There’s something awfully familiar about Europe, even to those who haven’t been there yet. The continent has been a muse for many and a dream for most. Its famous buildings and romantic waterways have had the world coming to it since time unknown. But, it is not defined by just the metallic opulence of Paris and the architectural genius in Rome. It is defined by the small unknown stops that are missed when rushing from one must-see to the other. The tiny, reclusive places that don’t end up on most lists.
So, if you feel that the Eiffel Tower is nothing more than a pretentious pile of scrap and the Big Ben is a waste of time, then I think you might like my alternative guide to experiencing Europe.
We love lakeside towns. There’s something hopelessly alluring about them. Right from the calm waters to the vibrant sunrises. The sleepy Lithuanian town of Trakai is all that and more. Squeezed between two lakes and an easy drive from the capital, Vilnius, this cluster of castles and wooden huts is an easy city getaway for the locals. The region comes under the protected status of the Trakai Historical National Park and is one of the few places to catch glimpses of the Karaite culture.
The Trakai Castle in Lake Galve, a 14th-century Gothic construction with traces of Renaissance influences, is the major draw in this area. Follow that up with a visit to the Trakai History Museum before heading to the bespoke camping areas at Slėnje, 5 km out of the town.
Czech Republic’s second-largest city, Brno is everything Prague doesn’t want to be. A city that has mastered the art of balancing the old and the new; the young and the old. At first glance, you might think of this University town as another city racing towards modernity with its glassy facades and new-age designs, but stay a while longer and you’ll start noticing the subtle undertones. A lazy pullback into the Moravian way of life. The city’s history will slowly start showing itself in its castles and cathedrals.
Spend time at the Špilberk castle and the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul before experiencing the Functionalist architecture at Villa Tugendhat. The estuary under St. James Church is another draw for piqued minds. After a day of landmark-hopping, visit Náměstí Svobody, the city’s nerve center and revel in the city vibe with a glass of wine.
Lying on the tourist-trodden trail between Interlaken and Jungfrau, this fairy-tale town deserves more than an impatient stopover. Lauterbrunnen is one of Switzerland’s largest conservation areas, scattered with expansive trough valleys and thunderous waterfalls. It is also a favorable spot for mountain biking and hiking. Picture chancing upon lonely mountain inns around unexpected hilly bends.
We recommend gaping at the spectacle that is the Trummelbach Falls, our favorite out of the 72 falls in the region.
4. Roskilde, Denmark
Steeped in Viking culture, Roskilde, 35 km from Copenhagen, is a highly decorated ancient town situated in one of Denmark’s most scenic areas, the island of Zealand. It is one of Denmark’s oldest cities and served as an important Viking trading post, and the seat of the Danish crown for a long time.
Roskilde is a cultural fiesta for anyone interested in the legendary Viking traditions. Start with the Roskilde Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the burial-place for many Danish Kings and Queens. The Viking Ship Museum and the Roskilde Museum are good stops for getting all the info. you might possibly need about the area’s traditions. If you are visiting during late June or early July, then head to the infamous Roskilde Festival for some legendary antics and a Rock n’ Roll overdose.
5. Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt
Considered to be the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe, Hallstatt lies in a picturesque setting surrounded by the Dachstein mountains and the shores of the Hallstatt See. The village was a hotbed for salt production back in the day and you can catch glimpses of its salt-production days by visiting the world’s oldest salt mines. Also, visit the Beinhaus for an intriguing display of decorated skulls exhumed from the village graveyard.
Hallstatt is also the world’s first cloned village with a full-scale replica in Huizhou, Guangdong in China.
6. Brest, Belarus
The eastern European nation of Belarus isn’t on most travelers’ radar owing to its stressed political environment, and long and complex history, but trust us when we say it’s probably the most surprising travel destination in all of the Europe. While Minsk, the capital, might be the most heard of city in the country, the border town of Brest offers an exquisite mixture of history, architecture and nature.
St. Nicholas Church in Belarus
Established by the Slavs, Brest went through several invasions during the course of its history and was under the Soviet Union till as late as 1991 before it finally fell under Belarus’s territory. The Brest Fortress, a World War II memorial, is the most important attraction in the city. Just walk the grounds and spend some time at the museum to try to understand this memorial’s complicated history. Brest is also home to some interesting museums like the Museum of Confiscated Arts and the Museum of Railway Technology. After the cultural and historical initiation spends time wandering around Nabierežnaja and Hohaia St. and enjoy the town’s laid back vibe.
