If you’re visiting Thailand, there are ways to make the most of your money. Here are some tips to travel on a budget in Thailand.

Thailand is on many travel bucket lists, in part for being cost-effective. The white, sandy beaches, the rich cultural heritage, the mouthwatering food, the lively nightlife—all of those and more can be yours for a relatively low price.

However, if the wallet is looking a little tight, we’ve gathered all the local insights and tips on how you can make the most of your trip in Thailand while being on a budget. No need to spend like a king to be treated like one.

10 tips for travelling in Thailand on a budget

1. Avoid the taxi if you can

It’s not that uncommon to find taxis that will charge exorbitant prices, especially during rush hours, heavy rain, or going to and from popular tourist destinations. Make sure every taxi you jump into uses the meter like they’re supposed to, and be wary of those who detour from the fastest route to drive up the meter.

Check if your destination is near the MRT or the BTS. These public transportations may offer a cheaper method of getting to your destination, but note that it gets very crowded during rush hours.

Buses are the cheapest, although you will need plenty of planning as there routes can be quite complicated. We recommend downloading the ViaBus app beforehand to help.

2. Stay a bit away from the urban sprawl

Some areas in Bangkok are more popular than others when tourists look for accommodation. The Old Town, along the river, or any of the Greater Bangkok districts offer more budget-friendly rooms. Staying in Sukhumvit area means you’ll be close to many food spots, shopping malls, and nightlife venues. Those things also mean the prices will run a bit higher.

Consider looking at accommodations that may not be near attractions, but are near the BTS or the MRT. Stations such as Sanam Pao and Onnut don’t really have anything much to visit, but heading somewhere from there won’t take much time.

3. Travel during the low season

Fun fact: Thailand is not the most popular destination between April to May, and July to September. It will be easier and cheaper to book flights and find accommodation during this time as more rooms are available. Still, there’s a reason why it’s not popular to travel to Thailand during this time of year. April to May are the hottest months, so pack your sunscreen and portable fans. July to September is monsoon season, which makes it significantly harder to travel around the city.

4. Dine at local places

By local, we mean really, really local—the ones down the street with all the menus in Thai language. A good krapow with rice and topped with fried egg will cost around THB 60 (even less outside of Bangkok), and you can point at the pictures on the walls to order. Street food is also the way to go if you’re looking to try multiple things in one meal.

You might want to prep a handful of Thai phrases to order, ask how much something is, and saying thank you. You’ll find most Thais adoring foreigners who try to speak the language, even if it’s not perfect. Local places also tend to prefer cash, and rarely take card payments, so keep this in mind.

5. Avoid stores with no price tags

In contrary to the 2011 pop hit by Jessie J, one should not forget about the price tag. If a stall doesn’t list their price, they’re most likely giving out different prices for different people.

You can ask and try to bargain, but it’s most likely best to just keep walking until you find another stall. Chances are you’ll find another selling similar items in no time.

6. Haggle (where appropriate) for a decent price

Especially during your first trip to Thailand, it’s hard to resist the thrill of a tuk-tuk ride around town. While they’re not exactly the cheapest, it’s definitely a fun way to get to your destination. What you want to do is to make sure they know where exactly you are going to, and negotiate a good price. Once you get a price that feels acceptable for you, then you jump in. Whilst haggling isn’t that common in Thailand anymore, it is still very much common practice when it comes to tuk-tuks.

7. Visit free attractions in Thailand

There are many things to do and places to visit in Thailand that are completely free of charge. In Bangkok, take relaxing walks in parks (Lumphini Park, Benjakitti Park, Chatuchak Park), or visit museums (Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre, National Museum Bangkok, Erawan Museum), all free of charge. Most temples charge a very small fee for foreigners to enter, though you can likely find smaller temples that allow you to enter free of charge. The famous Wat Saket allows you to visit the sanctuary for free, but has a THB 50 fee if you want to walk up the Golden Mount.

It’s not just in Bangkok, either. Visiting Jomtien Beach and the Big Buddha Temple in Pattaya doesn’t cost anything, and hitting beaches in the South is also free.

8. Take advantage of happy hours (and generally cheaper nightlife)

Wondering how to explore Thailand on a budget? When you’re out to get something to drink, Thai beers are much cheaper than imported ones. Many restaurants and bars also offer generous happy hours, so those already-cheap beers come even cheaper. There’s various reasons why people flock to Khaosan, and one of them is how budget-friendly the drinks can be. If you’re willing to drink from buckets, you could get smashed for around THB 400.

