Why my friends are asking me to change my currency (INR) to Dollar then to Thai baht?

SuperRich at the Pratunam branch near Platinum Mall usually has the best rates for INR to THB directly, no need to mess with dollars. The rates fluctuate daily but they post them on a board outside so you can check before going in.

15-16k for 10 days is doable if you're mostly eating at street stalls and 7-Eleven, but a temple like Wat Pho costs 300 baht entry and one night at a rooftop bar can easily run you 500 baht for a drink. I'd say 20k would give you more breathing room for little extras like a foot massage or a river taxi ride.

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honestly just go to a SuperRich in bangkok with your INR, the USD step is a relic from when INR was harder to exchange. 15-16k baht for 10 days is optimistic unless you're eating purely street food and walking everywhere, that's like 1,500

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Your friends are giving you outdated advice. In Bangkok, you can exchange INR directly to THB at most SuperRich branches (the green one near Phrom Phong BTS or orange one at Sukhumvit 39) and get a rate almost identical to the USD route. Converting to dollars first just means you lose money twice on the spread.

For 10 days with 15-16k baht, that's tight if you're eating at sit-down restaurants or taking Grab taxis often. A basic lunch at a food court is around 80-100 baht, but a single BTS ride from Asok to Siam is 44 baht each way. I'd bring closer to 25k baht if you want to actually enjoy street food, a couple of drinks, and entry fees at temples without watching every coin.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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