Making a trip to the Land of Smiles soon? Thailand is planning to impose a 300 baht (S$12) tourism fee. So here are some tips on how to get more bang for your buck, while saving that precious $$ — because every cent counts when you’re on holiday!
ICYMI, Thailand will impose a 300 baht (~$12) tourism fee for international travellers entering by air. This has been postponed until the industry fully recovers, which is expected to be in 2024 – however, it never hurts to be prepared! While it might seem like a small price to pay to visit the Land of Smiles, let’s help you put things into perspective, shall we? On average, 300 baht can get you… three full-day BTS train tickets. Three plates of Pad Thai. Twenty cups of Cha Yen. Seven bottles of Chang Beer. Yeah, you get the drift.
So to help you save that precious money, we’ve shortlisted 10 money hacks you can utilise when in Thailand. Thank us later when you’re done drinking and eating your weight in Cha Yen and Pad Thai. Read on for the full list! 👇
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1. Prefer Private Transport? Download The Bolt App
Image credits: Bolt
It’s no secret that traffic in Thailand, particularly in big cities like Bangkok, can be ridiculously crazy during peak hours. But if you prefer the quiet comforts of a private ride as opposed to jostling with the rush hour crowd on trains and buses, then Bolt is for you.
It’s essentially the Grab and Uber equivalent of Thailand, except with way, way cheaper rates (from our experience, sometimes up to a 50% difference)! Of course, some things gotta give. Wait times can be really long, you may end up changing drivers several times, and the language barrier can sometimes be an issue. But overall, we reckon these are just very minor inconveniences for the amount of savings you can enjoy!
By planning ahead, travelling off-peak, and using popular landmarks for private hire pick-ups, you might be able to avoid all the trouble.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about Bolt here
2. Take The Local Bus
Image credits: Unsplash
If adventure doesn’t course through your veins, then this option is probably not for you. However, it’s probably one of the cheapest public transport options out there in Thailand (prices start from just 6 baht), and will give you a taste of how the locals live. Plus, you’ll have plenty of stories to tell if you end up getting lost in the chaos of it all!
One thing to note is that there are different bus types, and their fees differ based on the type of bus you take. For instance, an air-conditioned minibus would cost more than a non-air-conditioned bus, with prices fluctuating depending on the hour of the day.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — For more information on buses in Bangkok, click here
3. Visit Local Night Markets
Image credits: Unsplash
Not all markets are created equal. Sure, Chatuchak and Ratchada Train Markets may be the perfect spots to see and be seen, but you’ll likely end up heading home with slightly more expensive items thanks to the tourist price markups. Our recommendation is to always research for less touristy markets to enjoy cheaper food and shopping. These places also tend to be less chaotic, making them perfect places to really immerse yourself in the culture.
Do note that if you’re travelling exclusively around Bangkok, you might have to travel out of the city in order to access these markets. Popular with the locals include Ramkhamhaeng Night Market and Ram Inthra Expressway Market, where you get to enjoy street snacks, amenities of all sorts, and even live music.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about Chatuchak Market here
4. Eat Like A Local
Image credits: Unsplash
It’s no secret that Thailand is a foodie’s paradise. And in more recent years, we’ve been seeing a surge in upscale, chi-chi restaurants permeating the space. While they are most certainly value-for-money relative to what we have here in Singapore, a true penny pincher would know that these options are luxuries.
While we’re not discouraging those one-off gastronomical experiences, you’ll most likely have an amazing meal anywhere in Thailand, no matter how much you’re splashing out. So go ahead and patronise those roadside vendors, or pay a visit to shopping mall food courts if you seek more comfort; they may not be the most atas (read: sophisticated) options, but boy do they warm the soul like a nice big hug — without breaking the bank!
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Check out our guide on tried-and-tested cafes to visit in Phuket here
5. If You’re Travelling Domestically, Opt For Trains & Buses
Image credits: Unsplash
Flights may be the quickest and most straightforward way to travel within Thailand, but the real money saver and cultural experience would be to travel by train and/or bus.
