Friends, if, like us, you are planning to visit fabulous Thailand on your own in the very near future, then you should ask naturally arising questions: how to get there, do you need a visa, insurance, what to take with you, etc. and so on. I have tried and collected the most useful and relevant information that will help me and you prepare for this adventure.

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What to take with you to Thailand

A minimum of things and shoes. In Thailand, everything is very cheap, and the choice is huge. Why drag a heavy suitcase if you plan to move around all the time and not take root in one place. In general, on my trip I plan to take only a backpack, into which only shorts, a couple of T-shirts, a swimsuit, flip-flops, underwear, personal hygiene products (a minimum set), gadgets and a prepared guide will be carefully and lovingly thrown. Everything else, if necessary, will be purchased locally. With this luggage it will be quite easy to move to a new place and change hotels.

P.S. I have already returned from vacation, so I can make changes with authority. Even the above turned out to be a lot. Next time I’ll only take blinders, a couple of T-shirts and T-shirts, and gadgets. Everything else is bought for 100-200 rubles and thrown away without regret.

Of course, everyone has their own needs and for some it is difficult to do without 30 dresses or a ton of cosmetics, while for others it is vital to have 15 pairs of shoes with them. Ultimately, luggage will have its own weight, but it's better to travel light than to be tied to your own suitcase.

I hope that our life hack will also be useful - how to get to Krabi from various resorts in Thailand.

Housing

You can book hotels in advance if you have already drawn up your travel itinerary and do not plan to change anything. You can find suitable accommodation options on Booking.com, agoda.com, ostrovok.ru, hotels.ru, sawadee.com, hotels2thailand.com, asiatravel.com, etc. Also, interesting options can be found on the spot. I plan to book a hotel in advance only in Bangkok and Koh Samui for one night, and then navigate the area.

P.S. I didn’t regret my decision at all. We booked all the hotels on the spot, having previously studied the area and noted interesting options. There were no problems.

How to travel to Thailand yourself.

From the notes of one experienced traveler.

This article may seem a little boring, but I will try to describe at least the basics of the mentality and culture of the Thais. And I want to note - this is not a step-by-step instruction, like,

Point 1: When getting off the plane in Bangkok, smile;

Point 2: When meeting a girl on Walking Street - Remember! Isn't it

surprise?!!!

Speaking of pricing of stores, prices for some tours or excursions, if I don’t forget, I’ll devote a few paragraphs. I think this information will not hurt those who first time visiting Thailand.

Before go to Thailand on your own, you need to understand the difference of this country
from other countries described on this site, I don’t know how, well, not in a nutshell, but at least I’ll try to describe Thailand in some general way. Probably, only after three flights to a given country, you will be able to have a different understanding about this land.

Your own impressions of Thailand will of course depend very much on your expectations.

What do you hope to gain from this visit? I
I will try to highlight some of the pros and cons of this country of smiles, so to speak, a small guide to the provinces and resorts of Thailand.

Firstly: to this day, Thailand is still a good choice for tourists to explore, after all, it is mostly mass tourism that exists now. This is really the key thing to understand. You can imagine Thai as an unknown and exotic place. While here, make no mistake: this place is one of the top 10 places in the world, which is crowded every day with crowds of tourists from every corner
peace. If you're looking for a secluded beach experience, be prepared to be disappointed. If you are looking for some precious stones, then do not consider this option. There are precious stones in the country, but not many. How do you want it? You're at a resort! Are there fewer vacationers in Turkey?!

But this does not mean that it is bad to relax here. You see, here...well, it’s just an amazing vacation! Tropical beaches in the south, with all water sports, great opportunities for snorkeling. And in the north of the country, you can go into the jungle, visit old Buddhist temples or relax in the healing hot springs.

Thailand is firmly on the tourist map, so you can give it a lot of advantages.

Firstly, everything is easy for a traveler here. And if you have little experience in another country, here traveling from point A to B will be the easiest. For example, what may seem difficult to you are such steps as purchasing a ticket for bus routes, or on the same day sailing to one of the islands in a boat to take a walk in the park. In fact, it will be an easy task, thanks to convenient schedules and always available tickets.

And remember, the real Thailand opens up for tourists not on the beach, but in completely different places. Just then, the main crowds of tourists relax by the sea. But I always ask: “I don’t understand! Why fly 10 hours across three nine lands to lie around like a flounder by the sea???” With the same success, you can stand in a traffic jam for two hours and also relax with your grandmother on Klyazma, swimming and sunbathing.

Don't worry about anything.

I remember the first time, taking a ticket with a friend, we flew to Phuket. Bangkok airport, customs, a slight after-plane hangover, a bunch of our tourists. It feels as if we are still somewhere in Domodedovo. And it began - to fill out some papers, I want to note, in English. I only remember German from films. But as always, being surrounded by a Russian unshaven booth helped us; by the way, we were flying in the company of a very nice and intelligent company. Well, everyone was just going on vacation.

It's an hour's flight from Bangkok to Phuket, there's no customs there. We are already in Thailand! Of course, our Russian ranks thinned, and at the exit from the airport we were left alone.

Remember - our tour operators, in my opinion, they are there somewhere... They just are! Because no one met us with a screaming sign on a sign: “Guys! You are in Phuket! This is Tai!

Like everywhere else at the airport there is a taxi service. There are private owners, and there are official or state taxi services. Private traders can heat up the money a little, but you can also heat them up. We just don’t know British, and they don’t understand Russian, whoever utters the most strange words wins. Approaching the officials, this is a stand similar to the one where the microphones are when the president speaks, only it is covered with all sorts of bright advertising booklets. There was a cute Thai girl or girl behind the counter... I think there was a girl. At the counter there is a neat price list and a map of Phuket. Why do we need English?! Our documents indicated our specific hotel,
in English.

800 Baht and we are already in a taxi. But I still didn’t understand why private traders were so intractable, charging an amount of 1,500 Baht. This then dawned on me as we drove and drove and drove through Phuket, to our hotel. The driver, who had stopped smiling, called the smiling operator to clarify the address. It turns out that where we were going, there were two such addresses, they were different in some way, but somehow it didn’t bother us.

Indeed, I would pay for such a long journey, all two thousand. But it only cost us
800 Baht.

Well, yes, the taxi operator girl is cool and sweet, she smiled very beautifully!

Well, there's nothing to worry about. Here's a trivial example: we got to the hotel for half the price.