7. Kosice, Slovakia
Tucked away in the valley of River Hornad, Košice is Slovakia’s second-largest city and served as the European Capital of Culture in 2013. The city is close to the Hungarian, Ukrainian and Polish borders and is easily accessible by a good network of roads and rail. It is also an artistic hotbed with several theatres holding performances all through the year.
St Michal’s chapel and st Elisabeth cathedral south view
Košice has the highest number of palaces in Slovakia and is a cultural cauldron in terms of architecture with a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau. The main attractions are the Gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral and Immaculata Statue, both examples of Baroque architecture. Most of the town’s sites are present around the well-preserved historical center and the main street (Hlavná ulica) and can be leisurely covered on foot in a day.
8. Oulu, Finland
If there’s one reason to visit Oulu, apart from the spectacular beach and the enticing walkways, it’s the locals. The Finns are a warm and enthusiastic lot and they’ll welcome you into their homes just like they welcome the first speck of summer sunlight. The city, named after the river Oulujoki, lies on Finland’s western banks, opening up into the Gulf of Bothnia.
Oulu hydro energy
Summer is the best time to visit as the city collectively breathes a sigh of relief and prepares to let the sunny warmth enter their lives. The waterfront Kauppatori (marketplace) springs into action with several food stalls and restaurants dishing out the eclectic fare. Follow up an afternoon spent ambling around the market with an easy jaunt to Pikisaari, a former industrial region transformed into a close-knit artistic community. We recommend a short visit to the Sailor’s Home Museum, Oslo’s oldest house, to get a glimpse of life in the 18th century. Spend the next morning admiring the restrained flamboyance of Oulu Tuomiokirkko (the main church) and then dive into the many museums describing Oulu’s every facet from being a shipping town to the modern, high-tech metropolis that it is now.
9. Giethoorn, Netherlands
Give the term ‘on the road’ a miss for this one. Giethoorn, 120 km from Amsterdam, is a village with no roads. Arguably the most famous spot on our list, there is something about this tiny village, also called the Dutch Venice, that kept floating around in our heads. With over 150 wooden bridges, 4 miles of canals, and some spectacular farmhouses, this town merits a halt during your trip through Holland. All tourist go to Amsterdam, Giethoorn can turn out to be best travel destinations in Europe.
Founded in AD 1230 by fugitives from the Mediterranean, Giethoorn became famous after being used as a setting in Bert Haanstra’s 1958 comedy, Fanfare. The summers bring in a throng of tourists in boats and gondolas, changing this hamlet, home to 3000 people, into a thriving circus affair. Although the thought of rowing along the canals on a warm summer afternoon is very enticing, we recommend visiting Giethoorn in the winter, when the canals are frozen over. Ice skate your way through the village, stopping only to enjoy the outstanding views.
10. Leiria, Portugal
Leiria e Castelo
Cradled between Castle hill and Rio Lis and surrounded by Portugal’s biggest cities (Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra) Leiria is a medieval town flirting with modernity. The Leiria castle towers over the town’s red-roofed town center.
Have you been to these best travel destinations in Europe?
A Scenic Escape To The Magical Alps: Things To Do In Stunning Switzerland
Everyone has once dreamed, planned or even conspired for a Swiss holiday. Just like a star, Switzerland commands the attention of the eager traveler, is rather extravagant in its tastes and boasts of unspeakable beauty. Everything extracted from this wonderful country carries the luxury with it– Swiss chocolates, Swiss watches, Swiss cheese. Home to the Alps, the Swiss landscape has been the magical setting to many stories, from children’s favorite Heidi to Mary Shelley’s Gothic monster, Frankenstein; this alone should give you the sheer variety of views and things you would encounter here. No Switzerland itinerary can boast of having seen it all, but like everything Swiss, it can boast of quality over quantity.
Picture credit: Transformer18
Getting Around
The Swiss railways promise comfort with great views of the running landscape from your window. Various lines connect almost the whole of the country. Buses and boats are also great options. To make your journey easier, you can book the all-encompassing Swiss Travel Pass by Switzerland Tourism that gives you access to any kind of public transport in the country.
