Need help planning trip first time solo
 

Hello

Your one stop shop for down to earth no nonsene information about independent budget travel(aka backpacking): Backpacking: Budget Independent Travel - Advice, guide & packing help

For anything more specific don't hesitate to ask(and look into the other travel forums which are bit more active than Fodors) like the Thotn Tree on Lonely Planet.

Wait, do you mean you never travelled on your own anywhere or just never in Asia?

I would recommend going to your local bookstore or library, where you can browse different guidebooks to see which seems most suited to you and your interests. And you might find some inspiration in one or more of the trip reports by solo travelers on this thread:
https://www.fodors.com/community/tra...ection-744113/

Beware: Solo travel can be addictive! :)

Your budget of £5k is very generous for one month and even for two months is pretty good. Having said that, you have left it late to buy flights for January 2020, which could eat up a chunk of your budget. Your first step should be to use Kayak.com or similar to check air fares. Trailfinders are usually pretty good for sourcing long haul flights. You can travel well in SEA on £50 per day staying in reasonable hotels and eating great food. The only thing that will ramp up the cost is staying on the beach in Places like Phuket.

It is very difficult to make suggestions of where to go without knowing what you want to do/see e.g, Nature, culture, cities, countryside, trekking, clubbing or just lying on a beach. More info would enable others to provide valid suggestion. Do bear in mind that the average age of forum members here is probably double your own, so there may be some disparity in travel interests and style.

Two months or even one, is a long time to spend in Thailand so you may want to consider other countries in SE Asia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos Etc. It is really easy to travel around the region. You could see a huge amount in two month.

Travelfish.org is a good resource for travel in Asia.

Booking.com is great for sourcing Accomodation.

January is still part of "high season" for visiting Thailand. Closer to the end of January you might get some flights cheaper than closer to New Years holiday week. You have some good recommendations above. Lonely Planet has a series of books for travel good for tourists trying to keep within budget. Buy or borrow a LP travel guide.

" or 1-2 months in January.."

Make up your mind how long! You just can't show up in Thailand and stay as long as you want without proper visa. If you intend to fly using a one way flight from home and at some point decide to when to fly home this might cost more than a round trip flight with a definite return home date. So, do the math! Make some test bookings using your computer on various international airlines servicing your airport and see how much one way vs round trip costs. In Thailand it is easy to use cheaper discount airlines to fly to nearby countries for quick visits.


If the purpose of your visit is to visit good beaches for swimming and diving choose a beach area good for the month you visit. All of Thailand has summer type weather and not just beach areas. But some beach locations are better for swimming than others depending on weather. Thailand might be bigger than you think.

Only you know if you are seeking out the love of your life or want to hide out and relax or whatever. If nightlife, Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket will do. (Bangkok and Pattaya cheaper for single guys who are not into diving or beach type swimming. Phuket and Phi Phi more expensive, especially for local transportation.)

With a definite return home date you can easier work out a daily budget AFTER paying for your plane ride to Thailand and return home. You have to determine how much per day you have available for hotel and daily expenses then choose accommodation in a price range that fits your budget.

In Thailand you use their currency for day to day spending. You will probably get a better rate changing UK money in Thailand than elsewhere but look into this. For my dollars I get a better deal changing in Thailand than at home. Debit cards work in Thai ATMs. Read up on this, there is a fee to use an ATM so know the maximum your bank allows per withdrawal. Same fee for a small amount or maximum the bank and ATM allows. Exchange rates are not fixed. No one can say what the rate will be in January. Rates on below link frequently update.
https://daytodaydata.net/


Watch your money! If any guests visit your room make sure money, passport, cell phone, computer and other valuables are locked up out of sight. Otherwise if a random visitor this person could run out the door with everything as soon as your back is turned. Research scams to avoid too! (Google search, forum search.) If you are a heavy smoker or use e-cigarettes Google this up too!

Visa. If you want to arrive with a one way flight and stay over 30 days you will need a Tourist Visa you pay for and apply for at home. If staying for 30 days or less AND have a plane ticket out of Thailand within 30 days you can enter free with UK passport using the Visa Waiver program. If you fly to a nearby country and return to Thailand again you qualify for another free 30 day Visa Exemption stamp in your passport. See link below for POOT.

POOT (Proof of onward travel. Could be enforced at HOME airport!)

https://thailand971.wordpress.com/




See map and weather info below:

https://www.travelfish.org/weather_fish.php

https://travelhappy.info/thailand-map/


Have back up sources of spending money. Some hospital - medical insurance can come in handy if you are injured in an accident or whatever. Or you may end up on the web begging for money with a gofundme page. Do not rely on a single source of spending money. A couple credit cards might come in handy for emergencies that may come up. (Motorcycle, motorbike, motor scooter and car accidents kill or maim too many tourists in Thailand. Along with falling off buildings and off balconies too! Google this up if you do not believe me!)

Do NOT mutilate or damage your passport! Keep it dry and clean and do not rip pages out of it!

Good luck.