And one more thing, never look for a freebie in Thailand, just relax, and the freebie will find you on its own. Respect what is happening around you. Smiling Thais, you understand, they are at work, you, that is, tourists, you brought them some money.

Free breakfast at the hotel.

Oh, of course yes! We crossed half of Russia on a plane, India - when I woke up near the window, and I had a salad in my sneaker, we crossed the whole Indian Ocean, well, certainly not in order to wake up at eight in the morning for breakfast, which is included in our stay in hotel. Imagine a picture - such a cool restaurant at the hotel, all in palm trees and monkeys, women in sundresses, some men with them, fussing with full trays, all you can hear is: Valya - Valera, bring it - Sasha, wrap it in a bag. Lord, are we really on our beloved Klyazma!?

This was our first and last free breakfast. The following days, we had breakfast and lunch at other times or outside the hotel, for money. On vacation, it’s better to do everything for money: eat, swim, drink, get drunk, hang out. But for the money! Let it be for big money or little.

By the way, about money in the land of smiles.

Remember - here they cheat you, they smile and cheat you out of money. But in reality, this is quite normal, it looks very nice, funny and very cultured, and so, you know, unobtrusively. Therefore, always smile too, but don’t pay money yet.

Firstly, first understand for yourself whether you need it. Why pay 100 Baht when you can pay 50. But in Thailand, as elsewhere, not everything is measured by money. Although for some service you can pay not fifty, but three or ten more and you find yourself permanent
client, some salon or grocery store at the market, and the entire subsequent vacation will be served to you simply for free. Even this word “Free” somehow sounds insulting to our Thai friends; perhaps the expression “Without money” is more suitable. For example, I really liked Thai girls for their inner selves, they are beautiful, sexy, there is no debauchery in them, they are very simple, and the most important thing that struck me is that they are faithful to the core.

My friend and I lived in different rooms. After one walk on Bangla Road, we made our first friends and two lovely girlfriends. My friend had his own beauty, I had another. At night we
hung out with girls in Phuket bars and slept until late in the morning. This is what I'm getting at. Their women are faithful, for example, my friend’s girlfriend did not come to my room for any money. I certainly appreciated it!

So what am I talking about?

About the cultural scam for money in Phuket.

Wind it. By the way, representatives of our tour operator, still on the third day of our stay on the island, were somewhere here, nearby. On the fourth day, a slick, tired tie appeared with a folder in his hands, half asleep I listened to him. For some reason, what he said was not interesting. Maybe because he also felt bad and sad. He handed us a price list with prices for all sorts of entertainment, such as: unforgettable fishing on the high seas and everything else, everything as it should be - at the lowest “cosmic” prices. Do you hear? Never take excursions from your tour operator. It’s better to use the difference in money to buy souvenirs for your relatives.

Good on the streets

Phuket, every twenty meters there are shops selling various entertainment and three times cheaper.

And one day before that we went on a free sightseeing tour, you know, an introductory tour, so to speak, to prime the tourist.

The excursion included: the observation deck of Promthep Cape - a very beautiful place, it is better to go there not during the day, but either at dawn or at sunset; then to the Wat Chalong temple, also an interesting place, you can take a lot of photographs of ancient buildings. And then, at the next stage of the excursion, the funniest thing happened. They took us to a snake farm. I have the impression that these farmers, seeing another bus with tourists, begin to smile more than usual. And you smile too. But after a show with snakes, you have to throw money at these poisonous guys, well, sort of, and it’s not convenient to refuse.

And I liked the show!

Then one good Russian woman took us into some kind of large office, seated us and began, smiling (excuse the expression), to write in our ears about alternative Thai medicine, about the benefits of dried snake organs infused in alcohol. Of course, everyone tried 50 grams. It’s good that purchasing such organs was not our responsibility. Then we were taken to another crazy farm, where they made orthopedic pillows from something or other. Let's ignore this, they also offered to buy it there, because without this pillow, it’s simply impossible to live. That's what they said.

The next stop, ours free excursion, was “the cheapest a souvenir shop that supplied all the souvenir shops on the island. Well, yes, we went and looked at all sorts of shells, figurines, trinkets. I bought a couple of trinkets that fit into my pocket and didn’t get in the way, because like the others, I didn’t want to carry these shopping bags.

Guys!

The same trinkets that I bought were in souvenir shops in the center of Patong, five times cheaper. Fun huh!?

But that’s normal, we’re tourists.

Let's go back to Wat Chalong. There was an urn at the temple where they threw pieces of paper, I also threw it in, after writing something (I don’t remember), on the back I had to write my coordinates.

A day or two later, the phone in my room started working, and someone on the phone said that I “Won!” The voice said that they would come for me in the morning. And so it began. I didn’t say goodbye to my sidekick, promising to return. Indeed, in the morning an expensive foreign car stopped by, they sat me down and drove me away. The voice spoke, but now I saw it, a typical slicked office tie, patent leather boots, feet that were probably sweating.

And the Voice took me to all the luxury hotels, and they gave me everything to feed and drink. In short, they offered to join the club, I’ll skip all the bullshit, they brought me to a luxurious office building, took me from office to office, told me how cool they were, and everything around was so expensive, starting with the wooden bridge in the hall, spanning the pond. In short, to join the club, you needed two thousand dollars. I immediately remembered the taxi drivers at Phuket airport. They harassed me from morning until lunchtime. Of course, I didn't join the club. But! At the beginning of the conversation in the morning, it turns out that I won, according to them, a ticket to Phi Phi, and I could even go with a friend.

Basically, I only tolerated these office ties because of Phi Phi. Another chic Thai freebie!

And also, don’t buy leather products: crap made from stingray skin, belts made from cobra or crocodile. All this is cheap consumer goods and money down the drain. All good leather products are an hour's flight away in Indonesia. If you find real quality in Thailand, it will cost more than in Moscow and Europe. All leather in Thailand is from Indonesia. If you want quality, then come to Bali.

Indeed, if you wish to wander around a country where you are usually at least a little based, then Thailand is an excellent choice. To find housing, you just need to turn around, it is anywhere, cheap or expensive, but it is there.

Don't speak English? This way people will still understand you.

Do you want to know more about safety in Thailand? This place is probably safer than our cities in Russia.

Due to the country's popularity, sometimes during peak season it's not always easy to find a free bungalow if you're traveling on your own. The overall ease of traveling to Thailand also makes for independent travel . In fact, this country occupies not the last place among ordinary countries, allowing tourists to move freely. Stay in inexpensive hotels , you are guaranteed to meet interesting travel companions.

