Hi everyone,
I'm thinking of traveling around Thailand for a month or two. My questions are:
1. Are September and October good months to be there?
2. Is it safe for a solo traveller?
3. I have never done thing type of thing before.....where do I even start with planning something like this?
MiltonR
September and October are apart of the monsoon season it will be hot and humid and there will be rain but saying that its low season and hotel prices will be cheaper.. Yes its safe for a solo traveller Thailand is an easy and great place to meet people. maybe you should start planning where abouts in Thailand you want to go.
I would opt for mid October onwards at the earliest. Rainy season might be a few wet days or torrential downpours every day which is rather a washout on beach places
You get a 30 day visa (exemption) on arrival which means you are OK for 30 days including day of arrival and day of leaving as one day. Thais take a dim view of overstaying a visa with a 500 baht fine for each day, or worse if caught by the police outside the airport.
If you want to stay longer, you can either get a two month Thai visa or take a cheap flight somewhere, say Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia, and come back and get another 30 day visa (exemption).
Apart from some petty theft, Thailand is very safe and is full of solo travellers. Tourists have been going there for a number of decades so generally you will have little problem with language.
It is easy to get around Thailand by public transport: buses, coaches, trains, planes, etc. It's just a matter of deciding where you want to go. Lots of cheap accommodation about but it does not really start filling up till December when the high season starts. Try to get air conditioning as it can get rather hot and sticky.
If you are taking credit cards, make sure that your CC company know when and where you are going, and soon after arrival, use the cards for a small sum from ATM's so if there is any problem, like your CC company filed your letters in the bin, you can sort it out before you need money from them.
Travel fairly light. You can buy most things you need there, like clothes, and you may find you want to bring back lots of cheap things.
Although you may have rain during September - October months the rainfall is not the same all over Thailand. Often the rain will stop in an hour or two anyway. Most hotels are still in the "low season" pricing range, definitely cheaper than the Christmas/New Years holiday season. Millions of travelers to Thailand arrive alone. I have come across little old ladies in their 70's traveling alone and not worrying about any danger. But you do have to take normal precautions like you would for any strange city or new country. For many visitors Bangkok, and Thailand in general, may be safer than where they come from. Google up scams for Thailand and Jet Skis, Tuk-Tuks, Khao San Road buses, Jewelry and gem scams will show up. If something appears to be too good to be true - most likely it is not!
http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-weather/
I am guessing that Milton is a MALE name. If you are young (low 20's or a teenager) perhaps stay in the Khao San Road area. Older than that or you want to make use of the Skytrain and Airport Rail Service then choose a hotel in the Siam or Sukhumvit Road area. In the Sukhumvit Road area you will find hotels in all price ranges plus malls, street vendors, nightlife, travel agencies for tours and plane tickets, supermarkets and many small shops. Using the Skytrain you can reach other areas of Bangkok as well as the Ekamai bus terminal and the subway. The subway can take you to the Hualamphong train station. At that train station you can get rides to Northern Thailand and other areas in Thailand. Also, starting from Hualamphong you can take a train to Southern Thailand. Continue by train to Malaysia and on to Singapore - if you want. Start in Bangkok and stay there for a few days. Perhaps use one of the many travel agencies for tours for some of the nearby tourist sites. Bridge on the River Kwai is a popular tour for instance.
Thailand does have excellent transportation. It is easy to get a bus or train or even a cheap budget flight between distant cities and other countries. Within Bangkok meter taxis are cheap providing you do not bargain the fare and use the meter. There is also a cheap Airport Rail Link that brings you into the city (Pratunam area) for only 45 baht. From that area you can connect with the Skytrain rail service for rides to other areas of Bangkok. Very easy to do - but not after midnight! After midnight you must use a meter taxi.
http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok.htm
http://bangkok.sawadee.com/skytrain.htm
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/52
If you can get the free Visa Exemption or not depends on the passport you use not just the country you flying from. If you have a UK passport you are eligible for the free 30 day Visa Exemption stamp at the airport. This allows you to remain in Thailand until the 30 days runs out. If you visit another country that permit stops. Upon re-entry to Thailand your time begins over again. Fly in get 30 days (if you originally qualified or enter overland you get 15 days free.) Or, get the 60 day visa from the Thai Embassy.
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490
Plane tickets are usually cheaper after September. Prices for flights to Thailand increase in cost closer to Christmas. Every month of the year tourists show up in Thailand. Last year over 15 million tourists visited. Wait until you get to Thailand to change any money over to Thai baht for the best rate. In Thailand most of the exchanging is done at real banks not some dodgy private money changer. No problem changing money at the airport 24 hours a day arriving and departing!
Good luck.
Sept and Oct are fine, but obviously depends what you want, which end of the country you will be at, or doing what most people do, and thats try and see everything and nothing in a short space of time...
Lone travelling is fine, but like most people post, you won't stay alone for long..
Just arrive..and go from there...
Hi, just posted this moments ago.
http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=82005
September is by far one of the best times to travel in Thailand. The monsoon season is over, and the weather is beautiful.