Budget Trip For Thailand

One key thing to keep in mind is your trip timing. When you decide to go to Thailand can heavily influence your Thailand trip budget.

This is because everything is more expensive during the peak season, including accommodation expenses, transport, plane tickets, activities, etc.

So if you are on a really tight budget, it is best to plan your trip around the **low season (July to September) or during the shoulder season (July to September). **

When planning a trip to Thailand on a budget, you need to consider several factors, the most important one being how you will reach your destination. The most popular option would be by flight. However, flight fares can vary considerably depending on where you are flying from and where you are landing.

For example, flights from Kolkata to Bangkok are cheaper than flights from Bangalore, Delhi or Hyderabad. Similarly, flights landing in Bangkok are cheaper than flights landing in Krabi or Chiang Mai.

Furthermore, peak seasons almost always mean expensive plane tickets. So the cheapest months to book tickets are April to July, as it is peak summer in Thailand during this time.

In contrast, the most expensive months are November through February, which is the peak season. So the cheapest tickets would be in April and cost an average of ₹19,822. This excludes additional flights you may take to other regions within Thailand.

You can also drive to Thailand through the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, which connects Thailand to India. However, unlike your flight plans, you will want to avoid driving during the monsoon season.

Hotels, Airbnbs, resorts, or hostels will take up most of your expenses when planning your Thailand trip budget from India. Luckily, Thailand has a wide variety of hotels that range from budget-friendly to luxury resorts. For example, a three-star hotel can range from ₹3,000 to ₹9,000 per night for one adult.

If you are on a tight budget, you can opt for hostels or homestays, especially when visiting a remote village, as these places often do not have hotel accommodations present.

Even on a restrictive diet, you can still find plenty of dishes to eat during your low-budget Thailand trip. Thailand offers a wide range of cuisine, from traditional Thai cuisine to several continental options, all at an affordable price.

Furthermore, street food is extremely inexpensive, and you can easily feed yourself 2 - 3 meals a day if you are on a shoestring budget. Similarly, restaurants aren’t too expensive either.

For example, street food can cost you an average of ₹1,500 - ₹2,000 for three meals a day, and restaurant meals can cost an average of 90 - 150 Thai Bhat, which amounts to around ₹218 - ₹363 per meal.

This can be highly variable. Your expenses here will entirely depend on what you want to do during your trip and what type of traveller you are.

More adventurous activities like rock climbing, scuba diving or hand gliding will naturally cost a little more. While more common activities like day tours, museum visits and going on common sightseeing routes can be more affordable.

For example, common watersport activities like kayaking and snorkelling can cost between ₹350 - ₹370 per person. While museum visits, day tours, and sightseeing expenses can cost ₹1200 - ₹2000 per day.

If your minimum budget for a Thailand trip allows for it, it’s best to go for a combination of the two to get a well-rounded experience.

As for how you can get from one get to another if you take local transport, it can cost between ₹1,000 - ₹1,500 for buses, cabs and trains for short distances.

This is optional. While travel insurance isn’t mandatory to visit Thailand, it is still good to get one, especially if you plan to engage in any adventure sports. This way, if you get injured during any of those activities, your insurer covers the costs.

Similarly, if this is your first time travelling overseas, it is recommended that you get an international travel policy just to be on the safe side. So if anything goes wrong during your trip, you will not be stuck trying to navigate the situation alone.

Lastly, before purchasing, always compare travel insurance plans to ensure you get the best coverage possible for your trip. For example, with Tata AIG, you can get travel insurance for Thailand starting at ₹47.85 per day*.

• Visa Fees: A visa on arrival is valid for up to 15 days and costs BHT 2,000. However, if your budget trip to Thailand from India lasts longer than 15 days, you opt for the following:

• A single-entry tourist visa for Thailand can cost ₹2,500 for a short trip.

• A multiple-entry tourist visa can cost ₹12,000 for longer trips.

• Passport Fees: If you do not have a valid Indian passport or need to renew your passport, a fresh/re-issue of your passport will cost ₹1,500 - ₹2000.

These are some key factors to consider when planning a trip to Thailand on a budget. Additionally, always keep copies of all your travel documents and some extra cash on hand. No one expects anything to go wrong during their vacation, but it doesn’t hurt to plan for emergencies.

One way to do this would be to get travel insurance from Tata AIG before your trip. This way, if anything does go wrong during your trip, you are covered.