Not only do you get to visit the less-visited parts of the country, but you also get to enjoy scenic views that air travel may not afford you. Our personal favourite would be to travel by bus, which tends to be cleaner and faster than trains. You can even choose to splash out on VIP and first-class tickets especially on longer journeys without spending more than $100 for your trip.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about Thailand train tickets here
6. Love Muay Thai? Look Out For Free Fights
Image credits: Unsplash
While you can find amazing bouts happening across Thailand every other night, many of them can be pricey, especially in the more famous stadiums like Lumphini or Rachadamnoen.
Instead, keep a lookout for free fight nights which occur more often than you’d think. In Bangkok, pay a visit to Channel 7 Studios on Sundays to catch about four to five bouts at no cost. While these fights are free, they are often standing. If you want a bit more comfort and to get closer to the action, ringside seats are available for purchase at only 300 baht. And if the stars align, you can even catch fight nights at MBK centre. However, these free fights only happen on the last Wednesday of every month.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about Channel 7 Studios here
7. If You Take The BTS Often, Download The My Rabbit App
Image credits: My Rabbit
Instead of going through the hassle of queueing for BTS train tickets every single time, you should download the My Rabbit App and store value there instead. While you don’t necessarily enjoy cheaper rides, what we like about this app is the convenience of it all (time is money, isn’t it?), and more importantly, the rewards program that comes with it!
Spending on My Rabbit will earn you points, which you can then use to redeem freebies like pretzels, iced coffee, and even discounts off lush resort stays. Being rewarded for embarking on your necessary commutes? We’ll take that any day.
Want another hack to skip the long queues for tokens at Bangkok’s Metro stations? Tap in with your YouTrip card instead! Psst, we’re also on Apple Pay & Google Pay. After all, we’re all about saving time and money — all in a few taps and with the best rates 😉
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about adding your YouTrip card to Alipay and WeChat Pay here
8. One Word: Hypermart
Image credits: Time Samui
Did you really visit Thailand if you didn’t fill your luggage with delicious local snacks? If you’re visiting Bangkok, then Big C and Lotus are definitely must-visits. For the uninitiated, they are the two biggest hypermarts in Thailand and are every foodie’s dream.
Amble around and get lost in the aisles of snacks, fresh produce, and local treats, which are often reasonably priced as opposed to other convenience stores littered around the country. Here’s a great place for you to stock up on those tom yum cup noodles and snacks of all kinds without breaking the bank.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out how else you can save on your flights here
9. Withdraw The Maximum Amount At ATMs
Image credits: Hua Hin News
In the age of contactless payments and digital transactions, it can be easy to underestimate how much cash you need. And while a majority of places do accept such payments, you will still wound up needing cash at many establishments.
So if you’re in need of cash, you should withdraw the maximum amount (or at least more than you think you need) at ATMs. Why? So that you don’t end up paying extra administrative bank fees, which can add up.
With your YouTrip Card, you can really milk those savings because you get to enjoy free monthly withdrawals of up to S$400 with a 2% fee thereafter. Do note that some ATM operators may impose additional fees, but you can rest easy knowing that there won’t be any other extra fees or surprises, which may occur with traditional bank cards.
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about ATM withdrawals with YouTrip here
10. Use A Multi-Currency Card For Wholesale Exchange Rates
While we’re on the topic of the perks of being a YouTrooper, our last money-saving hack is really to own a multi-currency card. Heh.
With a YouTrip card, you can rest easy knowing that we support over 150 currencies worldwide, while offering competitive Wholesale Exchange Rates and no foreign transaction fee charges — which matters because every cent counts when you’re travelling on a budget.
We could go on about the perks of owning a YouTrip card, but we’ll spare you the trouble in this article. If you’re interested, check out this article for everything you need to know about us!
YouTrip Hacks: 10 Tips To Save Money In Thailand — Find out more about YouTrip here
Smile In The Land Of Smiles
…knowing that you’re now armed with the fundamental money-saving tips!
While you shouldn’t be fretting over money and big budgets while on vacation, it doesn’t hurt to cut corners so that you have more to spend on what truly matters. And regardless of how you choose to spend and save on your next trip out to Thailand, we’ll always recommend keeping your YouTrip card handy.
As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
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Stay wild, fearless, and free!
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