Flying Solo In Thailand
Have you ever wanted to jump on an awesome travel deal but you couldn’t find anyone to go with? Have you thought about traveling across the waters by yourself but have anxiety about taking that leap? Hopefully, my experience can give you a bit of courage to take that trip you have been dying to make solo.
My very first solo trip was to Thailand. Thailand had been on my bucket list for years and I came across a flight deal that was too good to pass up. Flights to Thailand can be $1,000 or more, so when I saw a flight to Bangkok on a popular US airline carrier for ~$600, I frantically called my travel crew to see who wanted to go. After several No’s and indecisiveness, I decided to book the flight hoping that someone may say yes eventually. Unfortunately, that Yes never came and I was faced with the reality that I’d be traveling to Thailand solo.
ALLEVIATE ANXIETY WITH PLANNING
I normally do not get nervous, but after seeing Taken & Taken 2, I had major anxiety about traveling that far alone and not knowing anyone.
I looked up all the things I could do in Thailand and tried to prioritize my activities with the 5 days I had there. Visiting Phuket was on my list so I looked at flights from Bangkok and found a round-trip ticket for less than $30. I booked a hotel in the heart of Bangkok so that I didn’t have to travel far for sightseeing. Uber was in Bangkok as an option for my travel needs. Once I had a rough itinerary together, I felt a bit more at ease about the trip.
2 days before I was set to head out, I saw that one of my high school friends checked-in to Bangkok on Facebook so I messaged her immediately to see if we could coordinate some activities together. Boy, was that a blessing! Now that I at least knew one person there, I felt more comfortable to go.
Google Translate is a Traveler’s Best Friend
Once I arrived in Bangkok, I purchased a local SIM card, a must have when traveling internationally. Once I arrived in Bangkok, I hit a snag when I arrived a destination that wasn’t exactly Phuket. Being in a country where English is not the native* language, I remembered that I had the Google translate app on my phone. Not only did it translate between English and Thai, the Translate by Speech function worked for Thai as well.
A Tour Guide for a Reasonable Price
We were all set to head to my first destination, the Wats of Phuket. When we arrived, I noticed there was not a taxi hub* The idea came to me to ask the driver how much he would charge me to take me to all the places and then back to the airport to catch my flight. His price was very affordable so he became my official tour guide for the day.
Red Light District
Once back in Bangkok, I linked with my friend to explore the Bangkok night life. I am far from a prude, but I was not prepared for the sights I saw. In the red light district Soy Cowboy, I saw Thailand’s finest Kathoeys, or ladyboys, looking to entice foreigners. I also was invited to watch the “ping pong shows” but opted out because I read about the scammy nature of them. Soy Cowboy definitely isn’t for the average tourist so I would recommend reading up on it before you decide to visit.
Highlight of the Trip: Cooking Class & Traditional Thai Massage
One of my favorite experiences while in Thailand was the Thai cooking class. With the class, we went to the local open market to get fresh ingredients and learned how to make some popular Thai dishes from scratch. It was a great experience learning how most Thai food gets the balance of flavors, spices, and aromas.
Also, you MUST get a full Thai massage treatment at a spa establishment in Thailand. For ~$65, I received 3.5 hours of spa treatments that included a massage, scrub, body wrap, and thai-style stretching. I would go back to Thailand just to experience that everyday. NOTE: If the windows of the spa are blacked out, chances are they have OTHER business going on there as well. I paid more money for this spa that had a website, but there are spas on almost every corner for your to get even cheaper massages.
Over all, my first solo trip was much more fun than I expected. I realized that traveling alone has its advantages and upsides. My word of travel advice: Don’t wait for a buddy and book the trip! You will thank me later!
With the Love of Travel,
SandY