So everything is very positive.

What about the negatives?

The popularity of Thailand pushes prices upward, which in certain areas may also delay some trips until the budget is replenished. Beaches and islands in the south are rising in price at the level of middle-income countries.

Bangkok and other large cities are becoming more and more of the highest class.

But one place in Thailand to this day remains a relic of true low-budget backpacking, this is the north of the country. Here you can travel for 2 times cheaper. By the way, this is really a very large part of Thailand, with a lot to see.

The north of Thailand is a unique place.

(for example, a temple in Bangkok) are simply inundated with tour offers and tourists. Tourists are not only from the West, but also a lot from China and other Asian countries. Despite the masses of tourists, it remains one of the best countries for mountaineering; try it, even if you don’t have enough experience. In the next one I won't describe
attractions of popular holiday destinations, and I will try to highlight some other unique travel destinations.

Never shy away from street food. Believe me, it’s very tasty and not expensive.

Climbing steep rocks is where many people get their first experience in mountaineering. It's safe, cheap and easy. With such skills it will be easier for you to move through mountainous terrain.

The splendor of cities and night streets.

Walking around Bangkok or exploring the night markets of Chiang Mai will captivate you, especially if this is your first visit to Southeast Asia. You will immediately feel like you are in another world.

Holidays in paradise.

Why wander from crowded beach to beach. Travel to Pai in the north of the country, where you will leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind, where you will be greeted by rice fields and bamboo huts.

Another great selection for a party.

If you are young, then you will find a more energetic leisure activity - this is Phi Phi, the nightlife on Khao San Street in Bangkok (not for the faint of heart), this level of partying can be described as post-apocalyptic.

Nice beaches.

For good beaches, I would recommend the Philippines (they are much less crowded). However, Thailand has some excellent beaches and islands, many with beautiful karst cliffs and blue lagoons. Very well suited for beach activities, snorkeling and basic swimming.

The best food in the world.

I always thought I was always familiar with Thai cuisine , from our Russian version of a Thai restaurant. Believe me, for just 100 Baht, under a faded umbrella on the Phuket embankment, an elderly Thai woman will feed you something that you will never try in expensive restaurants in your hometown, even if the chef is Thai.

Chiang Mai Center.

There you can relax in the company of the most beautiful waterfalls.

In popular guidebooks, only the main attractions of Thailand are indicated, with short descriptions to get some idea. Of course, the majority of tourists go on vacation for an average of two weeks. And where, after your hometown, force anyone to climb palm trees, hit their knees on rock ledges and walk along hard-to-reach paths in the jungle. But, if you know such paths, then you can get such relaxation at the “exit”, near any waterfall or mountain lake. And no beach can compare with such a vacation.

In the north of Thailand around Chiang Mai, there are a lot of ancient Buddhist temples, hiking in the mountains will give you new acquaintances with the indigenous hill tribes.

Chiang Mai itself is considered an ideal place to explore the northern region; it is located next to the Golden Triangle - the intersection of three borders: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Starting your journey from Chiang Mai, there is no chance that you will get lost. Eventually, traveling along any road will lead you back to it again through some of the more remote areas of Thailand. Recommend this if you want to see the northern countryside.

The town of Soppong on this route is a great collection of exciting tourist adventures, and Pai is both a huge popular hiking destination and a great nightlife destination.

Inland, there are a ton of archaeological sites in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. In Kanchanaburi you will see the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. The other bank of the river is only a 3-hour drive from the capital and is considered a fairly famous place for tourists.

About the beaches and islands of the south.

For a holiday, consider a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand, and popular resorts on Koh Samui, Full Moon Party on Phangang, and Koh Tao have become some of the cheapest and best places in the world to take good diving courses.

And in the west of the Adaman Sea you have the province of Krabi, famous for its gorgeous karst limestone cliffs. This area has become something of a mecca for climbers, where you can climb the rock under the ocean waves.

The neighboring islands of Koh Phi Phi are more party places, which became famous thanks to L. DiCaprio; The islands of Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta are more laid back. You can also find small rural islands, deprived of civilization and banal electricity.

From the point of view of an independent route, as a rule, it makes sense to have a direction to the north of the country. And if we move south, we end up straight on lazy beaches, and we lose all motivation to look for another place to relax.

In the north there is more active recreation, unique nature and cultural and historical attractions, so this is a wonderful place. It’s like at home: All week in a stuffy city, and on Friday we are stuck in traffic jams, just to get away from the city noise in the country. The north of Thailand is a great idyll to be alone with nature.

Places in Thailand that are not written about in the tourist guide.

In my opinion, these are some places that are worthy of tourist attention:

֊ Explore the markets of Bangkok and visit Chinatown. Rent a bike, visit the lively Chatuchak Sunday market, and explore the Chinatown districts where you can get lost in the endless maze of its narrow streets. You will see how fish is cut, which will be prepared for you right there, all sorts of strange and unfamiliar products. By walking, you'll have a wonderful opportunity to explore some of Bangkok's hidden streets.

Master Thai cuisine, it's incredibly delicious.

Thai cooking courses can be found in many places in popular cities. I spent some time relaxing at a local farm outside of Chiang Mai where you will be introduced to the mysteries of local cuisine. You will learn how to cook real Thai curry so you can take this knowledge home.

Muay Thai boxing.

Having visited such a match, you will see dizzying, tough and beautiful fights. Muay Thai is performed in many places in Thailand and the islands.

Koh Tao Island.

By purchasing profitable tours to Thailand, you will receive a diving certificate on this island. This place has become one of the top places in the world for scuba diving and learning. Diving prices here are the lowest, because there is very tough competition among dozens of internationally accredited diving schools. True, on the reefs, you will see more other diving enthusiasts than the underwater world, and yet this is one of the most comfortable and safe areas in the world.

Rent a scooter in Pai.

Pai is an amazing and relaxing place in the north of Thailand. Scooter rental is always available here, and you can rent one even without a license. On a scooter you can go away from the hustle and bustle into beautiful countryside, to waterfalls or lakes.

Bright excursions Pai.

Visit ancient Buddhist temples.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok with golden sparkling statues, of course this attraction will seem a little stressful due to the large flow of tourists. But there is an alternative - this is Doi Suthep, built on a hill in the Chiang Mai region, or the ruins of an ancient Ayutthaya temple a little north of Bangkok.

