What should I prepare for my first trip abroad?

Preparation before departure

The route and feeling of self-help tour vary from person to person.

Everyone's situation is different, not to mention how to play the most reasonable and interesting.

Before traveling, I simply checked a lot of online raiders, attracted by the beautiful photos of raiders, and wanted to go to all the scenic spots in the photos.

In anticipation, the preparations made before going out can make the footsteps of leaving feel at ease.

Therefore, this article does not involve "what to eat, what to play and what to visit", but only provides "how to make a smoother self-help tour", hoping to provide some valuable reference for friends who are also planning to make a self-help tour in Chiang Mai in the near future.

When we arrived in Bangkok, dark clouds were gathering.

1, visa

Bangkok Don Muang Airport

Passport and visa.

Be sure to reserve at least 15 days for visa preparation before departure (however, it is said that due to the recent surge of tourists in China, the visa processing time of some consulates has been greatly extended, so it is best to apply 1 month in advance for insurance reasons). I am landing visa (per person 1 ,000 baht, about RMB 200 yuan).

Required information:

Passport valid for more than 6 months+1 white passport photo+return ticket travel itinerary+local accommodation reservation information in Thailand (if you will stay in several different hotels, you only need to provide the reservation success information of the first hotel)+2,000 baht per person in cash (for paying landing visa fees at the airport entry-exit counter)+20,000 baht per person in cash (for customs spot check). Generally, it will not be encountered, but it will always be changed in advance, just in case. If the whole family goes out, the amount will be stipulated separately. I'm not sure about this. )

Find the instructions for filling in the immigration card online. Thailand's entry card and exit card are linked together and will be issued on the plane. Please take the initiative to ask the flight attendants before landing. Will be asked to fill in the name and address of accommodation in Thailand, take out a pen and printed reservation information, and fill in. Yes, remember to bring a pen! ! At that time, an uncle 10 bought a pen from me, and I 1 10,000 didn't want it. No, I don't sell it. Sister fairy gave him one.

After getting off the plane, follow the signs and go to the arrival visa counter of Thailand Immigration Bureau. These signs are all in Chinese and are easy to find. Note that you can see a small table on the road that provides landing visa application forms. Take one and fill it out Then go to the counter to line up.

Because I arrived at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok and had to catch a plane to Chiang Mai two hours later, I took the fast track and added 200 plants. Remember to prepare Thai baht cash. There is a charge for visas on arrival. Honey.

Regardless of BKK or DMK airport, the counter for visa on arrival is divided into two parts. The first part only checks whether your information is complete. The second part is to seal and sign. After stamping, you will be a person with a Thai visa. However, please don't be too happy, the point is coming again. Please note, please note that the entry window for visas on arrival is opened separately, next to the counter for visas on arrival. Read the sign clearly so as to get the customs seal quickly? And then enter the customs? .

With visas, we four girls chased the wind, dragged boxes and carried bags, and ran wildly at the airport. .....................................................................................................................................................

Find the flight counter, get the ticket, go through the security check, find the boarding gate and wait for the plane.

There are still 20 minutes to take off.

The whole process can be so smooth, thanks to a fairy sister who knows the process very well and leads the three of us.

Bangkok in the dark

Finally got on the plane. Sleepy and hungry.

Step 2 fly

Flight.

You can only buy air tickets when you can travel. Where did you book the plane ticket three months in advance? The price discount is around 30%-60%, and the price fluctuates according to the departure time, which is not obvious. The closer to the departure time, the more expensive it is. Therefore, it is best for friends who plan to travel to Thailand to book about one month in advance. Local tyrants can be willful, which is more than a thousand pieces.

Is the price ok? The principle is that the earlier you buy, the more cost-effective. The seat of AirAsia is really uncomfortable.

But low-cost airlines can't help it. AirAsia really doesn't provide anything.

Check in, eat and drink all by yourself!

I ordered 60 portions of instant noodles because I was tired from running. I don't feel as delicious as Master Kong.

You can bring your own instant noodles, but you need 30 hot water. Don't ask me why I know.

You can take a 20-inch suitcase on the plane, and everyone on the plane can take 7 kilograms of free luggage.

It's best to buy something in advance and then buy it at the airport. The price is too high, or do you have to measure it yourself?

I took a 20-inch suitcase with me when I went there, and I didn't buy a consignment.

I bought 20 kilograms on consignment when I came back. Because I bought a box of instant noodles.

I chose to transfer from Bangkok, but I didn't count the time in the visa on arrival when I booked it. Two hours later, it was really thrilling. If it is daytime, there will be many passengers on the visa on arrival, and we will definitely miss it. Fortunately, we are so lucky at night, not just at weekends. Finally, we arrived at the boarding gate 30 minutes early. Thankfully, we caught the plane. ...

