Spending Expectations?
 

Hi, I'm traveling with a friend to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. We are flying into Vietnam but immediately flying the next day into Thailand (USM to be specific) for the Full Moon Party in December.

We have flights all booked and hotels on Ko Phangan booked. However, we did some research and read all different numbers. What could we expect to spend on food, beers, ect?

I went to the Full Moon Party back in summer 1998 and shudder to think what it must be like now, especially in a high-season month. I think it's been co-opted by the TAT, but they're the same folks who treat Songkhran as a feature rather than a bug. The military government will also make doubly sure stuff doesn't get out of hand, even though the FMPs have attracted official scrutiny for years now.

Budget wise you've always got a wide range of possibles for food & lodging. The dump that Leonardo di Caprio's character stayed in in "The Beach" might be $10-15 level, and there's street food at the very lowest end, making $30-ish/day possible. Double that and there's a significant jump in comfort, and of course it's easier to go higher still. You'll get some cost headwinds based on time of year, but Thais always overbuild and ruin places, which moderates the increases. The dollar has also been doing well against the baht lately.

I booked us a hotel on Ko Phangan that looked rather nice in the pictures. It only ran us about $22 a night and we're splitting it by two so around $11 a night each (not too bad!). Plus its only 5.6 miles from Haad Rin.

Im not necessarily looking for full blown luxurious comfort, but I don't want sketchy hole in the wall either. I think I would be able to swing $50-60 a for sure which you say will bring some more comfort.

I read that a bucket of liquor will run about 200THB so about $5-6 USD. Not too shabby for a pint of liquor haha.

is was at the FMP in 09 and 200THb was the cheapest bucket (read awful alcohol) most were heading towards the 300-500thb

My only advice is dont go overboard at the party, keep your wits about you or it will come back to bite you.

Oh and if you want reviews of your hotel look it up on TripAdvisor or Agoda/Booking.com etc etc.

Interesting that you chose to fly in through Vietnam, i am have seen your other thread about visa's. Def not the easiest place to transit.

While there go try some of the street food, Banh mi, Bun Bo Hue and Pho Bo its sensational.

After the FMP I plan to make my way back through Thailand, Cambodia, and eventually back into Vietnam where I'll explore a bit and then head home! I knew it wouldn't be easy to transit, but I wanted to spend some time there anyway.
I read about the hotel. Looks nice and sounds nice as well so not worried about that. Just wanted some insight to food and alcohol prices throughout the island.

Thanks for you input! I'm happy to hear some personal experiences and not just reading a random website journal.

Just be safe and cautious at the FMP, and don't get completely blind :p

Enjoy Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.. I enjoyed Siem Reap and the temples, and my wife is Vietnamese, I just love Vietnam.^

lol, I'll keep my head up at all times. No worries.

We went to Australia at the beginning of the summer and EVERYONE told us to go to SE Asia and check out all it has to offer. I'm so glad we're able to do it.

is the Vietnam multientry visa appreciably more expensive than the single entry?

From what I've read and understood so far so not necessarily facts:

$45 stamp fee for one month single entry
$65-$95 stamp fee for one month single entry depending on how many days you're staying.

30< $95
30> $65

So it saves $20 no matter what to do a single entry, but it could potentially save you $50 depending on how long you're staying. Also, all of the travel agents charge more for multiple entry VOA letters as opposed to single entry one month VOA letters.

You can expect to spend between $30-$300 per day. It all depends on you.

Some beers from 7/11 might be a few dollars, but beers at a midrange bar might be $5 while beers at a high end club may cost $8-$12.

Food could be anywhere from $2-$30 per meal.

Hotels could be anywhere from $15 to $300 per night.

It just depends on you.

Thats kind of what I've read before as well. Not looking to go bottom of the barrel, but also not looking for high end all gold everything haha.

I guess I'll just bring as much money as possible and try and do anything I want to do. Thank you for you input! i appreciate it.

I assume there are ATMs there, but they may be busy or empty if there is a full moon party. I don't know that as fact, I'm just saying it as a word of caution.

If you get a ride somewhere, it's a good idea to ask the price before hand so you don't get taken advantage of.

Just be careful.

I had completely over looked the idea of ATMs. I used the ATM the whole time while I backpacked through Australia and hadn't thought to ask about ATMs in Thailand.

I will just take out enough money before hand to last me the evening so I don't have to go to one near the FMP. Any idea how it works there? I know in Australia I was charged my banks fee, their banks fee, and an international conversion rate. It only worked up to be roughly $3USD each time total so it wasn't too bad seeing I only took out money 4-5 times in a month span.

Thailand as a whole has many ATMs, but islands can be a bit different. There is a 150 baht fee (about $4.25), plus your bank's fee. So you're looking at $4.25-$9 in fees. Make sure you don't withdraw $50, because the fees would be 15% or so!

Sorry I cant give you better advice. I've never been to that specific island, and I try to stay clear of any big parties such as a full moon party (for numerous reasons).