Hello,

I am new on this forum, and found it while researching information on my upcoming trip.

I am planning to go with my girlfriend, we plan to go from beginning of July to the beginning of August (i know not the best time but thats the only time we get of from school).

We really want to see as much as possible, and plan to travel to the north as well as to the islands.

What I am asking is basically any tips and information you think we find useful, we plan to travel with our backpacks and we like outdoors and activities, so treks and traveling is going to be on the menu.

My initial thought was to bring 1000USD each, but from reading here I started to think it might not be enough, we are not planning to shop, and don't require high end accommodation, so all our money will be spent on traveling between places, booking trips and excursions, and reasonably affordable accommodations and food.

I am totally lost at where to begin out trip, and where to go, I assume our flight land in Bangkok, so where would you guys recommend going?

How much do flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other popular destinations cost, are there better (cheaper) ways of getting there?

What are some of the "must see" places I should put on my list? I know I wont be able to see everything in a month, but at least to get a taste of the variety Thailand has to offer. Nice outdoor treks and amazing scenery coupled with relaxed time on beautiful beaches is really all I'm looking for.

Thanks for your help, and anxiously looking forward to learn form you and eventually going to Thailand.

Start off in Kao san road in BKK there are backpackers from all over the world doing the same as you and hotels are cheap enough.

All your internal travel can be arranged there everywhere.

If you use the Buses and trains in Thailand they are pretty cheap and you will save on accommodation if you travel at night!

Food is really cheap if you stay away from western style restaurants.

I think most backpacker use "Lonely Planet" to get general tips for where is best to go.

Samui may have the best weather at that time of year for beaches,and Koh Phangan is a must for the Full moon/Half moon/black Moon party.

My backpacking days are long gone but if I was backpacking Thailand now I would not come home for a year!

Look up Sawadee.com - Thailand tourism portal - Hotel and Resort reservations it is a pretty good site that will give you maps and info on road/rail/ferry/air travel,best times to visit and a bit of history of each place ect. Most of the Hotels might be out of your reach with your budget but its fun to look at what you can get for not much money.

Den

Just a word of caution about travelling by bus.... ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT and ESPECIALLY buses departing from Khao San Road area.
On the old travel forum (the one that existed before this newer site) there was quite a lot of discussion about this..... apparently thieves operate on these buses and they were/are very well organised and very competent at what they do.
While you're asleep the gang members on the bus steal your belongings from your bags while other gang members are in the baggage area (the stow area) picking locks on cases and bags.
Travellers arrive at their destination early next morning and when they go to check into their accommodation, find they have no money and no passport.
Day bus journeys may be better.

Hey, thank you for the replies.

One thing that I really want to know is whether it is possible to book flights/train tickets and hotels on short notices while i'm there, or will I have to book those htings in advance.

For example, if i take the train to Chiang Mai and want to fly out after i'm done, will I be able to get a ticket at the airport for a good price?

Same thing with accommodations, will I be able to get a room somewhere for a good price if I just walk in?

Thanks

You would have to be a bit silly to leave any valuables in your stowed luggage anywhere in the world!

A small day pack with your goodies kept close to you (And upon your person) while traveling on any transport with a cat bell attached to the pack in case you drop off,you will be surprised how that little bell wakes you up at the slightest movment!

Theft happens all over the world and when travelling you have to be extra vigilant!

If you want to do it on the cheap then you have to be mindful .


If sombody opened my backpack years ago they would have been welcome to the contents(Usually dirty cloths ) and ligtened my load.

But saying that,it was before the invention of iPods,Blackberries,sat navs and portable DVD players not to mention laptops and hard drive movie/digital cameras.!

All I had was a pad&pen and a Kodak snapshot

Den.

Thanks for the replies, and that web site is indeed great.

I just had a few other questions; one is whether is it possible booking accommodations and travel on the spot, or do I have to pre-book everything. For example, will I able to book a flight to Bangkok from Chiang Mai when i arrive at CM? Will it be simple enough to get a room once I arrive on an island?

And another thing I would like to know is whether it makes sense to go to both the southeast and southwest of Thailand? I want to visit both Samui and Phuket/Krabi but I don't know if its sensible to go to both on a one month trip? If i do go, will i have enough time to see the major things of those places?

Again thanks for the replies.

In '87 one of our sons travelled to Europe and UK, backpacking, always kept valuables in his day pack which he used as a pillow if he slept.

He was on a train in Italy, had a few drinks went to sleep with his head on his day pack, woke up with his head on a woman’s hand bag, lucky he had a money belt under his shirt and some special pockets on the inside of his shirt to stow his passport and money so it wasn't a disastrous loss but he did loose some family records he had taken to try to trace family history in Ireland which was a bummer.

for room you should have early booking. make sure you got bed for you. but tour you make decidetion what you wana do day by day.

Another thing I was wondering about are the required shots.

What are the requirements for these, and does anyone know where in the US I can get them? I live in NYC if that matters.

Is there a certain time limit that has to pass between getting vaccinated and being able to to go Thailand?

Thanks

Hey Pinhas,

I had the same questions. Vaccinations against Hep A, HepB, Typhoid, Tetanus are the most recommended. You can get them from your doctor or pharmacist. Insurance doesn't usually cover the Heb A and Typhoid, but a pharmacist can sell them to you and administer those. The Typoid is just one shot and inexpensive, so I'd recommend since if you do get it, it is a deadly disease. Hep A is basically to stop the bacteria that causes the runs that you may get from contaminated food or water - it doesn't kill you, but having the runs really can ruin a vacation. They are two shots that should be taken six months apart for full protection but you can get the first shot before you go for some protection. Hep B is a series of three shots (I've had mine), but you can still start that series and get some protection, although since you're traveling with your girlfriend it may not be an issue. It is primarily a sexually transmitted disease. Tetanus is a MUST. Especially if you haven't had one in five years. You're doctor should be able to do that no problem.

Thailand does NOT require any vaccinations, but that doesn't mean it's completely safe. Always wash your hands, drink only bottled water, stay away from the cheap street vendors and use some sort of insect repellent.

Hope this helps.