Thailand Travel Tips for 2025: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting

After visiting over 50 countries, Thailand still holds a spot in my top three favourite destinations worldwide. And it’s not just me—Travel + Leisure ranks Thailand among the top 50 destinations to visit in 2025.

If you’re into TV dramas (particularly ones released on HBO), you’ve probably heard the buzz. The next season of White Lotus, premiering in early 2025, is set in Thailand. And if you’re one who loves a little luxury travel, the Capella Bangkok was crowned the number one hotel in the world for 2024 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Having stayed there, I can say it absolutely lives up to the hype—it’s easily one of our best hotel experiences ever.

But Thailand isn’t just about world-class accommodations. Its cuisine, culture, warm hospitality, ease of travel, natural beauty, and adventurous spirit make it a destination worthy of being at the top of your bucket list. These are the reasons we couldn’t resist coming back for a second year in a row.

Even as I start to write this (December 1st), we’re in the middle of a free diving course on Koh Tao, a charming little island in the Gulf of Thailand. Since arriving to the country a few days prior, we’ve been navigating the usual travel essentials—cash, SIM cards, transportation, and planning around the weather—all while soaking in the magic of this country.

With our recent experience fresh in mind, I’ve put together the latest and most useful tips for traveling to Thailand in 2025. Here are 10 things you’ll want to know to be fully prepared for your trip!

1. Thailand Visa and Entry Requirements

Before you even get to Thailand, you probably will want to figure out if there’s any barrier to entry into the country. As of July 2024, passport holders from 93 countries can come into Thailand for leisure visa-free for 60 days, and can extend for another 30 days. Much better than the previous 30-day stay!

No need to apply for an e-visa beforehand and no need to prepare payment for a visa on arrival if your country of origin is on that list! Before you come into Thailand, make sure that this visa exemption applies to you!

Nationals from 31 other countries can also apply for a tourism visa on arrival, which should 2,000 THB. If your country is on that list, make sure to have payment in hand prior to going through immigration once you arrive. You may also have to show proof on an outbound flight or itinerary where you will be exiting Thailand within the appropriate time, as well as proof of funds depending on your country of origin.

Double check your maximum duration of stay, and if your visa allows multi-entry across a certain period or only single-entry. And ensure you make plans to leave Thailand by the time your stay duration is up!

You can come into Thailand via a number of ways. By plane, train, roadway or ferry. Most people will fly directly into major airports, such as Phuket International Airport (HKT), Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). We’ve flown into Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and in a couple of weeks, we’ll be taking the ferry from Koh Life to Langkawi, Malaysia.

Whatever arrival point you decide on, make sure you have the proper paperwork and visa requirements if applicable to you. But honestly, Thailand has made it all the easier to enter the country for the majority of foreigners just this past year.

2. Thai Currency and Cash Withdrawal

The Thai Baht (THB) is the main—and for the majority, only—currency accepted in Thailand. As a rough rule, 35 THB is the equivalent of a little more than $1 USD or a little less than 1€. They don’t accept USD as most other Southeast Asian countries might, but you can easily find currency exchange places with zero commission fees everywhere you go.

In Thailand, Cash Is Still King

Despite it being the most visited country in Southeast Asia, and is progressing in advancement, it still remains a cash heavy country.

In the bigger cities, you might see cards being accepted more than in the remote locations. But it is nowhere near being a common occurrence. Even in big malls like Terminal 21 in Bangkok, the large and popular food court on the top floor only accepts cash that you load onto a card you can use at the various food stations.

At 7-Eleven, the most popular convenience store, the minimum payment for which you can use credit card is 200 THB. On the islands, it is very common to see the restaurants and retail shops that accept card to tack on a 3% bank fee on your whole bill. Don’t be surprised by this, it’s commonplace. Even the big diving schools owned and run by foreigners will do this! Either that or they’ll only accept cash, and maybe a Wise transfer.

With all that said, it’s pretty much inevitable that you either exchange cash or withdraw it when in Thailand. I don’t know about you, but I’m not carrying about $1000 USD in my pocket while travelling, so I’m bound to have to withdraw cash at the ATM. And Thailand is notorious for having outrageous ATM withdrawal fees.

