Lush jungle, picturesque beaches, delicious food, awesome nightlight, and unique and beautiful culture are just some of the things that make Thailand the country of Southeastern Asia most visited by tourists. It’s also very cheap.
Below I have collected Thailand travel tips to help guide you on your greatest adventure.
- Book a Cheap Flight; Go at the Right Time
- Check Your Countries Visa Requirements
- Travel the Fun, Cheap, and Local Way
- Mix up Your Accommodation Styles
- Exchange Cash the Smart Way
- Optimize Your Destinations
- Don’t Miss These Activities
- Eat Authentically
The internet is full of Thailand travel info, but sifting through it for the best advice can be a daunting task. I have fleshed out these tips below so that by the time you are finished reading, you will feel confident planning your adventure.
Book a Cheap Flight; Go at the Right Time
There are many ways of getting into Thailand; there are plenty of cruises, as well as transportation, if you are coming into Thailand from one of its neighbors like Vietnam or Cambodia (which I would also suggest visiting if you get the chance).
However, most people reading this article will probably need to take a plane to get to Thailand.
If you are flying into Thailand on an international flight, chances are that you will land in the capital city of Bangkok’s international airport, or the more southern city of Phuket. Bangkok is a major hub of international travel in Asia, so you should have no trouble finding flights.
If your flying in from another hub, like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, you can catch flights to smaller cities like Chiang Mai and Ko Samui. You can also get connecting flights to smaller cities from Bangkok and Phuket.
You can find reasonably priced tickets to Thailand from most large international airports around the world. I would suggest doing some research on several sites before booking a flight. In addition, it always makes going through customs much easier if you buy your return ticket and have proof of it when entering any foreign country.
Here are some options to help you compare flight prices, dates, and airlines.
According to kayak.com the cheapest month to fly into Thailand is April, while the high season, when tickets are likely to be more expensive, is during the months of November, December, and January. Remember, since Thailand south of the equator, summer is during those months.
Check Your Countries Visa Requirements
Obviously, this is going to depend on what country you claim citizenship in.
Citizens of most countries, for example The United States, The United Kingdom, and Australia, do not require a visa if you are only planning on staying in Thailand for 30 days. Note the 30 day limit applies only to air travel, if you are entering by land the limit is reduced to 14 days.
Thailand has a special agreement with the following countries that allows citizens of those countries to stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Peru
- South Korea
Recently, the Thai government has been stricter with foreigners frequenting Thailand. If you are going for a one-time visit, or you just visit annually, this shouldn’t be a problem, just be sure to have proof of a return ticket.
However, if you are going to Thailand more than once a year, then make sure to have all the correct visas, paper work, and proof of where you are staying and what you are doing. There have been cases of people being denied entry due to suspicions of working in the country illegally.
If you need a visa to visit Thailand, visit your government’s website for instructions.
Travel the Fun, Cheap, and Local Way
Getting around Thailand can be a rewarding travel experience in and of itself. Outside of Bangkok much of Thailand is rural or covered in jungle, and the highways that weave through the countryside offer beautiful views, and a relaxing recess from the busy streets of Bangkok.
Here are some of the most common ways to travel around Thailand.
The Most Fun Way: Take a Motorbike
This is probably the most fun way to get around Thailand. If you are inexperienced with riding a motorbike, I would not suggest using one to navigate the busy city streets in Bangkok or even Chang Mai. Traffic laws are often not followed, and you must drive aggressively to keep up with the pace of traffic.
However, if you are driving from city to city, for example, from Pai to Chang Mai, Chang Mai to Bangkok, or Bangkok to the southern peninsula of Thailand, the highways are often two lanes, and not too busy.
When you hear ‘motorbike’ you might be imaging a large 250cc motorcycle, but most of the bikes you will encounter around Thailand are 100-125cc, and there are places to rent them in any city you travel to.
Some bike rental shops are stricter than others, but you usually don’t need a motorbike license or even an international driver’s license to rent one. However, it is possible that the Thai police will stop you and ask for an international driver’s license. And they do sometimes expect bribes.
If you don’t want to take any risks, get an international driver license before you visit Thailand if you plan on renting a motorbike.
