flight to Bangkok in 13-15 hours. Flying to Phuket will be 1000-2000 rubles more expensive.

From St. Petersburg

Tickets from St. Petersburg to Bangkok with transfers cost from 24,500 rubles, but for that price the flight time will be 18-20 hours or more. Prices for short flights start from 27,000-28,000 rubles.

You can find even cheaper tickets to Phuket (from 22,000 rubles), but good options cost about the same as to Bangkok.

For a more visual search for cheap air tickets, use the calendar:

1. Look for tickets in advance– it is advisable to buy them 2-3 months before departure, and the search can begin even earlier. The closer to departure, the higher the price.
2. Experiment with departure dates: a ticket for neighboring dates can sometimes be one and a half times cheaper.
3. View airline promotions– there are good offers there. You can view them.
4. View tickets to other locations– cities in Thailand or nearby countries. An alternative option is to look for tickets not from your city (even if there is an airport there), but from a larger one located nearby (for the central part of Russia - from Moscow and St. Petersburg, for the regions - from Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, etc.). S7 airline has direct flights to Thailand from many cities in Siberia and the Far East.
5. Keep track of ticket prices on the desired dates or date range through the aviasales service - as soon as the price drops, a notification about this will be sent to your email. This is relevant if you started your search in advance and are willing to wait some time before making a purchase.

A few nuances worth paying attention to:

• a round-trip ticket usually costs 30-40% cheaper than separate round-trip tickets
• If you decide to fly to Thailand with one ticket and return with another, remember that without a return ticket in hand, Thai border guards may simply not let you into the country
• The cost of flights is usually higher when Thailand is in tourist season - that is, in late autumn and winter
• tickets for New Year's dates are always the most expensive of the year

3.1 Tickets through a third country

Sometimes you can fly to Thailand cheaper if you look for tickets through a third country - for example, Malaysia or Vietnam. The method often works for one-way tickets, but sometimes there are also good round-trip options.

Low prices for tickets to a third country may be due to the seasonality of holidays there or to airline promotions on certain flight routes.

In this case, you can fly cheaply, for example, to Kuala Lumpur, and from there get inexpensive tickets to Phuket through a low-cost airline. In total, such a flight may be cheaper than a direct ticket to Phuket.

In our experience, it is easier to find flights from low-cost airlines on Skyscanner, but there are also options on Aviasales.

Where to look for flights:

• Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
• Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
• Hong Kong
• Singapore

The last time we saved money this way: we flew to the north of Thailand and the flight to Bangkok cost more (22,000 rubles) than a ticket to Hong Kong (14,000 rubles) + a ticket from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai (6,000 rubles). In addition, we had the opportunity to see Hong Kong.

3.2 Tours and vouchers instead of tickets

Another tricky way to fly to Thailand cheaply is to buy not an air ticket, but a ready-made tour to the desired destination. Sometimes the cost of a trip (especially a last-minute one) can be significantly lower than the price of a ticket for a regular flight. There are cases when a trip costs less than a one-way ticket.

A trip to Thailand on your own will definitely become a bright and memorable event in your life, you just need to properly tune in and prepare, and we will help you with this! This article contains everything you need to know when going to the land of smiles on your own: how to get there cheaply, when to go, which cities and resorts to choose, how to rent accommodation and much more. All information is fresh and personally verified, since we are currently living and traveling in Thailand.

So, let's go!

Visa to Thailand

The first thing you should think about when traveling to Thailand on your own is a visa. Fortunately, it is not needed for trips within one month (for citizens of the Russian Federation), and upon arrival/arrival they will simply put a 30-day stamp in your passport indicating the date by which you must leave the country. If you have planned a trip to Thailand for more than a month, you will need a visa, which can be obtained either at home, in Russia, or in a country neighboring Thailand.

All detailed and latest information on visas (with important changes in November 2015) can be found here:

There is one more nuance: you may be required to purchase return air tickets or air tickets to a third country when departing from Russia or already at the airport in Thailand, as this serves as proof of your departure. The departure date must be within 30 days of the stamp's validity. Everyone has a different experience: we were never asked, and some had problems. Therefore, it is better to still have such a ticket - after all, you will be returning or flying further to other countries.