Koh Lanta is often characterized as an exceptional paradise for honeymooners and families with children. Koh Lanta is large enough to satisfy the tastes of various types of tourists. If Koh Phi Phi is noisier and famous for its wild parties, then Koh Lanta is the absolute opposite, there is no rush here, time passes for a long time, more lazy relaxation with a glass of beer at the bar in the evenings, and dancing to reggae.

Railay is a treasure trove for rock climbing tourists, located on a peninsula. There are few interconnected roads here, but the place is spectacular with its surrounding high karst rocks, an amazing sight. Mountaineering here is very popular even for beginners, because the rocks are easy to climb. And if this is your first time here, then consult guidebooks, because some rocks are only suitable for experienced climbers. Climbing up the cliffs is an amazing adrenaline rush, and from the top of the cliffs you'll enjoy fantastic views of the turquoise bay and Railay itself. Most tourists relax on Ton Sai Beach, which is popular for its low cost of service.

Festivals in Thailand.

Songkran, held from April 13-15, is a water festival in which everyone takes part with a water pistol and water balloons. By the way, foreigners are often a favorite target, so rather than being shot with water, it is better to arm yourself with a water gun.

Na Yee Peng is the Thousand Lantern Festival held in Chiang Mai every November.

Well, that seems to be all for now. The next acquaintance with Thailand will be a little later. Better yet, get to know each other yourself.

Break stereotypes -

· 05/03/2018

The exchange rate of the ruble against the baht and the dollar is falling again, but this is not a reason to stay at home, because you can go abroad quite economically.
How to have a cheap holiday in Thailand in 2018? Budget holidays in Pattaya, Phuket and Thailand in general are the topic of today’s article.

Russian people don’t just give up and even in times of crisis they try to travel abroad. It is in Thailand that you can have a cheap holiday if you spend a little time and learn the nuances, secrets and life hacks of the “local” residents and winterers.

Many people are interested in how to holiday in Thailand cheaply and not overpay for nothing. We have been living in Thailand for many years, we know many ways to save wisely, and I will be happy to tell you everything I know to help you save in Thailand.

How to plan an inexpensive holiday in Thailand - the beginning

Tip #1 – Plan and record your expenses

Many years have passed since we moved to Thailand. At first we were ripped off at every corner. Looking back, I see how we overpaid literally everywhere: we went to the most expensive cafes, salons, used the services of tour operators, local taxis, and so on, so on.
If you don’t write down your expenses, after a day it’s impossible to restore the picture in your head and a familiar situation arises: “money slipped through your fingers.”

Download any budget planning program to your phone and start recording your expenses, it helps a lot.

The most interesting thing is that since we began to record and plan expenses, the standard of living not only has not fallen, but has actually increased. Surprisingly, this is true. They just stopped spending on unnecessary, useless, spontaneous things.

The most valuable thing before going on vacation is experience. If you have no experience and you are going to Pattaya or Phuket for the first time, you should take advantage of the experience of people permanently living in Thailand, that is, ours.
The difference in price for identical products, goods and services can range from 50% to 500%. Just think about it.

What's the point of buying a few shrimp on the beach for 300 baht, which have already gone rotten in the heat, if for that money you can buy a kilogram of the best and freshest in Makro?
Tom Yam for 250 baht? Thank you, there are places where it costs 50 and is much tastier.
Just 10-15 years ago, Russian tourists were throwing money around in Thailand, but now everyone has started counting money. And that's not bad at all. This is fine.

This article was born from answers to numerous questions from readers, friends and relatives - how to vacation in Thailand cheaply? What to do to save money and fly to Pattaya or Phuket on a limited budget, while still having a really high-quality and interesting vacation.

Tip No. 2 will include as many as 2 pieces of advice: buy tours or air tickets to Thailand in advance, and go on vacation to Thailand during the “low season”.

Low season in Thailand is the period from May to October. I advise you to familiarize yourself with the weather at all resorts in Thailand before planning, because in reality, only Pattaya is suitable for year-round recreation, other resort cities are not.

What to do if you are going on vacation in winter? The best thing is to buy a tour package, the sooner the better. Firstly, the dollar exchange rate is constantly growing, and with it the cost of the tour.
Secondly, tours to Thailand sold in advance are always cheaper, even on peak dates (December-February).

If you decide to go to Thailand on your own, you shouldn’t delay purchasing air tickets either.

I usually look for air tickets using the price map by month here:

Price map for flights to Thailand:

It is cheaper to look for tour packages to Thailand from aggregators, as well as air tickets. Such companies sell tour packages directly from all the most reliable tour operators. The convenience is that all prices for all tours are visible at once and there is no need to sift through and compare different agencies.

The most convenient and cheapest tours to Thailand are sold on Level Travel and Travelate.

View prices for Level Travel View prices for Trevelate

Remember - Phuket is always more expensive than Pattaya, simply because it is an island. You can relax in Phuket cheaply, but it is much more difficult to do and you will have to spend more effort and time, and still, even with effort, a vacation in Phuket will cost 30-40% more than in Pattaya.

If you choose Phuket, make sure that your area has public transport, shops within walking distance and close to the sea.

If you are going to Pattaya, choose the Jomtien area. This is the best and most convenient area for tourists, winterers and long-livers to relax.

Jomtien Beach Photo of Jomtien promenade beach

For all first-time travelers to Thailand, local realities and the difference between holidays in Turkey, Egypt and Thailand come as a surprise.
Thailand is not a package holiday at all. People come here not to sit in a hotel, but to walk, look, try local food, and gain impressions.
So it’s not worth overpaying for a hotel at all.

In Thailand there is no star rating system for hotels and everything is very approximate, but even 2-3 star hotels can be quite good and suitable for relaxation.

The advantages of an inexpensive hotel in Thailand: they always have inexpensive cafes with local and European cuisine. Massages are most often at the same price as in the city. The staff is usually friendly and ready to help.

Good inexpensive hotels in Pattaya:

From 450 baht Excellent hotel Zign Apartment in Jomtien with sea views and beach access Inexpensive good hotel in Phuket Hotel for 300 baht in Bangkok near the cool Chatuchak market

I can also give you direct contacts of the owner of a good and inexpensive hotel on the first line of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, just write in the comments.

And also, it is worth keeping in mind that prices in different booking systems differ and only on Rumguru you can see them all in one place and choose the most profitable option for yourself:

Tip #5 Take care of your health in advance

In Thailand, medicine is very expensive and even wealthy people will not like to be treated for their own hard-earned cash.