Exuberant and Unavoidable ATM Fees

No matter which ATM you go to, they charge a fixed 220 THB fee. There’s a slight chance that, if you do encounter the elusive Aeon bank ATM, you can try your luck and see if it’s a no-fee transaction. But as of 2024, almost every bank charges the same fee, no matter how much you take out.

Unless you have a debit card that rebates you foreign ATM fees (like the Charles Schwab checking account in the US), you’ll want to be as strategic as you can and not be charged the fee unnecessarily, if you can avoid it.

The maximum amount that you can withdraw from an ATM in Thailand is 20,000-30,000 THB. However, even if the max from a given ATM says 30,000 THB, the true cap is how much your debit or credit card is permitted to take out. That’s all dependent on the relationship your bank or card provider has with the ATM bank. My TD Visa debit card only ever let me take out 24,000 THB or less.

Tip: Whenever withdrawing cash from the ATM, always select to do so WITHOUT conversion to home currency. The exchange rate at the ATM is always worse than whatever your card provider will have behind the scenes.

Depending on how long you’ll be spending in Thailand, where you’re going in the country and what you’ll be doing, you might not even need to take the maximum out.

Currency Exchanges

What Jason and I have resorted to doing is, taking out the max from an ATM, and then also converting some money (be it USD or euros) if need be as we approach the end of our trip.

Currency conversions on the smaller islands or in more remote locations are often less favourable than in the larger hubs. Always aim to select a reputable currency exchange shop that takes zero commission, and compare their exchange rate to the one on Google. You may also need to have your passport on you, or a copy of it, to present to the clerk for their records.

We’ve noticed across Thailand that they offer different buying rates for USD in particular depending on the bills you’re exchanging. Typically, the rate is most favourable for $100 bills, maybe also for $50, and gradually gets less so for the smaller bills. Other currencies don’t have this issue. For some reason, they really want those $100 USD bills, y’all!

But as I mentioned, try to exchange some at larger hubs for the better rates, for example in malls in Bangkok or other larger cities, before arriving to the more remote destinations in the country.

3. Thailand Weather and Best Times to Visit

Thailand’s weather is generally warm and tropical, but its climate can vary significantly depending on the region and time of year. Broadly speaking, Thailand experiences three main seasons:

1. Cool Season (November to February): This is often considered the best time to visit, with milder temperatures and less humidity. Northern regions like Chiang Mai are particularly pleasant, with cool mornings and evenings. Perfect timing to experience the lantern festivals in Chiang Mai! Southern Thailand, both the Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi) and the Gulf Coast (Koh Samui, Koh Tao), is typically dry during these months. Emphasis on typically, as you’ll see in a bit!
2. Hot Season (March to May): Temperatures rise dramatically, often exceeding 40°C (104°F) in some areas. Yes, you can barely leave the AC without swimming in your own sweat! During our visit to Thailand in April and May 2023, we experienced a dry heat in Chiang Mai, while the southern islands had a humid heat. Despite the scorching temperatures, we loved the endless sunshine and incredible underwater visibility while island hopping.
3. Rainy Season (June to October): The monsoon season brings heavy rainfall, especially in the afternoons and evenings. However, the impact varies by region. The Andaman Coast usually gets hit hardest during this time, while the Gulf Coast can see relatively better weather, especially earlier in the season.

Regional Weather Differences

Thailand’s geography adds an interesting twist to its weather patterns. The southern coasts, split into the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, can experience opposite seasons. Where the Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi) typically has its rainy season from May to October, the Gulf Coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) often sees wetter weather from November to January.

But as we unfortunately learned firsthand, these patterns aren’t as predictable as they used to be. You can blame climate change for that! Monsoon patterns across the globe are shifting and becoming more erratic and unpredictable, causing long stretches of droughts in some parts of the world, and flash floods in others. We so narrowly avoided the floods in Koh Tao just a couple of weeks ago!

Visiting Thailand in December 2024, we were expecting sunshine, cooler weather and fair winds, as it’s supposedly the dry season. Instead, we were caught in unrelenting rainstorms on both coasts. The flooding in many areas of Southern Thailand made it clear that the traditional dry and wet seasons are becoming less defined!

