Here is the scoop on your packing list for Thailand. What you need, what you don’t need and what will make your trip even better.
1. Half of What You Planned
Cut out half of your suitcase or backpack from the start. Clothing in Thailand is so, so cheap that you’ll want to leave more room for clothing you bring back. You’ll notice that a lot of the travelers are wearing tank tops adorned with logos of Thai beer companies and what I call “Traveler Pants,” those loose, flowy cotton pants with an elastic waistband and colorful designs. It’s a great casual outfit for travel and at home! The Chiang Mai night markets and Koh San Road in Bangkok have a plethora of Thai clothing options. Hold onto your purse on Koh San Road and always bargain with street vendors
2. Travel-Sized Bug Spray & Sunscreen
Anywhere outside of the main cities in Thailand is in the Red Cross Malaria zone. You’ll probably have to wait a year after your visit to give blood. Those mosquitoes are little stinkers! If you can, bring travel-sized bug spray and sunscreen with you. You’ll want to be liberal with it so if you run out you can still buy it for relatively cheap, except for down south near the islands.
3. Baggies
Bring several gallon freezer bags for your wet swimsuits or clothes.
4. Plastic Flip Flops
Like I mentioned in a post about packing for Songkran, don’t get fancy with the flip flops. Criss-cross Teva sandals are awesome…except for the beach. They take forever to dry if they get wet and the sand will not come off no matter how hard you try to clean it. The sand will end up rubbing against your toes.
5. One Pair of Nice Shoes for Bangkok
While you’re in Bangkok you might want to visit a nicer restaurant, club or bar like the Sky Bar from Hangover 2 or Maggie Choo’s in the Novotel Fenix. Maggie Choo’s is a fabulous underground lounge designed like a Shannghai Speakeasy according to a fun review on TripAdvisor. You’ll need nicer clothing options and shoes for these establishments but it’s totally worth the suitcase space. At Maggie Choo’s, you’ll want to visit when Nurse and Chai are playing the blues and little Nurse is belting out Aretha, Etta and Tina. She is a tiny, sweet Thai woman who once sang along Walking Street in Jamaica-esque Railay beach and now belts out beautiful music in Maggie Choo’s. Such a cool place!
What is on your packing list for Thailand? Leave your advice in the comments below.
Happy travels,
@laurylkitson