Definitely not a bacpacker budget, just not extra flashy budget.
I do not have budget limitations as Thailand is cheaper than home (meaning I could let myself live even much better than at home spending the same amount I spend at home. Definitely not trying to save).
I just genuinely do not see how I will be spending more than that :)

But I see where is the difference between you and me:

Dinner for 2 50-100 dollars?
That is super flashy for Thailand (I am traveling with friends and not my GF so no need for romantic fancy dinners).
Just take a look at random super nice food:
Braised Duck and Egg Noodles at Udom Suk (à¸�ิตติà¸�à¹‹à¸§à¸¢à¹€à¸•à¸µà¹‹à¸¢à¸§à¹€à ¸›à¹‡à¸” สาขา 3)
Prices: About 50 – 150 THB per person depending on how much extra duck you order

So $2-4 for deliciously looking food.

And those are normal - average prices for Thailand. I do not see how eating like normal/average people do means backpacking.

I do not drink any wine and certainly not $100 a bottle in Thailand. Will be sticking to beers.

Mcdonalds 20 bucks... Well I am definitely not going to eat mcdonalds in Thailand while Thailand is famous for their local food and while that is one of the most exciting things for me. And not simple mcdonald but also mcdonalds that cost as much as 5 (!!) local food dinners. That makes it even less sense.

So there is where our budget differences come from. And that is not backpacking by any means, I am definitely going to be eating VERY NICELY.

you have 500 bucks for your trip? might as well stay at home and look for a real job. :2 cents:

Sounds great, you see that would not even make a dent in that 500 bucks discussed budget :1orglaugh

Joking aside - is massage really that cheap?

And side note - I read that traditional thai massage actually hurts :Oh crap:1orglaugh

Whatever he said is doable on my budget no problems (that is not a budget by the way, I just said that I DO NOT SEE WHERE I COULD SPEND MORE. I do not have limits to budget, it was just my thought of). If I spend double that it is ok, I just do not see where it will be spent.
PS: that budget was for everything not including flights or hotels.

And I am not taking advice from expats like gods, just taking advice from anyone. Since real Thais do not post here.

Use reading comprehension next time.

Read again.
I do not have any limitations to the budget.
That was just my guess (based on research) of how much it will be POSSIBLE to spend. As in I do not see WHERE I will be spending more than that.
And that number was excluding hotels and flights within the country.

I am assuming it was for a quick fling...if you have a good thai driver, he will be able to scoop better quality from massage shops/bars ... i suggested this because if you try to go yourself you will be bombarded by so many girls at the same time its very hard to be calm and pick.

if you are looking for higher quality girls for a fling i suggest finding a host.

if you are looking for good girls who aren't pay deals you would have to do that on your own like you suggested by having some game and chatting up at the mall or something... which is way more fun than pay deals.

yes.. but its like 300 bt .. but there are 2 types of massage spots... shady and legit.. 90% are shady and they all look the same though so its a gamble unless you ask straight up or they tell you straight up.

if they are younger girls working there or a bunch of girls working there more than likely its shady, so you will get the upsell of full deal which they will hit you for more money like 1000-3000bt or something..

however that shit is lame and disgusting if you think about all of the disgusting bastards rolling through there just before you... better to find the legit cheap massage.. thai deep tissue .. leave there feeling great... then go to the mall or something and chat up some non working chicks...

This thread makes me miss DWB.

:thumbsup
Definitely agree with you, I am not interested in paid sex, yet real actual thai massage would be something you not experience at home. Just need to understand which is legit, like you said :)

The only difference is I'm in the country and you are doing web research lol.

Eating street food and looking for travel deals is budget travel. Here we call them backpackers. There's nothing wrong with it. Millions of backpackers flow thru Thailand every year.

We travel first class because we know the difference between the classes. We've tried them all. But hey, reading about the porn industry on the web makes guys instant industry experts, so it must work for travel too lol

Of course I am not pretending to be budget expert, that was just a wild guess to get discussion going. I may be proven wrong once in a country.
Although that link was from some typical cafeteria/restaurant (many of them on that blog). Or is it called street food as well? I assumed street food was those stalls on the street, not a restaurant/cafeteria like that.

