Travel Hacks for unforgettable Thailand Staycations.

Want to know my very best travel hacks for enjoying the best Thailand hotels at the best prices?

We’ve loved getting to know Thailand by staycationing our way through the pandemic, enjoying a wide range of hotels across the Kingdom. I work hard to uncover the best promotions to ensure we enjoy the very best on offer at the best prices possible.

Here are my tips for unforgettable Thailand Staycations.

1. BUY OR STAY FOR FREE USING POINTS

Join the hotel loyalty programs to enjoy add value inclusions such as early or late check-in and upgrades. If you are not trying to stay in as many different Thailand hotels, find a brand that you love and build up loyalty credits. We have found that Thailand hotels are looking after their brand loyal guests well, so always start with this for the best deals and upgrades.

You’d think with the number of hotel rooms we purchase that we’d have enough loyalty points for free rooms? Nope, not us!

Although we did have a lovely stay at the Four Points by Sheraton, Patong on our Marriott Bonvoy points that had taken almost a lifetime to amass! There is something ultra exciting about free hotel stays!

Four Points by Sheraton, Patong, Phuket

2. LOOK FOR SPECIAL PROMOTIONS

As travel returns so are the enticing deals, I know it’s a pain to have your inbox full, but get on everyone’s e-mail lists to make sure you don’t miss out. I’ve been amazed at how many different promotional rates there are. From 11.11 sales to Black Friday the hotels are coming up with every excuse possible to offer you a promotional rate to entice you back… Find your offer that suits your circumstances, The senior’s rate discounts start at 55 years old in some resorts just sayin’ We’re not proud!

Take for instance the Centara Golden ticket pass See around the Kingdom in 80 days.  A real bargain, giving us 30 nights of hotel stays for 10,000 THB. I wish more hotels would offer such a deal!

3. STAY LONGER, STAY CHEAPER – MAKE IT A WORKCATION

One of the biggest trends in travel they say is for people to stay longer and travel deeper. There are some great deals around for long stays. Have you thought of making your holiday into a workcation?

See Yes you can – A working from the beach revolution! 

The Boathouse Phuket

4. WORK WITH BRANDS 

Disclaimer! 

I accept the occasional media invitation as Little Wandering Wren. You can see my reviews at Kata Rocks and The Naka Island Resort and my Youtube for Twin Palms or Twin Palms MontAzure.

Occasionally I will be invited for a hosted stay for a feature for a magazine. Check out my stays with Anantara Bo Phut or Avani + Samui Resort for Expat Life in Thailand. Sometimes my hosted stays will be part of a wider media promotion, such as with TAT – Tourism Authority of Thailand media tour.

THE POWER OF THE INFLUENCER!

Certainly, I do believe in the power of the Nano – Influencer! If you are interested in this approach connect with hotels via social media outlining exactly how you can add value to their marketing promotions.

I believe the best hotels know that every guest having great experiences can be the best social media advertisements they have. Whilst in a hotel, if you have a lovely room, a brilliant experience then do share it with the world. Thailand deserves to be talked about, people’s livelihoods and income which have suffered for months and they deserve to come back.

My Tip: Even without a media invite for those with social media platforms a room upgrade can be forthcoming once hotels know about you. Make friends with the Front Office Manager who has the authority to offer upgrades!

The Surin, Phuket

5. LOOK FOR VALUE ADDS RATHER THAN FREEBIES

I am proud of the fact that over 93% of my hotel stays are funded by myself! Thailand without tourists has been hit hard economically. I prefer not to ask for fully hosted stays.

How do we do it? I prefer to book one of the basic rooms and have found that with Thailand reopening, and low tourism rates, upgrades are freely offered. Do not expect this, but equally well ask if it is possible! Ask for beachfront, rooms with baths, etc which tend to be the upgraded rooms. If you are celebrating anything – birthdays, anniversaries, let the hotel know.

Let’s just say, the higher the value of the room booked the better the welcome fruit on arrival!

6. THE BEST HOTEL FOR YOUR NEEDS

Do your research but don’t get out your old guidebook from donkey’s years back. Check out recent Trip Advisor, Google, and hotel booking site reviews. Do a YouTube search to see where people are staying at the moment.

Le Meridien, Phuket

CHECK OUT PRICES VIA THE BOOKING SITES (but book direct)

Start with the Bangkok and Singapore-based Agoda (agoda.com) to find the lowest prices here in Thailand and check Trip Advisor or Google reviews to find the best rated. Remember reviews from before March 2020 are irrelevant, too much has changed.

