Fluorescent face paint. Bunk beds in dormitories. Whisky served up in plastic buckets on moon-lit stretches of sand. It’s been two decades since my first visit to Thailand: the country was part of a year-long backpacking trip when my only financial concerns were when to splash out on a private room with aircon and when to opt for a cheaper shared room with a barely whirring fan.
Things have changed somewhat since that first visit. I’ve since travelled to Thailand for work, on numerous holidays with my partner and most recently with our toddler. As a more – let’s say – “grown up” traveller, my priorities have shifted – things like clean sheets and money security are more important (hats off to Starling for the 24/7 customer support).
But you’ll still find me seeking out the £1 pad thais on a street stall – this is a country where you can eat some of your life’s most memorable meals for a couple of quid. That’s just one part of why I head back every January in a desperate bid to escape the worst of the UK winter. Here’s what I recommend budgeting for a two-week trip, provided you book flights in advance. I’ve included a range, depending on what you’re after.
Return flights to Bangkok
£600-£1,000 (depending on time of year)
Accommodation
£25 pp per night for cheap and cheerful; £50-£70 pp per night for affordable luxury
Food and drinks
£7 per day at street stalls, markets and 711; £20 per day for restaurants
Taxis / boat trips
£10 per week on taxis; £30 per week for group boat trips
Shopping
£20 a week for markets; £100 a week for indy designer clothing and boutique natural skincare products
Thailand treats (massages, tours etc.)
£40 per week – a 30-minute massage can cost £6
Approx. total for 13 nights
£1,200-£2,200 (depending on how much luxury you go for)
And here’s a snapshot of real costs from a recent family trip to the capital and two islands…
Bangkok
Taxi from airport: 600 baht / £13.50
Now that I travel with my kids (and the kit they create) I jump in a ‘Grab’ at the airport (the city’s equivalent to Uber). Grabs are a great way to get around the city in high-traffic areas. Even over rush hour, I never spend more than £15 on a ride.
Accommodation at a 5-star hotel: 6,000 baht / £135 a night
Rates at 137 Pillars, a luxury hotel in the bar-crammed Thonglor neighbourhood, are a steal for what you get. The studio residences are lovely (around £135 a night), but you may want to splurge on a suite (around £330 a night) for free airport transfers, access to the rooftop infinity pool and a complimentary hour of cocktails and wine at the bar (the equivalent luxury in Europe could cost at least double).
Lunch at Natura Café: 300 baht / £7
Natura Café isn’t one of the cheapest places to eat – but it’s one of the most special, set in the middle of a lychee orchard. Even so, ‘Grandma’s spicy pomelo salad with slow roasted coconut’ will only set you back 160 baht (about £3.50) and tastes all the better for the peace and quiet of the garden.
