Thailand for Beginners: A Queen's Guide to Conquering the Kingdom (of Travel!)
U40, first-time solo traveler, zero Mandarin, but one thing was certain: this queen was going to Thailand!
After pouring my heart into 5 reviews, this is the final chapter, but also a rallying cry for all the newbies in the group, scrolling and muttering, "Can I actually do this...?"
Today's Mission:
How to survive your first Thai adventure without getting lost in translation, and still walk around feeling like a total boss?
The 3-Month Countdown (Before Takeoff!)
90 Days Out:
✈️ Booked those flights with a snap!
📊 Created a vibrant, detailed Google Sheets itinerary, check out Clip 1.
😮💨 Two friends took one look at the budget and said "Bye Felicia."
🤷♀️ The two of us remaining decided: "The smaller the harem, the easier it is to manage!"
50 Days Out:
📁 DIY visa – no middleman needed, just patience and a stunning passport photo.
😎 At this point, I realized: "Traveling in Thailand is no walk in the park… but passion fuels the journey!"
30 Days Out:
📚 I started learning Thai… with a palace intrigue twist. U40 style:
Běn gōng nǎi zhèng gōng huáng hòu, fèng huáng shàng zhǐ yì cè fēng! (This queen is the legitimate empress, by imperial decree!) Lái rén a! bǎ tā tuō xià qù, kǎn le! (Guards! Take her away and behead her!)
🧋 After that, I was confident ordering Thai milk tea, booking a Grab, and even giving Google Translate a stern talking-to!
How much did the adventure cost?
✅ Basic self-planned trip (visa, flights, accommodation, Instagram-worthy outfits): 20–25 million VND/person for 6 days and 5 nights.
💥 Want to be the "Little Swallow" of the Thai temples like me? Add another 8 million VND for Bangkok!
→ Total damage: 33 million VND, but it felt as comforting as cuddling with Dung mama during a nap.
The Grand Finale:
"If I, a U40 who doesn't speak Thai, could travel all over Thailand, then you can do it too!"
If you are new to the group and feeling lost, read this post and ask any questions you have. I'm not great at Thai, but I'm an expert at surviving and creating content from any situation! 🤣
Bonus Round (Actually, Super Important):
I'm a voluntary victim of ChatGPT – because of this trip, I spent 499k VND/month, and I swear: it was worth every penny!
Benefit 1: Finding the perfect hotels.
Just say: "I need a room under 800k, near a metro station, clean, spacious, with great reviews," and it'll give you a list like you're picking a husband.
Benefit 2: Creating an itinerary without missing anything, maximizing minimal walking, minimizing Didi costs – while still having time for photo ops.
I had to push it, but it gave me a great itinerary, with enough time for make-up and photos without running out of breath.
Benefit 3: Fashion AI Stylist
Upload your wardrobe, say: "I'm going to the Thai temples – must be elegant – must be cool – must match the weather," and it will style you in the perfect outfit. Who says AI has no taste?
In short: this trip was impossible without ChatGPT, and I'm sharing my experience so you can avoid struggling, reduce effort, and not get lost like I was once worried. If you have any questions, ask away. I'll answer… or have ChatGPT answer for you, guaranteed to be smoother than a NYC boyfriend!
P.S. After almost 24 hours of waiting, the article was Declined. What a struggle for the last one!
Anyway, thanks, Group management team!
