Bangkok--9 Apr--Hill+Knowlton Strategies
To help Thai travellers devise a fool-proof plan to enjoy or evade the most popular annual holiday period, global travel search company Skyscanner has put together a collection of Ultimate Songkran Survival Tips, featuring popular local Instagram celebrity, Momay.
Whether you are taking flight or starting the ignition to get to get to your favourite destination, you’ll definitely want to look and act the part, and also arm yourself with the right gadgets to engage in some water warfare.
Runway or Highway?
It’s not too late if you haven’t booked your flights for Songkran, either within Thailand or abroad. Check outSkyscanner’s “Everywhere” search function for inspiration and see where your budget might take you.
Top local destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi; and for those looking to escape, the most popular international destinations to make the most of the five-day long weekend this year are Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka, London and Seoul (where Momay is headed to escape the start of summer). On the other hand, if you are looking to escape the crowds and the scorching Thailand heat, Skyscanner recommends Hanoi, Bali, Akita, Goa, Marrakesh and Belgium – just to name a few.
If you are joining the jet set, remember to never do these things at the airport:
Get drunk: Songkran is a time for celebration and revelry, but wait to enjoy that first cocktail until you’ve arrived at your destination. No one likes being crammed next to the rowdy person who has snuck a Singha in their hand luggage.
Lose your temper: Much has been said recently about the behaviour of foreign tourists in Thailand. Let’s adopt some of our old fashioned, Thai demeanour and simply give those queue-jumpers a smile.
Speaking of queue-jumpers: Don’t be one and don’t make a scene when the person in front of you fails to understand the necessary etiquette for boarding in an orderly fashion. Karma is real.
If the threat of major traffic jams isn’t enough to deter you from packing the car and heading off to wherever the road may lead, there are many ways to ensure your road trip is one to remember – for all the good reasons:
Take the right vehicle: Five people crammed into a compact car from Bangkok to Chiang Mai won’t be comfortable, so think about hiring a car if yours isn’t suitable – it will also make it easier for you to split costs and drive responsibly.
Don’t forget to pack snacks unless you want to pull over at every Starbucks or community mall along the way. It is perhaps also worth mentioning that you are in a small, cramped space so avoid bringing durians and fish snacks!
With traffic being some of the busiest during the Songkran weekend, make sure you abide by the road rules – particularly “don’t drink and drive”. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Location, location, location
Skyscanner launched its Hotels offering in Thailand late last year, with the app being ranked as a “Must Have” by Apple’s App Store, so we are confident we know a thing or two about helping you find the perfect place to stay, near or far.
Picking the right hotel can make or break your vacation, so here are some things to keep in mind:
Finding the right hotel is not just about great photos and a good price if it’s nowhere near the fun and excitement of Songkran (unless you’re trying to stay dry). Use Skyscanner’s interactive map to pick the best spot to match your holiday plans.
Four stars may not mean the same in Tokyo as it does in somewhere like Trat, but you should at least expect a similar level of service – the key word being similar. We also recommend taking user reviews lightly as one person’s penthouse can be another person’s pantry.
Songkran is always swelteringly hot, but at least there's air-conditioning. Not so fast! The unit looks like it's been sitting there since the 1970s and all it seems to be doing is coughing out mountains of dust and making enough noise to guarantee everyone a sleepless night. If quietly suffering isn’t for you, ask for a room change. Maybe, if you are persistent enough, you could score an upgrade!
You really need to upload all your selfies, so you've got no choice but to pay the extortionate equivalent of USD10 an hour for internet access. The problem is it SD upload your selfies , ute cocktails and d mon complaintsou arrive to find some things don'nd:ng weekend are is so painfully slow that a carrier pigeon would deliver the message quicker. Your solution can be to buy a local pre-paid SIM, or if you are on a budget, why not take advantage of free WiFi in the nearest café or restaurant? However, if you have travelled far from civilization and the only option is the slow hotel WiFi, maybe it’s for the best. Just relax and disconnect from the world for a few days.
Your stay is finished off in style when you get a bill under your door with minibar items you haven't consumed and room service you didn't order. Be sure to triple check your bill at the front desk before you leave so to avoid paying for someone else’s luxuries.
Get ready for combat
You’ve reached your destination, checked into your hotel and now it’s time to devise your battle plan. Whether that means is taking shelter by the pool bar with a good book and cocktail in hand, or strapping your best military-grade water gun to your chest and yelling “CHARGE!”, be sure to arm yourself with an arsenal of gadgets and glamour tips to keep you looking the part of Water Warrior or Worrier.
Waterproofing: Your phone, your camera, your mascara, your shoes. Songkran is Thai for “get as wet as humanly possible” and unfortunately this means that NOTHING is sacred. Invest in a sturdy, waterproof case for your phone and plastic pouch for your other valuables (which are super easy to come by – all the street vendors will be looking to make a quick baht or 60). Momay’s best beauty buy during Songkran is tinted lip and cheek stain that helps your skin look glamorous and makes your makeup stay longer even with all the water splashing around.
Nung, song, sam! Once you are fully protected from the water (or as much as you can be!), it’s time to take some selfies and snaps. Here are Skyscanner’s best tips to get the best Songkran photos: use burst mode to capture fun actions while shooting or splashing water and slo-mo mode to record a slow-motion action video. If your smartphone isn’t already equipped with these features, you can download some great camera and video apps for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone to take some super fun videos of you and your friends taking each other down in the “water fight to end all water fights”.
Skyscanner will be sharing more fun tips and secrets on its Facebook page and Twitter. Share your own UltimateSongkran Survival Tips using the hashtags #SkyscannerTH and #Songkran. For more information or travel inspiration head to www.skyscanner.co.th (Thai), www.skyscanner.net (English) or download the app for iPhone and Android – and enjoy your Songkran celebrations armed with a secure plan to enjoy or escape the fun and festivities!
To find out more about what Momay has to say about her Ultimate Songkran Survival Tips, follow her on Instagram at @dailycherie, Facebook or Twitter.