Backpacking in Thailand for the Thrifty Traveller

Backpacking in Thailand for the Thrifty Traveller
Over 11 million tourists visit Thailand every year and with its natural beauty largely unspoiled by the ravages of modern life it's not hard to see why many tourists choose to forgo the Westernised hotels and go backpacking instead. One of the many joys of taking a backpacking holiday to a developing country is that goods are plentiful and much cheaper than in the West. You can travel light with just irreplaceable items such as your travel documents and valuables as you can buy armfuls of other essentials, such as toiletries, clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear and just about anything else you might need for knock down prices. If you're planning on living out of your backpack, this is the best option as it will ensure you don't go over the baggage weight limit at the airport and have to cough up extortionate fees just to get your luggage into the country.
Once you arrive in Thailand, it should be possible to live on less
Backpacking in Thailand for the Thrifty Traveller
than 25, or 1200 baht a day if you make smart choices about how you get around, where you stay and where you eat. There are a number of hotels that offer small rooms with shared bathrooms, much like a hostel, for as little as 200 baht a night and if you forgo the roads and travel on the river taxis you'll find fares exceedingly cheap. From one end of the river to the other will only cost you 10 baht. Eating is a matter of avoiding the tourist traps and heading where the locals eat. A short walk from the Grand Palace and Wat Po, two of Thailand's must see sights, there's a whole host of great restaurants that sell delicious food at low prices a filling meal could be as little as 150 baht.
Many of Thailand's hottest tourist spots will empty out your pocket on admission alone, but there are a few that are just as fascinating and still cheap. The aforementioned Grand Palace and Wat Po both attract a lot of tourists, but they have so far managed to escape the steep admission prices charged
Backpacking in Thailand for the Thrifty Traveller
by many attractions. The Grand Palace is the seat of the royal family's power and the site of Thailand's most sacred holy relic the Emerald Buddha. Entry to the Grand Palace will set you back 250 baht while admission to Wat Po is a measly 110 baht.
If your aim is to save money, there are still a few investments you may wish to make before making the journey. If you're bringing fragile electronic goods such as iPods, digital cameras or laptops you should buy some carry cases or separate backpacks for these as your regular backpack won't afford them the protection from damage that they might need. You should also make sure you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that will cover both your possessions and, most importantly, your health. If you travel without it and hurt yourself or become ill you could be going home with a hefty medical bill rather than precious memories
Flights to Thailand are sold by many travel agents as well as direct from the airlines, but the cheapest flights are to be found on travel comparison websites. These websites often have exclusive deals that can take huge sums off of the cost of your travel.

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