Places to visit in Switzerland: Zurich (Day 1 & 2)
Picture credit: Mariusz kluzniak
The most desirable city in the world, the most livable city in the world and the birth-point of art and music movements, Zurich’s multiple identities have coagulated brilliantly into one multi-dimensional, vibrant and chic city. It’s fast-paced life, lively night scene and more than 100 art galleries and museums, have all come together to make sure this city becomes the very first experience of the Swiss traveler. In fact, so great is its fame that it is often misconstrued as Switzerland’s capital (over its actual capital, Bern). No Switzerland Itinerary gives Zurich a miss.
Note: Get a ZurichCARD as soon as you reach here. It will give you access to the city’s railway system and some of its museums, trams, cable train and boat services.
Amazing things to do in Zurich
1) Enjoy a Relaxing Boat Ride on Lake Zurich
Boat ride on Lake Zurich Picture credit: Thomas Woodtli
2) Enjoy the Aesthetics of Contemporary Art
You are likely to stumble upon a gallery on every street, but you should specifically look for the Kunsthaus, Kunsthalle or the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst.
Picture credit : Kevin
3) Enjoy an Evening of Opera
Opernhaus Zurich has an in-house opera, theater and ballet group that put up some popular performances in its elaborately built Opera house.
Picture credit: kuhnmi
4) Cycle around the city
Zurich has the coolest service of renting out bikes for free! Take one and wheel off to some of its historical landmarks or just enjoy its routine beauty.
From rummaging through chocolate shops like Confiserie Sprungli and Confiserie Teuscher to taking chocolate tours around the city, the Swiss Chocolate is a dream come true.
Traveling between these two places can be made much more fun if you head to Lucerne, which is around an hour away from Zurich and hop on the Golden Pass Railway which will take you through exquisite views of Lucerne, Interlaken, Zweisimmen and Montreux. The Golden Pass is one of the most recommended railway journeys on a Switzerland Itinerary. From Montreux, you can take another train which will take you to Geneva in about an hour.
Describing Geneva as the world center for peace (headquarters to both the United Nations and the Red Cross) is somewhat an oxymoron. The bouncing, zipping, swishing, racing nerve of the city can infuse energy even in the laziest of tourists. The second gem of from places to visit in Switzerland list, Geneva outdoes its diplomatic image with its warm and welcoming markets, museums and natural landscapes. If you are looking for a good time, it doesn’t get better than Geneva.
Amazing things to do in Geneva
1) Find Treasured Souvenirs and more at the Plainpalais Flea Market
Zermatt is a small snowy village at the foot of the gigantic Matterhorn peak. It’s a humble and quiet destination away from the glitz of Zurich and Geneva. To be honest, this is a sort of a stand-by on your Switzerland Itinerary; a resting place before you, once again, get swept off by the vivaciousness of St. Moritz. Apart from being home to snow adventures and breathtaking views, Zermatt is also the starting point of the Glacial Express – the almost unmissable experience of Switzerland tourism.
Amazing things to do in Zermatt
1) Take a ride from the highest cable car station in Europe: Matterhorn Glacial Paradise
This is undoubtedly the most loved train journey in the world. It is also a slow journey, about 7 hours that takes you across the wild, snow-covered Alps. It starts from Zermatt crosses Davos and drops you in St. Moritz. This is your railway journey of a lifetime!
Places to visit in Switzerland: St. Moritz (Day 6 & 7)
The international ambassador for skiing, St. Moritz has become synonymous with the adventure, charm, thrill and the smothering beauty of the Swiss Alps. The point of origin for winter adventures, this alpine town has invited enthusiastic tourists, mad adventurers and pro-athletes and treated them with gorgeous mountain slopes and frozen lakes. Its resting beauty is complimented by its sophisticated infrastructure of some of the most luxurious and prime ski resorts, hotels, restaurants and galleries. Adventure and luxury know no better place to reside than in the cradle of the Alps, here in St. Moritz.
Amazing things to do in St. Moritz
1) Go Skiing and Beyond
You can oblige to the natural cliché of the ski resort or go for the adventure less taken with ice skating, kite skiing, curling, tobogganing, ice sledging etc.
