Read this before your FIRST Bangkok trip 🇹🇭❗️🤔

✈️ BEFORE FLYING✈️

🟢 Change more money in Thailand as the rates are usually better. Look out for SuperRich. But don’t change in the Airport as it’s known to have rates not as good.

🟢 ESIM can be bought on Shopee

🟢 Thailand time is 1 hour earlier than Singapore

🟢 Thailand is generally very hot and sunny so make sure to prepare umbrella, sunscreen, portable fan & mosquito repellent. (Alternatively just buy it at their 7-11)

🟢 Mindful of Thailand charging heads as it is not the same as Singapore (2pin)

🚕 TRANSPORTATION 🚕

- Head to the taxi pickup point when you arrived and find the Grab Pickup (Exit 4), it’s best to get your own Grab than taxi (See second pic)

- You will be able to see car rental companies and companies that offer buses that brings you to other parts of Thailand like Phuket at the airport itself in the arrival hall.

- If you’re planning to take car most of the time, grab or bolt is a good app to use (bolt is known to be cheaper)

- Thailand has 2 train system, BTS and MRT, hence sometimes you might see yourself changing in between train services to get to certain places.

- Tuktuk is known to overcharge tourists. They charge 1x for locals, 2x for English speakers and 3x for Chinese tourists (apparently) so prepare to bargain and haggle if you wish to take tuktuk. And check price on grab first if you’re unknown if what they are asking for is reasonable.

- Sometimes the grab drivers will ask if you wanna go on the highway, which means it will have less jam and takes you to ur destination faster, but it means you have to fork out 50-70 THB to pay for the gantry. I’ll usually take it.

- Some hotels offer transport service that brings you to the airport, check your grab for price to airport first. If the hotel transport price is reasonable, I’ll take it as it usually covers highway fee and the car is usually huge and comfortable and comes right away.

- 6pm-10pm is the most jam it will get in bkk area so goodluck getting anywhere, it’s gna take at least 45mins

- if you’re ok, I would try taking grabbike cause it saves so much time during peak hours as it wiggles its way through traffic, but bear in mind they don’t provide helmet so *fingers crossed* they are safe drivers

🧾 TAX REFUND 🧾

You can request for a tax refund from the cashier of MOST (not all stores) as long as your bill exceeds 2000 THB. Just ask the staff for tax refund and they will use your passport to fill out a tax refund form which you’ll then use to proceed with ur refund in the tax refund counter of the departure hall. If your total items are generally not expensive items or exceeding 50k THB then u can just proceed to the counter in the inside of the departure hall straight instead of outside.

Big C and eve and boy is one of those stores where u can request for a refund. If u go to the Big C most tourist go which is opposite CentralWorld, the refund counter is at level 3. They also provide free luggage storage service!

💰PAYMENT💰

- Cash is widely accepted

- Card might sometimes be charged 3% by merchants themselves so do take note

- Your PayLah or DBS/POSB paynow allows you to pay the Thai version which is PromptPay (but only if it says accepts all banks) some is only for Thailand banks

- Tips are generally given to service staffs but with notes (usually 20-50 THB would suffice), coins are usually seen to be given to beggars.

❌ WHAT TO AVOID ❌

🔴 Avoid travelling to Thailand between June-October as that’s their infamous rainy season. U won’t get much done if u come during this period especially Night Markets

❗️BUT it does mean lower prices and less tourist if you still insist on coming.

🔴 Never disrespect the King or the royal family

🔴 Dress modestly with bottoms below the knee if you’re entering the temple.

🔴 the huhu is banned there

🔴 Most hotels will ban the consumption of durians

🔴 Avoid touching anyone’s head or shoulder

🔴 Avoid drinking Thailand’s tap water

🌼 OTHERS 🌼

- Most necessities can be bought in their 7-11 so check it out if you’re missing something.

- If you buy the 7-11 grills sandwiches, first qns they will ask you in Thai is do you want it heated and pls say yes! It’s their signature best served hot 🔥

- I’ll usually leave a tip in the hotel for the cleaners as they sometimes intentionally do not as good of a job if you didn’t

- Carry your own portable chargers as they do not offer rental services

🇹🇭 More on Thailand 🇹🇭

Useful apps to download before going Thailand

Bangkok Hotel Guide

My Wat Arun Photoshoot Experience

#guide #traveltips #usefultips #thailand #bangkok