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THESE ARE EXPENSES FROM A TRIP IN 1997. When I traveled to Thailand back in March of that year the baht was
trading at about 25baht=1USDollar. However, in the fall of 1997,
Thailand and the rest of Asia hit some economic problems which sent the baht
down to about 50baht to the dollar by year-end. Now, ten years later, and despite a recent coup, the baht is strong again, trading at about 30baht to the dollar during my visit in July 2007. Anyway, take a look at the
latest exchange rate for the baht before planning your budget, but the USDollar amounts in the following table should be at least indicative of what you can expect for prices in Thailand.
Although a lot of things cost a bit more these days, you can probably still survive on less than $30 per day per person if you stay in cheap places and stay away from Pizza Hut. During the 2007 trip Yuki and I went for a bit more luxury, but buses, milkshakes, and souvenirs are still very cheap, so don't let the budget hold you back if you are considering a trip. Anyway, all of the food and lodging amounts below are for two people, so a US$10 meal is really five dollars each. Enjoy. |
| Date | Location | Store | Item | Baht | US$ |
| BANGKOK | |||||
| 3/9,Sun | Bangkok | Korean Air | Flight #633 Seoul to Bangkok (Aaron only, not included in totals) | 400.00 | |
| Don Muan Int'l | Pizza Hut/DQ | slice, bread big pepsi, Peanut Buster Parfait | 125 | 5.00 | |
| Public Taxi | Don Muan Int'l to Peachy Guest House | 250 | 10.00 | ||
| 3/10,Mon | Phra Athit | Peachy Guest House | 3 nights in AC double, shared bath | 1050 | 42.00 |
| Khaosan Rd. | Hello GH & Restaurant | noodles, rice deal, banana, lemon shakes | 145 | 5.80 | |
| Transit | Convenie Store | water and cokes | 32 | 1.28 | |
| Rama I | Tokyu MacDonalds | pineapple juice, Toddy Palm Sundae | 32 | 1.28 | |
| Jim Thompson House | tour of a beautiful Teak-wood Thai house | 80 | 3.20 | ||
| Chinatown | street vendor/artist | oil painting on canvas | 250 | 10.00 | |
| Oriental Pier | boat ride from downtown to our GH | 14 | 0.56 | ||
| Phra Athit | Boat Dock | raisin bread | 20 | 0.80 | |
| Welcome Overseas | rice&veggie, prawns curry w/rice, 2 shakes | 165 | 6.60 | ||
| Khaosan Rd. | Some shops | postcards, 3wallets | 152 | 6.08 | |
| 3/11,Tues | Phra Athit | New Merry V's | sweet sour veg, grilled cheese, tomato soup | 147 | 5.88 |
| Dusit | Tuk Tuk | three-wheeled taxi Phra Athit-Vimanmek Pal | 70 | 2.80 | |
| Vimanmek Palace | admission to grounds and museum | 70 | 2.80 | ||
| Dusit Zoo | admission to a nice city zoo | 40 | 1.60 | ||
| Dusit Zoo Rest | pink & green Fanta, Paprika chips | 45 | 1.80 | ||
| Khaosan Rd. | Market | Birkenstock-style sandals for Brica | 250 | 10.00 | |
| Some shop | cool pants and a Thai Coke T-shirt for Aaron | 220 | 8.80 | ||
| Hello Internet Cafe | email for Brica(25min) and Aaron(45min) | 244 | 9.76 | ||
| Mam's GH & Rest | crispy tofu&veg,tofu&rice, muesli&yogurt,juice | 150 | 6.00 | ||
| Wholesale/Retail | gorgeous green skort, ugly shorts for Aaron | 300 | 12.00 | ||
| 3/12,Wed | Phra Athit | National Museum | admission and free English tour | 40 | 1.60 |
| Silpakorn Univ | restaurant | drink and raisin roll, great art display | 45 | 1.80 | |
| Wat Phra Kaew Pier | Some Rest | lunch?:fried peanuts, fried cashews, 2lemon | 140 | 5.60 | |
| Wat Phra Kaew | admission w/free English tour of temple&pal | 250 | 10.00 | ||
| Tuk Tuk | taxi ride back to Khaosan Rd. | 30 | 1.20 | ||
| Khaosan Rd. | Some Guest House | garlic fried rice, fried noodle, 2 shakes | 180 | 7.20 | |
| Mom&Pop store | 2 pairs of sandals new fanny pack | 410 | 16.40 | ||
| Travel Agent | AC? bus to Krabi(2 tickets) | 640 | 25.60 | ||
| RAI LAY BEACH | |||||
| 3/13,Thur | Krabi | Long Tail Boat | one hour ride out to the beautiful Rai Lay | 80 | 3.20 |
| Rai Lay Beach | Rai Lay Village | 2 nights in a private bungalow w/bath&fan | 900 | 36.00 | |
| Ya-Ya Rest | fried rice&veg,fish&chips, 4 shakes, coffee.etc | 325 | 13.00 | ||
| 3/14,Fri | Ya-Ya Rest | mueslix, french toast, fruit, yogurt | 110 | 4.40 | |
