What to take to Thailand?

[littleripper]

Hand luggage only for 6 weeks. I have a dress that covers arms and legs for temples and can do for a night out, some shorts a few vest and some Birkenstocks, 2 swimsuits and 5 bikinis packed so far.... what else do I really need in such a small space?

When I went to Thailand it was much hotter and humid than I'd expected.

I ended up buying loads of thin soft brushed cotton clothes from market stalls on Kho San Road (sp?) in Bangkok. Lovely skirts and trousers and sarongs.
The T-shirts are long gone but I still have some items.

I pretty much wore flip flops the whole time.

I had a long sleeved white shirt I brought from home which was a lifesaver once the sun went down to stop the mozzies biting me. You need Deet spray.

Oh and I also lived in vest tops I brought from home

I was backpacking and on the first few nights there I got rid of loads of clothes I didn't need and left them in the hotel room and bought more suitable items.
I was slimmer then but only a size 8 and 5'6' so not petite but I easily bought my size

Recently went to Malaysia and Vietnam for 5.5 weeks on hand baggage only, less than 7kg for internal flights, it can be done, and you are all the better for it. Go with less as you will want to bring things back. One thing I completely messed up on though was the insurance. I had worldwide cover from my bank account, but on a closer check, they only cover you for 31 days, multiple trips but by the time we had transitted through AMS, I had exceeded 31 days out of the UK, so void. You cannot buy cover once you have left the UK, so you go uninsured, it wasn't my plan, and luckily nothing went wrong, but I would not do it again.

I'd probably add that you might want to include a "lightweight" long sleeved top and trousers to your ensemble for night-time, the mozzys can be quite bad. I took deet roll on for my exposed bits, and did not have one bite. I stunk like deet for 6 weeks, but i thought it a good price to pay. x

Teabags if a drinker- the ones they have are weak and tasteless (liptons).

Aftersun and after bite mosquito treatments. I was bitten a lot and burnt quickly despite the sun cream. First thing you know about burning will probably be in your room that evening and you won't want to go out.

Even for a dive holiday that is excessive on the swimwear (?) There are lots of cheap bikinis available anywhere if you needed them.

Travel adaptor for Thai plugs.

Sunglasses. The ones on the markets won't be any good for eye protection.

At least two reading books. They are expensive to buy there and sometimes fake/ badly photocopied. I found some book exchanges in some accommodations but they were hit and miss, and you'd need a book to exchange in the first place.

All of the above, plus Imodium, activated charcoal tabs, anti-nausea tabs, antihistamines. (Phenergan is great as it doubles as anti-nausea too, and makes you sleep.) All your regular meds plus bug repellant and bite cream. Small first aid kit for bandaids, etc

There are pharmacies everywhere in Thailand and you can get just about every medicine under the sun within a few mins walk in any direction. Hate their tampons/pads though so maybe take your own if needed.

Laundry send off by the kg it’s so so cheap. Its on every other street corner, very normal to send off laundry even for locals. Most places will advertise cost to wash, dry and fold flat per kg. Don’t bother trying to hand wash, take 5 days worth of clothes and keep sending off - it’ll be be done and back within the day.

You can buy all of that easily and cheaply. No need to take it with you.

any one who doesn’t want to check baggage - my adult kids did oz at Xmas hand baggage for 2 weeks as there were baggage handles strikes schedulers.

Make sure you have had your jabs.

The person who said elasticated trousers due to mozzie bites nailed it. This! They love ankles and feet!

Have a wonderful time. Are you going to one of the islands?

Easy to get most clothes there, especially if you're petite.

I’ve always taken my own mask and snorkel, but that’s probably just me and the boat will have their own. Your own definitely fit better. Either way, another must is mask defogger spray and a decent lip balm. Salty lips and having to spit in your mask to clear it is not a good combo 😂