9. Get acquainted with 7-Elevens

You can stock up a lot for cheap in the 7-Eleven convenience stores everywhere in Thailand. They’ve got snacks, convenience foods, hygiene products—you name it. It’s a great spend if you don’t feel like going anywhere and decide to spend some me-time in your room.

And if you haven’t tried the 7-Eleven toasties, you’re in for a good time.

10. Travel with overnight trains

Kill two birds with one stone with this trick. Trains are, of course, a cheaper alternative to plane tickets when travelling domestically, and they come extra cheap if you travel during night time versus day time. Plus, it saves you money on a night of accommodation. Just sleep as the train runs, then wake up and suddenly you’re in Chiang Mai. Thailand on a budget done right.

Before the advent of drones, people had to rely mostly on airplanes or helicopters to take aerial photographs. Now, thanks to increasing availability and decreasing price points of drones, as well as advances in obstacle avoidance technology, GPS navigation, battery life and camera stabilization, it certainly seems easier to take photographs from higher elevations.

But that doesn’t mean anyone with a drone can make excellent photographs. Here are some practical tips on the logistics of drone usage and suggestions to make better photos while traveling.

First, know the rules

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration oversees drone regulations, and FAADroneZone is the country’s official website for understanding drone requirements and managing drone services. If you are a recreational flyer, you must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, called the Recreational UAS Safety Test, before flying your drone.

The drone company DJI also has a detailed website that instructs drone users on local rules and regulations.

The basic rules for flying a drone as a hobbyist — that is, recreationally using a drone — are to fly the unmanned aircraft only at or below 400 feet, always keep the drone in sight, do not fly in restricted airspace and do not fly over groups of people. If you are flying your drone commercially, you must become a certificated remote pilot by passing the F.A.A.’s Part 107 test. This is a more extensive test and covers additional drone rules, airspace regulations and weather conditions.

Be aware that many countries may have different regulations. Anywhere you go, you may be fined or your aircraft may be confiscated if you do not adhere to the rules.

Understand what your drone can do

Drones are incredibly fast, maneuverable and precise. You can fly up to 400 feet and move laterally in an infinite number of directions to get the perfect shot. But first-time drone flyers often fly as high as possible and take pictures that lack a point of focus or a strong composition.

In order to get photos with the most detail, set your drone to the lowest ISO, usually 100. This is the feature that sets the camera’s sensitivity to light and was known as the film speed back in the days of film. To achieve the best quality pictures, it’s best to shoot in RAW format, which is a digital image file that is unprocessed and contains the most amount of data. When processed, this will produce photographs with the most detail.

After you have purchased your drone, it’s good practice to regularly update the firmware, which is software that provides basic instructions for the craft’s hardware to function successfully, like the drone and remote controller working together.

Use maps and the weather forecast, and time it right

Whether you consult an atlas or follow your car or phone’s navigation, maps are very effective tools for seeing the shape of a river, lake or pond and provide ideas for good aerial subjects.

Once you have a location, shoot during the “golden hours” — taking photos around sunrise and sunset will often produce the most dramatic pictures with warm light and shadows. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast to know the sunrise and sunset times and also what the weather will be. High winds and rainy or snowy weather make flying a drone much more difficult.

Look for patterns, lines and light while flying

Many times a drone photographer will make discoveries from the air. You might launch with the idea of photographing one thing and, while in the air, you might discover something more compelling. Rivers, solar arrays, farm fields and trees can provide engaging patterns and lines.

And don’t forget the light and shadows, either. Good light can make or break a photo. Sometimes the best light means a golden sunrise, as we said earlier, but sometimes it means an overcast day with diffused light. On cloudy days, shooting straight down on a subject can be very effective.

Taking drone photos at twilight can also be very captivating. This is the time after sunset and before nightfall. Set the drone to manual exposure, set the ISO to 100 and experiment with long exposures. Some drones can take up to eight second exposures and maintain sharp focus.

Study an expert’s work

One of the great ways to make your photos better is to study the work of a professional photographer.

The photographer George Steinmetz has been making aerial photographs for decades — even before the rise of affordable drones — while working with publications like National Geographic and The New York Times. He has published five books on aerial photography.

“For intimate aerial photography, a drone is exceptional,” he said, but adding that any type of aerial photography can be transformative.

“You see the world in a way you’re not accustomed to,” he said. “It adds context and a new perspective.”

Maintaining a skincare routine at 30,000 feet may seem challenging, but with a few expert tips, you can step off the plane looking as refreshed as when you boarded.

As you embark on your next long-haul flight, don’t let the dry, recycled cabin air dull your glow. Maintaining a skincare routine at 30,000 feet may seem challenging, but with a few expert tips, you can step off the plane looking as refreshed as when you boarded.