Prices for treating even a common cold are inadequate, and a minimum doctor’s appointment and a couple of manipulations with a handful of medications will cost no less than $130-180.

If something is more complicated - injury, hospitalization, intensive care, then the bills for treatment immediately exceed tens of thousands of dollars.

It’s a completely stupid myth that in Thailand people don’t get sick or get sick less often. Nothing like that. In Pattaya or Phuket, people suffer from flu and colds no less often. Also, tourists “bring” illnesses to resort towns, which often provokes epidemics, especially among young children.

“Popular” illnesses in Thailand are colds, rotavirus, injuries, poisoning, bronchitis and pneumonia, etc.

A very important factor in saving money and guaranteeing a relaxing holiday will be the purchase of travel insurance to Thailand for yourself and your children.
The insurance situation changes frequently and I constantly monitor it.
You can get up-to-date information, reviews and advice on the best insurance in Thailand here.

Insurance in Thailand - Which one to choose? Personal experience and reviews

If you don’t want to delve into it, the advice is simple. Choose insurance on the Cherekhapa website, you can’t go wrong. The prices are minimal, there is a large selection of insurance companies, we have been buying through them for 6 years now.

View insurance prices

Another great option for Thailand is insurance from the European company ERV. It is suitable for both infants and the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.
It is inexpensive and the reviews in Thailand are very good.

ERV is especially relevant for those traveling for a long time. There is simply no better or cheaper annual option. The only caveat is that you need to travel to Russia at least once every 90 days. Thus, you can buy a policy for less than $100 for a year, which will be valid 362 days a year.

It is very important to be insured against dengue fever when traveling to Thailand. Although it does not happen so often, people die from it. A Russian man recently died in Phuket. After him, his relatives were left with medical bills of more than 2 million rubles.
The Soglasie company does not insure against dengue. ERV, Absolut, VTB, Allianz, Alfa insurance - insure.
(The insurances listed are the ones I primarily recommend for Ty).

View prices for ERV

Tip #6 – Don’t overpay for groceries and fruits

In Thailand, the most popular and profitable grocery hypermarket chain is MAKRO. There are both in Pattaya (2 stores, in the south and north), and in Phuket, and in all other resort towns.

Not only buyers of cafes and restaurants, but also ordinary people go to Makro to buy groceries. Grocery prices in Makro are lower than in any other stores, and you can find everything from salt to furniture.
Fresh large tiger prawns in Makro: about 280 baht per kg, oysters from 15 baht per piece, cheese - 300 baht kg, eggs - 75-85 baht 30 pcs, cottage cheese - 100 baht (0.5), pork - 150-200 baht, chicken from 45 baht And so on.

Fruits in Thailand should only be bought at the market!

If you come on holiday to Pattaya, the best markets for purchasing fruits in descending order:

– Ratanakorn market near the Colosseum on the street. Tepprasit (Also a wholesale fruit market, which has the lowest prices in the city and a large selection).
– Market on the street. Watbun
– Market on 5 soy Pratumnak
– Market near Pattaya Park
– Small local fruit markets in different parts of the city.

The most expensive fruits are at the Mike shopping mall, at the Jomtien night market on beach street, at second-hand stores and on Beach Road, as well as in Tops chain stores.

As soon as you, having arrived on a tour package, meet with the guide, he begins to process you and tell you tall tales - about registration, about the “obligatory” meeting with the guide, about the horrors of a holiday in Thailand and other nonsense. There is only one goal - to sell you excursions at a higher price. Tour operator guides are excellent psychologists, who are properly trained for each season, so a huge number of tourists go and buy the same excursions that are sold in street agencies at 2-3 times more expensive.

If you want to save money and have a cheap holiday in Thailand, even choosing excursions, plan them. You shouldn't take more than you need. After looking at the price list, choose only the most necessary and interesting for you. They won't necessarily be the most expensive.
It’s better to go to the River Kwai once, roughly speaking, than to go to 3 transvestite shows or some other crap.

In my opinion, if you are in Thailand for the first time, it is worth taking at least one boat excursion to the islands, going to and going to something entertaining, for example, a water park, zoo or

You can take a walk around the city center, get to observation decks and temples on your own. Sometimes this is comparable to the cost of the excursion (and the transfer is included), but after looking at the city map, you can always choose something for yourself.

Those who will live in Pattaya in the Pratumnak and Jomtien areas can get to the Big Buddha and the observation deck. Residents of the northern part - see the Temple of Truth or go to Mini Siam.

Don't be fooled by your guide's sweet talk. Everything that will be offered to you on excursions in “royal pharmacies”, tea shops and other latexes can be bought in the city 5 times cheaper. There are no magical Thai balms that cannot be bought in Pattaya or Phuket, just like teas, ointments, creams and other things.

For souvenirs and gifts, go to the nearest online market and buy everything there, preferably in bulk.

Tip #10 – How to save money on travel in Thailand

Reasonable savings on transport will help you have a cheap holiday in Thailand. Let me start with the fact that if you do not have an international or Thai license to drive a motorcycle, then renting one is not a good idea. There are a lot of police, they stop you all the time, the fine is at least 500 baht.
In addition to the fine, do not forget about the accident, in which you will always remain the last one. God forbid I end up in a Thai prison.

The same goes for the car.

The best and cheapest way is local public transport - Songthaew. Traveling in it around Pattaya costs 10 baht around the city, there are many routes, even from one end of the city to the other you can get with 1-2 transfers and very cheaply.

The second way is uber taxi or grab taxi. This option is much cheaper than fishing privately. The taxi mafia hates aggregators like Uber because they drive down prices. If an Uber ride costs 100 baht, then a local taxi costs 300 baht.
Download the program and use it. No language knowledge required. The driver sees your location on the map; you ride according to the meter or for a fixed price. The maximum he can do is call and find out where you are.

Tip No. 11 How to save money on exchanging money in Thailand

In Thailand you can only pay in Thai baht. So in any case you will have to exchange rubles, euros or dollars for baht.

I described the most profitable exchangers in Pattaya here. It’s the same with Phuket and other resort towns.
To save money on your holiday in Thailand, never change money at the airport, in shopping centers or in dubious shops. Only in currency exchange, preferably comparing 2-3 pieces for your own peace of mind.

You can only withdraw money in Thailand with a commission of 220 baht. Therefore, withdrawing small amounts is unprofitable. It’s better to use as many as you need at once.
At ATMs in Thailand, the maximum withdrawal amount is 30,000 baht.

