Thailand Trip Budget Critique
 

Anyone want to take a quick look at our budget breakdown for our Thailand trip and let me know if it looks ok?

Any ideas to save $$ or have I forgotten something? Its our first trip to Asia so we are trying to guess! :)

FLIGHTS:
•LAX – BBK: BBK – LAX: $903/person (with taxes = $2400)
•Bangkok Discovery Pass: $350/person


HOTEL:
• BBK (2 nights) – Centre Point Shilom: $84/night (total = $167)
• SR (3 nights) – Bopha Angkor: $67/night (total = $201)
• CM (3 nights) – Orapin B&B: $62/night (total = $186)
• Lampong (2 nights) – Elephant Conserv: $275/person (total = $550)
• Krabi (4 nights) – Centara GBR: $200/night (total = $800)
• BBK (4 nights) – Centre Point Shilom: $84/night (total = $336)


TOUR GUIDES:
• SR (Ponheary): $70/day (total = $140)
• CM (Sgt. Kai): $200
• BBK (Tong): $150
• Tips: $120


FUN:
• Cooking Class – A Lot of Thai: $30/person (total = $60)
• Massages: $300
• Shopping: $300
• Food: $500


TOTAL: $7110

This looks about right. You may end up spending more on shopping, but your sum is realistic. There are likely to be a few odds and ends for which you have not accounted, but you seem to have covered almost everything.

I'd say you might be under in shopping and perhaps in food (although obviously you can do it within that budget but you may want to spend more). Also you will have transportation -- airport transfers, taxis etc but that won't come to much. And you'll have laundry which can be cheap if you plan properly but high if you don't -- try having it done at baan orapin which is cheap.

Also check your hotel prices and make sure they include tax and service. if they don't it will add about 25%.

food jumps out at me.....i assume that breakfast is included each day, but that only leaves $27 per day for lunch and dinner.....while this is enough if you eat very simply, it is not enough to really experience the variety of food available in thailand, especially in bkk....i would double that cost and plan to have $$ left over at the end...

shopping: plenty if you plan to only buy trinkets, but not enough if you plan to buy a few of the really lovely and inexpensive things available in thailand...

you have not allowed for transportation: taxis, skytrain, tuk tuks.....back and forth the the airports, going out to dinner, etc...especially since your food budget is so low you will not be able to eat at the hotels where you stay....suggest $100-200....

restaurant tips??

don't not do something on the trip because of the cost, if you had forgotten to "budget" for it....many things are unique..

I might suggest the following to consider

Centre point Silom - for $10 more a night get the studio type B which is quite a bit larger than type A, 66sqm to 45.

Tips of $120 for tours is much too high. 10 % of tour cost is sufficient say $50. But you should also allow for tipping hotel maids of $1 a day, hotel porters $1 a bag, restaurants 10% only if service charge has not been added and if so only small change, and taxi drivers 10% or less. So your allowance for tips is about right for everthing

$500 seems a lot to spend on Elephants unless you are really into them. Myself I would only do a day trip but that's me.

In Siem Reap you have the temple pass at $20 each and airport tax of $25 each

As said I would double the food allowance.

You may need to add transportation cost for taxi, skytrain, river ferries in Bangkok. Taxi to/from airports in Bangkok, Siem Reap and Krabi unless you are being picked up. Sightseeing in Krabi/Chiang Mai

Cambodian visas????

Airport departure taxes????

angkor pass is $20 per day isn't it?? per person....

Absolutly right, I meant to say $40 each which is for a 3 day pass. Thanks for correcting me.

waterlily
Cambodia visa can be obtained when you at the SR airport for $20 each. Need 1 passport photo.

When you fly out of SR there is an airport tax of $25. International Airport tax out of Thainland and their domestic ones are included in the airfare

Thanks everyone!! I knew there was a lot I was probably forgetting...just couldn't figure it out!

I've doubled our food budget and added some for transfers ect...

We were planning to do the 3 day Mahout training at the Elephant Conservation in Lampong...is this too much? It sounds fascinating but I would love to hear yay or nay from someone who has done it!

After reading more trip reports I am torn between Laos or Cambodia! Hmm...decisions decisions!!

I would query the same amount for massages as shopping. There are a lot of temptations in the shopping centres of Bangkok! I'd be prepared to spend more if you see something that you really like.

Re laundry, I avoid the hotel services and use local washers. Look for signs with 'lundry' in Siem Reap. As I tend to just wear cotton clothes I don't worry about ironing etc.

As for the choice between Laos and Cambodia, I like both. Don't forget there is a lot more to Cambodia than Siem Reap. Maybe another trip in the future. Asia is a bit like that - it calls you back. I'm currently planning a trip to Laos and home through Siem Reap to see my daughter.

The decisional factor between Siem Riep and Luang Prabang is your fascination with ancient sites. The temples of Angkopr Wat are unbelievable and unique. Hoever, if you don't want to spend three days looking at temples, Luang Prabang is a charming place.

I have not done the 3 day elephant session but everyone who has has said it was the highlight of their trip.

personally with a trip this short i would not want to spend 3 days with elephants..

depends on your focus however

Count on spending at least $8,000. You'll see what I mean later :)

You could save a lot of money and not miss anything cultural, historical or even thai by eliminating krabi. A beach is something you can go to anywhere. Spending 3 days with mahouts is something uniquely thai.