| A few simple tips to keep your holiday | | | | little above what you will find at the local |
| expenses down when arranging and making your | | | | tour shops and you have the benefit of |
| trip to Phuket and Thailand. | | | | knowing you are dealing with reputable tour |
| | | | operators. |
| While we mainly aim this article at visitors | | | | |
| to our part of the world in Phuket, Thailand, | | | | Tipping |
| you can apply a lot of the advice to holidays | | | | |
| anywhere in the world. | | | | Tipping was never really a part of Thai |
| | | | culture. It is a custom that we visiting |
| One of the great attractions of Thailand is | | | | westerners have introduced and which Thai |
| that it is cheap. The Tourism Authority of | | | | customers have now taken up. Most western |
| Thailand can carry on pushing their vision of | | | | visitors over-tip. |
| Thailand as a millionaire's playground for as | | | | |
| long as they want but still the majority of | | | | The normal tip in Thailand at restaurants or |
| visitors will be people who have a limited | | | | bars is 20 baht. That may seem like a |
| budget. | | | | derisory sum to leave by western standards |
| | | | but in Thailand they do not expect any more. |
| In this article, we will give a few simple | | | | You are not being tightfisted by leaving so |
| tips to help you make your money go further. | | | | little. In fact, some claim that westerners |
| We are not talking about the sort of | | | | who come here and tip big are actually |
| penny-pinching measures that backpackers use | | | | causing problems for everybody else. They are |
| to make their tiny budget stretch a year. We | | | | creating an expectancy of big tips from |
| are not going to suggest you eat noodles | | | | westerners that never used to exist. |
| every day. After all, you are on holiday and | | | | |
| holidays are meant to be enjoyed. However, | | | | Getting Around |
| most people have worked hard for their | | | | |
| two-week holiday in the land of smiles and | | | | The tuk-tuks have earned themselves a bad |
| there is no reason why they should not get | | | | reputation for both prices and service. They |
| the best from their money. Here are a few | | | | are now charging a ridiculous 200-baht for |
| simple tips to make the money go a bit | | | | short trips around Patong. Unfortunately, if |
| further. | | | | you have bags or want to make a long journey |
| | | | then there is often no choice but to use |
| Accommodation | | | | them. All we would say is make sure you agree |
| | | | a price before starting the journey. |
| If you want budget accommodation then usually | | | | Considering the prices they charge, there is |
| you can find good deals just by walking in | | | | no reason to give a tip. |
| off the street. Walk around the side streets | | | | |
| of any of Phuket's beach resorts and you will | | | | There are motorcycle taxis everywhere. You |
| find guesthouses. During peak high-season | | | | can recognise them from their coloured vests. |
| (Xmas & January) it is better to book in | | | | A short trip around town should cost 20-40 |
| advance as there may not be any rooms | | | | baht. |
| available. Whatever you do, do not ask a | | | | |
| tuk-tuk driver for a recommendation. They | | | | You can hire a motorcycle for 200 baht a day. |
| will just take you somewhere that pays them | | | | They are a great way to get around town and |
| commission. | | | | see a bit of the island. Drive carefully and |
| | | | always wear a helmet. Bring an International |
| If you want mid to high range accommodation | | | | Driving License and carry it whenever you are |
| then you should book in advance. If you walk | | | | driving. If you do not carry an IDL, you may |
| in off the street, you will pay more for your | | | | end up paying the police a few 300-baht |
| room. It may seem strange but it is cheaper | | | | fines. |
| to book in advance through a travel agent or | | | | |
| internet-booking site. The internet booking | | | | You can hire jeeps from independent renters |
| sites have the best rates. An excellent tool | | | | for 800 baht a day (but with very little |
| for finding the best rates is | | | | insurance) or cars from reputable hire |
| target="_blank" >Hotels Combined. This | | | | companies from 1,400 baht a day. |
| Australian based website does a price | | | | |
| comparison across 30 internet-booking sites | | | | Restaurants |
| and finds the cheapest available rates. | | | | |
| | | | Eating out is remarkably cheap in Phuket. |
| If you are on a longer-term holiday of a | | | | There are so many restaurants that there is a |
| month or more then it may be worth looking | | | | lot of competition and even the tourist |
| for an apartment. If you go further back from | | | | restaurants will seem cheap to most visitors. |
| the beach (e.g. Nanai Road in Patong), you | | | | Still there are big price differences between |
