Location Transport

Question about spending money in Thailand?

Hello everyone, I am going to Thailand in a few weeks (Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya & Bangkok) a bit over 4 weeks and I am going to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) as well for a few days. So altogether, 5 weeks. I'm going with my wife and we plan on taking $6000 - $6500 ($AUD) for 5 weeks. We would like to do some: site seeing & tour attractions public transport some shopping mainly in Bangkok massages and spa treatments clubs & bars (2/3 times a week) 2/3 beers each time i head out to the bars, my wife doesn't really drink much eating out at from street food to cheap/average and a few classy restaurants. So do you think $6000 - $6500 ($AUD) would be enough for the both of us for 5 weeks? Too much, not enough or perfect? I would like to know how much you've spent daily/weekly when you went Thailand as well? & what things did you do? Just so i can compare it to us :) Looking forward to hear all your answers, all answers will be greatly appreciated muchly

Public Comments

1. It seems like a fair amount of money (also assuming you have credit cards as well?). Food can eat into your budget quickly, notably if you're eating in 4-5 star hotels. Eating outside the hotel can help save you some cash. Massages at the hotel are far more expensive than getting one at a massage parlor (you're paying for the ambience & pampering at a hotel; if you only want a great massage, go to a legit parlor). Shopping at Suan Lum Plaza (Bangkok) could be a great option to get more for your money from shopping (be prepared to haggle over price). Public transport is cheaper in Bangkok. Taxis in the likes of Phuket and Samui can be expensive because they don't use the meter. I wouldn't, however, recommend renting a motorbike. A beer at a bar will generally cost between 60-80 baht. Putting a full list of things to do in multiple locations might be hard.... Bangkok: Wat Po Wat Arun Grand Palace Ayuttaya (about 1.5 hours outside of BKK) Samui: Grandmother and Grandfather Rock Big Buddha Snorkeling trip to Koh Tao Phuket: Fantasea Simon Cabaret Snorkeling trip to Phi Phi Some travel guides are listed below.... Enjoy your trip! I've only been to Pattaya once (too crazy for me) but Samui and Phuket are good choices for first-time visitors.
2. well, you do not state whether you have hotels booked or not - services like agoda will give you some discounts - the tours and attractions can be quite reasonable, maybe $15-$20 per person - massages are readily available and might run you abt $5 - food is good and reasonable, be it on the street or in an average restaurant - There will be plenty of places around, likely your hotel as well, with books of tours and it is easily booked. - I think you can easily budget this amt of money and enjoy as well - - w/some days of spending little, walking abt or relaxing and other days w/splurges - If you are a couple, I might question your visit to Pattaya - though there are local family attractions, this is mostly a wild town w/lots of available bargirls - this could be interesting too, but just know where you are going - you have picked so many purely touristy places - maybe you might want to consider seeing something a bit more Thai and real, not just a place with foreigners and thai workers - it is an easy country to travel in - either way - enjoy!!
3. I think about 7000 USD
4. herm, well i went to bangkok for 4days. i spent about 500usd for shopping, food and transport, exclude hotel and flight... my advice... hotel: i stayed at salil hotel sukhumvit soi thong lo 1.. just in case u havent found any hotel, for me its a very comfy place, its small but its just nice.. transport: use tuk-tuk only for experience, they charge up until 200 baht just to take u somewhere near.. u better take a meter taxi instead, or a skytrain.. if ur taking a skytrain, get a daily pass cost aboout 120 baht? if im not mistaken... u can use it whole day.. only for BTS station... Shop advice: if u like to shop for good bargain in a wholesale price, u should really go to platinum shopping complex in pratunam. its dead cheap! i went to lumpini night market, and its quite expensive where their starting price is usually at 350 baht, better go to Chatuchak market, the biggest market where u can find anything u can think of, open on weekends, pricing better than lunpini market. tourist attraction: i paid 2000baht for transport to floating market and rose garden. then i paid another 1500 baht for the boat. nothing much to see in rose garden, except if u like to see some elephant show, flowers and gardens etc etc.. better go to tiger temple or any temple around. another thing: when buying street food, avoid giving big bills, my sis been cheated by a food vendor, she gave him 1000baht, then in the end, he claimed that my sis only gave him 100 baht! there's nothing we girls can do.. =(.. just be careful.. not all of em are dishonest, but its really been bad experience for us.. neway, enjoy ur holiday!
5. only stay in bangkok 1 or 2 days, personally i hate bangkok and its very expensive compare to other places(i hope you like sitting in traffic). phuket is pricey for drink but a beautiful place so it well worth going, eatin out is fairly cheap and you can't go wrong with street food cheaper again and nicer. and the aussie bar( just don't steal the bar mats) :) before i never liked pattaya i thought it was very sleezy and tried to avoid going but 2 months ago i got talked in to going and i was very surprised, i liked it, everythings changed, not as much in your face as b4 and alot of family around holidaying. not just horny old men. i think you'll enjoy it great place to let your hair down. pattaya is very good for the shopping so do it there not bangkok and stay near joiemtain beach its alot cheaper 6500 aussie dollars should be plenty for where you are goin but if you go place less touristy your money will go alot further, places like koh samet, koh chang, nakhon ratchasima, udon. best of luck you will have a great hol whatever you