Stay Dry
As mentioned in the Beat the Heat post, Thailand is both hot and wet almost all the time. Read on to find out how you can stay dry (ish) and comfortable during your visit to beautiful Thailand.
Sweat.
Get used to it! Light, breathable clothes are best. Skip any heavy cottons, a blend is better, but don’t bring full polyester. Athleisure wear is where it’s at! Pack extra swimwear, not just your one favorite. Because of the humidity, nothing dries quickly. Lay out your sweaty clothes before balling them up in the dirty pile to reduce stink. You may shower twice a day so I preferred to have 2 pairs of underwear per day as well as at least two bras I could rotate through. Skip the underwire though, don’t even bring it. I say that with double D’s – it’s miserable. Embrace the bralet and give your girls a vacation, too! If you can’t work up a sweat in your underwear at home, don’t bring them either! Make sure they are battle tested for full comfort. Wash any clothes in the evening before bed and lay them out near the air con or fan for a better chance at drying. If you have a sunny balcony, that’s even better! I thought I’d like skirts in the heat but my thighs rubbed together so much, I always wore shorts under them anyway. Some people like glide sticks for those areas or powder, but I found nothing more comfortable than pants and shorts. That’s me though!
Pro tip: Vodka works as an excellent clothes refresher. Bring a small spray bottle of cheap vodka or whatever you have on hand. Spray in the sweaty areas of clothes – armpits, neck, waistband. Let it and dry and poof! Stank be gone! Wear it again, Sam.
Rain.
And not a mist, buckets. The umbrella is key here, too. I never left home without it and a day didn’t go by when I didn’t use it for sun or rain or both. An umbrella keeps your top half very well protected, including your clothes and bag. However, it only protects you from water from above. You will be walking in water, dirty water, daily, too. Skip the notion of paved sidewalks, think dirt and sand paths that turn into rivers when it rains. Don’t bring your super cute leather gladiator sandals, opt for sensible functional sandals like Tevas or Keens. My super comfy yoga mat flip flops were a nightmare – they soak up water and never dry out, turning heavy and squishy with every step! You’ll also appreciate the more sturdy sandals when you go chasing waterfalls. I also had a great pair of tennis shoes that were made to get wet and dry quickly. They dried in a couple hours in Montana, but it took overnight to dry in Thailand. Also note that you’ll be taking your shoes off, a lot! Another reason to skip those gladiator sandals. Think slip-on and sturdy.
Both pairs of rubber yellow sandals below did not make the cut, even though they’re from Thailand. I found them to cut into my feet when I got hot OR wet, no good! Hence the socks with the ducks sandals!
Electronics.
Keep your electronics dry. I always had a gallon plastic bag for my camera and phone in case of deluge. And those phone pouches for swimming are great. Test it at home before you leave (in your sink with something not so valuable as your phone). You can keep your major valuables on your body as you go swimming. I also like the credit card holder phone case for this reason. I got this stretchy one that fits a couple cards and cash or headphones.
Pro tip: Thais love their mentholated baby powder. It’s amazing! Though not talc free, it’s worth the 
relief. Heat rash is real, and really uncomfortable! Look for the powder with ice cubes on it and menthol in the ingredient list, or the ubiquitous Snake Brand. I’d put in under boobs, in my pits, between my thighs, anywhere clothes touched, and down my back! Keep it away from super delicate ah, openings, as the menthol will not feel quite so good. I have not found anything in the states that equals what they have available, though Dr. Scholl’s foot powder is close.
How do you scooter in the rain? Ponchos!
Location tip: Buy an umbrella when you get there, or at least a poncho. You may pay $40 for a good UV umbrella in the states, but they’re everywhere there for much less. The black lining is the best UV protection, silver lining is great, too, even if they don’t say “UV protection.” Your umbrella doubles as sun and rain protection, awesome!