There are also some larger motorbike rental shops that will ship your baggage to another shop in another city, and allow you to leave your motorbike when you arrive at your destination.
According to wikitravel.org it is possible to find automatic scooters and motorbikes anywhere from 150 baht a day to 2500 baht a day. This depends on the rental shop you find, and the bike you choose.
If you are staying in a hotel or hostel, check with reception to find places where you can rent bikes. If you have never ridden a bike, I highly recommend choosing a smaller 100-125cc automatic bike.
Save on Accommodation with a Night Bus
If you are planning on a long trip between cities a night bus might be your best option if you are trying to save cash. This option is not for the faint of heart, or those who need their beauty sleep.
You will likely arrive at your destination very early in the morning and very tired, but if you can get an early check-in at your accommodation, or you have something to do at your destination for the morning and afternoon, then a night bus might be for you.
There are no beds, but the chairs do recline and are pretty comfortable. You usually make a few bathroom stops along the way, and one midway stop where you can get something to eat and drink, but be careful! Don’t get left behind.
The government’s official bus company is called BKS and is your safest option. Don’t take sketchy private buses that are often found in tourist areas, they will probably try to rip you off.
Save Money on Transport by Putting Around Town in Songthaews and Tuk Tuks
If you just want to travel within the city you are staying in, these are great, cheap, and common options.
If you are traveling from the airport to your hotel, a taxi may be particularly expensive. Instead, take a Songthaew, it’s much cheaper, and you can usually bargain your way down to an even lower price.
You can easily spot a Songthaew. It’s basically a brightly colored pickup truck with a couple of benches in the back, and a shell over the benches. It’s like a cross between a taxi and a school bus.
They are usually cheap, but you may have to share with others along they, which is just part of the fun.
You are probably familiar with the iconic and ubiquitous Tuk-Tuk. These very small, usually three wheeled, open vehicles that often seat two people.
These are also a fairly cheap option, just make sure to get an idea of where you are going before you get in, you don’t want your driver taking you through the ‘scenic route’ and over charging you.
Mix up Your Accommodation Styles
Thailand is well known to budget minded backpackers looking for cheap travel and accommodations. You can find a clean, safe place to crash for less than $5. You might be sharing a room with 15 other people, but that’s part of the experience.
If you are not interested in sharing a hostel, or you have some money to spend, then you have as many options as you would anywhere else. You can spend anywhere from $50 a night to well over $1,000 on a secluded beachside bungalow.
If you want to go the traditional hotel route, that’s great, and you are likely to find excellent accommodations for a fair price if that’s what you want. However, the hostel experience in Thailand is unlike it is in many other areas.
While some hostels cater to people just looking to party, there are plenty of more mild hostels for those just wanting to link up with other travelers. You can usually tell by the way they advertise their accommodation.
If you don’t want to stay in a party hostel, beware of very cheap accommodations boasting their proximity to nightclubs. But if that’s your thing, go for it, you won’t be disappointed. Just hold on to your passport!
Hostels are a great place to meet people from all over the world, but they are also unpretentious places to get great local information on cheaper tours, food, and activities.
It’s not uncommon that the receptionist is an expat who has been in the area for a while, and can give you free tips on what to do.
A great option, if you are on a budget, would be to stay at hostels, or cheaper hotels while you are in towns and cities, and then splurge on a beach accommodation on one of Thailand’s many islands.
Here are a couple of resources to help you find accommodation.
- Booking.com – Great for all types of accommodations.
- Hostelworld.com – Great for hostels.
Whatever you spend, you will get more bang for your buck than most travel destinations.
Exchange Cash the Smart Way
I won’t go over exchange rates here because they are always changing, and you can look them up easily on Google.
Thai currency is called Baht, not pronounced like the animal ‘bat’, but more like you are imitating a sheep, with a long ‘a’, ‘baat’.
There are coins worth 1,2, 5 and 10 Baht, as well as smaller 25 (quarter Baht), 50 (half Baht) Satang coins. Paper Baht comes in denominations of 20, 50 100, 500 and 1000 Baht.
It is best to wait until you arrive in Thailand to exchange your money, and, if you can, to not exchange it in the airport where rates might be less than fair.
