From the absolute madness of Bangkok to the serenity of the island beaches, Thailand will be the catalyst for a majority of your most unforgettable travelling adventures.
Home to 68.1 million of the most friendly people you’ll ever meet (it isn’t called the ‘Land of smiles’ for nothing), sun drenched beaches, thick jungles, scenic beauty and a melting pot of rich culture, Thailand has sooooo much to offer and won’t disappoint.
It’s also a foodie’s paradise; just make sure you branch out from pad thai and green curry.
Time and time again you’ve seen friends come back wearing baggy elephant pants you wouldn’t dream of wearing in any other country, arms full of rope bracelets and a cracking tan, musing about their fabulous trip to Thailand, how much they’ve learned about themselves/the culture and most importantly, how bloody cheap it is. It’s all strangely endearing isn’t it?
So, if you’re thinking about travelling to Thailand and experiencing this amazing country for yourself, you might want to arm yourself with my travel tips and guide – telling you everything you need to know about this little Asian paradise.
Thailand Travel Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Thailand Tours
• Browse small group adventure tours with G Adventures or Contiki.
When to Visit Thailand
Seasons in Thailand:
• March – June is the hot season (highs of 32 degrees)
• July – November is the wet season – later in the season is when it’s the rainiest, whereas in the • beginning it usually only rains for one or two hours a day
• November – February is the cooler season (average is still around 25 degrees, so not cool to Europeans)
Getting to Thailand
Travel to Thailand is easy with flights to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport leaving daily and a wide choice of airlines to get you there. Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports also have immigration facilities and a small number of scheduled international flight arrivals.
Visa & Entry Requirements
Tourism Visa
Your nationality will determine whether you need to get a visa and how long you can stay. Citizens from a large list of countries including the UK can visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days – plenty of time for most. For longer stays you should apply for a tourist visa from Thai immigration allowing you remain in the country for up to 60 days.
Working Holiday Visa
Thailand doesn’t offer a working holiday visa but there are still plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture.
You could teach English in Thailand and surround yourself by miles of beautiful beaches, historic temples, tropical jungle and some of the most motivated and lively students in the world.
Volunteering in Thailand more your thing? There are plenty of projects which need you! Whether you’re keen to do your bit for the environment or want to help the people of this South East Asian country, there is volunteer project in Thailand for you.
Top Attractions & Places to Visit:
Tropical Thailand has thick jungle and stunning beaches as well as unmissable heritage sites. Here’s a round-up of our favourite places to visit if you are planning a trip to this magical kingdom.
The cosmopolitan side of Thailand, Bangkok mixes the modern with the ‘authentic’ Thailand. In some places, like Koh San Road, you’ll find a lot of tourist traps, but go for a wander and you’ll find temples, landmarks and markets dotted along the streets. Take a taxi to a floating market, visit Wat Arun temple or the Grand Palace.
Chiang Mai is about a 6-hour bus ride north of Bangkok and is well-known for its elephant sanctuaries. Stay for a little longer and you’ll discover temples and shrines around every corner, a famous night market in the Old Town, and lush jungle and waterfalls as part of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.
Pai
A perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, Pai is located about an hour north of Chiang Mai, with accommodation nestled into fields, nightly food markets, beautiful natural surroundings and calming hippy vibes.
Dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Andaman’, Phuket remains one of the most popular beaches for tourists – and with good reason. Beautiful white sand, palm trees, and clear blue water create a great atmosphere for some prime rest and relaxation.
Get away from the hoards in Patong and head along to one of the gems of Phuket – the beaches of Kata or Karon. There is plenty to see in Phuket – jump on one of the day tours to explore the islands and caves, go diving, visit the wildlife sanctuary or simply grab a table at a restaurant to sample the delish seafood.
The Islands
The attraction to Thailand’s pristine white beaches and clear turquoise waters is obvious and with 5000 miles of coastline the choice is almost endless.
There are so many amazing islands in Thailand, you could take a day boat trip from Phuket to Phang Nga Bay’s dramatic limestone cliffs and explore. Or head to Koh Tao where great snorkeling/diving by day combines with a hedonistic party atmosphere by night. You’ll get to enjoy some of the most beautiful beach in Thailand here.
Koh Phangan
A little slice of heaven by day, a crazy party scene by night – at least when the Full Moon Party is happening. If you enjoy chilling on a beach but also appreciate a good party, Koh Phangan is the place to go. View Full Moon Party dates to attend this epic festival.
Koh Phi Phi
This island south-west of Bangkok is well-travelled by backpackers, probably due to the diverse lifestyle that you can enjoy while being there. On the one hand, there’s a lot of bars and clubs that cater to a crazy night out, on the other hand there’s some incredibly chilled bars, secluded bays and beaches, and it’s home to the famous Maya Bay (aka the beach from ‘The Beach’).
Krabi
A rock climber’s heaven, you’ll find stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations in Krabi. You should also head along to the National Park located about 40 km outside of town to be at one with nature and soak up the rivers, caves and amazing natural scenery. Krabi is also home to some great beaches including Ao Nang and Hat Rai Leh, which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants and shops.