The 19th-century Swiss artist, Serangtini is much celebrated for his realistic paintings of the Swiss landscape. The museum hosts his largest collection of artwork in the world.
4) Walk through Local History at Engadine Museum
Takes you from the modern to the prehistoric past of the local culture.
If you enjoyed the earlier post on Fascinating Malaysia, then the following events happening in Malaysia are not worth missing out.
Events happening in Malaysia during March and April 2016
8Th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2016
11 March 2016 -13 March 2016
The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will return from March 11-13. Pic courtesy of MyBalloonFiesta, February 20, 2016.
Venue Millennium Monument, Precinct 2, Putrajaya
View colourful hot air balloons from around the world. The fiesta features balloons in various shapes and sizes resembling a teardrop, clown, elephant and even Darth Vader.
2. Raptor Watch Week 2016
12 March 2016
Raptor watch week Image courtesy Malaysia travel
Venue Tanjung Tuan, Malacca
Image courtesy-malaysia.travel
Birdwatchers converge in Port Dickson to watch the annual migration of these birds of prey, on their journey back to the northern hemisphere.
3. Thai Water Festival Songkran
13 April 2016-15 April 2016
Thai New Year celebration Image courtesy www.songkranwaterfightfestival.com
Venue Thailand
The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day from 13 to 15 April. The word “Songkran” comes from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti literally “astrological passage”, meaning transformation or change. The Songkran Festival is also known as the Thai New year or Thailand Water Festival, originally celebrated as a way for the Thai people to sprinkle water on their family members and elders for good fortune and pay their respects to images of the beloved Buddha.
4. Regatta Lepa
22 April 2016 – 24 April 2016
Semporna Sabah Regatta Lepa
Venue Semporna, Sabah
A colourful festival that pays homepage to the lepa, a traditional single-mast sailing boat of the Bajaus of Semporna. Witness the crowning of the most beautiful lepa, the Lepa Beauty Pageant, cultural performances, fireworks display and much more.
5. Pesta Air Labuan
29 April 2016 – 01 May 2016
Labuan International Sea Sport Complex image courtesy event-carnival.com
Venue Labuan International Sea Sport Complex, Labuan
This is the biggest annual event in Labuan. Major competitions include the Labuan International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament, Cross Channel Swimming Challenge and Round Island Kayak Challenge.
6. Nasi Ambeng Carnival
15 April 2016- 17 April 2016
Nasi ambang/ambeng is a Javanese rice dish made up of spiced/fried/gravy chicken, chilli paste, serunding (Malaysian meat floss), vermicelli, tempe (Indonesian fermented soybean cake) and salted fish. It is really popular in Johor but not common in KL Image courtesy Nasi ambang @ Pasar Ramadhan Kelana Jaya
Venue Homestay Banghuris, Sepang Selangor
The aroma of ‘Ambeng Rice Festival’ is guaranteed to beckon visitors, both local and international to enjoy the uniqueness of this dish.
So, mark your calendars and head to Malaysia, truly Asia.
Do you think it’s possible to travel to Thailand with ONLY $10/day? Have you ever wondered why many people travel there? Let me tell you that I have done it with only this much money daily. And I will outline how exactly did I do that. Ready?
Check out the level of ease in traveling Thailand below!
Transportation – VERY EASY. Accommodation – NOT THAT EASY (for getting hosts). Food – FAIRLY EASY (There are options if you look for cheap food)
I travelled to Thailand for a month and I spent only $200. If you haven’t travelled like this before, you might get surprised how this is possible. Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to travel in South East Asia. Read on for actionable guides you can use to plan your own $200 trip to Thailand.
Before the trip: What do you need to prepare?
Visa
First, make sure that you don’t have any visa concerns. If you are from the US or from Europe, don’t forget that you need to have a passport with at least 6 months before expiry. For Thailand, you are eligible for 30 days visit, visa-free, if you come by plane. If you come overland, it will be 15 days. You can check here, if you need a Visa to visit Thailand as a tourist.
