THE DATE: January 28, 2018
THE TRIP
08:17 Our Fam arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport. After immigration and baggage collection, we went to the DTAC counter near Gate 7 to collect 2 sim cards we bought from Klook. Our Klook DTAC Sim Card (available in Standard, Micro or Nano size) has an unlimited data for 8 days with 100 THB call credits (equivalent to approximately 30 minutes of talk time). The unlidata has a maximum speed of up to 2.5 GB which drops to 384 kbps after using up 2.5 GB. Also, 4G/3G speeds will depend on the coverage area. We handed our printed vouchers, phones, and passports to the staff in the DTAC booth. After a few minutes, she gave us our configured phones with activated Thai sim cards and our passport. Now, we can use uber to find our ride to our rented Airbnb unit in Bangna. Miscellaneous: 383 PHP per sim card (76.6 PHP per day)
But first, we have to exchange our pesos to baht. I did not have my peso exchanged to USD or THB in Manila since the exchange rate in Bangkok for our pesos was competitive enough. Anyway, DO NOT exchange your pesos (or whatever currency you have, I guess) in the numerous currency exchange booths owned by banks in the airport. They have very low rates. As per my research, SuperRich1965 has the best rate. It has only one booth in the airport and you have to go to the B floor, near the Airport Rail Link. We went there and true enough, they did offer the best rate. The banks’ exchange rate was 1 peso = 0.43 baht while SuperRich rate was 1 peso = 0.61 baht. My 10K PHP was equivalent to 6,100 THB in SuperRich. I would have lost 1,800 THB if I had my money exchanged in the bank’s currency exchange booths.
10:30-11:00 Uber ride to MeStyle Condominium. Uber in Thailand has no XL or 6-seater option so we had to book 2 cars. Transportation: 220 THB for our Uber
11:00-12:30 Upon arriving, our host told us that we will not fit in his unit. He looked at my nephew and told us that his unit was good for 4 pax only. I reminded him that I told him before we booked his unit that we are 5 adults and 1 child and that he told me that he will provide an extra mattress. I showed him our conversation. He told me that he has no extra mattress available. We told him that we’ll figure it out. I felt that he wanted us to leave. Well, even if we wanted to, we can’t. My preggy sister, my almost-senior mother, and my 4-year old daughter were already tired. So we kept our booking with him despite the argument. Accommodation: 7,447.77 for 4 nights (3,723.89 per room for 4 nights / 930.97 per room per night / 465.49 per person per room per night)
12:30-13:40 After settling down, we went to CentralPlaza Bangna, which was just beside the condominium. The condo was also walking distance from a supermarket called Big C Supercenter. We had our lunch in CentralPlaza food hall. Meals were around 70 to 90 THB, without drinks. Meals: 225 THB for me and divimom
13:40-14:05 The mall offers free shuttle bus to the nearest BTS station, which was Udom Suk. The shuttle bus schedule may change due to traffic so we had to ask beforehand the tentative departure time. Transportation: FREE
14:07-14:50 Udom Suk to Mo Chit station. If your child’s height is less than 90 centimeters, then he or she is exempted from paying fare in the BTS. Transportation: 59 THB per person.
14:50-17:00 From Mo Chit Station, it was a short walk to Chatuchak Market. Our group split and decided to meet at the clock tower by 5:00 pm. During my two-hour shopping spree, I only bought some office clothes and snacks as souvenir. Souvenir: 1,500 THB
17:50-18:35 Mo Chit Station to Udom Suk. Transportation: 59 THB per person.
19:05-20:30 For dinner, we bought cooked food in CentralPlaza grocery. We also bought water, bread, rice, eggs, and other food for our breakfast the next day.
THE EXPENSES
For consistency’s sake, 1 PHP is 0.61 THB.
