Top 10 cheapest things to do in Thailand
There is so much to do in Thailand and so much of it can be done on a shoestring budget. So if your like us and a little thrift with the hard earned cash for you holiday and want to maximise you dollars here’s a few great things you can do on your trip to Thailand.
1. Foot Massage
If your low on the dollar department thing is usually the cheapest massage on the board and is really relaxing, although if you’re in Chiang Mai and you really want value for money try being massaged for 2 hours by an female ex convict.
A foot massage will set you back 150thb for an hour and if done right you’ll want to get a Tuk Tuk to get hope as you feet will feel too good to walk.
2. Take a Tuk Tuk ride
Ahh the traditional Thai taxi cab. These nifty little three wheel bikes are made right here in Thailand and are an iconic ride for all tourists that come here in there masses each year. Tuk Tuk’s are really cheap, how every in some city areas it’s actually cheaper to catch a taxi. But hell you can do that back home. Jump in the back of one of these bad boys but make sure that you negotiate your price before your get on.
3. Try Thai Beer
There are four main brands that fight for your bar tab here in Thailand and for and average cost of 70THB you can pick up a thirst quencher in most convenience stores. The alcohol content is about 6% so if your used to light beers be careful as a couple of 600ml bottles will impair your driving if you have a scooter or car hired.
4. Visit a Temple
Thailand is rich in heritage and culture. The country teams of temples and while in Bangkok their is a charge to enter to much advertised tourist hot spots, in other places around the country there is free entry. In Phuket for example all temples are free to enter, and we were only char he’d to enter one temple in Chiang Mai. These places do ask that you respect their culture and have a dress code. Ladies you need to cover up.
5. Hire a scooter
This has to be one of the most awesome ways to get around Thailand. There are hundreds do scooters here and in turn there are just as many hire companies that will rent to you. Hiring a scooter in Thailand will require you to have a motorbike licence. But, after spending $30AUD on an international drivers licence I was never asked to produce my licence in any of the places that I hired a scooter. I did have to leave my passport when I hired a much larger bike in Chiang Mai to complete the Mae Hong Son Loop. Please check when hiring a scooter where your are and where you are NOT permitted to ride before you set off. The average cost of hiring a scooter is 6-7THB per day. Sometimes you can get a cheaper deal if your planning to rent for a longer period of time. We did see monthly hires that got the price down to $100AUD per month.
6. Buy Local Street Food
Ahh the flavours and aromas, Thai food is best tasted where over 20 million Thai people eat, on the streets. You will find strange dishes but most of it you will recognise and if you get stuck the words Pad Thai will get you out of trouble in nearly all places.
7. Hire a bicycle for 50thb per day in Chiang Mai
Scared of riding a scooter in this crazy place where cars and bikes are everywhere? Than grab a slower pace and ride the back streets of old Chiang Mai. The little lane ways (called soi’s) are a great place to explore by bicycle. As Chiang Mai is a flat city it’s not a fatiguing exercise and real value for money.
8. Soak up the sun in a sun lounger chair
On every beach there are umbrellas and sun loungers. No they are not free but if you look like you belong to a luxury hotel just grab one and look confident, who knows you might be lucky like us and get it for nothing.
If not the local owner will charge you 150THB for the day to hire. In peaks months it pays to get here early if you want a prime position. You gear is generally save as the locals keep a watchful eye over the area scouting for new business.
9. Take a local boat ride in Bangkok
A canal and river tour are the best way to see Bangkok from ground level. You manage to escape the city streets and the hustle and bustle of the traffic.
10. Ride a local bus to explore the town
Buses in Thailand are great, and once you discover where you bus is and where it’s going the ride is fun, just sit back and get to know the locals while your bouncing around on the back of a truck. We loved the bus system in both Phuket and in Chiang Mai.
What ever you decide to do in Thailand there are so many attractions and activities to do here in Thailand and it’s always cheaper here than home . That’s what keeps us coming back time and time again.