It’s hard to give you a direct answer for when the most ideal time to visit Thailand is because of the ever-shifting in seasons. Ask yourself if you’d rather trade in high heat and a higher chance of sunshine for cooler weather with a chance of rain! For longer trips, you can also move around Thailand chasing the better weather as you go!

Be Prepared for All Tropical Weather

While Thailand’s weather is mostly predictable, climate change has thrown a curveball into the mix. It’s best to pack for all kinds of weather no matter when you visit. Lightweight clothes, a good rain jacket, and waterproof gear for your electronics can go a long way in ensuring you’re ready for any surprises Mother Nature throws your way. Rain or shine, Thailand’s beauty and charm never disappoint!

We made do on the rainy and moody days as it was much cooler to be out. And once the monsoon past and the winds subsequently subsided, I honestly wanted to cry because of how grateful I was to see the sun shine brightly again!

4. Getting Around Thailand

Thailand has an array of transportation options, much like other countries around the world, making it easy to travel between bustling cities, backpacker islands, and everything in between. Here are the options you have for getting around Thailand:

• Domestic flights: Perfect for long distances, like Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Phuket. Airlines like AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air provide affordable options with frequent schedules. We try to book our flights directly with the airlines, or via Trip.com. It’s the cheapest platform, with the most flexible options for baggage, and we get our tickets almost immediately! No issues checking in or logging in directly on the airline’s website afterwards, and often times we can get Trip.com to check-in automatically for us.
• Trains: While we haven’t personally taken the train, it’s a scenic and budget-friendly option for travellers with time. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is particularly popular. Not our preferred way of travelling, but great to save some money on the transit and overnighter.
• Buses: A cost-effective way to travel, with varying classes from budget to VIP coaches. They’re a reliable choice for long-distance routes.
• Ferries and speedboats: Essential for island hopping in places like the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman Sea. We’ve taken large air-conditioned ferries to small open-air speedboats.
• Joined combination transfers: Getting between popular tourist destinations, you can easily find transfers that combine different modes of transportation. For instance, from the Surat Thani airport to Koh Tao, we booked an organized bus+ferry transfer. And from Koh Tao to Khao Sok, we easily found a ferry+shared van transfer. No matter where you need to go, if it’s a common route, there’s a package transfer that exists for it!

Booking Your Transfers

You can book your transfers in person at physical tour offices and counters or sometimes directly with your accommodations. But truthfully, it’s not always the best method. What if I told you you can book all your transfers without going anywhere and having to ask around?

You can save yourself some time and hassle by booking online. The main platform that has been tried and true (by yours truly) is 12GoAsia. 90% of our transfers have been booked on the online platform. The other 10% we didn’t, and we ended up kicking ourselves when we realized it was actually cheaper to book on 12Go.

The website is a convenient tool and shows you all your options from point A to point B, whether they be ferries, buses, vans, private transfers, or a combination of different ones. It also indicates the available transfers with a time selections for departure and arrival, tour operator ratings and reviews, and pricing in your own currency. There’s a small booking fee and tiny tax that gets added at checkout, but even with this, the price was almost always lower than what the cheapest in-person tour agency provided us with.

Unlike dealing with inconsistent schedules and marked up prices with in-person tour agencies, 12GoAsia provides competitive prices with the added perk of paying by card (no 3% surcharge!). We’ve used it for everything— from ferries, speedboats, buses, to shared transfers, and it’s been a game-changer.

Pre-Arranged Airport Transfers

If you’re not doing the low-cost method of taking public transit when you land at an airport, you’re likely going to need a private car, whether that be a taxi, ride-hailing cab or a pre-arranged airport transfer.

As much as we like using Uber—or in Southeast Asia, Grab—coming out of an airport almost always incurs a higher rate than normal, with extra surcharges. Dynamic pricing of of the ride-sharing app also means you take a gamble on calling a Grab instead of pre-arranging a fixed price car.

For airport pickups and drop-offs, we’ve tried out both Klook and Trip.com a number of times in Thailand, and the latter became our go-to. Trip.com consistently offers competitive pricing and seamless service, complete with clear instructions for meeting your driver. It’s a stress-free way to start or end your journey, as everything is all figured out prior to instead of on the spot!