Flight out ticket
Sometimes flight companies ask for a flight out ticket to make sure you really have an itinerary and an exact plan upon visiting a country. Also, they need to lessen the chances that you will stay there longer than allowed. So, if you are traveling to Thailand (or any other country) with one-way ticket, you have several options:
You can buy a flight ticket and ask for a refund later from the flight company. Some allow you to cancel with a refund for until 48 hours. Make sure about the conditions. Some will not refund you for 100%.
Check flight companies. Some of them will provide your booking details, and they won’t charge you until after 24 hours. So, just book the flight out, and later if you don’t pay, they will cancel anyway. But you will already have the chance to print out your booking and show to the flight company.
There are websites which will book your flight ticket for 24-48 hours. They will charge you between 5-10 USD. You can print out the booking and show to the flight company. Checkonward flights and fly onward for this option.
Check return flights. You can print out your flight out ticket. For FREE.
Your last option is to buy a cheap flight out ticket. You always have the option to use or not use it.
Currency
The official currency is Thailand Bath, 1 USD= 35 (THB), check here for more information.
Health and Safety
About vaccines, you don’t need anything to travel Thailand. They can recommend some of them about Hepatitis. Don’t forget to bring cream against mosquitoes.
About safety. Travel Thailand is safe, so that’s not a problem! Make sure you keep your belongings safe if you are traveling in crowded spaces.
The weather
There are three different seasons in Thailand. Between June and November is rainy season. Between November and February is the best season to visit Thailand, it’s not rainy, and it’s not too hot – so yes, fair weather I would say. Between March and May, the weather is very hot in Thailand. North Thailand is colder than the rest of the country. You will have to make sure you are bringing attire appropriate for cold weather .
Prepare your trip
Check your first destination in Thailand. Perhaps Bangkok, the capital, if you come by plane. Check maps, guides for prices, places to visit and what’s the situation regarding the weather. Your budget can start at $10/day. Feel free to upgrade for special instances. Especially if you go to the beaches. Travel in Thailand is one of the easiest and cheapest countries to travel in the world.
The most probable thing, is getting by airplane to Thailand. If you are traveling around South East Asia, there are cheap flight companies. If you aren’t carrying too much luggage, and just a backpack, you can check in as hand luggage and you will avoid paying extra for your luggage. Check the prices and the dates that you will travel and compare between flight companies. I usually use Skyscanner. For me, Skyscanner is the most efficient website to search for flights. Skyscanner gives me the best price, 90% times.Google Flightsis also good way to check and compare which one is the best. Remember that you will get 30 days visa if you arrive by plane.
You can come to Thailand overland from different countries: Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. Remember if you come to Thailand overland, they will give you 15 days visa in the border.
If you want to travel Thailand in a low-budget, your luggage should be light. Forget about suitcases! I’m usually traveling with an 8-kilo luggage. That’s including the tent and sleeping bag. Traveling Thailand cheap requires light luggage. I’m bringing 3 t-shirts, 3 pairs of underwear, a pair of pants, a pair of shorts, a cup and a jacket. This is the usual way I travel. Toiletries, I always bring my own stash. Bringing a flashlight is always useful if you plan to sleep outdoors, to help you pitch the tent at night. Soap, for washing clothes and keeping yourselfclean. When you travel light, you need to wash your clothes everyday, if not, you can easily run out of clothes. If you need something else, you can buy in Thailand. Thailand has a lot of areas where you can buy really cheap clothes, for example.
About accommodation
Try to contact someone before going to Thailand. If you want to travel Thailand spending less than 10 USD, you need to get free accommodation. Yes – this is one of the easiest tricks in cutting so many expenses for your travel. Otherwise, hostels will charge you more than 5 USD for sleeping. Well, it actually depends on which part. Bangkok and South Thailand are more expensive. You will find accommodation starting at 5 USD. In North Thailand, you can find accommodation for less than 5 USD. There are websites where you can get free sleep during your trip. I can recommend you my favorite one, Couchsurfing. There is a big community of Couchsurfing in Thailand. If you want to know more about sleeping for free duringyour travels, check this link where I outlined 28 surefire ways you can sleep for free while traveling.
Transportation
Travel Thailand by train.
