Booking Thailand Accommodation
Booking Thailand Accommodation
Thailand accommodation is cheap but it still adds up and bad experiences can ruin a place in your mind. You will most likely be staying in bungalows, guest houses, or budget hotels. There aren’t very many real hostels.
Here are some tips for booking Thailand accommodations:
Always ask to see a room. This is normal and is not considered rude at all.
Prices are almost always negotiable if you are staying more than a few days…especially in low season.
When you go to see the room, check the fan and water tap for functionality.
If you are unsure about a place, just book one night. See how it goes and either pay for longer or shop around in the morning. Despite the pressure to pay up front, it is not unusual to pay each day as you stay there rather than in advance. If you go more than a couple of days without paying, don’t be surprised if a grumpy Thai woman knocks on your door early in the morning!
Many places are nice enough to store your rucksack behind the counter while you explore an area first.
Don’t be surprised in seedy areas in Bangkok, Pattaya, or even Phuket if you are asked at the front desk if you would like a girl. For solo male travelers, one may knock on your door at night to offer “services”.
Try to check beach places at low tide. A bungalow may look like the perfect setting in the evening but throughout the afternoon the water may give way for rocks, urchins, and stinking seaweed like this place.
If you choose one of the top guidebook picks, be prepared for a crowd, bad service, noise, but lots of partying and opportunities to meet people.
When you check into a place, be prepared to provide your passport number. If you don’t have your number memorized (which you probably will by the end of the trip) then have it in hand already. Don’t go digging into your hidden money belt in front of everyone!
Never, EVER, take one of the places that the touts are pushing with their signs and clipboards when you arrive at a new place.
Its a good idea to travel with a sleep sheet (silk is best) to have a barrier between you and a nasty mattress where fleas or mites might have set up camp. Try www.jagbags.co.nz for a good option.
Research hotels in Bangkok
Thailand accommodation is generally a very good value and you can be quite comfortable for less than US $7 a night!
