Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Thailand for an extended visit to my sister and her husband. It was the first time that I was planning a trip on my own and flying alone, so I learnt a lot along the way. Some of it was through falling on my face, and others was through friends and family offering me some advice. I battled to find written advice, and so I thought I would put this all into one place for in case YOU are travelling from South Africa to a gorgeous destination.
A word of advice before we get started, please don’t leave your brain and your manners at the airport when you leave!
Prepare for Thailand
- First things first is “Learning The Language” of the country you are visiting.
There are so many apps that you can use on your phone; including Duo Lingo or LearnThai. But my absolute favourite app that I downloaded that helped me was Google Translate. ‘”Why?”, you may be asking. Well, you can download specific languages so that you can still use the app when you are not online or do not have access to WiFi. PLUS, you can use the camera function to help translate images that you have taken, or packaging on food etc. It is an absolute lifesaver! And it has a function that will ensure you get the pronunciation correct too.
There are a few basic words/greetings that are essential to learn so you can be polite and also be able to engage with some of the locals. I found it was so appreciated when I tried, and these are the the top few Thai phrases that I used during my visit. Just remember that a woman speaking will always end the sentence with “ka” and a man will end his sentence with “krap” to show respect.
- Hello/Bye = sa-wad-dee-ka/krap
- How are you? = sa-bai-dee-mai-ka/krap
- Thank you = kob-khun-ka/krap
- I’m sorry = kor-tod-ka/krap
- Little bit = nid-noi (this can be used when you are saying how hot you want the food!)
- How much? = tao-rai-ka/krap
- What’s your name? = khun-chue-arai-ka/krap
- My name is… = chan-chue…
2. The second thing that I found most important is “Banking“.
Before you leave your home country, be sure to inform your bank that you will be travelling and using your card overseas so they do not block them for suspicious behaviour. I bank with FNB, and this was super simple as I could do it through my app to let them know that I was travelling and the exact dates that I would be in certain countries.
In Thailand, cash is king. You get charged 3-5% extra if you pay by card, so I would really recommend drawing cash (I drew THB 5000 at a time) and using this to pay for your expenses. They do usually give you the cash in THB 1000 notes, so I recommend going to a 7 Eleven and purchasing a cooldrink to break this into smaller denominations – especially if you are buying delicious food from the street vendors.
You can also exchange currency, before leaving, at your bank. Again, I booked an appointment online for my local FNB branch and you let them know exactly how much you would like – in either currency – and then they give you the cash to take with you on your adventure. It works out much cheaper doing this prior to you leaving than having to exchange currency at the airport when you arrive.
3. Next on my list was “Cellphone” issues
Before you leave, let your cellphone provider know that you will be out of the country and if you would like roaming to be turned on. You can purchase an e-sim once you have landed, or even through a specific e-sim app on your phone. I didn’t do either of these, as I chose to be fully in my holiday and just connected to WiFi when I was at the condo or any restaurants or shopping centres that had WiFi available for me to use.
4. Your “Packing Choices“
Packing for a trip of any length of time can be tricky. I was in Thailand for one month, and was extremely overwhelmed with what to pack. This is what I would recommend you take with you if you are going to a very hot destination, such as Thailand:
- Bikinis/costumes – multiple (I lived in mine!)
- Shorts
- Tees
- Sleeveless dresses (sleeves were just too hot to wear)
- Cycling shorts (to wear under your dresses to prevent chafing)
- Short pajama set
- Panties and bras (not as many needed as cozzies!)
- Dresses/clothing that is appropriate for visiting temples (covering your shoulders and knees)
- Comfortable shoes that slip on & off easily (I took my Crocs & they were absolute lifesavers – you will need to remove your shoes to enter certain shops/pharmacies/massage salons as well as any temples)
- Cap/hat
- Skincare
- Hair ties (it was very muggy & so I just couldn’t keep my hair down without sweating!)
- Suncream
- Sample size toiletries and perfumes (perfect for when you are flying or travelling between different locations)
- A large shopping bag (lots of places don’t offer shopping bags so it’s easier to take your own & carry everything in one bag. I got my Go-Go Bag from Migi Designs & used this as my hand luggage too.)
- Packing cubes to fit everything in a bit better(I got mine from Trig&Co)
5. An important one for me is “Medication“
I am on chronic medication and knew that I couldn’t be without any of these drugs. The first step was contacting my medical aid and letting them know that I was going to be out of the country for a certain amount of time and needed extra chronic medication. I did this through their website chatbot, and within a couple of days they had emailed me letters to take to my pharmacy to get 2 months worth of medication. I took these letters with me in my hand luggage alongside all my medicine as well so if there were any queries then I could show that this was controlled medication.
I also visited my GP before I left and she helped me with putting together a First Aid Kit to take with me, with plasters, paracetamol, Zambuk, medication for cramping/upset tummies, antibiotics and anything else that we could think of. Don’t bother taking your own bug/mosquito spray, as this is super affordable in Thailand and works so well with chasing away their mozzies.
6. Getting around with “Google Maps“
Did you know that you can download Google Maps to be able to use offline? This was an absolute game changer for me! Before I went to Thailand, I added the areas I would be in so I could access the maps whilst exploring and ensure I didn’t get lost.
You need to have Google Maps on your phone, and tap on “Offline Maps”, search for the area you are needing and tap “Download”. I promise you, this will make such a difference to your trip and being able to find your way around a new area!
The very last thing I would recommend when planning for a trip is getting a larger bum bag/bag that can go around your shoulder and rest against your chest. This is great for when you are travelling as you can keep your ticket and passport here so it is easily accessible, as well as your purse, cellphone and any medication that you need to take whilst in the air. I also clipped a small hand sanitizer to it for just in case.
Wrapping Up
I really hope that these hints help you in prepping beforehand, and who you need to contact/inform that you are leaving the country. In my next blog I will look at a few other things that I wish I had known before I arrived, and what I learnt from the locals.
Thailand was a truly life-changing experience and I cannot wait to go back to explore more of the beauty, the food and meeting the locals.
Is there anything else that you would add, or that made a difference when you flew overseas? Please let me know!
