student studying abroad
 

Hi everybody! I am a 20 year old female student studying abroad in bangkok from june 20 to august 1. i leave in about a week and i am looking for any last minute advice on what to pack, wear, places to visit, really any suggestions that will help a young traveler visiting asia for the first time. i appreciate any advice and any suggestions. im limited on time seeing as i leave in one week. i will be in thailand for approximately 6 weeks. tell me all that will help. contact information such as email while im there is greatly appreciated!! thanks! i am looking forward to your repsponses.

:)

bangkok is a very easy place to visit and to stay in...it is hot and humid all day every day, 24 hours per day....take only lite weight clothing...clothing is very cheap there...take undies you like however....all supplies you need for personal use are readily available...

you will have a blast...food is very cheap and you can get any type you want in bkk...

plan to go some place different each weekend...there is tons to do...getting around is very cheap but it is slow moving...

come back to us with specific questions

Thanks for your response. im sorry i wasnt more specific with the first post. here are a few questions...

how much money should i plan on spending?

what are some essentials i should bring?

what is a "must go to" place in thailand?

how many pieces of luggage should i bring? and should i bring something extra to bring stuff back in?

safety tips?

really when i said anything....i really mean any kind of advice you are capable of offering im happy to recieve :) thank you so much! ps...this is my first time on this site so bare with me

thanks

I haven't been to Thailand and have no plans to go there, but for a 6-week visit anywhere I'd strongly advise buying at least one good guide book. Lonely Planet might be best for your purposes. You can get good information from the helpful people on this forum, but you can't get a compendium of all you need to know - specific questions are best. You should also use the search facility (above) because Thailand seems a very popular destination for Americans and there are many, many threads in the archive.

Definitely get a guide book such as rough guide, lonely planet or footprints.

Thailand is a very popular place to visit for young europeans, Australians and Kiwis and other SE Asians so you will meet many your own age whilst you are there and have a fab time. Clothing - you don't need to take much, it is very cheap to have things washed outside of the hotels.

Places to visit - so many and depends on your interests. You need to read through a guidebook I think as a starting point. But take a look at Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Pai in the north and, if you like beaches, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao in the south, in addition to Bangkok where you are studying which is a great city.

in bkk the usual places to visit are:

grand palace
many wats: arun, pho, golden mount are among the favorites but there are many more
jim thompson's house
v-mark palace
suan pakkard palace
take a klong (canal) tour with a long tail boat of thornburi--go with a bunch of friends--arrange boats at taskim pier at the end of the skytrain route


no need to take a suitcase for extra stuff...they are very cheap in bkk and you could then buy one for the size you need after you have bought your stuff and know the correct size---prob cost less than $10...

safety tips...none really as thailand is very safe, but of course you are in a big city when in bkk and CM, so you have to use normal cautions...

be aware of the touts in tourist areas...they approach you with friendliness but they really want to take you to shops where they get commissions....ignor them, be rude and just keep walking...there are many of them..

guidebook is a good suggestion....lonely planet is best for students...avialable in bkk too...

you will meet tons of other kids all of whom will have ideas...

hi
just want to add that you should visit the website for lonelyplanet too as the info on the forum is a lot more up to date than the guidebook and a quick use of the search function will help you with your info gathering. have fun

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ca...s.cfm?catid=51

Hey everybody thanks for all your responses which have proven to be very helpful. i have purchased a guide book suggested to better for students than lonely planet by the name of Let's Go!! i have been reading through it and will most likely finish it on my flight there. wish me the best of luck and i hope all your travels proved to be the greatest experiences of your life :)

thanks