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Original poster

How much spending money for Thailand and what size suitcase?

14 replies

Quirkyme · 31/08/2023 14:25

Good afternoon,

Heading to N.Thailand in mid-October solo for 2 weeks. I was wondering how much spending £ I should take and what size suitcase for 2 weeks?

Thank you :)

Also is it likely to be hot and will I deffo need mosquito repellant as peak summer season will be over ?

OP posts:
Kapalika · 02/09/2023 14:26

We just got back from Thailand. We took £1000 in Baht and had a Starling and a Revolut card. Be aware every withdrawal at an ATM will cost 220bht, so withdraw large amounts.
The north is cheaper. Street food is really cheap so I would stick with that. Food wise you could live on 500bht easily per day. It will definitely be humid so mozzy spray is a must. 7-11 sell the best one. It has a pink top and cheap.
we took hand luggage only as laundry there is very cheap, about 50-60bht per kilo to be washed and pressed.

House4DS · 02/09/2023 14:46

@Kapalika @Quirkyme
Open a virgin money current account - free cash withdrawals world wide.
And a Halifax credit card too - free transactions.
I only use mine for holidays.

Kapalika · 02/09/2023 15:36

Thai ATMs will still charge 220bht. There is no getting round that.
Free transactions, in this case, mean the UK bank or BSociety won’t charge their end.

House4DS · 02/09/2023 16:06

@Kapalika even if you use a bank ATM rather than the random ones found in shops etc?

Kapalika · 02/09/2023 16:08

Absolutely! It took me a while to get my head around it.

Original poster
Quirkyme · 02/09/2023 17:34

Kapalika · 02/09/2023 14:26

We just got back from Thailand. We took £1000 in Baht and had a Starling and a Revolut card. Be aware every withdrawal at an ATM will cost 220bht, so withdraw large amounts.
The north is cheaper. Street food is really cheap so I would stick with that. Food wise you could live on 500bht easily per day. It will definitely be humid so mozzy spray is a must. 7-11 sell the best one. It has a pink top and cheap.
we took hand luggage only as laundry there is very cheap, about 50-60bht per kilo to be washed and pressed.

Hey! Thanks for the mosquito spray suggestion. Do you think it's worth me buying a spray here before getting there? Or just waiting 'til I'm there?

A friend says suggests doing the latter because he thinks the sprays here in the Uk might not be as effective as one's over there?

OP posts:
Anatomical · 02/09/2023 17:41

Get spray there - they do little clear bottles of Soffell in all the pharmacies which is really good, cheap and even smells nice. Also ask for mosquito bite ointment at the pharmacy - there's a really good one in a small green and white tin which has eucalyptus in it which is brilliant for sorting itching (I used to live in Thailand). I can't tell you the name as it's written in Thai.

October is just when the rainy season is ending so you might still have some showers but they shouldn't disrupt anything too much!!

Suitcase wise it really depends on how much stuff you want to take/bring back - have a lovely trip!

Anatomical · 02/09/2023 17:45

This is the stuff!

How much spending money for Thailand and what size suitcase?
Original poster
Quirkyme · 02/09/2023 17:48

Anatomical · 02/09/2023 17:45

This is the stuff!

Aww thank you! I've taken a screenshot to show them in the pharmacy.

My skin doesn't like eucalyptus/mint family ingredients, is there anything else you'd suggest?

OP posts:
Anatomical · 02/09/2023 17:52

This is the only ointment I tried to be honest but they are pretty good in the pharmacies if you tell them what you need :)

Kapalika · 03/09/2023 08:22

Definitely buy the spray at the 7-11 or a pharmacy there.

How much spending money for Thailand and what size suitcase?
Rosylarose · 03/09/2023 08:48

October is a good time to go. You might get the back end of the rainy season, but it will be brief, heavy showers. You'll never need more than T shirts and shorts and perhaps a light raincoat, unless you're going into the mountains in the north, in which case a fleece might be handy.

As PP have said, you can eat well at simple restaurants, markets and street food carts for 100 baht. Street food is safe and delicious! A large local beer is about 80 baht. Wine is always expensive and not worth it. Local spirits are affordable.

Agree with the suggestion of the 7-11 mossie spray. A lot of restaurants keep a bottle on the tables for customer use.

Rosylarose · 03/09/2023 08:50

And yes, there's no way round the ATM charges I'm afraid!

Original poster
Quirkyme · 05/09/2023 14:10

Rosylarose · 03/09/2023 08:48

October is a good time to go. You might get the back end of the rainy season, but it will be brief, heavy showers. You'll never need more than T shirts and shorts and perhaps a light raincoat, unless you're going into the mountains in the north, in which case a fleece might be handy.

As PP have said, you can eat well at simple restaurants, markets and street food carts for 100 baht. Street food is safe and delicious! A large local beer is about 80 baht. Wine is always expensive and not worth it. Local spirits are affordable.

Agree with the suggestion of the 7-11 mossie spray. A lot of restaurants keep a bottle on the tables for customer use.

Thank you so much, was just literally about to comment and ask about the weather!

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