CHECK OUT GUEST SATISFACTION RATINGS TOO

Check out the hotel’s social media and see what content has recently been posted. Interact and ask the questions that are important to you, check that everything you need is currently open. If you are a foodie it could be disappointing to arrive to find the restaurants all shut. Spa’s are coming back, activities programs may not be fully staffed, etc.

7. BOOK DIRECT WITH THE HOTEL

I always find if any problems arise it is best to be dealing with the hotel rather than a third party booking site. Be aware asking hotels to price match with online booking sites in Thailand rarely works! It’s infuriating but I guess most reservations do not have the authority to price match.

I prefer contact directly with the hotel for when changes need to be made, you’ll have an easier time dealing with the hotel — and getting rebooked — than you would if you had booked through a travel search engine.

Katathani Beach Resort Phuket Kata Noi

CHECK HOTELS FLEXIBLE POLICIES

Who knew we’d have to make so many changes to our bookings? There are still risks associated with travel. Having a hotel booked that you can trust with date changes and honouring previous bookings without price hikes is important! Read the small print.

8. GETTING THE BEST DEALS

Find the best deals advertised via the hotel’s Facebook pages or Line account (the local messaging App used in Thailand)

Hotels have responded to changing consumer habits to book at the last minute as a consequence there is a myriad of ever-changing deals which are released, these offers are often fleeting they rarely make it onto their websites.

LOCK IN CURRENT VALUE DEALS

The prices in Thailand are only going up! Where you can lock in pay now stay later deals.

Centara Villas Samui

SPEAK TO A HUMAN

Generally, I find the hotel’s front desks or social media responders are more helpful than the reservations team (who have sales targets to reach) at seeking out the best deals for me. Just saying!

Addressing the reservations team as Khun (add in their name) will show respect and indicate you are aware of Thailand’s culture.

Be polite & keep communication simple, remember not everyone in sales is fluent in your language.

Once in a hotel – if anything is not quite right, do let the hotel staff know. With hotel occupancy rates still on the low side

Rasananda Koh Phangan

9. USE A VPN

Screen capture any good deals, in case they disappear off-screen to discuss with the hotels and remember those pesky cookies that inflate hotel prices, using a VPN works!

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

• Get price alerts from Kayak. …
• Snag other travelers’ unwanted rooms. …
• Snatch last-minute deals with Priceline.

THAILAND AS IT EMERGES POST COVID

Thailand is not how you remember it bereft of 40 m International arrivals for the most of 2020/2021 a few things have changed, some for the better.

Our beaches are quieter, cleaner and the true beauty of Thailand shines without millions of tourists. But economically the kingdom has suffered tremendously, hotels have closed, staffing has been reduced, and whilst things are returning, we are not expecting to see international visitors return in any great numbers until 2024/5.

This is exactly why now is a brilliant time to visit the Kingdom.

THAILAND ENTRY TEST & GO SCHEME
From Ist Nov 2021 Thailand has introduced a scheme called Test and Go allowing vaccinated arrivals to book a one-night stay in an SHA Plus + hotel and what they are calling a quarantine-free arrival. See all the details here

Natai Beach Resort

CHECK YOUR THAILAND ENTRY PAPERWORK

Make sure you have the correct hotel paperwork for applying for your Thailand Pass. This must show your Test & Go booking in an SHA PLUS + hotel and include the on arrival Covid test and hotel transportation

It has never been easier to enter Thailand since Covid than now. However International travel to Thailand involves paperwork, procedure, and protocols:

If you do not have the right paperwork you will not be allowed in. See what is needed here

If you do not follow the right procedures you will not be granted the paperwork above!

If you do not want to follow Thailand’s protocols namely mask-wearing in public places and testing on arrival, then delay your trip for a while.

Check out How to choose a Phuket Sandbox Sha+ Hotel you will love

FINAL THOUGHTS

Choosing the right hotel can make or break a holiday. Add in a pandemic, International borders and hotels closed for many months, high humidity and you need to do some careful research to avoid disappointment. I hope this has helped you.  Do leave any good tips in the comments below!

Finally, where ever you choose, you support Thailand as it reopens its doors, the local businesses, and people will be very grateful to you. You come as pioneers back to world travel and we hope you will come with your spirit of adventure.