Phrao is a small town, but we are not at the end of the world! In fact, we think that Phrao is pretty perfect. If offers all of the benefits of a beautiful, rural community surrounded by mountains, river and the pleasures of a slow paced, gentle life style. And then when you need a bit of a change, Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city, is less than two hours away!
Cost of Living
Phrao is a small town and accommodating visitors has always proved to be difficult. To alleviate this problem for our volunteers, Warm Heart has established a contract with one of Phrao’s two resorts to provide inexpensive, comfortable, if not luxurious, housing (bungalow (shared) with two twin beds, TV, bath, etc.). Because there is essentially no local transportation system or phone system, we have created a single, convenient package for volunteers that bundles room, motorbike and cell phone for a single, flat fee.
Housing is at the Aomdoi Resort just a few kilometers outside of town. Aomdoi offers brand new bungalows with western bathrooms, cable TV and DVD players, lovely grounds, including two large ponds, and great views of the mountains. There is a separate bar-restaurant where Warm Heart staff have cooking privileges, the main building has a huge, flower shaded veranda – and wi-fi. The rooms come with fans and AC. If you wish to use the AC, you will need to pay extra. (We suggest that you wait and see. In our experience, fans are quite sufficient.)
The Warm Heart package includes the following payable in a minimum of one week units. For further detail and current prices, see our partner site GlobalPACT.org.
- Room
- Motorbike (with maintenance, without gas)
- Cell phone (with SIM, without minutes)
Other important budget items include: (Note: These are sample prices; actual cost will vary with the market, exchange rate and personal preferences).
- Food: 150 baht/day, 1050/wk, 4,200/month
- Gas: 200 baht/wk, 800 baht/month
- Phone minutes: 200 baht/month
- Laundry: 400 baht/month
Toiletries and Other Basics
You do not need to bring a life’s supply of everything you might possibly need with you to Thailand! Really. There is a good pharmacy/drug store that carries most major brands of all the normal stuff you need from shampoo and conditioner to deodorant and tampons. NOTE: If you take prescription medications, make sure to bring proper, back-up prescriptions from your doctor in the event that you need an emergency refill. Make sure that you have the generic name of your medication as well as the brand name, since many medications are not known internationally by the same names as they are in the US. Your medication will be available, but only if you have a prescription. Opposite the pharmacy is a 7-11, Thailand’s ultimate convenience store. Open 24/7, you can get everything from Diet Coke or a coffee slushy to notebook paper and phone cards at 7-11.
Banks & Money Exchange
Thailand is well connected to the world banking system making foreign exchange a snap. Without question, the easiest way to get money is to use an ATM debit card, since ATMs are readily available and constitute the least expensive, lowest hassle way to get Thai baht. You can also exchange dollars easily at banks and at foreign exchange offices run by banks in larger cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Credit cards are widely accepted in big cities at hotels, better stores and fancy restaurants, but you should not expect to be able to use them where we are. The current exchange rate is approximately 32 Thai baht to the dollar. To check today’s rate, you can go to: www.xe.com/ucc
Laundry
You are welcome to do your own laundry, but to the extent that we are in the business of supporting the local economy, we suggest that you employ someone. Monthly charges for wash and fold are around 400 baht.
Voltage
Thailand operates on 220 volts. Most computers and other electronic devises with adaptors can handle both 110 and 220. You should check yours to make sure, however.
Thai plugs are identical to American plugs, so you will not need plug adaptors.
As a simple matter of weight and convenience, we suggest that you do not bring such appliances as hair driers that will require a transformer. See what you need when you get here and buy local.
Internet and Telephones
Both your accommodations (if you are staying in Warm Heart provided housing) and the Warm Heart Training Center have wi-fi, so feel free to bring you laptop (although, as always, you should think about security). There is also an internet cafe in town.
American cell phones do not work on the Thai network unless you purchase a very expensive “global phone”. We suggest that you do not, but rather that you take advantage of a Warm Heart rental phone.
Thai cell phones function on a GSM pre-paid calling card system. Top up cards are sold in 50, 100, and 200 baht increments. Usage is charged per minute for outgoing calls, but nothing is incurred for incoming calls.
International phone calls can be made at internet cafes, which also advertise “international calls”. (International calls are very expensive on Thai cell phones and on the Thai system in general. It is always less expensive to have friends and family call you.) International phone cards named “Hatari,” can also be purchased from 7-Eleven in 300 baht and 500 baht increments and allow you to call the US at a rate of 4 baht per minute. The Hatari calling card can be used from pay phones, room phones, and cell phones.
Family and friends calling from the US should dial 001-country code-phone number without the first 0 in the Thai phone number. For example, when calling within Thailand, a phone number might be 053-789-302. However, when calling from the US, you dial 001-66-53-789-302, dropping the initial 0. Friends and family can use a variety of calling cards to call Thailand, including international calling cards put out by major US carriers (such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.) or Asia specific phone cards from Asian groceries (the phone card named, “Asia,” gives 8 hours of phone time for around $5).