Instead, wait until you arrive at your accommodation and then ask where the nearest, fairly priced, currency exchange office is, and go there to exchange the home currency your brought with you.
Make sure to exchange some currency into Baht before arriving in Thailand so that you have money for transportation, and anything else that might come up on the way to your accommodation.
Also, the ATM’s in Thailand will most likely not be the best place to take out money, they may charge an unfair exchange rate, on top of an ATM fee. Bring as much money as you feel comfortable carrying around to exchange at the currency office.
Optimize Your Destinations
You could spend months, or even years exploring Thailand without feeling like you’ve seen all of it. There are countless spots of natural beauty, historical importance, and cultural interest.
However, most of us have to work, and only have a short time to vacation.
Here are some of the ‘must see’ places in Thailand.
Bangkok
This is Thailand’s capital, its largest city, and probably the city you will be flying into. The first thing you will probably notice about Bangkok is it’s sweltering humidity and bustling traffic. But don’t let this deter you, there is plenty to see and do here.
While this city appears chaotic to those just passing though, it is filled with great nightlife, temples, and markets.
If you are staying in Bangkok, make sure to check out the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, the Chatuchak weekend market, Lumpini park, Wat Arun, the floating market, and take a boat ride down it’s canals.
If shopping and clubbing are more your thing, you won’t be disappointed.
Chang Mai
This is the largest city in the northern area of Thailand and acts as a way station to smaller towns and cities in the region.
Chang Mai is full of culture, and while it is still a pretty busy city, you will find it relaxing compared to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Since it is a bit further into the interior of the country, it has retained most of its authentic ‘Thai-ness’ that internationalization may have taken from Bangkok.
This city is full of temples and surrounded by beautiful jungle where you can visit nearby elephant nature parks. Make sure to check out Wat Doi Suthep, and the night Bazaar, and if you are visiting in November, don’t miss the Yi Peng Festival when thousands of lanterns are released into the sky.
Pai
People have mixed feelings about Pai, a small mountain town several hours into the jungle west of Chang Mai.
The great thing about Pai is its comfortable size, its natural beauty (waterfalls, jungle, rivers) cheap accommodations, great parties, and delicious food. An added bonus is you can simply walk around the town, that’s how small it is, you don’t need to worry about transportation, and it is relatively safe.
However, the bad part about Pai, for some people, is that it has become too touristy. In Pai you will find diners selling British breakfast complete with blood sausage and beans, organic wheat grass smoothies, yoga parlors packed with westerners, and other foreigners everywhere.
It’s a great place if you want to kick back, have a good time, and meet people from around the world. But you won’t feel like you are getting an authentic Thai experience.
Khemer Temples
When most people think of Khemer temples, they think of Cambodia, however, there are Khemer temples in Thailand along the roads which once connected to great Khemer city of Angkor.
The largest Khemer temples in Thailand is Phimai, located in the historical park of the same name in eastern Thailand.
In the past this part of Thailand was part of the Khmer empire, which has evolved into modern day Cambodia. The Khmer built temples with a distinct architectural design you see with the famous Angkor Wat.
Interestingly, although the Khmer were Hindu, this particular structure, built in 11th to 12th centuries, was a Buddhist Temple because the people of that region practiced Buddhism.
Khao Yai National Park
This UNESCO World Heritage site is located about two and half hours outside of Bangkok to the north, on the way to Chang Mai.
In the park you will a huge diversity of animals, including elephants, along with natural beauty, like waterfalls, vibrant jungle, caves, and natural springs.
Make sure to ask someone at your accommodation about taking a tour check out the cave that was once a Buddhist monastery and home to over 2,000 bats before being turned into an actual temple.
You can also take trek tours to get a closer look at other caves, elephants, or head to the Non Pak Chi Watchtower to get an overview of the park.
Phuket
Phuket is actually the biggest island of Thailand, sitting just off the western coast. It is one of the most popular destinations in all of Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches.
Many tourists hang out in the southern area of Phuket which is more developed, and is often filled with drunk tourists trying to party. However, you should definitely head to the north if you want to get a more authentic Thai experience.
