Stay Lifehacks

Manage your laundry. If you are training twice a day, that is a lot of sweaty clothes. Do not use the expensive hotel laundry service for your gym gear. Walk out to the street, just meters from the hotel entrance, and find one of the many “Laundry by Kilogram” shops. They are insanely cheap, usually same or next day service, and used to heavy sports gear.They will wash-dry-fold your wraps and shorts for a fraction of the hotel price.

Outside the ring, road safety on Soi Ta-iad is of ultimate importance. This is a narrow lane, overcrowded with people walking up and down trucks and motorbikes. If you are going to be one of those cool tourists riding a scooter, wear a helmet (yes, all the time). The Chalong Police love setting up checkpoints at both ends of the street specifically targeting tourists without helmets or international driving permits-500-1000 Baht fine! Also very carefully cross over to get to your gym; traffic flows left in Thailand but so many bikes drive against traffic on the shoulder.

Recovery is also associated with being strategic at the time of making your booking. Try to request a room either at the back of the building or on a higher floor, away from all street action and noise that begins early in announcements by fight trucks (Muay Thai fights being promoted over loudspeakers) plus general gym buzz commencing 7:00 AM. A road-facing room will ensure you get silence for afternoon naps which are necessary if you train hard. Also, stock water and electrolytes in your mini-fridge from 7-Eleven as soon as you arrive; staying hydrated is one big challenge for new arrivals this humidity.