Tips and Tricks for Trips to Thailand post 1

1. Banking: if you're like many travelers coming from the US, you don't have a Thai bank account. You cannot use US dollars here, only baht. No need to get your money changed ahead of time however, because any ATM you use will dispense baht (even if you use your US bank card). There are always fees to use the ATMs. These range from 180 to 200 baht per transaction so find the ones for 180 and take out as much as you can in one transaction. Note- your US bank will probably impose a daily withdrawal limit. Look this up ahead of time! In thailand, the max withdrawal from an ATM at one time is 20000 baht, however chase bank has only authorized for me to take 10000 per day. Do not use Krungsri Bank ATMs to withdraw money. Cards get stuck in the machines all the time! They promise free coca-cola or peanuts with each withdrawal, but don't let that suck you in. If your card does get stuck in an ATM, call customer service immediately. They will come to open the machine however in the meantime they will contact your bank and put a hold on your card. In order to use your card again you have to contact your bank and remove the hold.

2. Phone plans/calling/texting/mobilizing: Use 2 phones. One phone can be a shitty flip phone you purchase in thailand for 800 baht that you fill with texts and minutes at the 7/11 (this way you satisfy the requirement of having a Thai phone number for work purposes). The other phone is your everyday use phone. Download the communication apps line and whatsapp. Everyone here has them  (even thai people). You can call, text and send photos on them so easily. All you need is wifi  (which is literally everywhere in Thailand). If you're looking for a phone provider from the US use T-Mobile. They have cell towers in Thailand and if you call on wifi it's completely free. Make sure you have a way to make international calls (you never know when you're going to need to call your bank, insurance company, etc)

3. Taxis/songthaews/tuktuks: don't just name a place like you do in the states and expect to get there. Don't just show your location as a pin on a map and expect to get there. Know directions for how to get there. Learn thai words to say what it's near. In bangkok, make sure to ask for metered taxis as opposed to agreeing on a price and make sure you specify whether or not you want to take the highway  (many times this costs extra). Songthaews usually have a standard rate depending on the town so find that out before riding. Tuk tuks are for tourists and usually cost more.
4. Water: don't drink the tap water (it's fine to brush your teeth with and you won't get sick if you open your mouth in the shower) instead, buy 2 of the big bottles at 7/11- they usually have 2 for 20 baht specials- and then refill them for 1 baht each at water refill stations!
5. Bathrooms: they won't always exist. They won't always be public. They won't always be clean. They won't always have toilet paper. They won't always be free (sometimes 5-10 baht). Always carry wipes and hand sanitizer and always be ready to squat (and not just over the lid ladies, but over a hole in the ground). When there aren't proper toilets you could be standing in an inch or two of "wetness". Skirts and dresses are much easier to work with than pants. DON'T EVER FLUSH YOUR TP. Throw it in the bin.
6. Bargaining: do it- at the markets, with tuk tuk drivers. Don't do it- at the mall, at the bar. Do it sometimes- with motos. (At the markets, don't hesitate to walk away- they almost always call you back. Also, learn some bargaining phrases in thai like "tao rai ka" (how much?) "Lod noi dai mai ka" (can you go a little bit lower)