A return trip/journey home

Change your boarding pass at the airline counter-check your luggage-go through the customs (hand in the departure form)-go to the tax refund point-wait for boarding.

Precautions:

It needs to be kept for a longer time because there is an extra tax refund link. This is Don Mueang Airport. As soon as I arrived at the airport, I saw a stamped office at the door. Pick up the ticket and check it.

Remember to pick it up from the flight window sill and fill out the departure form, which will be used after security check.

After the security check, you can see the window of tax refund (the procedure is relatively simple, just take the tax refund form to the counter and stamp it, and you can get cash-valuables with a unit price exceeding 10000 baht need to be brought for future reference).

I took it casually. It's crooked. All right. Good for the spine.

3, accommodation

I made a reservation online in advance. Choosing the ancient city of Chiang Mai is very convenient and safe. The hotel you chose is not bad. There are 40 breakfast factories every day, and people have been selling breakfast on the street for a long time. If the journey in Chiang Mai is within a week of ours, it is recommended to stay in the ancient city. Local tyrants can consider private villas, houses or resorts outside the city to see their personal preferences. There are more than a dozen friends who have booked a super-large villa to share, which I think is also a very good experience.

Book online half a month in advance. Basically, the online photos of Thai hotels are consistent with the reality, mainly the surrounding environment, depending on your choice. We are in the ancient city, it will be quiet at 8 pm, but it will be brightly lit.

Step 4 communicate

With a happy card in hand, you can buy it in Taobao TB in advance and surf the Internet unlimited times within 7 days (you can recharge it after 7 days). The network speed is very stable, especially at the airport, and the signal is still very good. Don't change your card at home, change it before the plane lands, so that you can split up when you get off the plane and not be afraid of getting separated. The happy card I bought has instructions for use. Take a good look at it yourself. This can be read out loud.

Step 5 pay

Thailand stipulates that everyone must carry not less than 20,000 baht (or equivalent foreign currency, namely 4,000 yuan) in cash, except accompanying children.

I didn't go to China Bank to exchange money until one week before my trip (I have to go to the head office of the regional university to get cash, otherwise other small branches have to make an appointment three days in advance). Except for street stalls, most stores support credit card payment, even WeChat and Alipay, and many stores accept RMB (the exchange rate is generally 1:5). If it is not enough, there are exchange points everywhere in the streets. Comparing several exchange rates, some banks that look more imposing have an exchange rate of only 4.6-4.7 (the exchange rate of domestic Chinese banks is only 4.9). If you swipe your card, you should bring VISA or MasterCard, because some places don't support UnionPay cards, such as the perfume counter of Maya, the largest shopping mall in Chiang Mai. You can withdraw money from the ATM in Thailand, but you have to pay a handling fee, 30 yuan RMB once.

It is said that Alipay advertisements can be seen in Bangkok and Zhou Jie, and Ma Yun is really good.

Renminbi can also be used in shops. It depends on the owner, so I bought a trailer for 100 RMB.

Yes, it is used to hold instant noodles.

Most of Chiang Mai's consumption is still dominated by Thai baht cash. Prepare more change for 100-500 plants.

You can fertilize 20 plants at a time. I only gave it to the waiter in my residence, because he helped me with my luggage. I bought a big bag of things and would take the initiative to help. If the room needs cleaning, let's put 20 plants in it. The first time I forgot to tip, I couldn't swipe my room card when I went out to play. We have to re-register to swipe our cards. So ...-you know.

6. Language

Generally speaking, Chiang Mai is not so "China-like", and communication here still depends on English. Translation software is available, but it is not practical after testing. First, it is inaccurate. Second, when time is urgent, you will never take out your mobile phone and open the translation software. Compared with Bangkok and Phuket, there are relatively few tourists from China in Chiang Mai. Maybe it's because we are free. We go to scenic spots, shopping malls, restaurants, stay in several hotels, including the airport, and occasionally meet people who can speak Chinese. But they are not familiar with it.

There are many people in China who do business in Bangkok, many of whom have tips in Chinese, but most of the time they need to know English. .

Poor English is also the most interesting part of this trip.

-The following can be ignored.