It is now unprofitable to bring rubles to Thailand. The rate fluctuates and the real rate does not coincide with the declared one.

You can pay by card in Thailand and it is profitable if the card is in dollars.
The conversion goes like this: Dollars are exchanged for baht and issued to you at the rate of your visa or master card. If you withdraw from a ruble card, then rubles at the rate set by your bank are exchanged for dollars, and then for baht.

Tipping is great! In the service sector in Thailand, there are many professions that live almost exclusively on them, but this does not mean that you need to leave a tip everywhere and always.

I conducted a survey to find out who tips how much in a massage parlor, and I also always watch people.
Usually, no one leaves anything, rarely 20-50 baht for a tip.
Throwing money around and leaving tips wherever possible and impossible undermines the budget.

In hotel restaurants and many others, service is already included in the price of the check, so tips are not needed there. Look at the receipt, often the tax is already included - 7% Vat and 10% tip.

Thailand Saving Tip #13 – Take advantage of discounts and bonuses in Thailand

This advice may be more suitable for those who come to Thailand for longer than a week, since tourists often do not have time to delve into the intricacies, but still, pay attention to the promotions and discounts that are happening around.
After 18 pm in some hypermarkets (Big-C, for example), today's goods are discounted. For example, sliced ​​fruits, ready-made meals, baked goods. This does not affect the taste and freshness in any way, but the price is -30-80%.

There are always promotions in 7/11 convenience stores, you just need to know how to use them and preferably buy a card. The card costs 200 baht and is sold at the checkout. Promotions for it are visible on the price tags (next to the price there is a price and a picture of 7card), which means that this discount is only for the card.
There are also other promotions that are not associated with a promotion, but with a check. Take a closer look, at the bottom of the check there is a number from 1 to infinity (depending on the amount spent). This means that for the number indicated you can buy goods on sale.

For example: Snickers cost 18 baht, the promotion is 12. By presenting the previous receipt with the number 9 at the bottom, you can buy 9 bars at the lower price.
Also at 7/11, Tesco Lotus (mini), there are constantly promotions with the collection of stickers in a book. Once accumulated, you can exchange them for gifts, tickets to shows, water parks, etc. At 7/11, when there are promotions with stickers, 1 sticker is a baht, so you can give them away at the checkout instead of change.
It’s worth noting that Thai sellers don’t really like to give out stickers, sometimes they need to be reminded about it :)

What to do with 7/11 stickers instructions

Also a good way to save money is to check your receipts. In Thailand, sellers very often cheat on themselves.

Bonuses are always given by mobile operator companies. Just download the program of your Thai operator to your phone, for example, True or Dtac, and depending on what status you have (silver, gold, platinum), discounts are available to you in stores or cafes.

Cafes and restaurants also participate in the promotions. I have already written about the eatigo program, which is gaining popularity. There are 47 restaurants in Pattaya, more than a hundred in Bangkok, and in other Asian countries it is also there. Just book a table for a convenient time and get a discount from 10 to 50%.

How to use Eatigo

Most Russian tourists first look for familiar food upon arrival. It's clear. It’s quite difficult to adapt to the locals right away, but coming to Thailand on vacation and eating cutlets with mashed potatoes is at least strange and certainly not cheap. Try, experiment and you will definitely find something from the local cuisine to your liking.
If you have heard a lot about the spiciness of Thai dishes, then here is a list of those that are not spicy and worth trying first.

What to try in Thailand – 10 main dishes For example, even at a food court, a Russian dish will cost a couple of times more than a Thai or any other Asian dish.

Tip No. 16 How else to save money in Thailand

Bargain. In Thailand, of course, the system of discounts in the markets is not quite the same as in Turkey or Egypt, where it is customary to bargain to the point of frenzy, but asking for a discount never hurts. If the seller is able to make it, then he will definitely give it to you, just ask. If he is categorical, then tricks like “I will leave and he will run after” will not work here.

Bargaining in Thailand can and should be done in markets and in places where there is no fixed price. Bargaining in large supermarkets or shopping centers is pointless, although there are individuals who manage to get a discount even there. For example, my mother-in-law. In a shoe store in the center I received a 10% discount by simply asking if they had it. It's a small thing, but nice.

Tip #17 – Don’t overpay for a massage in Thailand

Massage parlors in Thailand are the same everywhere. The only difference is in status.
If you go to a massage parlor at a 4-5 star hotel, you will pay at least 2-3 times more than in a massage parlor on the street.
The other day I saw a record low price for a massage in Pattaya, in a quite decent salon. 1 hour of Thai massage - 100 baht, 1 hour of foot massage - also 100 baht, and oil massage - 200. At regular prices in the city - 200, 200 and 300 respectively.
The salon is located on the main street, near the turn to Memorial Hospital.

The cheapest massage parlors are located in side streets, not on main streets. In Pattaya it is Soi Buakao near the south street. There, the average price for a massage is 130 – 150 baht per hour.
And one more piece of advice. If you liked the massage, immediately negotiate with the masseuse and find out her name. Because finding a good master is not easy.
If the massage did not bring the expected emotions, do not despair and try again.
The most traumatic and dangerous is Thai massage, so be careful during it and if your stretch is a maximum of 35 degrees, do not succumb to those gymnastic somersaults that the masseuse obsessively suggests.

How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?

I'm looking on the Rumguru website. It contains absolutely all discounts on hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. I often find very profitable options, I can save from 30 to 80%

How to save on insurance?

Insurance abroad is required. Any appointment is very expensive and the only way to avoid paying out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. We have been applying for many years on the website, which gives the best prices for insurance and selection along with registration takes only a couple of minutes.

How to get a good Thai massage in Thailand

The result of all of the above

Maybe I haven’t described all the ways to save money, but if I remember something, I’ll definitely add it. I will also be happy to listen to your advice.
You can travel to Thailand on a budget and economically only if you are prepared. Having learned the area, the terrain, some nuances and realities. Having correctly purchased a ticket, insurance, estimated where and for how long you will go on excursions, how you will eat and have fun. With a little effort and time, you can make your voyage interesting, eventful and memorable, which is what I wish for you!

It was customary for Soviet citizens to go on vacation as “savages” who did not have access to the voucher distribution system. In those days, sanatoriums and hotels were inaccessible to ordinary people. The most an ordinary factory worker could hope for was to go to a regional rest home. And that’s not every year. The youth could not afford this either.

