E.faq2

How much money do I need?
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It is impossible to answer to such a question as some people are able to stay on 150-200 baht a day and other will need more than 2.500 or more just for a room.
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So what we will try to do is to give you some indication for the average tourist who used to stay in hotels in the same range of prices than the Welkom Inn in Pattaya.
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But first you should know that Pattaya is almost the cheapest destination in Thailand especially for rooms. The reason is competition. During the period between 1987 and 1995, people got completely out of their mind and thought that the number of tourists arrivals would continue to raise at a rate well over 10-15% a year and they build 25.000 additional rooms. Consequently a large over supply and a deadly price war.

Lodging

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For a room with air-con, warm and cold water, satellite TV, wall to wall carpeting, double or single occupancy.
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Bangkok: 6 to 850 baht minimum (no swimming pool)
Chiang Mai: also but near 1.000 if you don't want to have to get up to switch off the light and even more if you wish a lamp on you bedside table. (No swimming pool)
Ko Samui: Chawaeng Beach from 850 if air-con from 600 with fan (closed to the sea). Other beaches cheaper to much cheaper but less to much less comfort.
Phuket: at Patong and off season and if lucky around 1.000 baht, other beaches prices open to discussion.
Pattaya: large choice of rooms from 450-600 baht in hotels or guesthouses with swimming pool. Without swimming pool, price should start around 300-350.
Province: prices are rising quickly but also the confort is improving. Count around 500 baht for a room clean but with curtains in very light material. 600 to 800 for better rooms. Exceptions: some really nice and new hotels have so few customers that they announce very low rates (2 years ago, in Nan I paid 450 baht for a room that would have cost me at least 800 baht anywhere else and in Chachoengsao we slept in a brand new hotel named something like the 'Royal Park Palace' (sic) for 600 baht).
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Note that most of 4 and 5 stars hotels over-charge you if you bring a companion to spend the night with you (4 to 600 baht). Hypocritically they pretend that the purpose is to discourage prostitution. But in private they will admit that this over- charge represent a respectable share of their profits.

European food

For European food, Pattaya or Chiang Mai are the cheapest. Bangkok is about 15-20% more expensive, Phuket near 30% and Chawaeng Beach on Ko Samui 20-30%.as long as we speak about independent restaurants. We mean restaurants not depending from an hotel.
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Most of the time an European meal in a good hotel is at least 30 to 60 % more expensive and often not as good as a meal in a small Italian, French, Belgian, English, Aussie or German restaurants.
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What it cost: a green salad 50 baht, a shrimp cocktail 100-120 baht, a fillet (at least 200gr) with pepper sauce and a lot of French fries 170 - 200 baht, a chocolate mousse with real dark Belgian chocolate: 75 baht (prices at the Hippo Restaurant and Piano Bar from the Welkom Inn).
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Beer: Heineken, Carlsberg or local Singha or Kloster: 55-75 baht
Wine: start again to be pretty expensive: but a carafe of 0,50 liter of imported red or white wine cost you - at least in Pattaya - 250-350 baht. As for a bottle of a "Grand Ordinaire du Patron" count 4-550 baht.
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Coke-sprite-water: 30-40 baht (fresh pressed orange juice: 50-60 baht)
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Breakfast: American breakfast from 65 to 95 baht.
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Price include taxes and services (Tips are left at your appreciation)
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In Phuket or Ko Samui (Chawaeng) count between 10 and 20 % more.

Thai food

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There is such a large choice of restaurants and different styles of restaurants that it is strictly impossible to help you draw a budget on this aspect of your trip.
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But let us say that most of the large Thai restaurants in a city like Pattaya will cost you around 150 to 250 per people, one drink included.
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In small open restaurants or even at food cart along the street, food is much much cheaper but don't forget to check the menu because there are some false cheap restaurants. I explain: for instance in Pattaya on Central Road, a few years ago there was a small restaurant named Leng Kee's. It was one of the best and became quickly very well known. The dishes changed and became more sophisticated and the prices have started to raise.
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Now if you stop to a real small restaurant most of the dishes should cost you between 35 and 75 baht, as long as you don't exaggerate with seafood whose prices are raising very quickly (especially lobster and crabs).
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Street and beach food

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Let us speak clearly: we have nothing against food stalls or beach vendors. We even recognize that some help really beautiful food and very often my self I stop at one to buy some dishes, mostly soups.
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I just want to warn you and make you think before you order any kind of food: from these shops because they don't have fridge nor ice-box to store their meats or fishes away from the eat (26 to 36 degrees). So you should absolutely avoid all seafood and giblets. Also if the dish you order smell even very little, throw it away or leave it. But be charitable. Don't make a fuss about it. Pay your 20-30 baht and go away telling that you don't feel hungry any more.
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Think: maybe you have lost half a dollar... but there are pretty good chances that you have saved the price of a visit to a doctor and a lot of medicines... and maybe you have even escaped 2 or 3 days holiday's spend on an hospital bed.
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Enjoy eating on street stall but wisely and you will be safe and have memorable memories But for large meals choose more established restaurants.
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For 'touristica' forget Imodium and similar drugs - because they are drugs - and that they need time to work and provoke chemical reactions. Better buy a few packs of 'Fybogel' - available almost all the world around - it is only soft fibers. You mix it in a glass of water and drink it immediately. One glass after meal and one at bed time. If not cured after 3 bags, better go see a doctor your touristica maybe infectious, and the quicker treated the quickest you will be well again. Small tip to fight tiredness which usually come with 'touristica' eat 3 'becozine forte' (a mixture of vitamins B) a day.