The local chug drivers in Chiang Mai are unfamiliar with English, and the older they get, the stranger they become. One day, I chartered two cars and went to the store. I showed him the English name of the shop and pointed to it. At first, I thought he understood what I said. He thinks I understand what he said. We thought we understood each other. An elder sister and an uncle are talking to each other on the road. Uh-huh ~ ~ freestyle. As a result ...-he didn't even start the car. Finally, smart and witty, I found a Thai language nearby to show him, and I understood it.

also

There is a customer service girl in our residence in the ancient city of Chiang Mai who can speak Chinese. We can find her wherever we want. As soon as she left the store, we tried to speak English with other customer service. Then those customer service staff pulled 70,000 to 80,000 English. . . I am very dirty. .

of course

It doesn't matter if you don't know English. I had breakfast in a restaurant that day, and two aunts in their forties and fifties in the next seat ordered the order, which was absolutely amazing.

Seeing that we are from China, my aunt smiled and asked us which breakfast at that table was delicious, just as the waiter pointed out. It's done.

In Thailand, I basically always communicate in Chinglish. Chinglish. Do you understand?

Download this Tu Tu application to your mobile phone, register your account and explore twice in China. It can be used in Thailand.

Two taxi software, dear. Grad is very cost-effective

Google Maps, I can't walk without it.

Translation, this thing, make up English at night, after all, has to be bargained. Want to eat. Want to strike up a conversation . .

7. Transportation

Thailand's prices are relatively low, and taxis are no exception. Just take a taxi. Chiang Mai Airport is not far from the ancient city. It's almost 200B B. During the tourist season in Chiang Mai, there are traffic jams every day in the ancient city, so it is difficult to see buses or buses. The most convenient means of transportation are two cars. Two cars are our favorites. The interior is spacious and clean. Each car can take 8- 10 passengers. No matter where you go in the ancient city, 20B is enough for everyone. The driver will charge 30, so you can cut it.

One day, the local fairies chartered a two-lane car and made a reservation with the driver. One day, 1000B, Chiang Mai can go anywhere, and how many people can make their own arrangements.

The red ones are just two cars.

I recommend two apps that I think are necessary, one is Google Maps, and the other is taxi software GRAB, which is much cheaper than chartered cars. The settlement can be paid in cash, which is still very useful during the day. I'm glad to meet a beautiful female driver.

Side face killing. Driving skills 666

..... I wanted to rent a motorcycle, which was super cheap, ranging from 250 to 500 a day. Depending on the model, I have to refuel myself. More importantly, I have to look at the traffic conditions in the ancient city.

Of the four fairies, only I dare to ride. Others want to be quiet fairies. Without me, I experienced it on the motorcycle cushion.

Oh, if you rent a motorcycle, don't sit on the sun-dried mat right away. Don't ask me why I know.

8. clothes

In Chiang Mai in July, the weather is pleasant. One second it's sunny, the next it's raining, and there's solar rain.

Chiang Mai has a unique flavor after the rain. The washed streets, as well as all the green plants, give off a new fragrance. In the sun, water drops are flashing, making people walk in the street.

Remember to bring an umbrella when you go out (it doesn't matter if you don't have an umbrella, we will prepare an umbrella for everyone at your place of residence, just remember when you go back)

The climate here is not as sultry as that in Shenzhen, and the sense of body is still very comfortable. Because it always rains, when it is hot, there will be rain to cool down. Watching the weather forecast of 25-30 degrees before departure doesn't feel hot, but it's still easy to get sunburned. It is recommended that you bring long-sleeved trousers or long skirts. The most important function is sun protection! A big hat and sunglasses are a must. Ladies must wear scarves or shawls, which are very practical and convenient for concave modeling.

One thing to note is that all temples must take off their shoes before entering, so when visiting temples, you must wear shoes that are convenient to put on and take off. Women are also not allowed to wear topless clothes, such as suspenders and necklines, or short skirts and shorts above the knee.

People who have been there will tell you.

Dry clothes can be done in two days.

Reminder in front of the temple

9. attraction

1-In the ancient city of Chiang Mai, there is a temple 100 meters. See for yourself, some are free, some are tickets, and tickets are not expensive.

2- massage, needless to say, cost-effective, must go! Go every day

3 night market, super delicious! ! ! ! Must go!

4- I didn't fly through the jungle or ride an elephant. There are many travel agencies in the ancient city that can sign up to go by car together. It takes half an hour to get there. The price is 2000. I only went bungee jumping. There is no one in this project. The purpose of my visit to Chiang Mai is bungee jumping. Not high, 50 meters.

5- There are many online, so choose the one you want to go to.

A club has all kinds of outdoor projects.

This is bungee jumping. Very low. It's worth a try.

finally

1) There must be at least one soul or body on the road ~

2) English is very important!

3) Peer partners with the same beat will make everything on the journey more interesting.

4) set off quickly

The above dry goods have moisture and a lot of network segments. Do not like do not spray