But first, let’s understand the common skin concerns people face during flights.

Dr Seema Oberoi Lall, consultant in dermatology at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, explained that long-haul flights present specific challenges to skin health, primarily due to the filtered and recirculated air in the cabin.

“This environment tends to be drier, leading to dehydration concerns for passengers. Additionally, the enclosed space and the sheer volume of people contribute to stagnant air, especially during extended flights exceeding six to eight hours. This recirculated air may harbor various pathogens, germs, and allergens, posing a risk for those prone to allergies who might experience breakouts,” she added.

So, how can you keep your skin healthy? Recently, Aashi Adani, a beauty blogger, took to Instagram to share a few in-flight skincare tips.

• Never wear makeup, especially on a long flight, as it can clog your pores.
• Flights tend to make the skin very dry, so carry a mist to hydrate your skin throughout the journey.
• Carry a sheet mask to get that extra hydration. Additionally, the leftover serum can go on your hands and neck.
• Always wear SPF. When we are at such a height, even one hour of exposure to the sun gives the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed.
• Always make sure to keep the windows closed as much as possible.
• Carry any lip balm to keep your lips hydrated.

Adding to this, Dr Lall said, “It’s essential to drink an ample amount of water to keep your skin well-hydrated. Don’t forget the delicate under-eye area—applying a specialised cream can keep your eyes refreshed, combating the tired look that often accompanies long flights.”

For those prone to acne, steer clear of greasy products, as breakouts can be triggered after extended travel. “Opt for oil-free moisturisers, especially if you have oily-prone skin, to maintain a healthy complexion throughout the journey,” Dr Lall added.

Once you disembark from the flight, consider taking a refreshing bath and changing your clothes. “Airports and flights expose travelers to a plethora of allergens, given the convergence of individuals from around the globe, each carrying their unique set of allergies and germs. These closed environments, sustained for extended periods, aren’t the most conducive to skin health. Therefore, it’s advisable to prioritise personal hygiene—cleanse yourself, take a bath, and change into fresh clothing upon reaching your destination,” she concluded.

Exchanging your foreign currency back to U.S. dollars is the worst option.

When you’re packing for your trip, you may be thinking about the best ways to get foreign currency to spend while you’re traveling, but you’re probably not thinking about what to do with your leftover bills and coins when you come home. The last thing you want to have to do is exchange back to U.S. dollars and lose 2 to 5% (or more) on the exchange. Here are some ideas for what to do instead.

Save it for your next trip. If you think you might take another trip to a country using the same currency in the near future, hang onto it. You can use it to pay for things when you’re back in the country, and that means you won’t have to worry about having some cash on hand before you travel again. It’s great to land at the airport, hop in a taxi, and then worry about getting cash (without paying ATM fees) after getting a good night of sleep. Keep in mind, however, that with high inflation in many countries right now, it may not be advisable to hold on to every currency.

Load it onto a transit card. If you want to save the currency for your next trip but you’re worried about remembering it or losing track of it, consider loading it onto a city’s transit card. For example, in Istanbul you could load your leftover currency onto the city’s public transit Istanbulkart and be ready to go for your next trip.

Donate it. If you don’t want to keep the currency, consider donating it to a local school or charity. Many organizations are happy to accept foreign currency, and it can be used to help those in need. Similarly, many airports and airlines have some kind of donation program so you can donate at the last minute as you exit the country.

Sell it. Some currencies will sell for above the value of the coin or note due to people wanting to complete various collections. Check out the going rates on eBay to see if it could make sense to sell some of your foreign currency.

Trade it or give it to a friend. If you know somebody who is going to be traveling to the country where your leftover currency is from, offer to trade it or give it as a gift. This way, you can avoid having to exchange the currency back into USD and losing money in the process.

Keep it as a memento. If you want to keep the currency as a memento of your trip, that’s perfectly fine! You can put it in a frame or scrapbook, or simply keep it in a drawer somewhere safe. It can be fun to have a collection of bills or coins from all of the countries you’ve visited.

Spend it on souvenirs. If you’re not planning on taking another trip anytime soon, and you’re not interested in any of the other options on this list, consider trying to spend whatever you have left. You may be able to find unique gifts for friends or family members for the holidays or bring home a favorite food item to enjoy.

Exchange it for cash. Of course, if all else fails, you can exchange your foreign currency for cash in another currency. You’ll have to pay a fee to do so, but if you want to get rid of your leftover currency as quickly as possible, you can exchange it for cash at a local bank or currency exchange office. Just be aware that you might not get the best rate possible, so it’s worth shopping around before making a decision.