Transportation will never be an issue when you travel Thailand. Prices are cheap like most of the countries from South East Asia. Traveling in Thailand by bus is also very cheap. If you buy a second class ticket, trains can be cheap, too. I recommend that you try hitchhiking in Thailand. And if you haven’t tried hitchhiking ever, Thailand is a good place for you to experience hitchhiking, so you can let go of all your inhibitions about it. Why? Because hitchhiking is super easy in Thailand. You will save in transportation and you will have a great experience. Roads are really good, too. It will surely make you feelconfident about traveling this way. If you have never tried hitchhiking before, check out the step by step hitchhiking guide here.
During the trip
If you are getting to Thailand by plane, try to exchange little money in the airport. Exchange rates are usually lower than outside the airport. If you can, exchange money in banks or an official exchange office. You will get better rates. If you are bringing credit card, ATMs charge 150 Baths commission. It means almost 5 USD, every time that you try to withdraw money.
There are many options to travel Thailand. Thailand is easily one most popular countries for travelers in South East Asia.
North Thailand
If you like a real Thailand experience, I can recommend you to go to the North! You can enjoy jungle and culture in North Thailand. The North is different from the Center and South Thailand. About prices North is much cheaper than Center and South Thailand. The weather is colder and the atmosphere is more relaxed than on South and Center Thailand. Enjoy night markets on the North Thailand! If you are a person who loves quiet, nature, the jungle, and will have a problem adapting to the very hot weather in the country (if you travel during the hot months), North Thailand will be a great place for you.
Center Thailand
You can enjoy Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. There are many plans to do. There are many activities during the day. It is the big city, so if this is your type of scene, or if you just want to get acquainted with the country (in case it’s your first time), the city is for you. You can also enjoy the nightlife. You can use this place as meeting point to meet new travelers. There are many places to visit around Bangkok. You can visit Khao San Road, which is always full of people. It’s the backpacker area where you can find so many travelers, lots of places for accommodation and lots of options for food.
South Thailand
It has stunning beaches! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the crowds and the hassle. There are many plans to do. You can try snorkeling. You can try scuba diving. Prices are expensive on South Thailand. These days around the beaches. Your budget is gonna be higher than 10 USD. You will be enjoying the beaches during the day. At night, you will enjoy party.
Accommodation
If you want to travel 10 USD per day in Thailand, you need to make sure to get a host. You can checkCouchsurfing, Bewelcome, and Hospitality Club. You don’t want to use websites to sleep free? It’s not a problem! I told you, traveling Thailand is one of the easiest and cheapest countries. You can pitch the tent to sleep for free in Thailand. Look for a quiet place where you can pitch your tent. You can sleep in train and bus stations. You can sleep in the airport. Another trick to sleep for free traveling in Thailand, to ask in temples. There are temples which let you sleep for free in Thailand. Where can you find temples in Thailand? You are lucky. In Thailand, you can find temples everywhere. If you want to spend a few days in a temple and check how Buddhist people live. It’s possible! Talk to them, maybe you can teach English to the monks a few hours everyday. In exchange , they will teach you about religion and the way they live. While you are learning about them. They will provide you food and a place to sleep for free. Buddhist people love travelers! You can also ask hostels for work. You can work for a few hours helping them and they will provide you free food and accommodation. Also you will get a great experience. If you are in the middle of your hitchhiking day. You can ask locals to pitch the tent in their garden. Maybe, they will allow you to do that. Maybe, they will invite you inside home to sleep.
Learning about Latex
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking in Thailand, it’s one of my favorite countries. I didn’t spend more than 10 minutes waiting for a ride. Waiting time for the ride was usually 5 minutes. Except North Thailand on the way to Laos. Where there was little traffic and it was hard to get a ride. Roads are good. So you can complete the day distance fast. Thailand people are very friendly. Sometimes people who are driving you will treat you for local food. You can follow a few tips and tricks to hitchhike in Thailand.
If you want to leave Bangkok. You will have to get a bus or a train. . You can check Hitchwiki. They will tell you. The best way to leave Bangkok. It depends on where are you heading to.
– When you want to ask for a ride. Make sure you walk and reach a safe place. Where cars can stop easily. Thailand drivers are crazy. If they see you and you ask the for stop. They will stop even isn’t totally safe.
– As Thailand, people are so friendly. I didn’t even make a hitchhiking sign to ask for a ride. I was carrying a map and pointing them my next destination. If you can’t get a lift. You can try to make a sign writing your destination.
