LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & costs
Thailand is an inexpensive country to visit by almost any standards. Those on a budget should be able to get by on 300B to 500B per day outside Bangkok, covering basic food, guesthouse accommodation, nonalcoholic beverages and local transport, but not film, souvenirs, tours, long-distance transport or vehicle hire. Travellers with more money to spend will find that for around 600B to 1000B per day, life can be quite comfortable.
In Bangkok there's almost no limit to the amount you could spend, but if you avoid the tourist ghettos and ride the public bus system you can get by on slightly more than you would spend in the provinces. Spending 1000B or more per day for accommodation, you'll be able to enjoy air-con, hot water, TV and operator-assisted telephone in the provinces, while in Bangkok and larger cities 1500B to 2000B per day brings with it all the modern amenities - IDD phone, 24-hour hot water and air-con, carpeting, swimming pool, fitness centre and all-night room service. Of course you can spend even more if you stay in the best rooms in the best hotels and eat at the most expensive restaurants in town.
HOW MUCH?
1st-class bus Bangkok to Surat Thani - 380B
Beach bungalow on Ko Pha-Ngan - 150-300B
One-day Thai cooking course, Chiang Mai - 800B
National park admission - 200B
Dinner for two at a midrange restaurant - 300B
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
