Since I started this blog I’ve strived to discover the best Thailand travel and lifestyle apps, websites and services to help my readers make the most of their time and money in Thailand. Most of the apps, websites and services have already been featured on various Thailand tips and guides on the blog. However, I believe featuring them all on one post for your reference will make a very effective “Do Thailand Like a Boss” guide.
In other words, whether you’re a long time expat or a tourist planning your first trip to Thailand these apps, websites and services will help you travel and eat cheaply, book tickets for rides and tours, choose the best value hotels, and even find a Thai girlfriend to be your travel companion and guide.
Which Hotel Booking Site to Use in Thailand?
The popoular consensus says Agoda is the best hotel booking site (OTA) to use in Thailand. I use them myself and will certainly agree with the consensus. What makes Agoda stand head and shoulders above other hotel booking sites is their competetive rates and a vastly larger inventory of hotels in Thailand than their competitors.
Find The Cheapest Hotel Rates in Thailand
I’m not suggesting Agoda are always the cheapest, but I recommend you begin your search on Agoda, simply because they have more choice. Find a hotel which meets your criteria, then use a price comparison site such as Trivago or HotelsCombined to compare and find the cheapest rates.
Some hotel booking tools and functionality featured on Agoda include the ability to contact the hotel without leaving Agoda, book without a credit card, find a hotel near your location via the mobile app, book home-stays and holiday apartments.
Travel Cheap in Thailand
Compared to prices in the west, transport and travel costs in Thailand are extremely cheap anyway. Traveling around Thailand by public transport such as buses, train and ferry is made cheap and very convenient with the tools listed below.
Booking Bus, Train and Ferry Tickets in Thailand
Going to the counter of any bus, train or ferry terminal and buying a ticket is easy enough, but purchasing your tickets in advance is not only easier, but sometimes essential, especially in the case of first and second class train/rail tickets.
For only a little extra cost you can book and pay for Thailand bus, train, ferry, taxi and domestic flight tickets online through 12go.asia. From my own experience I can tell you it’s a very efficient service. After booking your ticket you will receive a voucher and detailed information about collection or delivery of your ticket and how to use it.
Thailand Taxi Apps
The problem with Meter Taxis in Thailand (except from the airport) is that they often refuse to use the meter, and charge an inflated flat rate. The best way to overcome this problem is to use one the apps below.
GrabTaxi Thailand
The GrabTaxi app uses both meter taxis and private taxis. After you download to your mobile device you can order a taxi from your current location to your destination. The app shows you how many available taxis are in your area, the approximate cost, and details of the driver and car which has accepted your ride.
Grabtaxi also offers a motorcycle taxi service (Bangkok) and a courier service. Rides are typically confined to major cities and tourist destinations in Thailand. For More information and to download the app, visit the Grab.com homepage.
Uber Thailand
Uber works pretty much the same way as GrabTaxi. I have not yet used Uber myself but reports seem to suggest it is very cheap for short local rides, so definitely worth a try. Go to the Uber homepage to download the app.
Cheap Tours and Day Trips in Thailand
Between them, the 2 travel websites listed below offer just about every type of short tour, day trip, and discounted entry tickets at attractions in Thailand’s major tourist destinations. I’m not going to guarantee these are the cheapest tour and day trip tickets in Thailand, but so far these are the cheapest Thailand tour and ticket deals I have found. No matter where you plan on going, be it a popular water park in Pattaya, or a rooftop restaurant in Bangkok you simply have to take a look at the deals.
Hotels2Thailand
Hotels2Thailand offer discount priced day trips, golf, water activities, shows and events at all major destinations in Thailand.
Klook
Besides tours and entry tickets Klook offer a range of unique services including tourist SIM card collection and private car charter. The prices for everything offered by Klook are displayed alongside the original (on the door) entry price. What’s more, attractions and tour offerings on Klook are often accompanied by hundreds of customer reviews.
Dine Like a Boss in Thailand
The easiest way to eat cheap in Thailand is to eat Thai food, whether it’s street food or in a Thai restaurant it is usually vastly cheaper than western food. Eat in or eat out there’s a couple of great apps which make getting your favorite food easier and cheaper in Thailand.
Eat Cheap at Restaurants in Thailand
At the time of writing this only applies to Bangkok and Pattaya, but if you plan on eating at the more expensive restaurants in either of those 2 locations you can get some large discounts if you use eatigo.com.
Food Delivery in Thailand
Foodpanda has a very handy app which allows you to select meals from an extensive list of local restaurant menus and have them delivered to your door.
If you’re missing your favorite foods from back home there’s several companies which deliver expat foods throughout Thailand.
Meet Thai Girls in Thailand
Most male tourists in Thailand will typically meet Thai girls in the popular nightlife venues of Bangkok, Pattaya and Thailand’s other popular tourist destinations. But there are other ways to meet girls in Thailand, whether it’s for long term romance or a little fun, Thailand on-line dating websites are a popular way to meet Thai girls other than in bars, pubs and nightclubs.
Find and Navigate to Any Place in Thailand
There’s dozens of Thailand travel apps to help you find attractions, nightlife spots, restaurants and so on, but why clutter your device with apps you really don’t need. The only app you need to find, review, and navigate to any place in Thailand is the Google Maps app.
Thai Language and Dictionary Apps
Speaking a little Thai language is a sure way to receive a warm welcome in Thailand, and if you are going to venture off the beaten track it may well be a necessity. There’s a host of Thai language translator and dictionary apps available, it’s just a matter of finding one which suits your needs.
I’ve tried a handful of free Thai language apps myself, and at the moment I’m using Google Translate, for simple one word and short phrases such as “where is the toilet?” it works very well, and also has voice playback to help you with correct Thai pronunciation.
Do Pattaya Like a Boss
The Thailand apps, services and websites (above) will effectively help you travel or live in Thailand cheaper and more independently. I hope, with the benefit of my blog that you can maximize your time, make the most of your money, and have the best possible experience in Pattaya also.