5 Things I'm Glad I Brought to Thailand
Leave the mini skirt, take the maxi dress.
I don’t know about you, but packing stresses me out. Especially when going to a new place where you’re planning to do a variety of activities from hiking to snorkeling to dinners out… and you’re trying to get it all into a carry-on… for a two week trip… yea, it’s a little overwhelming. But I’m here to tell you: It’s possible, Ladies! Here are some of my Thailand essentials, and a the things that you can (should) do without.
A couple mental notes: When you’re not at the beach, as a whole, Thailand is a pretty conservative country. Especially when visiting temples, you want to make sure to have your shoulders and knees covered, and avoid low-cut tops. Now, will you see some other travelers break these rules? Yes. Do you want to be that person? For me, the answer is no. I really try to blend with the locals as much as possible when traveling or, at very least, show the utmost respect for a culture, especially when it comes to religious practices. So for me, I felt good erring on the side of caution. SO, if I thought it could be questionable, I didn't pack it.
Essential #1: Maxi dress + Kimono
I wore this outfit to most temples we visited. It’s light-weight and airy, the black dress hides sweat (gross, but helpful) and the kimono covered my shoulders so I was good-to-go for temple visits.
Essential #2: Dress with Sleeves
I brought two dresses that covered by shoulders but were still made of breathable fabrics and were comfortable to wear in the Thai heat. Again, you’ll see girls out and about baring their shoulders, but generally, when not at the beach, Thai women keep their shoulders covered. I still brought a sleeveless top and dress but the straps were a couple inches thick.
Essential #3: Scarf
I’m aware that an ice pack may seem a more appropriate item but a scarf is versatile and can really come in handy. The air quality was not great while we were in Chiang Mai and that scarf saved me on many a Song-Tu rides. You can also use it on airplanes when you get cold, for a picnic blanket or a make-shift towel. Even when you’re going somewhere hot, always bring a scarf.
Essential #4: Breathable Pants
There are some really cute baggy, bohemian pants out there, and by all means, get some of those if you want to rock them! I just happened to have some tech-like pants by Columbia that I use for camping and they were great for the hot temperatures and are made of a fast-drying material. These were especially helpful when riding a moped or riding an elephant. Another pro-tip, if you do choose to ride an elephant, don’t wear white. Elephants are muddy!
Essential #5: A Secure Swimsuit
Who is making all these ridiculous swimsuits that are not made for swimming??? I can’t tell you how many times I have ordered a swimsuit and, when I actually wore it swimming, felt like it was either going to fall right off or cause me to sink due to excess padding (or in a really unfortunate scenario, both). I really love this swimsuit that I found at Old Navy last year because I felt totally comfortable wearing it while jumping off the boat, snorkeling, kayaking etc.
This is just a tip: I brought three pairs of shoes with me -1. Chacos 2. Keds and 3. Some brown sandals. I actually brought a fourth pair that I threw in last minute (TOMS) that I never even wore. I figured once we got to the beach, if I really wanted flip flops, I could buy them somewhere for cheap. But I didn’t need them; I was fine with the shoes I had.
I hope that helps in your packing for Thailand! Leave a comment if you’ve noticed I forgot anything!
Liz