Travel Tribe Thailand (Nov) – What to Expect

Discover Thailand:

Extend your Southeast Asian Journey

November 5th – 9th, 2024

It’s time to get excited!

Your exciting journey to Thailand is on the horizon, and it’s sure to be a trip to remember. Please read the following document carefully as it contains important information to help you prepare for the adventure ahead. If you have any questions at all, simply let us know!


Entry Requirements

Passport Information

You will need a passport to travel to Thailand. Your passport should be valid until at least June 2025 and it should have 2 full empty pages.

If you don’t have empty pages, please contact us and we will send you instructions for getting a new passport in time for the tour.

Visa Information

Arrival / Departure Airports

Immunizations

Currently Thailand doesn’t require any specific immunizations to enter the country. However, it is always worthwhile to consult with a healthcare professional about any optional vaccinations that might be beneficial for you during the tour. These may include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Malaria and Meningitis.


Country Information

What Should You Expect?

Facts About Thailand

Accommodation

During our trip, we’ll be staying in comfortable and convenient 4* hotels. All rooms have a private bathroom and air conditioning.

Transportation

Food and Water

Tap water in Thailand is not ideal for drinking and you should always drink bottled water. It’s also best to use bottled water to brush your teeth.

All of the food provided during the tour will be completely safe to consume. Fruits and vegetables are always washed in filtered water, so the chances of getting a stomach bug are slim. Street food at popular markets and food stalls is also safe to eat. We would only suggest avoiding street food from vendors where the food appears to have been sitting out for a long time. Most street food is cooked fresh though, so this should rarely be an issue.

Money

In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $25 – $30 USD per person per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which can be found in all cities. If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD or Euros to exchange at money exchange offices that are located in all of the big cities.

*Credit cards are commonly accepted in cities, hotels, and larger establishments. However, it’s important to note that in smaller local restaurants and traditional stores, cash remains the preferred payment method. Hence, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand, especially in Ayutthaya where card acceptance might be limited.

*USD are generally not accepted for purchases. Most transactions must be made with the local currency.

Tipping

Tipping in Thailand is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is appreciated. Here’s a general guideline:

  • Restaurants 10% – 15% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
  • Hotel staff$1 – $2 USD if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
  • Your driver – You will have the same driver throughout your trip. It is customary to offer a tip of $25 USD at the end of your journey as a thank you for their service.
  • Your guideYou will have the same guide throughout the tour. We suggest giving him a tip of $40 USD at the end of the tour as a gesture of appreciation.

Safety

Thailand is a very safe destinations with friendly people and few real concerns. The chances of anything happening are very slim as long as you use the same common sense you would use at home.

Watch your stuff – When wandering around crowded areas, it’s always a good idea to keep your wallet and phone in your front pocket or secured in a purse or backpack. The purse, backpack or shoulder bag should be hanging by your front hip, with zippers fastened. Keep in mind that when out and about each day, you may leave valuables in your room as the hotels we use are all very safe.

Scams While rare, local scams can occur. For instance, taxi drivers may attempt to overcharge you, so it’s advisable to always use Grab, the version of Uber in Southeast Asia. When using a tuktuk, always negotiate the fare upfront to avoid unexpected charges. Outside of some temples, when you’re not accompanied by a guide, you might be approached with offers to visit a temple (which doesn’t exist) or be told that a temple is closed, which often leads to an unnecessarily costly tuktuk journey. Additionally, be aware that some women may offer you a piece of bread as a “gift” and then try to charge you for it. Always trust your instincts, and if something feels off, it’s best to simply decline and continue.

Weather

During this trip, we can expect relatively consistent weather. November is an ideal time to visit Thailand, with pleasant temperatures, no extreme heat, and minimal rainfall. Here are the average temperatures of each destination we will visit:

  • Bangkok: 90F/32C high – 75F/24C low
  • Ayutthaya: 91F/33C high – 72F/22C low

Clothing and Packing

In Thailand locals typically wear clothes similar to what you’d see in the West. As a result, you can wear whatever you’re comfortable in. However, when visiting temples and sacred places, it is required to cover your legs and wear shirts with at least short sleeves. You can purchase a sarong to wrap around your legs outside of some temples to ensure you’re dressed appropriately.

 Laundry – Laundry will be available at of our accommodations in the major cities and at local laundromats that offer same day service for around $10 per load.

We recommend packing the following items:

  • Pants (1-2 pairs – comfortable, lightweight)
  • Shirts (2-3 short-sleeve shirts, 1-2 long-sleeve shirts – loose fit, comfortable)
  • Shorts (2-3 pairs)
  • Swimsuit
  • Underwear/Socks
  • Shoes (sneakers/closed-toe) & Sandals
  • Toiletries
  • Medicines (bring sufficient amounts of any medication you take)
  • Small Daypack
  • Gadgets & Chargers
  • Ear plugs (if you’re a light sleeper, bring a few pairs)
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat

The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around Thailand with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins.

If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for this trip.


Additional Information

Cameras/Drones

You may bring your camera bodies and lenses into Thailand as a tourist.

Although highly regulated, you may bring your drone into Thailand. To do so, you must first register at the NBTC registration portal, providing a copy of your passport, photographs of the drone and controller serial numbers and a copy of the drone insurance policy, which must include a 1 million THB coverage. After receiving approval, you must then register at the CAAT online drone registration portal 15 business days prior to arrival. Please note that the drone must not exceed 25 kgs (55 lbs) and you must follow all of the current regulations.

Outlet Adapters

Electrical sockets in Thailand are compatible with both types A and B plug types (commonly used in the United States), as well as type C plug types (commonly used in Europe). Therefore, if your devices have plugs from the US or Europe, you won’t need to purchase a separate adapter

As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.

Staying Connected

Thailand generally has strong internet connection and all of our accommodations will have WiFi. However, you can expect weaker connections in Ayutthaya, with occasional poor connectivity. In general, the internet access will work and you’ll be able to do whatever you need to do online, but it might take longer than normal with the potentially spotty connection.

If you wish to have a data connection on your phone throughout the tour, the easiest way will be to purchase an E-SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.

We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.

Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your guide. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance and ask questions both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.


That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!

If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com

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