"Roam Thailand" trip, anyone been or have any advice?

lea

Hello

I have booked a 16 day trip to Thailand through GAP Adventures and STA Travel: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/ATRT and I fly out a week on Sunday!

I am a sole female traveller aged 27 who has never done anything like this before! I was wondering if anyone has been to Thailand or done something similar, and has any advice? I have been researching what to take as I will be trekking in the jungle, be travelling on sleeper trains, and then chilling out on beaches! This is very different to my usual (package!) holidays where its not a problem if you've forgotten something.

Do I bother with things like an ipod? Is it worth taking my mobile? Questions questions!!

Thanks for reading

Lea

Donnie

How could we tell you not to take your mobile or iPod? That is "up to you".

Check to see if your mobile telephone is unlocked to any network SIM. If it is buy a HAPPY SIM for £1 when you arrive in Thailand. If it isn't get your phone unlocked before you leave. Should be from no cost up until £10 for the unlocking service.

Don't take too many things, because you will have to carry them. Don't take things that you can buy there, such as mosquito repellant.

Enjoy your trip.

Moonchild

Well done - you'll have an amazing time, and hopefully meet some great people.

Jumping on a plane to Bangkok as a wide eyed 17 year old and travelling through Asia for a year (by myself) was the single best thing I ever did.

It's 16 days of your life. Leave your iPod and mobile at home. Seriously. You'll be experiencing the hustle and bustle and noises of everyday Thai life, the jungle at night - far more interesting that anything on your MP3 player. Resist calling home everyday, or updating your Facebook status every 10 minutes, if you have relatives or friends that might worry, send them an e-mail from an internet cafe every 5 days. But you seriously don't need them, and it would detract from your trip if you do have them.

molby73

Sounds like a great trip.

Pack light as you'll be lugging your bag/rucksack around and on and off trains and it can be tiring in the heat. Also you will end up just wearing a lot of the same stuff. Some great snide clothes to be had there as well.

Plenty of travellers websites out there with packing tips but just to answer your direct questions then yes take both your ipod and your phone but make sure you have a day sack or something that you can keep them in and which you will keep close to you at all times. Money, passport and cards should be kept in an undergarment money belt.

I'm sure there will be other lone travellers in your group so you'll have no bother meeting people.

I'm off to SE Asia including Bangkok and Chang Mai soon myself. Can't wait!!

Enjoy.

molby73

Those sleeper trains are great but when you've got a 25 stone sweaty german snoring two feet away from you the Ipod will come in very useful!

lea

Thanks for your replies!

I am looking into what luggage to take, it looks like we need something that is suitable to carry all our belongings on the plane, sleeper trains, etc, then something smaller to take on the trek to carry everything we need for that (including sleeping bag etc so it can't be too small). Can anyone recommend the type of luggage to take?

Thanks again

Lea

hannhol

I did something similiar about 18 months ago, only to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Don't bother with a large towel, take a handtowl and a sarong but less space in your bag
Most things you can get out there, but tampons and the like can be hard to come by/expensive so you should take those
Insect repellent!
Don't pack too many clothes but comfy shoes are vital
Sunglasses and a hat
Take something warm. I don't know what the trains are like in Thailand but the ones in Vietnam were very cold!

I would also say to take your phone and ipod, firstly phone you will probably leave switched off, but it is peace of mind for you and family and also, you'll probably want it when you come back to the UK. Secondly Ipod, defintiely if you are doing a sleeper train and again you'll have long flights there and back.

You should invest in a decent bakc pack, the type that has a smaller detachable rucksack is good, and you can get one that you strap sleeping bags onto.

But well done, you'll have a great time, best thing I ever did!

molby73

If you spend any sort of decent money on a back pack then make sure you go to an outdoor shop and get fitted for it properly as they can differ wildly in comfort depending on your body shape - hips etc.

For that sort of trip without any majorly lengthy time carrying then fit perhaps isn't so important and you can get ones with wheels and a handle as well as straps.

annie123

I take (including my trips to Thailand ) a small rucksack, 22" tall x 20" wide and 9" deep, it also has 3 zip pockets, I can get everything I need for a 3 week Asia trip in there including medical kit.