– To ask for a ride. Try to move your arms up and down. Get your best smile. That’s it!
– As Thailand, people can understand about hitchhiking. They will try to drive you to a bus or train station. You need to pay attention to the road. If they leave the road. Try to let them know that you are leaving the car. If not probably, you will end in the bus station or train station. When it happens, you need to go back to the road. Try to ask for another ride.
– As a guy. For me it was safe travel Thailand hitchhiking. I met girls who hitchhiked in Thailand. They felt safe too.
– Just enjoy the experience when people are driving you. Talk to them and you will learn things from them. You will get many invitations to sleep in their place. Or just invitations to pray with them. Invitations to have lunch. Even you can’t communicate with the language. You can always use sign language.
– It’s good, if you can try to learn some basics of their language. Ask for help to a friend to write about your hitchhiking. If your friend writes in a paper what are you doing. You can show to the drivers. They will understand what are you doing.
– Petrol stations are perfect for hitchhiking. You will find everything you need there. You can have shower. You can get food. You can look for a quiet place to pitch your tent. Sometimes, you will find wi-fi. Asking for a ride in petrol stations is really good. All the cars will stop and listen to you. When you explain to them where are you going. They will drive you.
If you want to get long distances hitchhiking. You can look for a truck. They usually go far. The problem with the trucks that they don’t usually go inside the city. You will have to get a bus to reach city center.
Why is Thailand my favorite country for hitchhiking?
You can ride many different vehicles. I’ve been riding tuk-tuks, pick-up, cars, trucks, vans, motorbikes. Nobody asked me for money in those rides.
I got invitations from people to sleep at their home. A driver drove me until the border with Cambodia. It wasn’t his destination but he wanted to make sure that I can safely reach the border. He was driving an hour outside his route. Thailand people are amazing!
What’s betel nut? The nut is raw, wrapped in a leaf. They mix with calcium hydroxide. They can include more spices as cardamom to get extra flavor. When you mix everything, you can eat. You need to chew. It tastes bitter. You will get your teeth red. The effect of betel is stimulant. That’s why usually drivers are eating. Truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers are usually eating betel. It’s not the only place where you can find betel. You can find betel in South East Asia, Myanmar, India and Nepal, Taiwan. If you go hitchhiking, someone is gonna offered to you. Truck drivers or just drivers who drive long. You will have the chance to try. If you check on the internet about betel.You can seehow bad is eating betel. Just try it to get a new experience.
I was hitchhiking near Ayutthaya. A guy bought me a bus ticket. He provided me food and he gave me money. I tried to avoid getting the money. But I finally had to accept. He insisted a lot. So, I was using that money for people who don’t have anything. There are some people who live outside in Thailand. They don’t have money for food. They have no place for sleep. Outside touristic places, I could find the best people in Thailand.
I was coming from Myanmar. First ride that I got in Thailand. They invited me for praying. After praying, we had dinner and beers. And finally, they invited me to sleep at their home.
Once you avoid to spend money in transportation and accommodation. You are ready to travel Thailand with less than 10 USD. You can spend some money in transportation inside the cities. Bus or a metro inside the city is cheap, less than 1 USD. If you want to avoid spending in transportation. You can walk around the city or small towns. You can get a bicycle to move around touristic places. It’s gonna be 1-2 USD. A bicycle is a great choice to go around!
You can spend money visiting museums. There are interesting museums in the cities to visit and some of them you can get for free. There are temples to visit. Some of them for free. Some of them you will need to pay. If you wanna go for free in the temples, just go inside for the way out gate. And it’s usually nobody is watching you. I didn’t try it. But some people told me that it’s working.
Eating and Drinking
I would recommend you to spend money in food. Travel Thailand is great focusing in gastronomy. I got surprised how good is Thailand gastronomy. My favorite in the world.
You can visit street markets. There are many fruits to try in Thailand. All of them are very tasty. All of them are affordable. There are smoothies and juices everywhere. Prices are 1-2 USD. As Thailand the weather is hot. Its refreshing! You can buy beer from 1-2 USD. It depends on the size.
Travel Thailand you can find 7-Eleven everywhere. You will find hamburgers, sandwiches, noodles, cookies. You can also get drinks. Prices are cheap.
