RESOURCES

Flying halfway around the world to a foreign country can be a little intimidating but we’ll walk you through each step of the way. Let’s start with overcoming the common initial challenges that stop most people from ever venturing into another country: expenses, safety, and the language barrier.

EXPENSES

Thailand isn’t just a beautiful and magical country but it’s extremely affordable!

FLIGHT

Realistically, we’re targeting the $1000 range for a round trip ticket to Chiang Mai (CNX) from Milwaukee (MKE), Madison (MSN), or Chicago (ORD). Prices might fluctuate but historically they hover within this range for January. Don’t worry, we’ll announce when we think everyone should book their flights in order to get the best deal!

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ACCOMMODATION

A room in a beautiful hotel like The Opium Chiang Mai will cost around only about $250 total for a 7 night stay. That averages out to around $35 a night! Don’t think that low price means low quality either. The Opium Chiang Mai is actually owned by the family of our good friends in Chiang Mai so we know that the quality of service and amenities will be absolutely top notch, you won’t be disappointed! The Opium Chiang Mai was even featured in an article on LonelyPlanet.

The Opium Chiang Mai – Lonely Planet

MEALS

Thailand is renowned for their delicious and diverse cuisine and we highly recommend that you take full advantage of everything that Chiang Mai has to offer. Expect to pay as low as $1 for a plate of delicious and quality food from a street vendor. Local restaurants typically range $3-$10 for entrees. Prices can go way up from there if you want to get fancy but we *highly* recommend the local street vendors and restaurants specializing in local Thai cuisine. Check out our Food Guide for all of our favorite spots to get an incredible and authentic Thai food experience.

Food Guide

SAFETY

We actually feel safer in Thailand than we do in the entire US!

Being Americans who grew up in metropolitan areas and traveled our fair share of the US, we can honestly say that we feel safer in Thailand than we do at home (seriously!). In fact, Thailand is one of the safest countries we’ve ever been to. We regularly go out late at night to explore the city, take side roads and back alleys to discover hidden gems, and have never felt unwelcome or threatened.

Tourism is a major part of Thailand’s economy so the locals are very welcoming of foreign visitors. Combine this with the all around general kindness and hospitality of the Thai people and you have the perfect recipe for a safe and pleasant experience.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Almost everyone in Thailand speaks some English!

If you’re worried that not being able to speak or read Thai will hinder your trip, you’ll be just fine! Under almost every street sign, bathroom, and map there will be an English Translation. There has rarely been a time when we couldn’t find a readily available English translation.

The vast majority of locals also speak some English. Conveniently, almost all shop keepers or employees will speak English so you’ll rarely have a time when you can’t communicate what you’re looking for. In fact, it’s common for a business to keep at least one English speaking person on their staff so there’s always an avenue for communication.

Overall, there really isn’t a language barrier that’s going to hold you back and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get around town, ask for help, haggle, or order a meal.