| Sun,Sea,Sand&Rock | Half-day(9am-1) rock climbing lesson with eqmt | 1000 | 40,00 | ||
| Sand Sea Rest | pat thai, fried potato, veg curry, shakes, etc | 210 | 8.40 | ||
| Convenie Store | 11postcards, chocolate, water | 115 | 4.60 | ||
| Convenie Store | 2 waters, mocha cone, ice cream bar,BBQchips | 100 | 4.00 | ||
| Rentals | 2 person kayak for one hour | 100 | 4.00 | ||
| 3/15,Sat | Sun,Sea,Sand&Rock | Half-day(9am-1) rock climbing lesson with eqmt | 1000 | 40.00 | |
| Rai Lay Village Rest | fried rice in pineapple, coconut curry, pot soup | 215 | 8.60 | ||
| Rai Lay Village Rest | late dinner:2 fried veg, rice,shakes, coffee,etc | 250 | 10.00 | ||
| Rai Lay Village | another night in the bungalow | 450 | 18.00 | ||
| 3/16,Sun | Ya-Ya Rest | cont.break, pancake w/banana brunch | 140 | 5.60 | |
| Convenie Store | water, green Fanta | 28 | 1.12 | ||
| Long Tail Boat | one hour trip back to the real world | 80 | 3.20 | ||
| Krabi | Convenie Store | banana fruit strips, raisin bread, newspaper | 80 | 3.20 | |
| Krabi | Songtherm | AC night bus from Krabi to Bangkok | 700 | 28.00 | |
| BANGKOK | |||||
| 3/17,Mon | Khaosan Rd. | Hello GH Rest | veg omelette, porridge, orange shake, fanta | 140 | 5.60 |
| Tuk Tuk | taxi ride to Wat Pho | 50 | 2.00 | ||
| Wat Pho | Wat Pho | admission to temple grounds and Reclining Buddha | 40 | 1.60 | |
| Silk Screen Guy | bought 4 paintings from one guy,6 from other | 1100 | 44.00 | ||
| S&P | lunch:coconut soup, tuna sand, miso soup | 240 | 9.60 | ||
| Post Office | 10 16baht stamps and 10 9baht ones | 250 | 10.00 | ||
| Hello Internet Cafe | email for Brica(54min) and Aaron(107min) | 540 | 21.60 | ||
| Greek? Rest | veg samosa, veg spring roll, veg potato | 70 | 2.80 | ||
| Sawana Travel | one-way bus for two to Chiang Mai | 320 | 12.80 | ||
| Highway | Rest Area | chiclets, Pocky, Juicy Fruit, Pepsi,Snickers | 92 | 3.68 | |
| CHIANG MAI | |||||
| 3/18,Tues | Chiang Mai | Johnny Boy GH | muesli, scrambled eggs on toast, coffee | 75 | 3.00 |
| Johnny Boy Treks | 4 day trek in country with all food guide | 3300 | 132.00 | ||
| Highway | Market | game, water, fruit | 160 | 6.40 | |
| 3/19,Wed | Karen Village | Our house | waters, Sprites | 70 | 2.80 |
| 3/20,Thur | Camp | Raft Place | waters, Sprites | 70 | 2.80 |
| 3/21,Fri | Chiang Mai | Tuk Tuk | taxi to Central Mall | 50 | 2.00 |
| Central | Pizza Hut | veg pizza, garlic bread, 7up float, Pepsi | 183 | 7.32 | |
| Vista Theaters | Star Wars Special Edition | 120 | 4.80 | ||
| Tuk Tuk | taxi ride back to Johnny Boy Guest House | 40 | 1.60 | ||
| Downtown | Johnny B GH | 1 night with private bath | 100 | 4.00 | |
| 3/22,Sat | JB GH Rest | 2 french toast, fruit salad, banana shake | 160 | 6.40 | |
| JB GH | postcards | 25 | 1.00 | ||
| Tuk Tuk | taxi to DK Campus Book Store | 40 | 1.60 | ||
| Convenie Store | shampoo, water | 60 | 2.40 | ||
| DK Campus | Thailand map | 85 | 3.40 | ||
| Pizza Hut | veg pizza,salad bar, onion rings,Pepsi water | 231 | 9.24 | ||
| Mall | toilet for Brica | 6 | 0.24 | ||
| JB GH Travel | 2 AC night bus tickets to Bangkok | 460 | 18.4 | ||
| Highway | Rest Stop | coffee peanuts, Coke, water | 50 | 2.00 | |
| Somewhere | Para Services | Aaron's bag was stolen from the night bus | 2700 | ||
| BANGKOK | |||||
| 3/23,Sun | Phra Athit | New Merry Vs | fruit salad, breakfast set, cheese sand | 140 | 5.60 |
| New Merry Vs | one night in AC w/bath room; view of river | 380 | 15.20 | ||
| Khaosan Rd. | Kodak Place | film developing for 9 rolls, single print | 1000 | 40.00 | |
| GPO | mail sea package to America | 610 | 24.40 | ||
| GPO | call Nepal for 1min 18sec | 80 | 3.20 | ||
| GPO | stamps, Cokes | 60 | 2.40 | ||
| Mam's GH Rest | dinner: fried veg, veg/tofu/rice, fanta,etc | 140 | 5.60 | ||
| Wholesale/Retail | 2 pants and a shirt for clothes-less Aaron | 400 | 16.00 | ||
| 3/24,Mon | Phra Athit | New Merry Vs | early morn bus to airport | 140 | 5.60 |
| Don Muan Int'l | Pizza Hut | Hawaiian pizza, slice, garlic bread, Pepsi | 175 | 7.00 | |
| post office | mail brother's B-day present to US | 130 | 5.20 | ||
| Thai Govt | departure tax | 500 | 20.00 | ||
| Subtotal | Thailand | 15 Days, two people | 23351 | 934.04 |