A Belarusian bought a trip to Thailand for only $1400. What are his impressions?
Mogilev resident Yauhen Astashevich flew to Thailand in January and shared the real figures. A journalist from Myfin.by found out how to save on food and getting around the island, and how much it costs to see that very beach from the movie with Di Caprio.
Here and further photos from the hero's personal archive
Lunch or dinner for three — $70
For an 11-day vacation in Phuket, the Mogilev resident flew not alone, but with his brother and his girlfriend. They departed from Sheremetyevo. They traveled to Moscow from Orsha on the "Lastochka" (Swallow) train, paying 100 Belarusian rubles per ticket. From the station to the airport, they took a taxi for 4000 Russian rubles (which is 150 Belarusian).
They flew with Icar Airlines; the flight took 9.5 hours.
"When we arrived, we were issued visas, which cost $65 per person. The tour operator filled out all the documents in advance; we only had to submit them. We checked into the 3* Hotel de Korone. I stayed in a double room alone, and my brother and his girlfriend were in the adjacent room.
We checked in and immediately went to explore the area. The hotel is well-located, only a 5-minute slow walk to Karon Beach. Beach towels are provided by the hotel, but sun loungers on the beach itself are paid — 100 baht. At an exchange rate of 10 to 1, this is approximately 10 Belarusian rubles. We chose Karon for a reason; it is considered one of Phuket's cleanest and best beaches."
Since the tour only included breakfasts, the Mogilev residents had lunch and dinner at cafes. For food, they preferred seafood: shrimp, fish, and, of course, Tom Yum soup.
The average bill for lunch or dinner for three came out to about 2000 baht (200 Belarusian rubles).
January and February are considered the ideal time for Phuket.
This is the peak of the "dry" season. Not a cloud in the sky, air temperature consistently around +32°C, and ocean water warms up to +30°C. A true paradise for those who have grown tired of our winter.
"When choosing excursions, we settled on the top destinations which, in my opinion, are a must-visit — the elephant sanctuary and Monkey Island. We paid 2000 baht (200 rubles) per person. Elephants are absolutely captivating! In the sanctuary, you can not only take photos with them but also feed them, swim together, and even ride them. But with monkeys, I advise being very careful. They are aggressive creatures: if they don't like something, they might bite. They snatched a bag of fruit we were bringing them right out of my hands."
Average taxi fare — $10–$15
Maya Bay and Phi Phi islands also impressed the Mogilev residents. The excursion cost 2700 baht (270 rubles) per person.
"The beauty there is incredible. It was on these islands that the cult film 'The Beach' with Leonardo DiCaprio was once filmed. The locations look exactly the same as in online pictures. The cost of both excursions already included hotel transfer, a yacht trip, full meals, and soft drinks."
Besides excursions, there was more than enough other entertainment. In the Karon area, there are a huge number of restaurants and discos, so all the nightlife was close at hand.
"Phuket is currently a party hub; Russian stars constantly come here for concerts. We happened to catch a performance by Tim Belorusskikh. The ticket cost $40 per person, not counting transport to the venue separately. The concert was great, we were very satisfied."
Getting around Phuket, says Yauhen, is quite a quest due to huge traffic jams. A distance of 15 km can easily take two hours to travel. The average taxi fare for Belarusians came out to around $10-$15. They ordered strictly through an app, because street taxi drivers charge many times more.
"A small life hack: if you are alone or in pairs, it's better to take a taxi-bike. It's both cheaper and much faster, because on a bike you can easily bypass traffic."
Market vs. restaurant and 7-Eleven instead of a cafe
Twice the tourists visited the Banzaan fish market in the Patong area. This place is a must-visit for seafood lovers. Prices there are 2-3 times lower than in restaurants, but you definitely need to bargain.
"You choose everything you like on the ice, pay for the cooking, and they turn it into a delicacy right in front of you. Grilled shrimp, barracuda, and sea bass cost 350 baht per 1 kg, scallops — 450 baht, a lobster weighing about a kilogram — 450 baht per piece. Everything is absolutely fresh and incredibly delicious."
For buying drinks and quick snacks like sandwiches, salads, and rolls, the 7-Eleven chain is ideal. It's always budget-friendly, tasty, and reliable in quality. For souvenirs to take home, they bought Thai cosmetics, local sweets, and, of course, exotic fruits.
Transport to Moscow and back, and all on-site expenses — excursions, taxis, food, alcohol, concert, and souvenirs — cost Yauhen approximately $1000. Considering that the tour itself cost 1400 euros per person, the vacation definitely cannot be called budget-friendly.
So: all expenses and final impressions
Tour package from the travel agency: $1400.
On-site expenses ($1250), of which:
- food: $800 ($70-$80 per day);
- excursions: 4700 baht (about $150) and concert: $40;
- taxi rides: approximately $100;
- souvenirs: about $150.