Or, if there are no plans yet and you only have a one-way ticket, you can:

• — buy a cheap ticket on sale from Air Asia, and then return it, losing some of the money. .
• — make a reservation on agent.ru without payment, and then cancel it
• — make a fake ticket (here at your own peril and risk, I have always used legal methods).

You can read more about all the methods and nuances in the post

Let's move smoothly to the second point.

Flights to Thailand

The most significant part of the cost is to fly in and fly back. Buying cheap air tickets is, in its own way, an art! Now, with the rise in the exchange rate, the prices for flights have also increased, so it is worth monitoring the situation six months before departure, and as soon as cheap options appear, take them immediately. It is more profitable to buy round-trip tickets at once than one-way tickets.

The easiest way to get to Thailand is, of course, from Moscow, as well as Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and the Far East - there are direct flights from there. For Moscow, the option of connecting flights in the Gulf countries is often cheaper, and local airlines often have sales.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Alternatively, catch a sale from Moscow to Hong Kong, China and other Asian countries and from there buy a cheap low-cost ticket. It’s also a good idea to subscribe to the newsletters of S7 and Aeroflot airlines, so you’ll be the first to know about the sale that has begun. Or you can try to fly on a charter with package tourists - there are plenty of options.

Where to look for cheap air tickets? We use search engines to search for tickets, and since they compare hundreds of options and airlines at once - it’s very convenient! Each of them has its own features and features. If you don’t know how to use them, here is our detailed one. She will help you find and buy a cheap air ticket.

When to go to Thailand?

I think that for winterers, seasonality is not so important, because in Thailand it is warm and nice all year round, but for those who come for a short period of time, every fine day counts. It all depends on the place you choose, because the country stretches from south to north, and the weather is different everywhere.

There are only 3 seasons in Thailand:

Rain season lasts from June to October on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi), from November to January in the Gulf of Thailand (Samui, Phangan, Tao) and in September-October in Pattaya. It will not necessarily rain at this time; they will mostly be overnight or short-lived. Although in November it rained on Samui for several days in a row, which caused some inconvenience.

Hot season lasts from March to May, when daytime temperatures reach 35-40 degrees and rain is rare.

The rainy season and the hot season are considered “low” - during this time there are few tourists, but there is a lot of fruit, and prices for everything fall.

Maenam beach on Koh Samui. And in the rainy season it can be sunny!

"Cool" season It is considered high when the largest number of tourists come to the country, and prices for everything are correspondingly higher. It’s not so hot anymore (27-30 degrees), and there’s little rain. In the north of Thailand it can even be +15 degrees at night, and in the mountains it’s even lower!

You can read more about that here. In short, I can say that from November to March you can safely go to the north of the country, to Pattaya and the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, to Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman coast. On the contrary, it is better to go to Samui, Phangan, Tao from March to October.

Which resort should you choose?

This is a rather extensive question, to which we have a separate article: Let’s summarize now:

For active adventures you should go:

For historical heritage:

Housing in Thailand

Planning an independent trip to Thailand is not complete without booking accommodation. If you are traveling during the high season in November-February, we recommend booking accommodation in advance - you can also find it locally, because there are a lot of options throughout the country, but the best places in terms of price-quality ratio will probably already be sorted out.

On the islands, prices for hotels and guesthouses will be higher than, for example, in the north of the country in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Checking reviews from other travelers who have already lived in the place you like is the surest way to find out about accommodation.

We mainly use the site to book hotels in Thailand and other countries - here you can find both the most budget accommodation and various options according to your individual criteria. In Chiang Mai you can find decent rooms for 250 baht (for two) with breakfast, and in Pattaya, Phuket and Samui for 400 baht.

Transport in Thailand

When planning a trip to Thailand on your own, you should carefully study the transport within the country. Fortunately, the infrastructure in the land of smiles is quite well developed - many cities and resorts can be reached by plane, bus, train, or ferry.

