Top Tips for Traveling in Thailand (and other places that don’t start with a T)

I never really wanted to go to Asia.  But the next thing I knew I was teaching in China, and all these countries I’d never thought about before were like, “Hello!  I’m cheap and right next door!  Come visit me!”  So I did, and I realized that South East Asia is incredibly cheap, beautiful, easy to navigate, and different than anything I’d ever experienced.  Scandinavian seniors have known this for years, making SE Asia their Florida and keeping it secret from Americans.  So I’m spilling the secret and sharing some humble tips that I learned while frolicking about… 

#1 Don’t worry.  (Be happy) 

I didn’t properly amp myself up for this trip because I was nervous about how unprepared we were.  Seriously, the “itinerary” that I sent my mom was probably more disconcerting than comforting.  But I learned that you really can’t plan ahead, because bus routes change, trains fill up, and booking a hostel online does, in no way, guarantee you a room.  So, you might as well get to the place, ask around, and go with the first greasy-haired man offering you a hostel with a decent price and location.  If your room has rats, you can always move.  (Direct quote from Liz while in a Kaula Lumur hostel:  “I just saw a huge rat run down the stairs…meh, it’s only one night.”  *pays*)

#2 Cheaper ≠Wiser

Our first hostel in Penang offered air-co and breakfast for $8.30 a night.  We soon downgraded to a hostel without the aforementioned for $5 a night— definitely a cheap deal, but we pretty much spent that extra $3.30 on breakfast, and the lack of AC, coupled with the lack of things to do in Penang, definitely lowered morale.  So be smart, look around, and stay low-maintenance, but, in my humble opinion, cheaper isn’t always wiser. 

#3 Ask Questions: They Speak English.

Honestly, navigating the streets, buses and streets of SE Asia wasn’t that difficult. Why?  1. Almost everyone in tourist areas speaks English and 2. We were females; therefore, we asked questions.  JK, but seriously asking questions is sooooo much easier and more accurate than looking info up online or trusting a map.  Most of that junk is out-dated anyway, and we found that people liked helping us out, pointing out our stop, instructing us on how to eat Indian food, and recommending we skip the beach, due to jellyfish.  So don’t be shy and clueless!  You’ll have plenty of time for that in China.  

#4  Foreigners are your Friends

In China white people don’t talk to white people.  I don’t know why, but it’s a thing.  But when you’re backpacking, every other backpacker is your potential BFF/ info source.  We ran into some people who were doing the same trip as us, just in the opposite direction, and it was really helpful exchanging info like, “Don’t waste your money on this.”  “You only need 2-3 nights in Penang,” and “It’s cheaper to bus to Singapore.”  Free advice from random backpackers > Rick Steves…is that blasphemy?  Oh, and if a foreigner sits across from you on a boat tour or something, break the awkward right away with some “where are you from?” banter.  There’s nothing worse than discovering, at the end of your trip, that the incredibly attractive Sweedes are actually not stuck up but rather nice. 

#5 Street Food

Let’s face it.  Food is probably THE best part of traveling.  Call me a shallow foodie, but…I mean it kind of is, right?  Food is the most influential factor in your budget; you can save big or break big (and, either way, go home big).  So!  If you have the chance to eat cheap, do it!  Ao Nang Beach in Krabi has INCREDIBLE, cheap street food—smoothies, Thai Pancakes, corn/meat/pineapple on a stick, and all kinds of curries and noodles.  I regret eating at so many restaurants before we wised up and found the cheap spots.  Take your time to evaluate the one or two restaurants where you really want to treat yo’ self at the end, but mainly stick to street food, and don’t let one or two upset stomachs ruin your impression completely. ;)

Welp!  5 is the golden tip #, and experts say I probably lost your attention half-way through #2 so…Stephanie out!