Want to strike Thailand off your travel bucket list but holding back due to budget constraints? Don’t worry. Realise your dream with a smartly planned travel itinerary, and you can explore Thailand for less than ₹ 40,000. In fact, Thailand is one of the most wallet-friendly places to visit in the world. You can include street food, ancient temples, and bustling markets without burning a hole in your pocket. You just need to know when and where to go. So, how to go about it? Let’s take a look.
Breakdown of Your Travel Budget for Thailand
Firstly, before you even look at the digital map of Thailand to think about where to go, consider the time of the year for your Thai journey. Rates for flights, hotels, and even attractions change drastically with the season. The best time to visit Thailand is from November to February, when it is beautifully tropical, warm and pleasant for outdoor excursions and beach experiences. However, this is peak season, and prices for everything skyrocket.
For a Thailand budget trip that stays comfortably under ₹35,000, the last part of the low season – the transitioning period into shoulder season is ideal to book reasonably priced stays, and enjoy places with fewer crowds amid pleasant weather. This falls in the last two weeks of September and the entire month of October.
Now that you have an idea of when to visit Thailand, it’s time to create a classic and practical travel itinerary and break down your travel budget to get a gist of how much you can spend on different travel needs.
For 5 days, let’s take into account 2 nights in Bangkok and 2 nights in Pattaya – the quintessential Thailand itinerary. Assuming this 5-day Thailand on a budget trip plan is for a solo traveller, we can diversify the funds for this sample itinerary as below:
5-Day Basic Thailand Itinerary ( Bangkok and Pattaya)
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, explore the city on foot, like Chinatown, Lumpini Park, and Chatuchak Weekend Market (if it’s a weekend). Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 2: Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. Travel to Pattaya in the afternoon or evening. Overnight in Pattaya.
Day 3: Relax and explore Pattaya’s beaches. Overnight in Pattaya.
Day 4: Visit the Sanctuary of Truth and Big Buddha Hill. Return to Bangkok in the evening. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 5: Free time for last-minute shopping or a quick riverside walk before heading to the airport.
Budget Break-up
Return Flights
Book your flight tickets in advance on weekdays with low-cost airlines such as Indigo, Akasa Air. Round-trip tickets from major Indian cities to Bangkok usually cost ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 in the low season. With luck and flexibility, you can even grab them under ₹12,000.
Thailand Visa
Indian citizen don’t have to fret about visa expenses as they can avail a visa-free entry for 60 days for their Thailand leisure trip.
Accommodations
Opt for low-cost hotels and hostels that offer clean, well-maintained rooms with basic facilities for your Pattaya and Bangkok tour packages. You can find mid-range hotels starting as low as ₹ 250 per night onwards. We insist you set aside a budget of ₹ 4000.
Food
Tourists love Thailand for its street food scene, and that’s a lifesaver for budget-conscious travellers. Look for food stalls and quaint cafes that are frequented by locals, which signals the food is great over there. With ₹ 3,000, you can enjoy pad thai, mango sticky rice, som tam, and noodle curries every day.
Local Transport
Bangkok is quite easy to explore and has an excellent BTS Skytrain, MRT, and river boats. A one-day pass is around ₹ 500 for BTS in Bangkok, and approximately ₹1000 for two days in Bangkok. Or, you can choose single fares as well on your journey. It would cost around ₹ 50 to ₹ 200, depending on the distance covered. Buses are cheaper than cabs, though it means walking a few paces from your hotel to the bus station. Pattaya also offers good connectivity by road, and baht buses are the cheapest option to consider. In all, you should keep around ₹ 4000 for your transportation for 5 days in Thailand.
Sightseeing
Bangkok and Pattaya have a fascinating assortment of attractions, many of which are simply free to explore. Even so, exploring the iconic temples like the Grand Palace, Wat Arun would require you to shell out entrance fees, which range anywhere around ₹ 500 to ₹ 1500 per person. So, pick one or two paid popular attractions and keep the rest of the sightseeing activities and experiences free. Pattaya, on the other hand, is all about leisure beaches and nature treks. Pattaya’s beaches are absolutely wallet-friendly and a delight to stroll on and enjoy sunsets without having to shell out entrance fees. However, since you are on a tight budget, you might have to skip the water sports adventures. We could recommend that you keep ₹ 3000 for visiting attractions and add the leftover funds to your buffer fund.
To sum it up, your Thailand cost bifurcation can be as follows:
Airfares: ₹20,000
Visa: Free of cost
Accommodation: ₹4000 to ₹5000
Food: ₹3000
Transport:₹4000
Sightseeing: ₹3000
If you can get lower costs, by all means, take advantage! It would be wise to keep at least 10% of your total trip cost as a buffer fund.
Don’t Skip the Buffer Fund
A budget trip should be smartly planned to include convenience, but not at the expense of sacrificing your comfort. What then would be the joy of visiting a destination? A holiday seldom goes as per the budget you planned since there are other expenses to consider. You should not be rigid in your holiday budget planning or keep a stringent fund to spend on your Thailand vacation. Apart from your basic trip, you will have to keep a buffer fund for other expenses like getting a SIM card, tipping, souvenir shopping, a massage, etc. Additionally, don’t forget travel insurance for your Thailand trip. Even if you are paying a chunk of money, you will find it a blessing should you find yourself in some unfortunate circumstances and in need of medical aid. Without insurance, these unforeseen expenses can cost you thousands of rupees! You would also have to keep in mind the exchange rate of Thai Baht to Indian Rupee for your budget planning. Without a buffer, one small hiccup can spoil the fun or force you to cut the trip short.
Money-Saving Hacks That Actually Work
- Book flights 45 to 90 days in advance.
- Use online booking platforms for hotels that offer flash sales and competitive pricing with the best rates and free cancellation. Better yet, contact a tour operator specialising in Thailand leisure holidays who can offer you Thailand tour packages at the best rate.
- Eat where locals eat.
- Buy simple produce and supplies from departmental stores and fresh markets to whip up simple meals and sandwiches right in your hotel room.
- Skip expensive, over-hyped tourist places, shows and island tours.
Conclusion
Yes, a fascinating 5-day Thailand trip to Bangkok and Pattaya in the low season is absolutely possible under ₹35,000 from India. Just a few tweaks and a clear understanding of arranging things that would fit your budget, and you’ll come back with memorable memories. Based on the same tactics, you can also plan Phuket tour packages on a budget or even a pocket-friendly trip to Chiang Mai. Just remember to keep it simple, travel light, eat local, choose low season, and keep that buffer fund. With these references, make your much-anticipated Thailand trip happen this year!