Air travel throughout the country they are inexpensive, thanks to low-cost airlines, such as Air Asia - you can fly cheaper than by bus if you buy tickets on sale. There are many flights between popular cities and resorts; you can choose a convenient time.

Surely it will be a new interesting experience for you! We ourselves adore this method of travel and prefer it to airplanes, because you can see so many unusual things from the window. The country has several railway lines, including to neighboring countries: Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

Train in Thailand

Buses are the best in terms of price-quality ratio! The network is very developed, the schedule is convenient, and the buses themselves are quite comfortable. The bus service is designed in such a way that there are many private companies competing with each other. Thanks to this, at a relatively low price, very comfortable conditions await you. On long-distance flights, double-decker buses with a dry toilet inside, “stewardesses”, give out water, nuts and other snacks, sometimes even dinner is included in the price.

There are several classes for the same route, and the price will vary accordingly: VIP, Gold, 1st class, 2nd class. They differ in the number of seats in the cabin and the distance between the seats. It's cold on the buses - take a jacket with you!

Sea transport represented by various ferries and boats. By ferry you can get to islands such as Koh Samui, Phangan, Tao, Phi Phi, Lan, Samet and others.

Read more about moving within the country in the article.

Tips and useful information for those planning an independent trip to Thailand. When to go, how to find cheap flights and hotels, visa, price overview in 2019, low-cost airlines and transport rental, money and ATMs.

All information is current for 2019 and is based on personal experience of independent travel to Thailand.

Exchange rate: 1 Thai baht (THB) ≈ 2 RUB.

Flights to Thailand

Air travel from Russia to Thailand eats up most of the budget of an independent traveler. Tickets for flights with transfers to Bangkok and Phuket - from 25 thousand rubles, tickets for direct flights are more expensive - 30-50 thousand rubles.

Here are some helpful tips for buying tickets:

Tours can be used instead of one-way flights. Do the math for yourself: a standard non-stop ticket from Moscow to Phuket costs about 40 thousand for one, and a tour costs from 60 thousand for two. At the same time, you still get everything that is included in the package: hotel, meals, transfer, insurance. Isn't that a cool way?

Last minute tours search on the services and - they will find the best offers among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

Thai visa

Russians can enter Thailand without a visa - upon arrival they are stamped for 30 days.

If you are going on holiday to Thailand for a long time, then:

1. Apply for a visa in advance in Russia(on your own or through an agency).
2. Apply for Thai visa in neighboring countries. For example, you can simply get a visa in Laos and Malaysia in 1 day. You can get a visa in another Asian country and go to Thailand, or you can fly straight to Thailand, get a stamp for a month and only then go abroad to get a visa.

About border runs. Previously, people lived in Thailand for years without obtaining a visa: they traveled once a month to another country and returned the same day. However, since the summer of 2014, the authorities have tightened migration policy so that tourists obtain visas. Now malicious border runners may not be allowed into the country.

On the border. When you go through passport control, keep a printout of your return ticket or ticket to a third country handy (you can also print it electronically). According to reviews, it is advisable to have at least 20,000 baht per person in cash. Money is rarely checked, mainly from border traders in order to receive a bribe. They never asked us for a ticket or money, but it’s better to at least be safe with a ticket.

Prices in Thailand - 2019

Due to the crisis, Thailand is no longer a cheap country to live and travel independently. Local prices now need to be multiplied by almost two to convert into rubles. However, you can still live there on a fairly budget if you try.

Prices vary among resorts. To give you an idea of ​​prices in Thailand, here are the main ones:

We go to Southeast Asia primarily for tropical fruits - they are tasty and cheap there. We have created a guide with prices, names and photos.

Housing in Thailand

If you have planned an independent trip to Thailand, you need to approach the issue of housing responsibly. To stay in a good hotel at a low price, especially during the high season, you need to book several months in advance. This is not necessary during low season. Are you traveling for a long time? Then book a hotel for the first days and look for accommodation locally.

When is the best time to go to Thailand?

