5 things to be mindful of when planning a trip to Thailand

With stunning beaches, historic temples, a vibrant nightlife, and so much more, Thailand is a great place for your next vacation. The Southeast Asian country has seen rising tourist numbers year on year, with over 30 million people expected to make a trip to Thailand throughout 2018 alone. Getting a Thailand Visa is also very effortless.

If you’ve never visited before, you won’t be disappointed. However, you do need to be mindful of certain things when planning your trip. Here’s what you should consider.

1) English is common

The fear of not knowing a foreign language might put you off a vacation abroad. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself, but there’s too much of the local language to learn to be able to hold a conversation. This isn’t something to stress about in Thailand. Some words have been adapted from English, and are easy enough to learn. If you can get your head around these words, you won’t stick out quite so much.

2) Research your planned destinations

We all want to see the sights when we go somewhere new. Thailand has so much for you to explore, but don’t be fooled. Some locals will take advantage if you don’t prepare in advance. Taxi drivers like to trick you into believing a temple will be closed so they can take you somewhere they’ve been commissioned to go to. You can only have the upper hand if you know beforehand that they’re lying. Just explain to the driver that you know that the temple or other destination is open. If they persist, that’s your cue to leave and find someone else to take you there.

3) Get your shots

Traveling to Thailand from other countries will require vaccinations to keep you safe. It’s recommended for all visitors to have shots against tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A, but a doctor could suggest ones for things like rabies too. You are at risk from infection if bitten by some animals in the region, especially if you want to go trekking.

However, you’ll still need to seek medical treatment even if you do have the vaccination. A vacation shouldn’t be ruined because you didn’t take the right precautions beforehand. Two weeks of medical treatment in Thailand can cost in excess of $50,000 which you certainly don’t want to have to fork out for. Make sure you’re fully prepared!

4) Animals are everywhere

Thailand is home to a lot of animals that you’ll encounter on your adventures. You should be wary of any animal that isn’t domesticated, largely because of the above reason. There are thousands of soi (stray) dogs that might carry all kinds of disease. Although volunteers are doing what they can to help these animals, their presence is still overwhelming on Thailand’s streets.

Monkeys are another animal that you should be hesitant to interact with. Beaches in Thailand are often home to these creatures, but it’s best to admire them from afar. Although they can be friendly, don’t relent and give them food. The more tourists feed them, the more dependent they become on humans.

5) Think about cash in advance

Almost any vacation outside of your own country will require a change in currency. Thailand uses the Thai Baht, one of which equates to 0.032 US Dollars at the time of writing. This changes regularly, so it’s ideal to keep an eye on conversion rates well in advance to your trip.

Although you won’t know how much money you’ll need while you’re there, immigration officials like you to have no less than 10,000 Baht on you when you enter the country. It’s best to take more than you might think you need, and then store it in different places while in the country. By doing this, you’ll be prepared, while still being safe with your money.

I hope this post has given you something to consider before planning your trip to Thailand. Let me know in the comments if there’s anything important that I’ve missed out here. You might also find my 4 tips before travelling to Thailand helpful.