What's the budget for a trip to Thailand?

The flight is most of the budget, and often the majority on a short trip. At €244 minimum return, it weighs more than four full weeks of budget living in Bangkok.

On the ground, prices are unmatched in this comparator. A well-rated hostel at €3 a night, a three-star at €25, a four-star at €80: even trading up substantially, you stay below a standard European room.

Hence the country's rule: go for a long time. Over ten days, the daily cost runs around €75 all in. Over three weeks, it falls below €50. A flight at this price only fully justifies itself beyond two weeks, which is also what makes Thailand popular with long-haul travelers.

Eating counts for almost nothing. A street dish costs €1 to €3, a restaurant meal €4 to €8. It is one of the rare countries where the food budget question does not arise, and where street food is often better than sit-down dining.

The dry season, November to February, is the best window. Bangkok then sits around 26 to 28°C with very little rain: 10mm in December and 15 in January. It is also tourist high season, so island rates rise, but conditions are at their best.

March to May is the hottest period, up to 30°C on average in April, with high humidity and rainfall climbing again. It is punishing for walking Bangkok.

The monsoon settles in from May to October, peaking sharply in September: 241mm in that month alone, against 10mm in December. It does not make travel impossible, showers often being brief and intense rather than continuous, and it is the cheapest period. But crossings to some islands can be disrupted.

One useful particularity: the South's two coasts do not share the same rainy season. When the Andaman coast is being soaked, the Gulf of Thailand is often kinder, and vice versa. That lets you adapt your itinerary rather than give up.

The flight starts at €244 and varies noticeably: on a ticket of that size, comparing dates has a real return, unlike European destinations.

Eating. This is where Thailand is unbeatable. A pad thai, a noodle soup or a curry bought on the street costs €1 to €3, and is often better than the same thing served in an air-conditioned restaurant at €4 to €8. Night markets are the best place to eat, for both price and quality. The rule is the reverse of Europe's: the humblest places are frequently the best.

Getting around. In Bangkok, the skytrain and metro avoid considerable traffic for a few dozen cents. River boat buses are cheap and practical. Between cities, overnight trains and buses save a night's lodging on top of the journey, and domestic flights stay very affordable.

Sightseeing. The major temples and the Grand Palace charge admission, with noticeably higher rates for foreign visitors than residents: a common practice that needs building into the budget. Outside those major sites, much of the experience, markets, neighbourhoods, minor temples, costs nothing or close to it.

Currency. The baht, not the euro. Cash remains heavily used, particularly for street food, markets and local transport. ATMs charge a fixed fee per withdrawal: taking out larger amounts less often noticeably reduces the cost.

Language. Thai, with its own alphabet. English is spoken in tourism and the major cities, less elsewhere, but the country is very used to travelers and communication comes easily.

Dual pricing. Several major sites charge a higher rate for foreign visitors. It is not a scam but an official practice, to be built into the sightseeing budget.

Customs. Temples require clothing covering shoulders and knees, and shoes come off before entering. The head is considered sacred and feet impure: avoiding pointing at someone with your foot is a simple reflex that prevents missteps.