Like almost anywhere you will go in Thailand, you should check out the beaches and the temples. But you may also want to take a cruise in Phang Nga Bay while in Phuket, or check out the gibbons in the nearby jungle.
There are also the Similian islands nearby, which is great for kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, and just hanging out on the beach.
Ko PhiPhi
Ko PhiPhi an archipelago made up of six islands in southern Thailand. It is well connected to the mainland by frequent boat trips, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful groups of islands in the world.
The main Island of Phi Phi Don is home to all the development: hotels, nightlife, hostels, and shops. Phi Phi Don is essentially made up of two hilly areas connected by a thin stretch of beach.
You can rent boats to go to other nearby, totally undeveloped islands in the area, you can fish, snorkel, scuba dive, get tattoos or massages, rent scooters, bike around, and experience the nightlife.
While the Island offers much in natural beauty, the thin strip of beach is often packed with young, intoxicated tourists. If you want to stay away from that scene, choose a hotel further up in the hills.
Don’t Miss these Activities
Trying to decide on what to do in Thailand can be daunting and there are plenty of businesses trying to sell you ‘authentic’ experiences and expensive version of what can otherwise be found quite cheaply.
Here is a manageable list of things you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Full Moon Party
Thailand is famous for its full moon parties, but few people understand much about them. Despite what you may believe, they are not a Thai tradition.
Apparently full moon parties were started in the late 80’s when a group of tourists threw a party for their buddy’s birthday during a full moon. Every year, they would come back and do it again, and eventually the party was imitated, and turned into ‘parties’ around Ko Phangan during a full moon.
What started as an intimate celebration has evolved into a fully commercialized and marketed event filled with lots of drinking, fire dancers, shows, costume, face paint, and plenty of debauchery.
Make sure to book accommodation in advance as hotels and hostels tend to fill up quickly around a full moon.
Scuba
Thailand is a world-famous destination for divers due to its natural marine beauty and the cheap prices of renting diving equipment, and diving guides.
One of the most popular places to dive the Similan Islands mentioned earlier in this article, off the coast of Phuket.
You will find a diversity of fish species and coral.
Elephant Sanctuaries
There has been a lot of negative coverage concerning the exploitation of elephants in Thailand, and it is well deserved. Many elephants that are used to entertain tourists with carnival like tricks are abused.
However, there are ways that you can experience elephants without harming or exploiting them. You can visit the many elephant sanctuaries around the country, or even volunteer at a conservation camp.
Floating Markets
There is more than one floating market around Bangkok, but the most famous and often cited as the ‘best’ floating market is Damnoen Saduk, which was featured in the 1974 Bond film, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.
It’s located about 100 kilometers outside of Bangkok, and is filled with boats selling food and other goods.
However, due to its fame, like many things in Thailand is has become overrun with tourists and lost some of its authenticity.
Other floating markets worth looking into are Amphawa, Taling Chan, Khlong Lat Mayon, and Bang Nam Pheung.
Eat Authentically!
Thai food is world famous, and if you live in large city, you have probably been in, or at least walked past, a Thai restaurant. Make sure to try out a wide range of Thai food, from street food to cuisine.
Panang
This dish is a red, thick Thai curry, usually served with shrimp and vegetables. While it is spicy, like most Thai food, its milder than some other Thai curries. People describe the taste as nutty, sweet, and salty.
Laab
This is a spicy salad served with mint from the northern province of Isan. You can have Laab made with chicken, pork, or mushroom. However, beware, it is very spicy.
Yam Talay
A healthy seafood salad that incorporates mussels, crabmeat, scallops, squid or shrimp, over rice noodles and veggies. Make sure to try this when you are on a coastal town or city so you can be sure you are getting the freshest ingredients.
Som Tam
This is a spicy papaya salad mixed with tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, beans, sugar, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, garlic, lime juice, and spicy chilis. All of these veggies and spices and mashed with a mortar and pestle to release the flavors.
Eating a nations food is one of the most satisfying way to experience its culture. Don’t opt for big chains or tourist-oriented restaurants. Get out there and mingle with the street vendors, or find some local spot.
Enjoy your trip!
