In the 21st century, tourism has ceased to be a high-class activity and became accessible to most people in technologically developed societies. As a result of rapid communication and infrastructure development, we are now able to experience other cultures, customs and landscapes in person. Even so, traveling around the world is not a cheap adventure and it does require careful planning of our expenditures. Considering this basic fact, I was happy to disclose, that budget travel in Thailand can be more than just economical, it can also be enjoyable. In general, I’m not a frugal traveler, but in Thailand, the less you spend – the closer you get to the local authentic experience.

In this article, I would like to share some tips and conclusions I have gathered on my last trip to Thailand, including Koh Phangan, while making some unnecessary expenses.

1. Transportation. Your flight ticket to Thailand is expensive anyway, and there is nothing to do about it (except for choosing a budget air company – but it will be still expensive). On the other hand, getting around in Thailand can be quite cheap. A bus ticket costs much less that an air ticket, and a night bus is the cheapest way to get to your final destination from Bangkok. The easiest way to get to Koh Phangan from Bangkok is by flight to Koh Samui, and by taking a ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. However, if you prefer to save your money, especially if your plane arrives at Bangkok’s International Airport in the evening - you can take the night bus, which will cost about 15% of a regular flight ticket. The night trip will save you accommodation expenses for the first night as well.

2. Taxi in Bangkok. If you use taxi services – be sure the driver turns the meter on. Avoid taking a taxi ride with no meter unless you’re not sure about the exact price. Taxi drivers in Bangkok are just as frugal as you are. Their initial price will never be nearly as close to the actual fair. For the same reason, if you’re not sure about the exact price – avoid using the motorbike taxies. They’re really cool – but don’t have a meter.

3. Taxi in Koh Phangan. In Koh Phangan there are no meters, and taxi rates are less or more stable (although depending on weather conditions and the time of day). In order to save your money, take a taxi along with other passengers; taking a taxi (whether a boat taxi or a regular taxi) will eventually be much more expensive. 

4. Accommodation. In Koh Phangan, accommodation rates can vary from 100 baht to 4000 baht per bungalow (the bungalow can usually be shared by two people), while suites, villas and other crazy things can be even more expensive. The price depends on the season (the high season is between December and February); location (Haad Rin and Leela beach are relatively expensive); and availability of air – conditioner, hot water and private bath. As for me, I can easily pass being in Koh Phangan during the high season (the weather conditions in Koh Phangan are never extremely bad). The availability of an air condition makes a huge difference in rates, and if you have a bug spray in your arsenal – the ventilator is probably enough to air the bungalow. As you choose a resort, remember that accessibility is an issue in Koh Phangan. Of course, this problem is not exclusive to Koh Phangan; but in Koh Phangan the taxi fares are comparable to the accommodation rates. For example, you can rent a bungalow in or Haad Yao for as low as 100 baht, but the long tail trip from there to will cost you 150 – 200 baht one way. Take this into account while choosing your accommodation.

5. Communication. It will probably not come as a complete shock to you, but the use of cellular phone is much more expensive than using the Telephone & Internet centers services. Mind you that the cost of these services can vary. As usual, if you’re calling overseas from your resort’s office – it will be more expensive than using a call center in Haad Rin or Thong Sala. The cheapest solution is giving your phone number (every call center has a phone number that can be used for calling back) to your friends or relatives overseas. Then average price for one-minute call overseas in 30 baht. If your home country’s tariff is less – go for it.

6. Food. The most simple and cheap restaurants in Koh Phangan are also the best ones. The fancy restaurants are irreplaceable as a choice for a romantic dinner – but the food will not necessary be of better quality or taste if you’ll pay more. Actually, many expensive restaurants in Thailand specialize on Western food; unfortunately, the food is never really “Western” and often disappointing. So my advice is to give up Thai Cordon Blue or Bolognese and let local chefs do their best – the wonderful Thai food. Try cheap restaurants, with plastic chairs and the locals having their meals there; it is usually both tasty and authentic. The street food in Thong Sala is always a splendid idea.

7. Price negotiation. In the neighboring Koh Samui price negotiation is a necessity, almost like breathing, unlike the smaller and less touristy Koh Phangan. Even so, in many shops in Haad Rin and Thong Sala main streets, price bargaining is accepted as well. Try it – in Thailand price negotiation isn’t considered an embarrassing behavior, so you have nothing to lose.

8. Psychology. In Thailand everything is supposed to be cheaper than in your home country. Don’t be foolish by these low prices and control your expenses, since buying an enormous amount of inexpensive things can be, in total, a quite expensive experience.

Most financial services: money exchange, advanced banking services and pulling money, are available for tourists in Haad Rin and Thong Sala.

The Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) can be easily found everywhere in Haad Rin and in Thong Sala main streets. Most of them accept prevalent credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and Diners Club. Exchange offices can be easily found as well in both Settlements.

Advanced banking services are available, of course, in a bank. There are seven Licensed banks (Public Companies) in Thailand: Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya (Krunsri Bank), Kasikornbank (Farmers Bank), Krung Thai Bank, Siam City Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, and Thai Military Bank. All of the above have branches in Koh Samui, and three of them (the Bank of Ayudhya, Siam City Bank and Siam Commercial Bank) can be found in Thong Sala.