Therefore, young people went on trips on their own, often without a specific route. And it was truly a “savage” vacation. In the main destinations - in Crimea and Sochi - almost all accommodation places were represented by the private sector, without any civilized amenities. This was a budget holiday option.

What does it mean to be a savage today? And how can savages travel to Thailand?

Independent travel or backpacking

Today, a savage vacation involves at least two strategies for traveler behavior:

• self-organized trip.

Backpacking is inherently similar to the “savage” form of recreation for Soviet people.

Backpackers are predominantly young people who are characterized by the following behavioral strategy:

• stay in the cheapest hostels, houses, including in the private sector of Thailand, and can live in tent camps;
• do not make demands on service and comfort;
• often do not have a specific route;
• can live in backpacking mode for a week, a month, or six months;
• consumer behavior of backpackers is budgetary.

Going wild to Thailand is the perfect backpacker trip:

• it is always warm in this country;
• friendly and friendly people;
• Thailand is the safest Asian country;
• you can find very cheap accommodation, for example, for $5 per person per night;
• cheap food - if you want, you can spend $6 a day for two people, and if you cook it yourself, you can reduce expenses; fruits – 20 baht per kg;
• there are traditionally backpacker vacation spots - for example, the islands of Koh Chang and Koh Phangan with houses on the very shore and daily open air events.

What a backpacker gets: freedom of choice and maximum savings. A self-organized trip may not be backpacking at all. Meanwhile, out of old habit, he will also be classified as a savage recreation. Although there is practically no traditional “savagery” left in it.

Behavioral strategy for people traveling independently – non-backpackers:

• as a rule, they completely think through the route;
• have limited travel time and a return plane ticket;
• book accommodation in advance;
• stop in places where they like;
• want to see a certain level of service;
• as a rule, they have funds for vacation comparable to those that can be paid for a trip organized by a travel agency.

What does a person traveling independently get: the opportunity to organize their vacation the way they want. Today, a savage holiday can be either very cheap with accommodation in a tent, or very expensive with a stay in 4-5 star hotels.

Pros and cons of independent holidays in Thailand

Should you go to Thailand as a savage?

pros

Freedom of movement. Today you can be in Phuket, tomorrow in Pattaya, and the day after tomorrow. And this, of course, is the main advantage of being a savage.

• You can also travel by your own transport.
• If this is difficult, Thailand has a well-developed bus service.
• All popular tourist areas and large settlements are connected by air.

You can choose where to stay. We didn’t like the hotel/bungalow/hostel, so we’re looking for a new option, looking at it and, if we like it, moving. Optional: always a good view from the window; shop, beach, travel agency, nightlife nearby.

Living not surrounded by tourists from the CIS. This is not a plus for everyone: many, on the contrary, feel more comfortable among their compatriots and people who speak their language. But for those who want to rent an apartment, say, in Bangkok from the direct owner and live in the capital of Thailand like an ordinary Thai, traveling on your own would be the best option.

If we talk about backpackers, they have a habit of grouping internationally. You can find yourself among the Europeans and Australians who travel a lot as savages to Thailand, make acquaintances with them and improve your English.

Minuses

The language barrier. A classic difficulty that haunts all strangers. But in Thailand this is not too much of a hassle. All inscriptions are duplicated in English. People who are in daily contact with tourists possess and successfully use a minimum set of English words. If you are not going to a completely remote Thai village, then basic knowledge of English can solve the problem of the language barrier.

You need to have the ability to self-organize. Booking a room, booking an excursion, renting a car, getting to a remote island, avoiding getting lost in the Bangkok metro, planning time in a foreign country - all this requires an active attitude towards life. Not everyone can organize themselves successfully. That’s why most people prefer tours with an already prepared program: they left the hotel, boarded a bus, arrived at the place, and returned to the hotel on the same bus.

It takes a lot of time to get your bearings. Imagine that you need to get from point A to point B. How to do this, you have no idea. You can ask at the hotel reception, or ask the owner of the rental property, or a taxi driver, or ask in a search engine.

One way or another, all this takes time, planning in advance. It is possible that you can get confused. However, if you are traveling as a wild person, for example, to Phuket and do not plan to leave the island somewhere, then this minus does not seem to exist.

If you are used to being independent and don’t like spending time in groups, then going to Thailand as a wild person would be the right decision.

Just don’t think that a “savage” vacation in Thailand will certainly be cheaper than one organized by a travel agency. It is likely that it will be even more expensive.

How much does it cost to vacation in Thailand as a savage?

Let's consider 2 options:

• budget backpacking;
• independent travel on an average budget.

Table. Calculation of an approximate budget for a savage holiday in Thailand

Expenditure	1 option,$ per person			Option 2,$ per person
	1 day	15 days	1 month	1 day	15 days	1 month
Accommodation	6	90	180	15	225
	4	60	120	10	150
Entertainment and excursions	40 (once every three days)	200	400	40	600
Transport	10 (once every three days)	50	100	10	150
Souvenirs	50
Other expenses	3	45	90	6	90
TOTAL	29,6	495	940	81	1315

The calculation is approximate and very average. The results obtained may deviate more (more likely) or less (less likely).

Factors influencing this are standard:

• season;
• influx of tourists;
• resting-place.

For example, in Pattaya and Phuket, a vacation will cost significantly more than, for example, in Trat or in. Not to mention the northern provinces, where even for $15 a day you can afford very wasteful backpacking.

If you are going to visit different parts of Thailand and plan to use domestic flights, then your budget should be expanded. Each flight will cost $20-$120. Moreover, on some routes Bangkok Airways dominates without alternative. This means that tickets are more likely to be $100 than $20.

The above calculation does not include the cost of international flights to Thailand. For example:

• Moscow – Bangkok: $500 (direct), $400 (with transfer).
• Moscow – Phuket: $800 (direct), $500 (with transfer).

Let's first decide why you decided to go to Thailand on your own? Many people think that they travel to Thailand on their own only because it is cheaper. But it is not so.

I’ll tell you a few reasons that independent travelers don’t like to talk about.

People travel to Thailand on their own to:

1. Relax not as a “herd”, but individually. To avoid crowds and relax in a calm environment.
2. Stay in Thailand for more than the standard 10-14 days.
3. Stay in a good hotel. Really good! But at the right price. Many tourists don’t even realize what luxurious accommodation independent travelers can stay in at an incredibly low price. In Thailand you can rent a house from $300 per month or a villa with a pool from $800 per month - no travel agency will offer this. And this is especially convenient if you are traveling with a child. You can rent an apartment with a kitchen or a villa with a sea view. In this post below I will give a link to excellent inexpensive apartments with a kitchen in Phuket.
4. People go to Thailand on their own when they want not only to lie on the beach all day long, but also to travel to different places. For example, 3 days in Bangkok, 5 days in Phuket, then travel around the islands.