Decide what you want to take, then halve it, or better still, put in all in a rucksack then walk around with it in the street for at least 2 hours then imagine doing that in Thai heat and humidity.;)

carry onto the plane with you in case your luggage doesn't arrive at the same time as you:

Pain killers/insect repellent are essential, as are lady products, return ticket and a photo copy of passport, cash and card.
Anything else can be bought

Wear on the plane, long trousers, smart t-shirt and thin fleece or cardie, useful for over air conditioned places and comfy shoes.

rest of medical kit comes next
money belt
suntan lotion
sunglasses
hat
3 pairs of shorts...1 on, 1 off and 1 drying;)
2 sarongs..........always carry one with you, needed for temple visits to cover shoulders etc.
5 tops/ t shirts
undies.
I wear flat Clark's springer sandals and take 2 pairs, does me for everything except for the odd hotel restaurant where I wear the sandals that I wore on the flight over.
swim wear x 2...I have a 'smart' black swimsuit which i wear with a long black sarong for evenings

Head torch or at least torch
something to read or pack of cards etc, for those quiet moments.
deodorant
toothbrush and paste
shower gel
travel wash..£1 in super drug
hand sanitiser gel...£1 in superdrug
small packet of babywipes...very cooling when its really hot for a quick freshen up
and last but not least a camera.

Main towns are well stocked for clothes and essentials, boots the chemist even sell Valium over the counter.

There are many more bits I would take but as you're going as part of a group you shouldn't need them.



Things you do not need, but I have seen carried around:
nail varnish and associated stuff
make up....melts off your face
hair rollers as I once saw a girl with!!
a travel iron
shoes with heals

Have a fab time. the Thais are lovely friendly people and don't worry it does get better after you leave the noise of bangkok;)

PS. Dont forget to buy your self a pair of fisherman's trousers, they really are very very comfy to wear.

Donnie

Are you being ironic?

Decide what you want to take, then halve it,

and then you go on to describe the most superfluous list of items.

Pain killers/insect repellent are essential, as are lady products, No
Return ticket and a photo copy of passport, cash and card. Yes
Anything else can be bought

Wear on the plane, long trousers, smart t-shirt and thin fleece or cardie, useful for over air conditioned places and comfy shoes. Smart T Shirt??

(rest of medical kit comes next
money belt
suntan lotion
sunglasses
hat) No

Have you actually checked the current weather in Thailand?

{3 pairs of shorts...1 on, 1 off and 1 drying
2 sarongs..........always carry one with you, needed for temple visits to cover shoulders etc.
5 tops/ t shirts
undies.
I wear flat Clark's springer sandals and take 2 pairs, does me for everything except for the odd hotel restaurant where I wear the sandals that I wore on the flight over.
swim wear x 2...I have a 'smart' black swimsuit which i wear with a long black sarong for evenings } Personal choice

{Head torch or at least torch
something to read or pack of cards etc, for those quiet moments.
deodorant
toothbrush and paste
shower gel
travel wash..£1 in super drug
hand sanitiser gel...£1 in superdrug
small packet of babywipes...very cooling when its really hot for a quick freshen up} No

Most of those things can be purchased in a local 7/11 in Thailand and they'll be cheaper.

This is a sixteen day guided tour, not a one year solo backpacking trip. Pretty much anything you can get in the UK, you can get in Thailand.

Please just pack the basics. Take mosquito repellant to Thailand? What are you thinking? Think that they don't sell it there? Local brands start at around a pound. I use Johnsons 'Off' at the equivalent of £2.40. You can buy single use sachets for 10p.

Thais don't use toothpaste or brush their teeth? Come on now.

Fisherman's trousers? Maybe fifteen years ago. Ok, ok...they are timeless.

You are mad in the nicest way. I'll stop now.

annie123

Donnie wrote: »

and then you go on to describe the most superfluous list of items.
Most of those things can be purchased in a local 7/11 in Thailand and they'll be cheaper.

This is a sixteen day guided tour, not a one year solo backpacking trip. Pretty much anything you can get in the UK, you can get in Thailand.

Please just pack the basics. Take mosquito repellant to Thailand? What are you thinking? Think that they don't sell it there? Local brands start at around a pound. I use Johnsons 'Off' at the equivalent of £2.40. You can buy single use sachets for 10p.

Thais don't use toothpaste or brush their teeth? Come on now.

Fisherman's trousers? Maybe fifteen years ago. Ok, ok...they are timeless.

You are mad in the nicest way. Thank you hun ;)I'll stop now.

you bored tonight? you've not had a go at me in ages sweetie.

Its a 16 day guided trip all she needs are the superficial bits as you put it, but then you go on to say "take the basics", if lady products and a toothbrush ain't basic,:eek: then I'd like to know what is and who gets off a plane after a very long flight and goes shopping for holiday basics that they already have at home?
come on, you're tired tonight.

And I still have my fisherman's trousers but I do only wear them in the garden in the UK.