The question of when is the best time to vacation in Thailand is more of a concern for package tourists than for independent travelers. Usually people travel to Thailand on their own for a long period of time (at least a month), so it is not so important for travelers how often it rains. On the contrary, the rainy season is a wonderful time: an abundance of fruits, low prices, few tourists, the most beautiful sunsets. Still, before your trip, read about the peculiarities of the weather in Thailand, so as not to die from the heat and smog or not to celebrate the New Year on Samui in the pouring rain.

Thailand is crowded with tourists in winter and spring. This is high season, the weather is dry and clear. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until November.

Where is the best place to relax in Thailand?

In Thailand we lived in Bangkok, Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket. Of these four places, the best is, of course, Phuket. Most tourists limit themselves only to Pattaya and Phuket. We want to gradually travel around the whole country.

Bangkok- for lovers of cultural and excursion leisure. Interesting international city.

Phuket- a classic beach resort. Excellent beaches, clean water, many natural and cultural attractions.

Pattaya contradictory: Russians go there with their children for a relaxed beach holiday and excursion holidays, and the rest go there for nightly adventures. The beaches and sea at the resort are bad.

Tourists speak favorably of the islands Samui, Chang And Koh Phangan- there are much fewer tourists there than in popular resorts, and the nature is beautiful. However, the infrastructure is not very developed.

In the province Krabi gorgeous cliffs and a nice beach. There are no package tourists here. IN Hua Hine the beaches are so-so, but the city attracts with its difference from other cities: it is neat, well-groomed and Europeanized.

On Phuket We lived three times and explored the island best. Here are useful articles about it:

Low-cost airlines in Thailand: low-cost airlines

Thanks to low-cost airlines, you can travel independently within Thailand and to other countries in Southeast Asia conveniently, simply and on a budget. Often a flight is cheaper than a bus ride - tickets cost $10-30.

Transport rental in Thailand

It’s hard in Thailand without renting a bike or car: you’ll have to spend a lot of money on taxis or excursions to see all the beauty. And you can rent a vehicle very cheaply! Regular price - 200-250 baht per day + deposit and passport.

Personal experience. In Phuket, we rented a bike on the website for 250 baht per day, and the owner did not ask for a passport as deposit. In Pattaya we rented a cool Kawasaki chopper for only 200 baht per day and also without a passport! True, he is already a little tired and shabby, but he’s a chopper. The rental point is called Tom Pattaya bike and car for rent (tel. 081 356 4906).

There are many bike rental points at the resorts, but renting a car is more difficult. You can rent a car on the Skyscanner Car Hire website from 700 baht per day (in Phuket).

What's worth knowing:

• The traffic is on the left and chaotic.
• Driver's license required.
• Do not give your passport as collateral.
• Photos of all scratches on the bike are a must.
• Helmet and insurance are required.
• Red and white markings - parking is prohibited.

Money and ATMs

Take money in euros or dollars. There are many exchange offices and banks at the resorts, the exchange rate is adequate. At ATMs the commission is 200 baht + commission of the issuing bank.

What advice can you give to those who decide to go on an independent trip to Thailand? Here are some recommendations based on our experience:

• Book hotels in advance during the season to have time to find a good option in terms of price-quality ratio.
• Make sure that the hotel has mosquito nets on the windows. Use repellents and other mosquito repellents.
• In Thailand, as in all of Asia, you cannot hide from nosy ants - do not leave crumbs (especially sweet ones) and fruits, throw away garbage immediately.
• For safety and peace of mind, we recommend taking out insurance.
• Read in advance about how to get from the airport to the city so as not to overpay.
• Big C and Tesco Lotus supermarkets have discounts on perishables after 6pm and 7pm.
• At Big C, you can ask for your purchased seafood to be cooked for free.
• Drinking water can be purchased from special machines (1 liter - 1 baht).
• If you have a long flight or travel on an air-conditioned bus, have a sweater. The air conditioners are on full blast and it's very easy to catch a cold.

Introductory image source: © DeeMakMak / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.