5. Getting Around Once You’re There

Once you’ve reached your destination, depending on if it’s a big city or a coastal town, you have a few options to get around.

• Tuk-Tuks: These iconic, open-air vehicles are great for short distances or a fun experience. However, they’re not the cheapest option and often have a high fixed rate. Try to negotiate the fare upfront if it doesn’t seem reasonable to you!
• Taxis: Make sure the driver uses the meter. If not, Grab is your best alternative. You can also call a taxi through the Grab app and see the estimated metered fare in advance.
• Grab: As much as we find Grab to be a lifesaver, the dynamic pricing of the car options can be less appealing at times, as well as the super long waits during rush hour, particularly in Bangkok. It’s still our go-to but it can be hit or miss. What it does offer though, in the cities, is…
• GrabBike: Selecting this option will allow you to ride on the back of someone’s moped! if you’re comfortable on a motorbike, it’s fast and super affordable. It’s great for solo travellers, but as a couple, we love using it too and riding practically side by side! Bangkok is notorious for having insane heavy traffic, so it’s nice to be on a bike and have your driver split through the lanes and get to your destination faster.
• Public transportation: Public transit is a good option as well, depending on the city. In Bangkok, it can help you avoid the road traffic, and the BTS Skytrain and MRT systems are clean and efficient. They also come up on Google Maps with direct instructions. But in actual fact, we didn’t find it to be economical or super convenient unless we were in close proximity to the stations.

Definitely weigh your options and check your apps to see which method makes the most sense for you, depending on where you are and how long you have!

Renting Motorbikes and Cars

In more remote areas, renting a car or motorbike is often the easiest and most adventurous way to explore. We haven’t yet dabbled in renting a car, but we’ve seen many foreigners do so, even on the islands like Koh Samui. Not just cars either! We’ve also encountered families renting tuktuks in Thailand, particularly on the island of Koh Lanta. What a fun and affordable way to get around as a family!

As much as we’d like to encourage you to consider renting your own motorbike to venture around—it’s budget-friendly, liberating and easy to ride in Thailand—we also want you to be most prepared, safe and only do so legally.

We’ve rented motorbikes in northern Phuket (Mai Khao area), Koh Samui and Koh Lanta, and it’s safe to say that Thailand is one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia we’ve ever driven in. Note that they do drive on the left side of the road, which is not our default driving side! And it’s very common for bikes to lane split and for vehicles to weave into oncoming traffic lanes, so you’ll want to be on your guard when driving.

Nonetheless, the road and driving conditions are some of the best, making us feel incredibly at ease.

What doesn’t make us feel at ease, though, is the fact that many bike rental shops want to take such huge deposits—3,000-6,000 THB!—, and sometimes even want to keep hold of our passports! Um, no sir. That is ludicrous. We’ve managed to find the rare reputable rental companies that don’t take any deposits at all (thanks to our AirBnB hosts). Or we’ve gone ahead and rented directly from our accommodation, where all of our belongings are in the room, so where would we go anyway?

By law, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive a car or a motorbike in Thailand. You don’t need to present them at the rental shop, but you might have to if you were to get pulled over by police. It also has to be a proper physical IDP, provided by your home registry (for us Albertans, AMA or CAA). The online IDP services unfortunately won’t cut it!

In order for your IDP to have the motorbike endorsement, you’ll also need to have a motorbike license in your home country to be in the green! Fortunately Jason has his motorcycle (class 6) license so he has that checked off on his IDP. So he can fully legally drive a motorbike in any country that requires an IDP! While I sit as passenger princess.

With that said, the authorities in some places in Thailand don’t check documentation. Even on popular islands like Koh Samui! What they do check for is if you’re riding with a helmet, as it’s a legal requirement in Thailand.

6. Safety Tips & Insurance

I said that riding a motorbike in Thailand requires you to legally wear a helmet. But honestly, we should be wearing a secured helmet regardless of what the law says! Why take the risk? Not only for your own safety, but if an incident were to happen, your travel insurance would not cover you if you were found to not be wearing required safety equipment properly. Same goes for your permit! Your insurance claim may not be approved if you didn’t have the legal ability to drive in the first place. So make sure you do!

