Thailand is one of the most popular places to visit in Southeast Asia, and I totally get why! From beautiful sandy beaches and limestone cliffs to bustling cities, incredible food, and remarkable temples, you are in for an adventure. Here, you will find Thailand travel tips, inspiration, guides, and more!
The land of smiles (Thailand) is bordered by Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma). Other nearby countries include Singapore, Indonesia, and China.
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What To Expect In Thailand
Here is some practical information and travel tips you can expect when traveling in Thailand.
- Language: Thai is the national language. While English is somewhat understood, I would recommend downloading Google Translate. This app helped us so much while here!
- Currency: The Thai Baht is used in Thailand.
- Cards and ATMs: Credit Cards are widely accepted except at small food vendors. ATMs can be found everywhere. It is always good to have a couple of extra Baht for street eating and tuk-tuks.
- Power outlets: The power plugs and sockets are of type A, B, C, F, and O and the standard voltage is 220 V. The standard frequency is 50 Hz, and it most commonly features two-prong round or flat sockets. Here is our favorite universal adaptor.
- Tipping: Tipping is not customary and should not be done unless otherwise stated. The best way to show your appreciation to Thailand businesses is by leaving a review!
- Vaccinations: Depending on where you travel in Thailand, certain vaccinations are recommended. Check CDC here.
- Visas: U.S. citizens, Canadians, and most EU tourists entering Thailand for fewer than 30 days do not need a visa.
- Thailand Water Safety: The water is not safe to drink from the tap unless you boil the water or use a water filter that can handle killing bacteria.
- Travel Insurance: Food poisoning is common in Thailand, so I recommend getting travel insurance. I was glad to have it when I visited an Urgent Care in Krabi.
Safety
In General, the main Thailand cities and islands are very safe to visit including solo female travelers. With that being said, use general caution. The general scams are locals over-charging you for tuk tuk rides or local goods. Pickpocketing also exists, so keep your valuables secure. Additionally, don’t wear flashy items. If you are visiting more rural areas, you could encounter venomous snakes.
For men, in many areas, women or “lady boys” may try to grab you to come into their bar or shop. This is very common in Thailand. Sometimes, these women are prostitutes, other times, they are hoping you will buy them things.
Getting Around
Thailand is a pretty large country, so the most popular way to get around is by train (or sleeper train), Bus, and Plane from city to city.
The main airport is in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK). Other airports include Phuket International Airport (HKT), Chiang Mai Airport (CNX), and Krabi International Airport (KBV).
For planning city and island transport, the go-to website is 12 Go Asia. We used this to book our sleeper train to Chiang Mai and it’s a highly used website to get around Thailand.
For local travel, bus, scooter, Tuk Tuk’s (3 wheel motor scooter cab), and Songthaews (pickup truck community cab) are the most popular way to get around. There are also local cabs and the driving service Grab (like Uber). We used Grab a handful of times too, since many times the taxis won’t run the meter or try to rip you off.
Island transportation can be by long tail boat or a ferry depending on the distance.
Cell Service
Sim cards are very easy to get in Thailand and can even be purchased at 7/11. I would recommend using the AIS sim card, which we found very reliable. We used the sim as a hotspot for 2 computers and 2 phones. The only downside is the battery on the phone dies much quicker when using the hotspot. I would recommend also bringing a power bank!
Now, I also use Esims, but it is still probably cheaper to get a physical sim in Thailand if your phone still has a sim slot. Newer phones like the iPhone 15 no longer have it.
Popular Food
Some popular foods to try include:
- Pad Thai – Thai noodle stir fry with peanuts
- Tom Yum Goong – Hot and sour soup with shrimp
- Tom Kha Gai – Chicken on Coconut soup
- Som Tam – Spicy green papaya salad
- Yam Pla Dook Foo – Fried catfish with a green mango salad
You can still find a lot of Westernized food in here. We enjoyed pretty good Italian and American breakfast with eggs and pancakes.
Related: If this is your first time visiting Thailand, I recommend reading these Thailand travel tips. This covers some important information about Thai culture!
Weather
In general, the best time to travel to Thailand is October through May. This is considered the dry season for most of the island and the most comfortable temps and humidity. Temperatures do differ slightly from Northern Thailand to the South. Overall Thailand averages temperatures of 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 C).
May through October is monsoon season for almost all of Thailand. However, the east coast islands such as Ko Samui and Ko Tao’s rainy season tends to be September through November.
If you plan on traveling to Northern Thailand such as Chiang Mai, you should also note to avoid burning season. This is when farmers are burning all their crops. Because of this, the air pollution is very high making it difficult to breathe. The burning season usually starts around mid-February through mid-April.
Thailand has a tropical climate so weather, in general, is unpredictable, therefore it can rain any time of the year.
Brief History
Here is some very brief information to know. As with many lands across the world, we have been able to date back humans living here for for around 500,000 years. The bulk of Thailand’s history begins in 1238 when Thai chieftains overthrew the Khmer overlords and established the Thai Kingdom.
The official name of Thailand was Siam until 1939. Then, in the 19th century, European powers threatened Thailand’s independence. Although Thailand was not colonized by any country, the kingdom has received Western influence which has contributed to Thailand’s more modern ways.
If you are interested in learning more about Thailand’s history, you can book a guided tour, discover historical sites, and ask your tour guide questions.
Popular Things to Do
Thailand offers an abundance of nature and so many things to enjoy in the grand outdoors!
Some of the most popular things to do in Thailand include:
- Visit an Elephant sanctuary
- Go snorkeling or scuba diving
- Take an Island Hopping tour
- See the Grand Palace
- Explore Phi Phi Island
- Visit Wat Arun
- See Ayutthaya Historical Park
- Partake in Songkran Festival
- Attend Loy Krathong Thailand Lantern Festival
- Watch a Muay Thai fight
- Getting a Thai Massage
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Thailand is October through May. This is Thailand’s dry season and is when you will experience the most comfortable temperatures. We visited during mid-May and didn’t experience too much rain, but we could certainly tell it was starting to go into rainy season.
Is Thailand Budget-Friendly?
Thailand is a very affordable place to visit. Hotel prices are very cheap and often range from $30 to $150 per night. Hostels are even less.
Street food is very cheap. You can expect to pay around $2 to $5 per meal. If you dine in a restaurant, you’ll pay around $10 to $25 per person.
Paid activities usually range from $15-$50.
Where to Stay and Planning
Because Thailand is quite a large country, it can be difficult to figure out where to go. While we spend a month in Thailand, most spend 10 days to 14 days. At one point, everyone ends up in Bangkok. You won’t be able to see everything in one trip, but the most popular places to visit include:
- Bangkok: Spend 1 to 3 days
- Chiang Mai: 3 to 5 days
- Krabi or Phuket 3 to 5 days
With more time, you can focus on other Northern Regions by Chiang Mai including Chiang Rai and Pai. Or, you can try more islands including Phi Phi Island, Koh Lanta, and Koh Samui. Use this guide on where to stay in Thailand.
Thailand Travel Guides and Itineraries
Thailand Wrap-up
There you have it! Make sure to check out the above guides will delve deeper into visiting. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out via email or social media or let me know in the comments below.
Other Destinations to Check Out:
Additional Guides: Lonely Planet Thailand 19 | Fodor’s Essential Thailand: with Cambodia & Laos
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