I checked his best restaurants posts and he lists some very nice restaurants, yet the prices are still in few bucks per person. That gives me a conclusion that these are actual normal-average prices for good restaurants in Thailand. So how can it be called budget if you pay usual prices? That does not make sense by definition.
You suggest that overpaying 10 times is ok. To get a perspective - imagine prices for GOOD regular restaurants in your home country. Now imagine someone suggesting - hey eating in those good regular restaurants is budgeting, you should eat at that restaurant which charges 10 times more... That saying would not make much sense.

sometimes they have signs that say no sex.. those are 'usually' legit

My advice, after three days in Thailand, don't fart on the street, but at your hotel.
There is a big change you shit your pants cause you are not used to the food yet.
And than it is easier to change pants in your room.

Malaria, dont use tablets, only when you are deep in the woods.
Use Deet anti mosquito spray day and night when there are mosquito's

Don't plan your trips when you are alone, you will meet people that can advice you where to go and where to stay and perhaps travel with you to the next destination.

Ofcourse you should visit Pattaya. Thailand is great in many ways, the red light scene is part of that. And nana Plaza and Sow Cowboy are a must in Bangkok. Just like the King's palace. Cause i travel a lot alone, i prefer the Khoa San Road area in Bangkok so you easily meet people.

I always look at the backpackers places to stay in any part of Thailand. I didn't like Phi Phi island that much, to touristy. I prefer Koh Chang.

You can eat on the streets, no problem. I had stomach problems in normal expensive restaurants and also with street food. It can be bad everywhere. But most street food is just ok. Just sit on the toilet 1 day and it is over.

Get drunk and see if you can see the difference between a tranny or girl. Nobody cares. In the end you will found out what he/she is. Don't you like some gambling?

Get a soapy massage, a normal massage, a thai massage and a whole day spa massage, it is great! Woman are everywhere around the globe, but the spa massages in Thailand are the best in the world and cheap. I think the massages are better than sex.

In a restaurant a pay around 3 - 5 dollars for a meal + drinks. But i am staying in Thailand for months, not for a two week holiday.

Recomended street food: Pad Thai and banana pancakes + banana smoothies.

I just bought my tickets, will be travelling on the 23rd Feb, and will be there for 15 days.
Cant wait for it! :)

Great thread, with alot of information!!!

Here is how I have it "planned" and bought:
- 3 days Bangkok
- 3 days Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai
- 3 days Railay Bay
- 3 days Phi Phi Islands

+- exactly my route as well.
Although consider staying in Ao nang and just going to railay for day beach trips. Since Ao nang is like a town with some stuff to do and is a base for some island tours etc while railay is more of a resort.

Ao nang is just a tourist trap. Nice to go for further trips, but nothing else.
I would consider to go to Koh Lanta from Phi Phi instead of stay at Ao Nang.
Just take the boat from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta.
On Koh lanta the nices beaches are at the end of the island.

Bangkok:
- Nana Plaza + Soi Cowboy + Arab Area, nice markets there
- Kings Palace and temples nearby, take a Tuk Tuk or Taxi (Golden Mount for example)
- Khoa San Road

I would skip Chiang Mai on such a small trip.
Near Chiang Mai there is pai, heard good stories about that.
but you have no time for it.

You are more travelling than relaxing.

As opposed to Railay beach?

Ao nang is just a small beach street with tourist shops and anoying people who try to get you in their restaurant. Small beach there. It is only for taking the boat to other nicer parts. That is my opinion. 1 night Ao Nang is enough, and take the boat the next day to Phi Phi. Havent been to Railay beach. Friends rented a private boat and went to all small islands around Ao Nang, that must be great also.

On Phi Phi you see the big boats full of tourist coming in the morning and leaving in the evening. I don't like. But Phi Phi has some nice hotels/ resorts outside the center that are great and you don't get the tourist feeling there. Koh Lanta is an island where you can rent a scooter and explore the island, which is nicer than Ao Nang.

Thailand is my first stamp, beautiful country

great insights. you should write a no-bs travel guide for Thailand lol