Disclosure: I visited Thailand as a guest of Tbex and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. All opinions are strictly my own.
10 reasons to fall in love with a campervan in Thailand.
Step into my mansion on wheels
the diva has arrived
At least that’s how it felt. As I said in my post a couple of weeks ago, the look of shock that came across my face when I realized that my trip to Thailand with Tbex was not going to be a full SD card of photos of me laying on the beach getting pampered was worthy of a selfie.
Dramatic re-creation
The closest I’ve ever come to camping was staying in a road motel that didn’t offer breakfast. I never even pitched a tent in the backyard when I was a kid. Wait, I lied…Mr. S and I had a 27′ O’Day sailboat that slept 5, with a small galley & a head. It was roughly the same size as my campervan. The difference was…I don’t think that I ever slept on the boat (passed out maybe, but never slept).
Salmon Dave
At 61 I’ve decided that I can do anything…even THIS
You’ve seen this photo before…time to move on
Let’s break this down into 10 reasons why even I loved camping in Thailand
1. Campervans are new to Thailand
As a matter of fact these are the FIRST in the country. That means that people stare at you as you’re driving by….in the same way that people stare at someone driving a Lotus here.
2. Family friendly
Kids will love seeing the country from a camper and I’m at that age where a lot of my friends travel around in RV’s. Street/highway signs are in BOTH Thai and English making getting around much easier than I’d expected.
Real or Fake?
2. You get to go off the beaten track
No tourist traps for me. I LOVE slow travel, and that means getting to know an area. Explore areas of the country that the travel agent hasn’t got a CLUE about.
3. It’s not really camping
There’s **wifi in the camper, plenty of sockets to plug in your tech gear, a bathroom, a fridge (ours was stocked with beer & wine…since we weren’t driving) and a comfy sleeping area. All of the comforts of home….only smaller. The bathroom has a toilet, sink, and a small shower. I’m not sure Mr. S at 6’2″ would have fit comfortably, but I wouldn’t have to worry about him using all of the water in the shower up…PLUS FOR ME!
4. You can pull into guesthouses for the night
We stayed in a couple of GORGEOUS spots on the river. They had arranged for us to have cooking lessons, Thai massage, and dine with live music. With about 18 campsites and guesthouses to choose from you can do anything from rough it to hotel style. We stayed at guesthouses that allowed us to use their showers, bathroom, etc. so we didn’t have to use the one in our camper.
I am the egg man (does that mean I am the walrus?)
5. They’ll outfit the van for you
No need to shop ahead of time. You can request that your campervan be fully stocked with food, but WHY? We went to the Melkong market one day and had a BLAST shopping.
6. You can rent different sizes
Ours was perfect for two to four people, but if you have a family of 6….just let them know. We had two separate sleeping areas, an upper and a lower with a curtain for privacy in between. The sleeping compartments were closer to a full size and a queen bed than bunk-beds. If you’ve ever been in a boat, the table lowers just like it does in the main cabin, turning into part of the lower bed.
7. Hire a guide
My panic subsided the minute I found out that I wouldn’t be driving. The campers are equipped with GPS (with an English option). If you’d like to discover Thailand, but would rather someone who knows there way around be driving, they will assist you. Our driver Patti was also an incredible cook, ask for her if you want a vacation to remember. It’s an extra $45 per night and well worth it.
You may think this diety is the most interesting part of this photo….I think it’s the soda with a straw.
8. Go at your own pace
This is not the hop on hop off bus, it’s Thailand the way YOU want to see it. I saw the Central part of the country, taking in historic sites, markets, doing traditional crafts and learning from the locals. Whatever you want to focus on, you can. You set your own itinerary and length of time.
9. Spend more time with locals
OK, one of my pet peeves is going on a vacation and having a MISS KNOW IT ALL yap in my ear the entire time. You know, the one on that tour you took….the one who complains. This is a much more peaceful way to travel, and you get to spend more time soaking in the local culture rather than moving from site to site.
10. A vacation you’ll remember
Yes, you remember laying on the beach in the Caribbean, but when all is said and done…a beach is a beach. This is an EXPERIENCE. One that can change the way you think about travel.
VERY off the beaten path…riding boats down the river…
**Wifi –
I learned quickly that the wifi in the Campervan was wonky to say the least. Luckily I had brought an XCom Global hot spot with me that was specifically for Thailand. It saved me! I was able to not only stay in touch, but I had a LOT of work due while I was abroad. The service is available for $14.95 per day including the equipment, and they send it to your door along with a mailer to return the mifi.
The plans are quite good and the service was MUCH more stable than either the wifi provided in the van or the mobile hotspot on my phone. My phone barely worked in the hotel, and DIDN’T work at ALL while we were out in Central Thailand, while the XCom Global mifi worked VERY well. The hotspot that XCom Global sent had an electrical adapter included. There are NO roaming fees and the service averages out to about 70% less than others that I had researched.
Why pay for a year of service, when all you need is 7-days? Did I mention…it saved my behind??? Oh, & I called home (no charge) using my phone’s wifi calling using the XCom Global service.
DETAILS
- To learn more or book a campervan contact: Campervan Thai
- Learn more about XCom Global international wifi: XComGlobal
Vicki Winters says
I think you are officially ready for Burning Man now…..xoxox