| can find nice one bedroom apartments from | | | | restaurants. Generally, the further you go |
| 12,000 baht a month. | | | | from the beach, the lower the prices. If you |
| | | | eat at one of the major restaurants along the |
| Flights | | | | beachfront then you are going to pay for the |
| | | | location. |
| Finding cheap airfares is a little more | | | | |
| complicated. | | | | Thai food is cheaper than western food. It is |
| | | | also very good and there is a tremendous |
| There is a lot to be said for buying a | | | | range of dishes. You are sure to find |
| package holiday from a travel agent. They | | | | something you like and appreciating the local |
| will use their buying power to ensure you get | | | | cuisine is part of getting to know the local |
| good rates for your hotels and flights. | | | | culture. |
| However, many people enjoy the flexibility | | | | |
| and independence of booking their own | | | | You should also consider getting out of the |
| flights. | | | | tourist resorts and trying some real Thai |
| | | | style restaurants. The difference in price |
| We would like to give a link to a single site | | | | and style of food can be startling. |
| that provides cheap international flights | | | | |
| across the globe. Unfortunately, it does not | | | | Check Your Bill |
| work like that. | | | | |
| | | | Do check your restaurant or bar bill before |
| The airlines do not give their cheapest | | | | paying. We would not want to say this is |
| tickets to the major international travel | | | | common but it does occasionally happen that |
| sites. They know that companies such as | | | | they add extra items or total it up |
| Travelocity & Priceline have the marketing | | | | incorrectly to get more money. Don't feel bad |
| power to sell tickets that are more | | | | about it. Thai customers invariably check |
| expensive. Therefore, while these companies | | | | their bill and are not embarrassed to point |
| sell in more countries and cover more | | | | out 'mistakes'. |
| destinations, they do not have cheap airline | | | | |
| tickets. | | | | Shopping |
| | | | |
| The airlines give their cheapest tickets to | | | | You should avoid shopping at the tourist |
| small independent travel agents. These | | | | stalls along the beachfront and around the |
| smaller agents usually only sell flights that | | | | tourist resorts. The quality of goods is |
| depart from their local country. So for | | | | unreliable and the prices are vastly hiked. |
| example, if you are in the UK you could check | | | | Unless of course you just want the fun of |
| cheapflights.co.uk and they will check for | | | | haggling and do not mind that you may be |
| the cheapest flights from a range of small | | | | buying overpriced rubbish. |
| agents. You will probably find return flights | | | | |
| to Phuket from £500 or less. If you try | | | | You have to be careful when asking tuk-tuk |
| the major international travel agents then | | | | drivers for recommendations. If you are |
| return flights start from $2,000. Therefore, | | | | looking for specialty shops (jewelry, |
| whatever country you are in, check the | | | | tailors, etc) then there are a lot of these |
| internet or classifieds for your local travel | | | | that pay commission to tuk-tuks for bringing |
| agents and look around. | | | | customers. The tuk-tuks will take you to |
| | | | these shops rather than the places that will |
| The best international internet-booking site | | | | give you good deals. |
| is This site covers most major destinations | | | | |
| and sells tickets in most countries. While | | | | You should do your shopping at the department |
| their prices are not the absolute cheapest, | | | | stores, shopping malls, markets or at |
| they are very competitive. | | | | specialty shops which are mostly in Phuket |
| | | | Town. The new Jung Ceylon shopping mall is |
| Travel Insurance | | | | the best option in Patong. Beyond the tourist |
| | | | resorts are Robinsons, Central Festival, |
| Many visitors seem willing to travel to | | | | Tesco Lotus and Big C. |
| Thailand without travel insurance. The low | | | | |
| medical costs in Thailand mean this is not | | | | For cheap clothes, trinkets, accessories, |
| such a big gamble as at a destination such as | | | | etc, two good locations are the Weekend |
| the United States where high medical fees and | | | | Market (Sat & Sun 3pm-10pm) on |
| a litigious society make travel insurance an | | | | Wai-Rat-Hong-Yak Road in Phuket Town and Expo |
| essential. | | | | Indoor Market on Tilok Uthit 2 Road, Phuket |
| | | | Town. |
| However, we really would recommend that new | | | | |
| visitors to Thailand get some form of travel | | | | If you are looking for gold, silver, pearls, |
| insurance. Things can and do go wrong and it | | | | jewelry, art, antiques, etc then the best |
