Comments on: How to Spend Two Weeks and $1,400 in Thailand http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zora O'Neill@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24633 Zora O'Neill@twitter Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:14:33 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24633 By: cobalt http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24628 cobalt Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:55:06 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24628 @maspan I do use the kitty system even if just traveling with one other person as long as there's still some shared costs. It doesn't have to require much upfront work. For instance, most wallets have either a pocket or a divider so you can easily separate your individual funds & the communal funds. To start of the communal funds, both people just contribute $20 USD or 1,000 baht or some other easy & common denomination. Say that's gone after multiple cabs, then everyone just pops in another bill. If there's anything left over, it's probably not going to be a huge amount, and it can go towards drinks or snacks or something else that everyone can share. It makes things so much easier than trying to remember who paid for what and dividing amounts to make sure things are even. If I'm traveling with a close friend, I don't really mind if amounts paid are not equal (i.e. if I overpay, I don't care). But equal splitting of costs is still usually what's aimed for and it's much less effort to achieve w/ communal funds in a kitty. @maspan I do use the kitty system even if just traveling with one other person as long as there’s still some shared costs. It doesn’t have to require much upfront work. For instance, most wallets have either a pocket or a divider so you can easily separate your individual funds & the communal funds. To start of the communal funds, both people just contribute $20 USD or 1,000 baht or some other easy & common denomination. Say that’s gone after multiple cabs, then everyone just pops in another bill. If there’s anything left over, it’s probably not going to be a huge amount, and it can go towards drinks or snacks or something else that everyone can share. It makes things so much easier than trying to remember who paid for what and dividing amounts to make sure things are even. If I’m traveling with a close friend, I don’t really mind if amounts paid are not equal (i.e. if I overpay, I don’t care). But equal splitting of costs is still usually what’s aimed for and it’s much less effort to achieve w/ communal funds in a kitty.

]]> By: maspan http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24598 maspan Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:41:40 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24598 @orejitasmiamor That's interesting! I'd run into it informally before (and agreed, usually don't mind), but this was the first time I'd seen such an official demarcation. Kind of nice and upfront, though! @orejitasmiamor That’s interesting! I’d run into it informally before (and agreed, usually don’t mind), but this was the first time I’d seen such an official demarcation. Kind of nice and upfront, though!

]]> By: Podger http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24522 Podger Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:44:42 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24522 Wow, you overspent wildly. It's easy to get decent lodging for $15 - $50 per night (depending on the location). Wow, you overspent wildly. It’s easy to get decent lodging for $15 – $50 per night (depending on the location).

]]> By: swirrlygrrl http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24520 swirrlygrrl Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:24:52 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24520 @orejitasmiamor Agreed. As I don't make what the locals make, I am willing to pay the foreigner tax as long as it isn't too egregious (usually about double for daily expenses like a taxi or fruit from a stall or such, since it is almost inevitably still a tenth of the price in Canada). But then again, I am always a tourist, even if a long-staying one, rather than an expat. @orejitasmiamor Agreed. As I don’t make what the locals make, I am willing to pay the foreigner tax as long as it isn’t too egregious (usually about double for daily expenses like a taxi or fruit from a stall or such, since it is almost inevitably still a tenth of the price in Canada). But then again, I am always a tourist, even if a long-staying one, rather than an expat.

]]> By: orejitasmiamor http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24494 orejitasmiamor Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:07:19 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24494 This sounds like an amazing experience! The "for tourists only" pricing is not limited to Thailand, but is fairly common in low and middle-income countries where most of the tourists come from much wealthier (typically western) countries. In most parts of Africa, for example, it is pretty easy to pick out Europeans or Americans who can pay more than a few cents for something. Unless I feel like I am being seriously ripped off, I usually don't mind. This sounds like an amazing experience! The “for tourists only” pricing is not limited to Thailand, but is fairly common in low and middle-income countries where most of the tourists come from much wealthier (typically western) countries. In most parts of Africa, for example, it is pretty easy to pick out Europeans or Americans who can pay more than a few cents for something. Unless I feel like I am being seriously ripped off, I usually don’t mind.

]]> By: eemusings@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24478 eemusings@twitter Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:54:07 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24478 Enjoyed this! I'm going there next year and glad to hear the food is cheap and plentiful (I'm Asian and SE Asian is my fave. Hopefully the boy can handle it). Enjoyed this! I’m going there next year and glad to hear the food is cheap and plentiful (I’m Asian and SE Asian is my fave. Hopefully the boy can handle it).

]]> By: maspan http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24473 maspan Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:55:29 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24473 @cobalt I looked into that budget route to Koh Samui, and yeah, it was totally worth the splurge. (Especially since we were coming from Chiang Mai, it would have taken about two whole days to get there through cheaper means.) Do you use your kitty system even if you're traveling with just one other person? I see it making sense for larger groups, but it sounds like it requires a bit more upfront organization than I usually have! @cobalt I looked into that budget route to Koh Samui, and yeah, it was totally worth the splurge. (Especially since we were coming from Chiang Mai, it would have taken about two whole days to get there through cheaper means.)

Do you use your kitty system even if you’re traveling with just one other person? I see it making sense for larger groups, but it sounds like it requires a bit more upfront organization than I usually have!

]]> By: selenana http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24465 selenana Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:25:28 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24465 @aeroaeroaero I got the Delta Skymiles card after reading that airline card article on this site. It's no fee for the first year. @aeroaeroaero I got the Delta Skymiles card after reading that airline card article on this site. It’s no fee for the first year.

]]> By: cobalt http://thebillfold.com/2012/11/how-to-spend-two-weeks-and-1400-in-thailand/#comment-24463 cobalt Thu, 15 Nov 2012 01:23:31 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=17887#comment-24463 Sounds like a great trip! When traveling with friends, I've found it helpful to start a "kitty" of common funds to use for things like cabs / other shared costs. Pretty much, everyone would chip in an equal small amount of money at the beginning of the trip that would go into a designated coin purse. Anytime there was a cost that we would split equally (cabs, tickets to something we all attended, meals to be split, etc) we would pull from that fund. Much less mental calculation / memorizing of who bought what to think of! Btw, your description of the Koh Samui airport brought back some great memories. I'm typically a low budget traveler (i.e. will stay in hostel dorm beds), but I'm still glad I "splurged" for a direct flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok instead of going the budget route via Surat Thani / Air Asia. Instead of waking up at 4am to catch a ferry to catch a mini-bus to catch the flight at Surat Thani, I had a late night direct flight that let me spend a relaxing day at Koh Samui and then fly out of that beautiful airport (it seriously looks like a resort!). Sounds like a great trip! When traveling with friends, I’ve found it helpful to start a “kitty” of common funds to use for things like cabs / other shared costs. Pretty much, everyone would chip in an equal small amount of money at the beginning of the trip that would go into a designated coin purse. Anytime there was a cost that we would split equally (cabs, tickets to something we all attended, meals to be split, etc) we would pull from that fund. Much less mental calculation / memorizing of who bought what to think of!

Btw, your description of the Koh Samui airport brought back some great memories. I’m typically a low budget traveler (i.e. will stay in hostel dorm beds), but I’m still glad I “splurged” for a direct flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok instead of going the budget route via Surat Thani / Air Asia. Instead of waking up at 4am to catch a ferry to catch a mini-bus to catch the flight at Surat Thani, I had a late night direct flight that let me spend a relaxing day at Koh Samui and then fly out of that beautiful airport (it seriously looks like a resort!).

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