I think the type of trip you have is very individual. Whether you are escaping the rat race to hang around the resort for a week reading a good book or taking a walk off the beaten track to live like the locals, it's your holiday.
So I thought I would share some of the tips we have beem given. I will let you know once we get back which worked for our type of holiday.
MONEY (To Convert or not to Covert)
Here is an area where everyone has their own preference. We have not yet decided what to do.
1) Take Baht with us and put it in our hotel safe
2) Take Australian dollars and put them in the safe and get it converted as we go.
3) Take eftpos card and withdraw money as we need it in Thai Baht.
4) Use credit card at the end of the trip to pay room bill (this one we will do)
Then there are more options like where to get it converted? At the bank or the currency converter? At the hotel or from a street merchant?
5) Check currency exchange before you go
6) Divide money between both of you so not just one person has cash on them.
TUMMY BUGS
I have a very sensative stomach and do not like coriander (insert GASP!). I would love to be free and easy and enjoy the local cuisine but do not want to end up sick. I get sick from eating ornages, pork and dairy so really don't want to go to exotic. Here are some tips on not getting sick and what to do if you do.
1) Take a bottle of 45%+ cordial and have a shot morning and night
2) Take gastro stop with you just in case
3) Buy bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing
4) Take a pack of Glad Ice Cube bags. Make your own ice cubes in the hotel room freezer. Enjoy a drink without the worry of getting sick.
5) The local chemist sell gastro tablets which work great as well
6) Don't get ice in your drinks or accidently drink pool water either
EVERYDAY TIPS
1) Take some laundry soap so you can wash your clothes daily
2) Take a hanging rack to dry your clothes
3) Pack light. It is very warm in Thailand so local made clothes are best, cool and light weight. We have decided to only take carry on luggage over and will buy luggage to bring home.
4) Opinions differ on quality and price of clothing and accessories on offer. A friend who lived in Thailand for 3 years said that local rich women buy from the knock off shops as it is cheaper and no one can tell the difference. Others have said that it's poor quality and no worth buying. I think this is a personal choice. I also think that it depends where we buy. A market stall versus a shopping centre, the same as at home really.
5) give clothes to the laundry people in phuket on the street. Very cheap! Do it at the end of the trip then no washing 4 u when u get home
6) Take some bags of chips and nuts with you. Cheating wedges by the pool veryday can be a little bit much.
SURGERY TIPS
As everyone would know by now i am getting some maintenance while on holiday. Here are some tips from fellow Somnio clients.
1) Wash your hair and shave underarms the morning before surgery. This will be hard to do for a few days afterwards.
2) Find a button up top/dress so you don't need to put your arms over your head.
3) Pack darker coloured tops for after surgery. You may not wear a bra and white shirts with no bra are not a good look.
4) Take Arnica tablets 4 weeks before surgery to reduce bruising.
I think that is it for now. If I think of other tit bits I will add them.