| is best to be protected. | | | | specialty shops are in Phuket Town. The |
| | | | problem is finding them. You have an extra |
| Do not get travel insurance from your travel | | | | problem here because even if you know where |
| agent. They may offer good deals on package | | | | you want to go, your tuk-tuk driver may still |
| holidays but they try to make the money back | | | | try to claim a commission from the shop. |
| on the extras and their insurance rates are | | | | Unfortunately, the best option is to drive |
| overpriced. | | | | yourself or dump your tuk-tuk after the drop |
| | | | off and do your shopping on foot. |
| Get your insurance from a local and reputable | | | | |
| insurance broker. There are no international | | | | There are good gold & jewelry shops on |
| insurance brokers providing competitive | | | | Montree Road in Phuket Town. The best art & |
| travel insurance to all nationalities. | | | | antique shops are in the old town area of |
| Instead, you need to go to an insurance | | | | Phuket Town around Thalang Road & Dibuk Road. |
| broker in your home country. | | | | You should be aware that you need an export |
| | | | permit to take genuine antiques out of the |
| Price comparison sites are the quickest way | | | | country. |
| to find a good a good deal. You need to find | | | | |
| a site that covers your own country. So for | | | | Bartering |
| example you could try these if you are a US | | | | |
| Citizen or a UK Citizen. | | | | Bartering is part of Thai shopping culture |
| | | | but only at market stalls and independent |
| Rather than just getting an insurance package | | | | shops. Try to haggle the price down a little |
| for your two-week holiday, it may be a good | | | | (a lot if you are shopping at tourist |
| idea to consider an annual multi-trip | | | | stalls). It really helps if you have an idea |
| insurance package. If you have more than one | | | | of what is a good price. Try to haggle in |
| holiday a year or even a few weekends away | | | | good spirit with a smile. |
| then these can be very good deals. | | | | |
| | | | If you can speak a little Thai, it will help. |
| Money Exchange | | | | Not only does it create goodwill but it also |
| | | | gives the seller the impression you know a |
| Do not change money in your home country | | | | little about Thailand and might actually know |
| before coming to Thailand. You will get a | | | | what would be a good price. Even just an |
| much better rate of exchange in Thailand. | | | | opening 'Sawatdee' may be enough to help your |
| Bring an ATM card or travelers cheques. In | | | | cause. |
| fact, it is nice to have two sources of money | | | | |
| in case of problems so why not bring both. | | | | Girls |
| | | | |
| Do not exchange your money at hotels. They | | | | Yes, this little section is for the guys who |
| give bad rates. Exchange booths at airports | | | | intend to play around with the bar girls. If |
| also give poor rates. The best way to get | | | | you are not careful, this will rapidly become |
| money when you first arrive is to use an ATM | | | | the biggest expense of your holiday. |
| at the airport | | | | |
| | | | Just because you have picked up a girl at a |
| Tours | | | | bar, that does not mean you have to buy |
| | | | drinks for every other girl at the bar. They |
| The tour prices in Phuket are generally very | | | | will try their luck and if you are a soft |
| competitive. These organised tours are a | | | | touch, they will keep coming back for more. |
| convenient and reasonably priced way to see | | | | Just say no from the start. |
| Phuket's tourist attractions. There are many | | | | |
| tour shops and lots of tours so the | | | | You do not need to ring the bell and buy |
| competition keeps the prices down. Just go to | | | | everybody in the bar a drink. |
| any tour shop and you are likely to find some | | | | |
| good deals. | | | | If you take a girl back to your hotel then |
| | | | agree the price up front (usually 1,000 to |
| The only problem with booking tours is you do | | | | 2,000 baht). You do not have any |
| not know the quality of the tour service. The | | | | responsibility to buy her food, drinks or pay |
| price may be competitive but if the | | | | her taxi home. It is up to you. |
| experience is poor then you will still be | | | | |
| disappointed. Most of the tour organisers | | | | Most of all, you do not have to pay for her |
| provide a good service but there are also a | | | | family's healthcare, sick buffalo or whatever |
| few stinkers. | | | | other sob-story she may tell. And you |
| | | | definitely do not need to send her money once |
| If you do not want to take a shot on an | | | | you have gone home. |
| unknown tour company, you could book your | | | | |
| tours in advance with target="_blank" | | | | . |
| class="a1">Viators. Their prices are only a | | | | |