Thailand has long been recognized as one of the world’s cheapest travel destinations. It’s safe for solo female travelers, has activities for all adventurers, and is super easy on the bank account. I’ve talked about how to travel to Bali on a budget, but now it’s time to focus on all the fun that can be found elsewhere! These tips come from my adventures in Krabi, Thailand, where I wrote down how much I spent throughout the day. The southern-west coast of Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches and hundreds of islands.
Includes popular beach destinations like the Phi Phi Islands (an excellent spot for island hopping) and lots of lush, scenic reefs and views.
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Rent a Scooter
I started the day early in Aonang and rented a scooter for 24 hours (฿75 baht / $2.30). You might want to learn about the local laws about renting a scooter and be aware that some drivers on the road can be daring. Breakfast was all about eating some of the local Thai food.
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Grab a Local Breakfast
I treated myself to Thai Iced Coffee (one of my favorites and so deliciously sweet!), Seafood Noodle Soup, Watermelon, and Rice (60 baht / $1.80).
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Budget for Gas
After the fuel stop (50 baht / $1.50), I drove about 45 km through winding jungle roads to the Tiger Cave Temple. I had to stop with my friend Apple several times to ask for directions but luckily, she speaks fluent Thai! Unless you’re traveling with a Thai friend, I recommend getting a SIM card at the airport to access mobile data in most places if you need directions.
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Go for a hike to a temple
We explored the Tiger Cave Temple, although there are plenty of free places to walk and explore in Thailand if you happen to be in a different area! For the Tiger Cave Temple, however, we checked out the cave, which was free, and then decided to climb the 1,237 steps to the top of the mountain to see the massive golden Buddha shrine… and the stunning views of Krabi! It wasn’t the most accessible hike I’ve ever done (read: it was the hardest!), but it was worth it. Another option if you don’t like hiking but want to take advantage of the free things.
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Try the street food
After our tiring hike, we stopped at a little cabin full of locals and food that smelled so good. It was typical Thai street food, and we devoured it! We have pumpkin and coconut soup, spring rolls with shrimp and tofu, fish cakes with sweet chili sauce, pad thai with shrimp, and a virgin coconut to try.
We bought a red bean and coconut dessert and sweet little balls of native coconut spring rolls with coconut milk to take home. It was the best meal I have eaten in Thailand! And all this cost us only ฿50 baht / $1.50.
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Budget for Souvenirs
When traveling on a budget, there is often not much room for souvenirs… but I couldn’t help it in Thailand! We stopped at a lovely jewelry store where I bought a pair of beautiful pearl earrings for 150 baht/$4.50. After the jewelry, we find a local market full of activities and vendors selling clothes, produce and food.
