Thailand Travel Guide From ThaIntro

Thailand has long been a travel destination for heavenly beaches, extraordinary landscapes and a culture shock for the senses, but there are still a lot of things to know if it’s your first time. Here are some popular questions that do arise, answered by the guys at ThaIntro, to provide you with a useful and informative travel guide to Thailand.

Q. Do many people travel solo?
A. Yes. Lots of people who go to Thailand are travelling solo. But by going with ThaIntro you’ll be going as part of a group, so it’s a great way to meet people and make friends!

Q. Are many people on ThaIntro travelling solo?
A. Yes! A lot of our groups are solo travellers. That’s one of the best things about doing ThaIntro, you’ll get to meet loads of likeminded travellers and make some great new friends!

Q. How much money will I need?
A. It depends on how long you’re going travelling for and how much you spend along the way. It’s a good idea to have at least $1000 / £700 for every month that you’re going to be away.

Q. What’s the best way to use/carry my money?
A. It’s best to take a Visa/Mastercard debit/credit or a travel money card with you. With a back up PIN protected card to keep elsewhere (say with your passport) in case you lose the primary one. There are ATM’s and moneychangers available throughout Thailand so it’s easy to get access to cash. Traveller’s cheques are not as recommended as they are not accepted everywhere and carrying large amounts of cash is not recommended.

Q. When’s the best time of year to go to Thailand?
A. The great thing about Thailand is it’s usually quite hot all year round, with no particularly bad time to go.
There are generally 2 broad seasons:
November – March is usually slightly cooler and sunny (so not too humid). It’s generally cooler in the north.
April – October is usually hotter and generally more humid. There is slightly higher chance of rain from August to October.
Due to the climate being very tropical, the weather can be unpredictable and if it does rain it’s usually shorts bursts of rain and does not last long. It can also be a relief from the humidity. You should find that whatever month you do visit Thailand, you will still get periods of sunny weather so it will not affect your trip.

Q. Do I need a visa to travel to Thailand?
A. Most nationalities including the United Kingdom, most European nations, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Scandinavia and Brazil will usually receive a 30-day visa exemption on arrival in Thailand. All you need is a passport with at least 6 months validity.
Note: If you’re from a nation not listed above you can still enter Thailand you may just need to organise your visa prior to entering Thailand. If you are unsure of your visa requirements it’s always best to check with your local Thai embassy or consulate.

Q. Do I need a sleeping bag?
A. In most cases no. Almost all accommodation in Thailand provides bedding.

Q. Should I bring a backpack or suitcase and how much should I bring?
A. We recommend bringing a 45-70 litre backpack and packing light! It’s almost always hot in Thailand and minimal clothing is required. And dragging a 30kg suitcase around is not cool.

Q. Who’s in my group and how do I get in touch with them?
A. We put all group members in contact with each other approx. 1 month before your start date. To chat to others in your group you can also ‘like’ our Facebook page www.facebook.com/thaintro then click on the ‘meet others’ tab, pick your start date and start chatting!

Q. Will I get by without knowing the language?
A. Yes. The majority of locals in tourist areas such as Bangkok and the popular islands speak English.
We recommend learning a few key words such as ‘Hello’, ‘Thank You’ and ‘Are you definitely a woman?’ to help you get by. We can teach you these and more.

Q. How long in advance do I need to book ThaIntro?
A. You can book ThaIntro right up until before you leave. However groups usually fill up fast, so it’s best to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Q. Do I need to book my flights before I book with ThaIntro?
A. No. You can book with us and then book your flight. We can even help you find a great deal on your flight.

Q. If I’ve already booked my flight can I still book with ThaIntro?
A. Yes. As long as you are in Bangkok on one of the start dates you can book with us.

Q. Where does ThaIntro finish and where to do I go from there?
A. ThaIntro finishes on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan in the south east of Thailand. If you’re staying on longer in Thailand then don’t worry, your ThaIntro Group Leader will help you organise all of your onward travel including any of our awesome Add On Trips. (For more info on Add on trips go to www.thaintro.com/after-thaintro)
If you are only in Thailand for a short period or plan to leave Thailand straight after your ThaIntro trip and need to get back to Bangkok to return home, don’t worry your group leader will be there to help organise this for you.

Q. Where does the ThaIntro + Phi Phi 12 day finish and where do I go from there?
A. ThaIntro + Phi Phi 12 day finishes on the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi in the south west of Thailand. If you know that you’d like to stay on longer in Phi Phi then let us know. If you’re staying on longer in Thailand then don’t worry your ThaIntro group leader will help organise all your onward travel.

Q. Is Thailand a dangerous place to visit?
A. No. Thailand is generally a safe place. With our help, some common sense and respect for the Thai culture you’ll be ok.

Q. Do I need injections before I go to Thailand?
A. There are no mandatory injections for Thailand and the areas ThaIntro go to are extremely low risk. Therefore many people don’t bother with injections. However many travellers do opt for injections to protect against Hepatitis A, Typhiod and Tetanus. For more info please see your travel doctor.

Q. Will I get sick whilst I’m there?
A. Yes – if you drink out of the tap, eat food that hasn’t been cooked properly, get bitten by a stray dog because you teased it, or drink too much Thai whisky. Otherwise you’ll be fine. If you get sick we’ll be there to help you.

Q. When’s the full moon party? How do I do it?
A. The full moon party is approx. every 4 weeks when the Moon is full.
Full moon dates can be found at www.fullmoonpartykohphangan.com/schedule_dates/
ThaIntro finishes at ‘Sarana Bungalows’ which is a 10 min taxi from the Full Moon Party beach, so it’s an awesome place to stay for the party! If you’d like to stay on longer at Sarana after ThaIntro just let us know!
Important: There are awesome parties on Koh Phangan all through the month, including Half Moon parties out in the jungle, Black Moon parties, pool parties, foam parties and more! So if you don’t see the full moon don’t worry you’ll still have a great time!

Start your Thailand trip with ThaIntro at thaintro.com.