How much do two weeks in Thailand cost?

Fluorescent face paint. Bunk beds in dormitories. Whisky served up in plastic buckets on moon-lit stretches of sand. It’s been two decades since my first visit to Thailand: the country was part of a year-long backpacking trip when my only financial concerns were when to splash out on a private room with aircon and when to opt for a cheaper shared room with a barely whirring fan.

Things have changed somewhat since that first visit. I’ve since travelled to Thailand for work, on numerous holidays with my partner and most recently with our toddler. As a more - let’s say - “grown up” traveller, my priorities have shifted – things like clean sheets and money security are more important (hats off to Starling for the 24/7 customer support). 

But you’ll still find me seeking out the £1 pad thais on a street stall – this is a country where you can eat some of your life’s most memorable meals for a couple of quid. That’s just one part of why I head back every January in a desperate bid to escape the worst of the UK winter. Here’s what I recommend budgeting for a two-week trip, provided you book flights in advance. I’ve included a range, depending on what you’re after.

And here’s a snapshot of real costs from a recent family trip to the capital and two islands…

Bangkok

Taxi from airport: 600 baht / £13.50

Now that I travel with my kids (and the kit they create) I jump in a ‘Grab’ at the airport (the city’s equivalent to Uber). Grabs are a great way to get around the city in high-traffic areas. Even over rush hour, I never spend more than £15 on a ride.

Accommodation at a 5-star hotel: 6,000 baht / £135 a night

Rates at 137 Pillars, a luxury hotel in the bar-crammed Thonglor neighbourhood, are a steal for what you get. The studio residences are lovely (around £135 a night), but you may want to splurge on a suite (around £330 a night) for free airport transfers, access to the rooftop infinity pool and a complimentary hour of cocktails and wine at the bar (the equivalent luxury in Europe could cost at least double). 

Lunch at Natura Café: 300 baht / £7

Natura Café isn’t one of the cheapest places to eat – but it’s one of the most special, set in the middle of a lychee orchard. Even so, ‘Grandma’s spicy pomelo salad with slow roasted coconut’ will only set you back 160 baht (about £3.50) and tastes all the better for the peace and quiet of the garden.

Cut, wash and blowdry: 650 baht / £15

A simple wet trim costs me at least £40 in the UK. Here, I can head to a salon – any salon – for what feels like a luxury spa treatment for less than £20. That said, I try and watch how quickly all the little things add up – helped by the instant notifications Starling sends through. Each notification shows how much I’ve spent in baht and GBP – which is just as well because maths in the heat isn’t easy! 

Koh Samui

One night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel: 4,000 baht / £90

Koh Samui is one of the most popular islands in Thailand (season three of the White Lotus can take a lot of credit), and it’s packed with hotels, ranging from basic beachside bungalows listed on Airbnb to some of the most famous five-star hotels in the world. Getting there, however, can be pricey – Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on the airport, meaning no budget airlines can fly in (and therefore flight prices can be astronomical).

My money saving tip would be to get a ferry to and from the mainland via Donsak Pier – you could either fly via Surat Thani airport or book a driver (prices can be negotiated). Last time, we paid 3,500 (£80) for our private transfer (2.5hr journey). 

30-minute foot massage: 300 baht / £7

I rarely splash out on treats like massages at home, but massage parlours are really common in Thailand – and prices pretty hard to resist. As you’d suspect, Thai massages here are expert-level, and you’ll be twisted and stretched in ways you never thought possible. If you’re after something more gentle (and a steal at £7) then a 30-minute foot massage is it.

Ahead of my trip, I’d set up a Regular Space labelled ‘Thailand treats’ – which meant I could allocate money for things like shopping and massages. Ultimately, this made for guilt-free spending – I’d already set the money aside so I knew I wasn’t overspending. And I could spend straight from the Space fee-free using a virtual card, provided they weren’t cash-only.

Sit down meal at a local restaurant: 530 baht / £12 pp

One of the main reasons I love Thailand (aside from the beaches) is the food. A bill for a few XL Chang beers, various starters, curries, pad thai and mango sticky rice is usually around £25. This isn’t a reflection of the prices being high, but simply because I want to order everything on the menu.

Tipping isn’t expected in Thailand, but when it’s a case of adding a couple of pounds onto your bill, I always do. And I often pay on card and tip in cash to make sure the team gets it straight away.

Phuket 

Bag of laundry: 120 baht / £3

Hotels typically charge extortionate prices for laundry services. But in Thailand, the islands are dotted with local laundrettes, both self-service and drop-off, with bags of washing charged by the kilo. I always opt for drop off; it costs a fraction more (around £1 per kilogram) and your clothes are ready for collection the next day stain free, fresh-smelling and folded. As a parent, it’s one of the simple joys of travelling here. 

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary visit: 3,000 baht / £65

In Thailand you’ll see elephant encounters advertised virtually everywhere (think circus shows, or people posing in swimwear on an elephant’s back). For me, it’s really important that these experiences are ethical, so I’m happy to spend more money on visits to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, one of the best regarded on the island.

Private longtail boat trip 13,200 baht / £300

One of Thailand’s simplest pleasures is free: long lazy days on the beach. To see more of the island’s coves and bays, I book a private long-tail boat for the day. Prices are often up for negotiation with the boat owner, and while it may initially seem expensive to hire a private boat as opposed to joining a tour, if it’s split between a family or friends you’re looking at around £50 a person. It also means you have more choice on where you visit – I would avoid the hordes of tourists heading to James Bond island and instead head to the Hong Islands or Koh Yao Noi.

Thailand isn’t an expensive country to visit – but the “I’m on holiday” mentality that I embrace does mean costs can add up. Still, I wouldn’t change anything about the way I spend when I’m there. I’m happy trying lots of things in cheap local restaurants as opposed to fancier places. I love a coconut on the beach over a more expensive (but still, relatively cheap) rooftop bar. And while you’re unlikely to find me sleeping in an eight-bed dorm, the affordable luxury hotel scene means I never feel short changed.