Cut, wash and blowdry: 650 baht / £15
A simple wet trim costs me at least £40 in the UK. Here, I can head to a salon – any salon – for what feels like a luxury spa treatment for less than £20. That said, I try and watch how quickly all the little things add up – helped by the instant notifications Starling sends through. Each notification shows how much I’ve spent in baht and GBP – which is just as well because maths in the heat isn’t easy!
Koh Samui
One night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel: 4,000 baht / £90
Koh Samui is one of the most popular islands in Thailand (season three of the White Lotus can take a lot of credit), and it’s packed with hotels, ranging from basic beachside bungalows listed on Airbnb to some of the most famous five-star hotels in the world. Getting there, however, can be pricey – Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on the airport, meaning no budget airlines can fly in (and therefore flight prices can be astronomical).
My money saving tip would be to get a ferry to and from the mainland via Donsak Pier – you could either fly via Surat Thani airport or book a driver (prices can be negotiated). Last time, we paid 3,500 (£80) for our private transfer (2.5hr journey).
30-minute foot massage: 300 baht / £7
I rarely splash out on treats like massages at home, but massage parlours are really common in Thailand – and prices pretty hard to resist. As you’d suspect, Thai massages here are expert-level, and you’ll be twisted and stretched in ways you never thought possible. If you’re after something more gentle (and a steal at £7) then a 30-minute foot massage is it.
Ahead of my trip, I’d set up a Regular Space labelled ‘Thailand treats’ – which meant I could allocate money for things like shopping and massages. Ultimately, this made for guilt-free spending – I’d already set the money aside so I knew I wasn’t overspending. And I could spend straight from the Space fee-free using a virtual card, provided they weren’t cash-only.