Our travel medical insurance provider is the most affordable we’ve found and is the easiest to sign up for on the go. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance, is—as its name suggest—tailored towards nomads. But it’s incredibly easy to get a short-term policy, as our friend Tim did when he joined us for a couple of weeks in Thailand.

We’ve tried and tested the Nomad Insurance for two separate trips now, and submitted two different claims with a 100% success rate. The first time was when I got hospitalized in Peru with a hefty $5,000 hospital bill. Yikes! And the second approval was for Jason’s ear infection in Koh Tao, Thailand just this month. The latter claim was approved within just a couple days, covering his doctor consultation and prescriptive medication!

Keep in mind that if you’re riding a motorbike or motorcycle, you’ll want to tack on the “adventure sports” add-on for $10 USD a month. With the basic Essentials plan, only mopeds are covered, which are bikes with engines no bigger than 50cc, or that limited to speeds of 48km/h. Most of the scooters/motorbikes that you see for rent in Thailand are at least 110cc, which are stronger bikes to get you around on your self-guided adventures.

We can no longer count on our hands how many travellers we’ve met who were in rough motorbike accidents in Asia. Given how common road accidents are, play it safe and get yourself covered under a travel medical insurance plan The last thing we want is to have something happen and have to pay for medical out of pocket!

Even if you’re not going to be riding a motorbike, if you’re in Thailand to scuba dive or do any of the adventure sports listed, that $10 will save you any headaches that could ensue if you get injured or sick. Even Jason’s simple earache cost 1,000 THB ($30 USD) to treat, so that $10 was made up for easily.

7. Language Basics and Cultural Etiquette

With decades of international tourism under their sleeve, Thailand is often seen as incredibly tolerant towards foreigners. They understand that not everyone who visits their country knows what common conduct may look like. With that said, I’d encourage everyone to get ahead of the game and know what’s appropriate and respectful before they even get to Thailand.

Thai people are typically very soft-spoken with a gentle demeanour. They generally show warm hospitality towards others and you’d want to reciprocate with their level of politeness. One way they demonstrate this nonverbally is by using “wai” gestures. Pressing their palms together and fingertips to nose, they will give a slight bow with their heads, typically in greeting, thanking, apologizing and bidding goodbye. You can choose to mirror, but it’s not necessary as foreigners!

Aside from gestures and general conduct, you’ll want to keep in mind how you dress when you visit certain places. Specifically when entering temples, wear modest attire by covering your shoulders and knees (for both men and women) and remove your shoes at the steps. There’s usually a sign for where to leave your shoes before entering the main temples, and you can easily look up online for examples of how to dress.

You also don’t want to show disrespect towards the Thai monarchy, by mocking, impersonating, making rude gestures in reference to the royals or anything of the sort. You may not agree with a country’s political stance or people in power, but as a guest in that country, you can disagree quietly or do so respectfully.

Lastly, as a guest, it’s always good to learn a few common phrases that you can use when interacting with the locals. The most frequent ones you’ll hear are the words for “hello” and “thank you. “Sawadee kha” (spoken by women) and “sawadee krap” (spoken by men) are the words to say hello. “Thank you” can be said as “khop khun kha” or “khop khun krap”, by women and men, respectively. The end word “kha” or “krap” are polite particles to show respect and appreciation. They’re essentially a way to give acknowledgment towards the person you’re talking to at the end of a sentence.

It may only be two words, but those two words can still go far in showing respect to the locals you encounter! It doesn’t hurt to learn a few more phrases and immerse yourself further in the Thai language.

8. Food Safety and Eating Tips

Although Thailand is not among the Southeast Asian countries with the highest rates of food poisoning, you still want to take precautions when it comes to food safety.

We love love LOVE Thai food. It’s among our top three favourite cuisines in the world! But the richness, spices and freshness of ingredients may not always agree with everyone’s stomachs.

I would encourage you to try foods you’ve never eaten, flavours you’ve never experienced, while you’re in Thailand—whether that be at a night market street food stall in Ao Nang, or at a high-end Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok. In the end, you can never truly know what might set off your stomach. It can be from where you least expect it, so don’t hold yourself to such restriction due to fear and worry.