Useful Information

Financial Services

Bank of Ayuddhya
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377044
Siam City Bank
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377051
Siam Commercial Bank
Thong Sala, tel. 077-377111
Safe Storage
Tel. 09-6505603, 09-9908313

If you’d lost your credit card – you can report the loss dialing the following numbers:
Visa, Mastercard (Bangkok)
Tel. 02-299 1990
American Express (Bangkok)
Tel. 02-273 0020

As I was planning my first vacation in Thailand, I’ve heard from my Thailand veteran friends two things that almost spoiled my whole trip. The first one was a promise that Thailand is a paradise. Of course, Thailand is extraordinary beautiful, the people are warm and honest, and the food is delicious. But if you expect to land in “Paradise” – nothing will really excite you. The second obstructive factor was budget estimation. Some of my best friends told me, that with a 40,000 baht budget I’d have the ability to travel “as a queen” in Thailand. What can I say? I never met such a modest, unpretentious queen… So here a word of advice: base your budget on more concrete information not on the estimations of someone who visited Thailand 10 years ago as a backpacker.

It a fact: the expenses gaps in Thailand can be huge. These are the gaps between cheaper North and more expensive island resorts; differences between basic accommodation and “western standard” accommodation; and gaps between a backpacker’s budget and a spoiled tourist’s one. The following information may be useful for you, if you are interested in planning your budget in Koh Phangan in advance and… the right way!

The costs of getting to Koh Phangan from Bangkok can vary from about 4,000 baht (if your transportation choice includes a flight to Koh Samui with “Bangkok Air” and sailing to Koh Phangan from Koh Samui by a ferry) to 650 baht (if you prefer to get there by a night bus).

The costs of accommodation depend on many factors, including the distance to the sea beach, season (a period between December and February considered as a high season, due to the wonderful weather conditions) air conditioning in the bungalow, access to hot water and other general factors. Air-conditioned bungalows on the front of the beach in high standard resorts such as Cocohut in Leela beach, Phangan Utopia in Haad Thong Lang, or Panviman in Thong Nai Pan will cost you in the high season about 2100 to 3500 baht per night (including a breakfast). The smallest bungalows, with no air condition and only cold water in the shower, quite far from the sea – could be as cheap as 200 baht per night. It should be mentioned, that the price refers to a whole bungalow, which could always be shared by two people. (Note that in most cases even three people can share a bungalow for additional pay).

Food is inexpensive in Koh Phangan – if you know how to choose the right place for your meal. The less you pay for your food In Thailand – the more you enjoy it. For the best meals in Koh Phangan I paid as little as 100 - 150 baht per meal, including the soup, salad and beverages. On the other hand, in a fancy restaurant you could end up paying up to 500 baht and the food wouldn’t necessarily be better (of better quality or taste). One beer costs 40-50 baht (the small one) or 60 – 70 (the big one); one cocktail costs about 130 – 150 baht, and for single aperitif drink you could be charged up to 250 baht.

Thailand is widely known for its traditional body massage, so don’t skip it during your stay in Koh Phangan. The usual costs vary from 200 baht (for the food massage) to 300 baht (for the Thai Traditional herb massage; Oil massage; or Swedish massage).

If you came to the island and you’re not suitably dressed for the beach life – you can purchase everything you need in Thongsala or Haad Rin shops. T-shirt will cost you 100 – 300 baht, pants or skirt – 250 – 600 baht, cheap sunglasses about 200 baht, and a pair of sandals – 130 – 400 baht. Try not to pay more than the prices above, because you’ll probably never use any of your new clothes again.

Taxi fares depend on the distances and amount of passengers. For example, traveling from Haad Rin to Thongsala in a jeep full of passengers will cost you about 50 baht, whereas traveling alone from Haad Rin to Thong Nai Pan could be as expensive as 300 baht. Long tail more information about transportation options and prices within the island territory can be found here. Information about special activities and their costs can be found here.

What is the name of the currency used in Thailand?

The name of the currency used in Thailand is baht (THB). Using this site, you will be able to find the exchange rate of bath to other major currencies.

Koh Phangan – financial matters

Koh Phangan offers every tourist, equipped with, either a credit card, foreign currency or traveler checks- plenty of places to get cash, especially in Thongsala and Haad Rin. In my opinion, when it comes to money issues - your first choice should be using your traveler checks. Most bungalows, including relatively expensive ones, have no safes but lockers, commonly located in the main office of the resort, and traveler checks are the only method of payment that can be recovered if either lost or stolen.

Bear in mind, that theft is highly uncommon in Koh Phangan. Even in Bangkok – the city that is far from being as calm and serene as Koh Phangan is – I had the opportunity to experience firsthand what Thai honesty really is. One hour after I’ve arrived in Bangkok, I tried calling overseas using my credit card, as I was waiting to my order in one of the airport’s restaurants. I’m not so gifted, apparently, because my call failed again and again. Completely frustrated, I went back to the restaurant. Suddenly, I felt somebody was running after me. I was right; it was an old cleaning lady who picked up my handbag with the credit cards and cash in it. Although the amount of cash in the handbag was huge compare to her salary – she had put a big effort on finding me in the huge crowd only to return my loss. Thanks to her, my magical vacation in Koh Phangan was carried out with ease.

Even so, I think that no matter how honest our hosts are – there are always reasons to be cautious. In Koh Phangan, the closer you get to the time when a full moon party takes place – the more crowded the island is and all its resorts, especially these in Haad Rin. You can’t trust everybody. So if you prefer credit cards and cash to traveler checks –at least use a locker.

If you have a foreign currency – in Thongsala and Haad Rin you’ll find the best selection of exchange points, offering both Internet and telephone services. The exchange rates are supposed to be similar – however, after a detailed comparison you will be able find out the small differences between them. It happened to me only once – but I’m not sure if I actually tried hard enough.

If you’re using your credit card to withdraw cash – just remember that you pay commission to your bank for each withdrawal. To minimize your amount of withdrawals you should plan your expenses ahead. You may also find the following link useful for you.