If you just want the cheapest prices to Thailand, and living conditions are not at all important to you, and you are traveling for no more than a week, then it is better to buy the cheapest tour on sale in the summer.

But for those who want to get the most out of their holiday in Thailand, read on.

Step-by-step instructions: how to travel to Thailand on your own, without a travel agency

Russians do not need a visa to Thailand when traveling for up to 30 days. If it’s more, then you need to do it, however, for the first independent trip to Thailand, 30 days is quite enough. Therefore, plan your trip within these dates. Please note that the day of arrival is the first day, and the day of departure is the last.
A foreign passport is required. English is not required.

How to buy an inexpensive air ticket to Thailand

It is better to start looking for tickets 6 months before your trip. If you want to buy a ticket to Thailand inexpensively, it is better to use a price comparison for different airlines, for example.

Where is the best place to book a hotel in Thailand?

Prices: expensive on holidays, cheap in the off-season. Lowest prices from May 1 to October 30. The highest from December 15 to January 15, as well as on Chinese New Year.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, book through trusted sites. I like Booking most of all - the lowest price guarantee, honest reviews, convenient filters for finding a hotel, and certainly the hotel will be like in the photo. I choose a rating of at least 8.5 and look at the reviews.

Hotel prices in Thailand:

Do you need insurance in Thailand?

Definitely needed. Insurance is not required to cross the border, but tourists go to the hospital much more often than in other countries (exotic viruses, poisoning, fractures) and are very surprised when they find out that the cost of medicine is more expensive than in Europe. When tourists receive a bill for 1000 euros for a day in the hospital, this greatly spoils their vacation. Moreover, before entering the hospital, the price is not mentioned. Usually they say “well, about 300 dollars,” and then they roll out a bill for 1000 - a common situation. You cannot leave Thailand without paying your medical bills - there are already too many such cases. Therefore, it is better to immediately buy insurance and drive safely.

Which insurance is better to take?

This has already been written about more than once, I will not repeat it - read it (at the end of the post).

That's it - it's that simple!
However, I know that many people are afraid for the first time and often ask for help buying tickets and hotels from intermediaries. Do not do that! To avoid scammers, do not trust anyone with your money and do everything yourself.

Let's look at the specific easiest route on how to go.

First time to Thailand. Independent route No. 1 for a beginner - going to Phuket

So, how to go on holiday to Thailand, to Phuket on your own.

1. Buy air tickets to Thailand yourself

To find tickets at the best price, use the airline search. We find the tickets we need and buy them. Tickets will be sent by email - you need to print them out.

2. Book a hotel

If you have never been to Phuket, then when booking a hotel, first select or view.
Don't have time to figure it out? Then see Kata Beach or Karon Beach. Kata is an inexpensive good beach, Karon is a beach with white squeaky sand. However, they are nearby and walking from one to the other will take about 20 minutes. Or you can take a few days on one and a few on the other. We are now independent!

Very good inexpensive hotel The Beach by Glitter House:

This hotel doesn't just have rooms, it... apartment with a small equipped kitchen, where there are dishes, a kettle, a microwave, a stove and a refrigerator. The rooms have a balcony with an excellent open view (which is rare in Phuket for inexpensive hotels). At the same time, the hotel is located in a quiet place, there is no evening noise. The beach is about 3 minutes walk.

There are many good hotels in Phuket. Here are the discounts and special offers:

We choose and book a hotel.
Hotel reservations will be sent by e-mail - you need to print them out.

3. Insurance

We buy insurance - if we want reliable insurance with a 10% discount, then we look for a discount.
The insurance will be sent by e-mail - you need to print it out and always carry it with you while on vacation in Thailand.

4. Mobile communications: you need a local SIM card

To always stay in touch with friends and family in Thailand, you need to take care of inexpensive mobile communications in advance. Here's a life hack: 3 days before your trip, order a Thai 4G SIM card online - - discounts up to 50%!
A SIM card is valid for 8 days, so if you are vacationing longer, order 2-3 pieces at once, otherwise you will have to buy it on the spot at full price.

Upon arrival, at Phuket Airport (Terminal 2), go to the ground floor to the DTAC provider kiosk. Show the employee a printed (or on your smartphone) voucher with a QR code and receive a Thai SIM card. The dtac kiosk is open 24 hours a day.

5. What else to take with you to Thailand

On the day of departure, we take a foreign passport and printouts of air tickets, insurance, hotel reservations, and, of course, bank cards and money (depending on your plans). The rest is optional.
You should not take a fur coat and felt boots with you to Tai - it is better to get to the airport by taxi in light clothes. It’s always hot in Thailand, so trousers and a sweater will be enough, everything else for relaxation can be done upon arrival.

6. Upon arrival in Phuket

Upon exiting the plane, we move along with everyone else. After passing through customs, we proceed to the exit from the airport. The airport in Phuket is small, it is impossible to get lost. Before going out, don’t miss the kiosk that sells tickets for transfers to the beaches. We are looking for the inscription “Minibus”.
In the photo on the left are prices for a taxi, on the right are prices for a minibus (3-4 times cheaper). If you are traveling with four, it is better to take a taxi.

We show the aunty at the ticket office the hotel reservation (she needs the address and name of the hotel where to take her), she will sell the ticket. Then we go out onto the street with a ticket in our hands. People will immediately run up, show your ticket and get into a taxi or minibus, which will be shown to you. Let’s clarify: “Caron?”
The minibus looks like this:

In the photo: a minivan at the exit from Phuket airport

A minibus will take you to the hotel. If the hotel is small, then the bus may not go directly to the door, but drop you off nearby. Therefore, it is better to determine in advance on the map or by determining exactly where the hotel is located.
At the hotel you will only need to show your passport and you will be accommodated.

7. How to communicate? Where to buy excursions?

In Phuket there are restaurants with menus in Russian everywhere, and excursions where everything is in Russian - there will definitely not be any problems with the language. We just leave the hotel, walk down the street and see what we like - there are signs everywhere, it’s impossible to miss. However, it would be nice to remember a couple of dozen words in English before the trip :)