Food Poisoning and Precautions Against It

It’s often the luck of the draw, as Jason so unfortunately found out firsthand at the tail end of our time in Thailand last week. He caught a bad case of Montezuma’s revenge some time between Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, and it could’ve been his last mango shake, but we can never know sure.

Ice is heavily regulated in Thailand, and is industrially made by the same companies that make bottled water. Nevertheless, bacteria can still contaminate it in transport or in storage. Sometimes it’s not even the ice, but the tools that are used to cut up the fresh fruits and vegetables. Or it can be poor food storage or usage of expired products.

I say all this to let you know that it can happen anywhere you eat and to anyone. Okay, I’ll stop scaring you about the food! If it’s any consolation, I’ve never had tummy troubles in the cumulative two months I’ve spent in Thailand.

Here are a few tips I’ll give you that can help you avoid upsetting your stomach, while still enjoying delicious foods throughout your trip:

• When having street food, try to stick to cooked foods and have them cook you a fresh dish instead of giving you foods that have been sitting out.
• If you want to order fresh fruits and fruit smoothies, watch their process of cutting/blending and take the fruits that are covered and not sitting out in the heat.
• Avoid consuming any tap water, even while brushing your teeth at your accommodations. Some restaurants offer free service water, which is filtered and not a problem to drink. But bottled water will always be your best bet.
• Follow my motto of “if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t eat it”. Listen to your instincts when it comes to food and drinks. Something makes you feel uneasy about whether it’s safe to consume, whether it’s the sight, smell or taste, don’t force yourself to finish it.

As much as we can try to avoid consuming contaminated foods and drinks, sometimes they get through unnoticed. If you get a bout of traveller’s diarrhea, first try to let it run its course. If symptoms worsen, visit a nearby pharmacy and consult a doctor who will be able to provide you adequate medication. We’ve found Imodium to be super helpful when we’re in a pinch, but ask your physician what’s best for you and your circumstances.

Navigating Dietary Restrictions

Okay, enough about belly troubles. If you have any dietary preferences or restrictions, you can navigate them fairly well in Thailand. Many restaurants cater towards Western tourists who may be vegetarian or vegan. Look up your desired restaurants online for reviews and see if they are reputable enough to serve you dishes that meet your restrictions.

Nut allergies can be much harder to deal with in Thailand as peanuts are a very common ingredient in Thai cuisine. This is something you’ll have to consider if you have a serious peanut allergy.

As you head towards the south of Thailand, you’ll notice a larger population of Muslims, meaning more food will be halal. If your diet consists of halal foods, you’re in luck! We found an amazing halal restaurant that didn’t serve any pork, but with some of the best Thai flavours we’ve had in the entire country. Right in the middle of the less visited island of Koh Lanta!

If they meet your dietary restrictions, I hope you can try the famous mango sticky rice (khao niao mamuang), khao soi in Chiang Mai, Massaman curry (gaeng massaman) when in Southern Thailand. A few of my honourable mentions also go to: green curry, tom yum and tom kha gai soups, as well as Thai basil chicken (pad krapao). So tasty!

9. Connectivity and Staying Online

When in a foreign place, we always want to stay connected, even when we’re away from our free wifi zones. I’ve already given up on using data roaming with my home phone plan long ago. I don’t know about yours, but with a Canadian phone plan, it’s a whopping $15 CAD for me to use my data roaming internationally. That is crazy!

Instead of making our bank accounts cry, we’ve been using tourist SIM cards whenever we travel now.

Before coming to a new country, Jason and I will evaluate if it’s better/cheaper/more convenient to get ourself an eSIM versus a physical SIM card. In Thailand, you can do either depending on what works for you!

There are three major carriers in Thailand that you can get a tourist SIM card from:

• AIS, which is considered the best overall service provider, with highest speeds and broadest coverage at 5G. When we were on the more remote islands, including Koh Lipe, we noticed that AIS had a higher connectivity than our carrier.
• TrueMove, which is AIS’ top competitor, especially for upload speeds. We’ve only ever used TrueMove and it’s been reliable wherever we go.
• DTAC, another major carrier, but may not have the same level of speeds and coverage as the previous two. It is now also part of the same umbrella company as TrueMove, and therefore using the same cell towers.