When you travel Thailand, you can’t miss night markets. There is too much variety of food. Prices are affordable. You can get street food from 1 USD to 3 USD. I love Thailand food! If you travel Thailand coming from South East Asia, prices are expensive. If we compare to Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. But still cheap. When you travel Thailand doing hitchhiking and avoiding to pay accommodation. Food is delicious in Thailand! If you visit night markets are very cheap. Especially in North Thailand. Just enjoy Thailand food!
Pad Thaiis my favorite dish. You can find for 1 USD. Seafood is amazing! I loveTom Yum. A soup with prawns. Sometimes it’s very spicy. You can mix with rice. Mango with sticky rice. Noodle soups. Barbecue. Fried chicken with sticky rice. You can also try insects. They don’t look good. But when you try, it tastes good.
Travel Thailand, how to get WiFi for free?
You can get wi-fi in restaurants, hostels, malls, petrol stations. You won’t have a problem to get wi-fi in Thailand. You need to buy a local SIM card and you will get free connection at many places. Also you can get wi-fi in bus and train station. If you need to pay for the connection, no worries. It’s gonna be less than 1 USD.
Thailand people use motorbike a lot. Be careful! There are thousands of motorbikes in Thailand.
Festivals
There are some festivals for free. As Lanterns festival,Loi Krathong. They name in Thailand could be translated to float a basket. As water festival,Songkran festival. Water festival is celebrating in New Year. According to Buddhist lunar calendar.
Watch out!
Be very careful when renting a motorbike in Thailand beaches. They will take your passport. When you are returning the motorbike, they will ask your for money. They will tell you that you crashed the motorbike and that it needs some other small repairs. They will charge you a lot, more than what you would’ve paid if you had it fixed somewhere else. They know that you need your passport. And since most of the people pay, they keep doing this. So, be careful. Ask in advance for someone who has already rented a motorbike in that place. You can try checking with other backpackers if they had any problems with the company so you can avoid these kinds of problems.
Meeting Locals
I had a great experience in South Thailand. Doing Couchsurfing. I spent two weeks with a local family in the middle of nowhere. I could visit beaches which weren’t so busy. I prefer avoiding to visit touristic places. There are full of tourists and I prefer local experiences. They are worthy.
The route
I started in Trang, South Thailand. I was coming overland from Malaysia. After Trang, South Thailand. I went to Bangkok. From Bangkok, I headed to the North. Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Sukhothai, Tak and Mae Sot. From Mae Sot, I went to Chiang Mai. After Chiang Mai, I went to Chiang Rai and Chiang Kong. After these places, I went to Bangkok and I left to Cambodia. Last stop was in Aranyaprathet.
My route in Thailand. As I’ve been visiting Thailand a few times. I ‘ve been following different routes.
After travel Thailand for a month. I spent less than 200 USD in a month. I didn’t spend any cent for accommodation. I didn’t spend any cent for transportation. Landscapes and people were great. So, I can recommend to you 100 % travel Thailand in a low-budget.
Want to learn sure-fire ways you can spend ONLY $10/day to travel Thailand. Make sure you read the guide on Gamin Traveler.
So how does a typical $10 day look like? Here’s an example from my experience:
Breakfast – $2-$3 – Milkshake + Fruits, You can easily find these in Street Markets
Lunch – $2-$3 – Pad Thai
Dinner – $5 in the night market – This includes money to treat your host for a dinner
Want to spend more?
+$1-$2 – Buy a beer for yourself or share with your host Water costs 1 Baht, which is like 35 1-Liter bottles for $1
All these stories are from my real travel experience. If you are in Thailand to discover the life, integrate with the culture, meet new people and spend time with your host, then a $10 day doesn’t really sound bad. You can spend on essential things like food, and cut back to almost zero on transportation and accommodation (by hitchhiking and Couchsurfing).
I highly encourage travel in Thailand, if you are in a very tight budget. Have you tried it already? Planning to just visit? Let me know if you have questions and I’ll go ahead and answer them in the comments.
Also, share this post to extend the love. You know we all have to tell everybody they can travel now, with a very low budget. So yes, NO EXCUSES. Buen Viaje! Ruben