Mosquitos Repellents

The best one and only one really effective is Jaico, a product from Belgium. It is maybe a little expensive but trustworthy and you can find it in all pharmacy in Thailand as well as shopping centers).But be carefull. Lately we have heard some complains about the product sold in spray (plastic bottle). So when you have the choice, choose the one sold with roll (in glass bottle) or the small plastic bottle (half the glass one) but with roll and not spray.

Jaiko.JPG (4174 bytes)

Sports

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The prices for all sports will be found in the "sport section' which is comming soon.

Night Life

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Get your self an expert: jump to http://www.pattayagogos.com/

To tip or not to tip
this the question
J

A lot of people ask if they should or should not tip in Thailand and if yes, when and what is an appropriate tip.

The answer is not easy because a little subtle. First: you tip only on tourists related activities like restaurants, hotels, bars, etc... but not within sport activities or for service in an attraction park.

Second you tip a taxi driver only if he has given an outstanding service or if he has encoun-
tered unexpected troubles while driving you to your destination. But in this case, we should better not to name it a tip but a fair increase of the fare agreed upon.

In hotels and if you stay more than one or two days, a clever move is to tip the room maid on the day of arrival. The result is that the room will be kept more clean and be quickly cleaned. Also she will not forget any of you small habits and if you have special wishes like having two pillows or more towels or one or two more glasses for the mini-bar, you will get them and this every day without exception.

In restaurants and bars and especially those who cater to European and American tourists, the salary is ridiculously low and a important part of the income of the staff is expected to come from tips. (Salary in a factory for a worker age 18 is closed to 5-6.000 baht. In a restaurant, outside large hotels: 3-4.000 baht. In a beer bar: 2.800 to 3.500 for a good cashier).

But what is an appropriate tip?

The tip is not calculate in percent like in Europe. It depends mostly of the class of the restaurant and of the quality of the service. But let say:

For a bill of less than 100 baht: tip 5-10 baht
For a bill from 100 till 3-400 baht: tip 15-30 baht (average 20 baht)
For a bill over 400 baht: 20 to 50 baht

For any bill over one thousand baht and only if the service is outstanding you will give 100 baht and more but you are not expected to leave any amount in excess of 5% of the total bill.

1st remark: There is not one and only way of tipping. First there is the tip you leave on the plate when the waiter brings your change back. This tip will be shared among the whole staff. The second tip is the one that you give directly (put in the hand) of one particular waiter or waitress. This tip will be kept by the one who received it. Therefore it is rude to tip an individual if your table has been attended also by other waiters/waitress. Then there are the tips that you may wish to add on the slip of the credit card payment. We would advise not to use this latest type of tipping as most of restaurant owners keep these tips for them self.

So when you pay with credit card don't forget to leave some small change as tip for the staff. Also remember that when you stay in an hotel and put drinks and meals on your final bill, that the staff who helps you, will not received any kind of gratification.

2nd remark: Never leave a tip of one bath... it is very insulting and could get you into trouble.

Final remark: the author leaves always a little more than the above amount when he goes eat outside with his wife and his two kids aged two and an half and 7, the last one asking quite a bit of patience from the staff (and his parents L).

By the way...
Did you know that you should never waï a waiter or waitress nor return a waï from a waiter or waitress. It show a lack of education and understanding of the meaning of a wai (a tokens of respect from an inferior to its superior, a child to his parents or an older sibling, and in business or political circles only a gesture of flattery). Accordingly, you will also notice that monks never return a waï, don't be surprised.

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About security
K

Thailand is certainly one of the more secure country in the world and walking at night through any Thai city is an experience much more relaxing than in most European cities. But you should not take this security for granted. You have always to keep in mind that the amount of money an average tourist spend in a day represent almost one month salary for an average city worker.
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Just a question: in your own country would you go out to disco or to have a drink with the pals on pay day evening with your full salary in cash in your wallet and will you open it wide every 5 minutes to let every body see how rich you are?
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So why do it here ?J
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Now a few other advices:
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If you are a woman, at night, better don't step in an empty baht-bus. Wait for one with at least a couple seating in the back with you
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Each driver of a taxi-motorcycle must wear a jacket with the colors of his head station, the name of his station (unfortunately often written only in Thai) and a number. Try always to remember at least the color and the number.
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Mostly at night, when going out alone, don't show off and remember that the small chain around your neck may be enough of a temptation to get you in troubles. (For a man, the chain must be a little larger and heavier) J
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Again for women and as you mother already told you: don't dress too sexy if you go out alone or with a boy or a man you expect to behave only as a friend. Don't unveil too much when sunbathing alone on a deserted beach. Also at night don't walk alone on a deserted beach where you were sunbathing half-naked in the afternoon or be ready for a good sprint J
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Back to table of contents	Pattaya guide	brought to you free of advertising by Welkom Inn Hotel The smallest resort in Pattaya
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Section 4, page 2, Table of contents
How much money do I need	To tip or not to tip? this the question
About security	Links and other related sites
Û FAQ part 1	Mosquitos repellents
ÛTO Welkom Inn	What to do in Pattaya Ü