If ESIM Is Your Choice

If getting an eSIM works best for you—ensure that your phone supports eSIM’s—then we would honestly only recommend going with Airalo. We’ve checked all the top eSIM provides, and Airalo provides the cheapest options, with the unlimited 30-day eSIM only costing $35 USD. It is with DTAC, so not the best of the best, but it’s still a top choice AND costs the same as the unlimited 30-day tourist physical SIM that you’ll get directly from the carrier stores.

Honestly, we could’ve saved ourselves some time and money had we just gone with an Airalo Thailand eSIM this time around. If you’re wanting to have your connectivity all figured out before you even land, instead of dealing with the hassle of getting a physical SIM card, then this is your best bet.

If You Prefer a Physical SIM Card

There are a few ways you can get a physical SIM card:

• at the airport once you land,
• directly at the carrier stores, or
• at 7-Eleven.

We’ve gotten our physical SIM cards from both the airport and directly from the store. And personally, it was a mistake. They sell tourist SIM cards, which seem great as they come in 7-day, 15-day and 30-day durations, and with unlimited data. The price at the airport is going to be the same as what you’ll find at the service provider storefronts, so there’s no need in making a trip to the mall like we did.

BUT it’s actually sooo much cheaper getting your SIM card from 7-Eleven and setting yourself up on a plan instead. Unless for some reason you are adamant on going with AIS because it’s the *best*, you can get yourself set up easily at the till of the very popular convenience store, which you can find on pretty much every street corner in Thailand.

The one caveat is that they don’t always have the unlimited data SIM cards, and sometimes lower speeds with the cheaper plans. But if some data and connection is all you really need, then you might as well save some money.

Our recommendation is to first go to 7-Eleven when you arrive and settle down once in Thailand. Ask the clerks what your options are and pricing. If you prefer to stick with the unlimited data and high speed tourist SIM card, then you can buy it here at the same price as the airport or directly with the carrier. And if you want a cheaper SIM card, you can get that here as well.

To give you an idea, for our 30-day unlimited tourist SIM card, we paid 1,199 THB ($35 USD), whereas a 30-day 30GB card, albeit with 15Mbps of speed, cost only 199 THB ($6 USD). Most travellers in Thailand we’ve met have had no issues with the latter. We were definitely kicking ourselves.

Keeping Your Information Safe While Staying Connected

Whether you’re connected to the free wifi at a hotel, café or in a co-working space, you’ll want to make sure you protect your information. On this last trip, Jason’s Facebook account got hacked by someone who got in while we were in Thailand! It was scary as they ended up using his PayPal account to make purchases on FB. And his FB account ended up being deactivated, all while we were watching it happen live from his email address.

He still can’t get in to this day, and it was definitely a lesson to keep our VPN on while we’re connected to an unsecured wifi network. We use NordVPN and it’s been the most dependable and fast VPN that extends to all of our devices. It’s worth trying out as they have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

10. Packing Essentials

Lastly, there are a few things you’ll want to have packed with you, or purchase shortly after arriving in Thailand if need be.

• Must-bring items for Thailand: sunscreen, bug spray, light clothing, and comfortable walking shoes.
• Packing specific to activities like diving, hiking, or temple visits.
• Travel accessories for convenience: reusable water bottles, dry bags, and power adapters (Thailand uses Type A, B, and C outlets).

Conclusion

Oof, I know that was information overload and I hope you’re still with me! My hope for you is that you learn from our mistakes and knowledge our past trips to one of our most adored countries in the world. We want you to love Thailand as much as we do, and for that to happen, we hope you never experience any unwanted surprises during your trip.

From dealing with the cash exchanges and ATM withdrawals, to getting around the country and having the proper paperwork to do so, to getting the best bang for your buck while staying connected no matter where you are. If it’s a lot of info to take in, go ahead and bookmark this post to save it for later. Hopefully you can use my guide as a checklist for your trip.

I hit every point and tip I could think of, but if there’s anything I missed, leave a question or comment down below!