First of all thank you for reading my post - this is why i love the internet... Anyone who answers all these probably ridiculous questions, if I am near you during my visit - let's meet and I'll buy you a beer!

Anyway, I'm visiting Thailand for the first time next month and wanted to ask those of you there for your help with the following questions.

I've already read alot about the scams and to be careful of the tuk tuk drivers and some cabs; getting prices upfront for rides and also local etiquette. I feel prepared and very excited.

First off, I really want to pack light and buy what I need there, so:

1. Should I bring shampoo, conditionor etc. or can I get it there cheaply... same thing with sunblock, mosquito spray... do i need to pack these things?

2. Can I buy long sleeve shirts and pants there, or do I need to bring all these things, if so where? (I'm planning on packing a couple, but if I need more.)

3. I'm going to be visiting some beaches, in Phuket... not sure which ones, but I thought of flying into Phuket, getting a cheap hotel and hanging around there, Ko Lanta, the Krabi area... I'm not here to "party" just to relax... Does it matter what side of the island I stay on with regards to weather?

4. Weather: I'm visiting for 4 weeks... for two weeks I want to go up North to Chiang Mai and spend another two weeks in the South... I'll be arriving around June 4th... Is the weather usually sunnier in the beginning of June or near the end? (I'm not worried about the rain or getting wet - I know it will rain a lot while I am there, but if I could try and plan my time visiting the beaches around the time of the most sun - that is my goal.) If you do get caught in the rain, do you dry quickly - does the sun come back out - or are you just wet?

5. I'm working with a travel agent and have lots of information about hotels and such, but eh... I kind of want to do my own thing and explore... Is that realistic? Can I just go to these islands and rent a bicycle or motor bike - (I have my international permit) and just do my own thing?

6. Very important - I read that since it's the off-season a lot of stores, shops, restaurants, etc on the island are closed.... is this true? Because if the room is cheap because there is nothing to do, I'd rather pay more and stay somewhere I can enjoy the land and culture.

7. Originally, my plans were to volunteer for two weeks teaching english or working with kids, but several of the orgs request a lot of money for you to volunteer. There used to be free volunteer opportunities. Do you know of any orgs?

8. I've had all my shots - the main ones - (Hep. A,B, Tetanus, Typhoid)... but what do the locals do to keep off mosquitos? Do I have to drown myself in "deet" - which I hate.

9. Lastly, I don't drink, but I love getting massages and I plan on doing a lot of walking, hiking, etc. Can a tourist get a massage anywhere they are? From Chiang Mai to Krabi?

Any other advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
-jl

Q1: Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, Listerine and so forth are all far cheaper in Thailand. You come across these items everywhere, in the supermarkets, 7/11 stores on every street corner, and even little corner shops. So it doesn't make any sense in bringing these items with you, other than small quantities just for travel. You can also buy the sunblock & mozzie sprays in Thailand, however, I'm not sure if they're cheaper or more expensive here.

Q2: Unless you are a very large size you'll have no trouble finding plenty of clothes to buy, once again most clothes will be far cheaper than back home. I suggest bringing the bare minimum in clothing and buy lots of new things on your trip to wear and take home with you.

Q3: The weather patterns in Thailand tend to be a bit unpredictable. You can have sunny days in the wet season and vice versa. Yes, fly into Phuket, if you're not into the party scene try Karon or Kata beaches. Talk to people, check out the tour agents, there are cheap boats from Phuket to Lanta & Krabi.

Q4: Usually the rain will bucket down for an hour or two then the sun will come out. It can rain for days nonstop right at the peak of the rainy seasons, especially in the South. I can't recall ever being wet for too long.

Q5: Don't book accomm' & transport in advance. It'll cost you more and you'll probably regret doing so because you'll change your mind and want to divert somewhere else. You can get all your bus/boat/train tickets easily once you are in the country. Certainly you can rent motorcycles everywhere, also bicycles at many places. Having an IDP is a good idea. Just be careful, the traffic tends to be full on in thailand, even in the rural areas.

Q6: To the best of my knowledge it's only on the very remote islands that things close down during the low season. At Phuket, Krabi, even Lanta there are still plenty of places open.

Q7: Forget all about this idea. Even volunteers need to have a work permit or they run the risk of being arrested and deported. An absolute NO-NO don't go anywhere near this. Your visa is for tourism only, so be a tourist, and leave English teaching to the professionals.

Q8: You've had all the necessary shots, no need for anything else. Most Thais don't use anything, that's why you'll see Thais, especially the kids, with all sorts of scars and marks on their arms & legs from insect bites. Many tourists recommend using Deet. I live here and don't use anything unless I'm in a dangerous area like Koh Chang.

Q9: Massages all over the place, from top to bottom and left to right of the country, you'll have no troubles finding massages. In fact you'll get bloody sick & tired of being asked if you want a massage.

Looks like you win the beer BobMac!! Very good advice too.
The only two things I'd add are............ despite the fact that you're going in June muze, the weather may still be hotter/more humid than you're used to so for daytime wear, I'd ditch the idea of long sleeved shirts and bring short-sleeves instead (forget anything with polyester or similar.....make sure they're natural fibre... cotton is best in the humidity) A light-weight cotton sweater or long sleeved tshirt would be very handy for wearing at night.
Also bring shorts.... you can wear them almost anywhere except temples, high end restaurants or restaurants in hotels. For most other places, shorts and a shirt will be just fine (iin fact, maybe overdressed as so many men wear shorts and polo shirts or tshirts).
You can buy these items at small shops, department stores or market stalls on the street.

And if you hate the insect repellent, you can buy little 'anti-mosquito strips' which are plastic bands like a watchband (adjustable) and impregnated with something like citronella which mozzies don't like. You can wear these around your arms or ankles - not terribly stylish but maybe a better option than repellent. I'm not sure where I bought these, but maybe Watsons (pharmacy chain.... they're all over the place).

Thank you Bob Mac... much appreciated... so, are you anywhere near phuket? As it so happens, I think that I may now stay in the Koh Samui area... I heard that they have more sun and less wind than phuket does this time of year... hmm... i may post another question about that... okay, so thanks for the info on volunteering... I've done a lot of it locally and thought it would be cool to incorporate it into my travel abroad. Since I can't do that, I'm thinking that just relaxing on the beaches at one of the cleansing spa's might be nice. There is one called the Natural Wing Health Spa and Resort.

I want to spend a couple of weeks at the beach and then fly up to Chiang Mai before heading back down to Bangkok.

I totally owe you a beer. Are any of these places near you? I don't mind a train ride for an hour or two because I'll only see more of the land.

I've travelled by myself through Ireland, England, Milan, Rome, Venice, and Paris and yes I'm traveling along again. I heard the Thai think this is strange and anti-social, but what can I say? I enjoy time to myself and my life back in the States is anything but...

Any other advice for a single woman traveling alone in these places?

Thanks again

Thanks Kimbo,

I do truly hate insect repellent... I hate putting chemicals on my skin... I thought of going the herbal route and citronella and some other essential oils do keep the bugs off... I'll check that out.

Any other advice is again much appreciated.

Take care!