Despite the fast pace of development, Koh Samui has been able to maintain its image of a tropical beach resort fringed by coconut trees. Hit the beach or tour the surrounding islands by day and sample the bars and clubs at night. Koh Phangan, home to the full moon party, is also only an hour away by boat, making Koh Samui a great place to take a break from the craziness.
Discover one of the lesser known islands in Thailand and also one of the hidden gems. Relax of empty beaches, go diving or just explore an undeveloped tropical paradise for a fraction of the price of similar islands.
National Parks
Did you know that almost a third of Thailand is covered in jungle and is home to thousands of species?
Why not visit Khao Sok National Park located close to Phuket. It’s thought to be the oldest rainforest in the world. Another top rated destination is the Khao Yai National Park which is the perfect getaway weather its trekking through thick forest, diving through waterfalls or meeting monkeys that takes your fancy.
The park is the perfect location for a quiet get away, it’s easy to dictate your own level of activity here, you can either laze about or find something adventurous to get involved in.
What to Pack
Pack light, it’s so hot you’ll barely end up wearing much, plus you’ll need all the space in your case to stock up on all the elephant pants and beer-branded vests your hearts desires. Don’t forget your plug adaptor though!
A good pair of flip flops/sandals are highly recommended, you’ll walk, a lot. So, get a decent pair of trainers too.
Waterproof phone casing/GoPro are something to consider, Thailand will turn you into a mermaid with all its swimming, snorkeling, waterfalling and diving activities. You want to make sure you capture the footage! A poncho is you happen to be visiting during the Songkran festival.
You’ll tally up a good number of hours on coaches/trains/planes or just chilling on a beach – download or pack a good book/ebooks to pass the time, then look out for the book swaps around Thailand so you can switch it out for free when it’s done!
Tampons, girls, if you’re going to need them – pack them! It can be hard to track them down in Thailand.
Transport & Getting Around
GrabTaxi/Uber
Uber is becoming more and more popular in Asia, but GrabTaxi is just as good – essentially it does the same as Uber, but it hooks you up with registered taxi drivers who don’t rob you blind. Download both apps and use as you want.
Sleeper Train
A great way of saving on a night’s accommodation, and one of the most fun ways to travel – you’ll get a little bunk with your travel buddies as opposed to busses where you’re constantly struggling to find a comfortable position.
Bus
Although it might not always be the most comfortable, it’s often the cheapest way to travel the country and they’re really regular. Plus, you get to see a lot more of rural Thailand this way.
Ferry
The only option of getting about especially when it comes to the islands in the south of Thailand.
Plane
You can fly domestically at cheap prices in Thailand – sometimes you just don’t fancy a 6-hour coach when you can get a 1-hour flight!
Organised Tours
Organised tours are a great way to see the sites and soak up the local culture – especially if you’re travelling alone or are a first-time traveller. Check out some of the options I recommend for top rated tour companies in Thailand.
Money & Budget Travel Tips
Thai money is called the baht, and the exchange rate is approximately 49 baht = £1.
Sample Prices
Although Thailand is super cheap it’s still a good idea to budget for your trip so you don’t run out of money. Here are a few sample prices to help you:
• Singha beer = 60-100 baht
• Thai curry = anywhere from 25 baht on the street, to 50 baht and beyond in restaurants
• Thai massage = 200 baht for an hour
• Thai cookery course = 800 baht
• 1 litre bottle of water = 20 baht
• Average room prices = prices vary depending on season but you can generally budget 500 baht for low end, 1,500 baht for moderate, 3,000 baht and upward for high end.
• Average meal prices = pad thai can cost as little as 10 baht on the street of Khao Sarn, to around 80 baht in average restaurant, and 300 baht and beyond for a high end restaurant.
These prices are in Thai baht, and are subject to change.
Tipping
Tipping isn’t necessary but since everything is often such a bargain and the service generally very high, it is the norm to tip around 10 percent in restaurants and hotels.
Don’t Go Crazy just because it’s Cheap
We’ve all been there – completely disregarding how much money you have because you think you don’t need to worry… food is like, 40p right?! Sure, you can go a little crazier in Thailand due to their insanely low prices, but it’s still handy to give yourself a daily budget. Cities like Bangkok have amazing modern huge shopping malls, and if you’re planning to do lots of shopping view my advice for how to claim a VAT refund in Thailand.
Haggle
Thailand is the perfect place to practice your haggling skills – almost everywhere the prices are negotiable. Just don’t take the piss – the people selling still need to live!
Get a Travel Money Card
Get rid of those annoying bank fees and avoid getting screwed over by commission and exchange rates by getting a travel money card. Loads of them don’t charge you for using your card/withdrawing money from an ATM.
Accommodation is Super Cheap
You can find some amazing hostels in Thailand for as little as £5 a night – no joke. Do some digging around, read the reviews and you could be saving tons of money, which means extra for eating your body weight in delicious food/diving activities/buying a ridiculous amount of elephant pants/volunteer projects with elephants.
Eat like a Local
Everywhere you go you’ll find street food stalls lining the pavements selling everything from banana and Nutella roti’s to mouth-watering curry, usually less than half the price of what you’d pay in a restaurant and it’s usually just as good, if not better.
Tips for Travelling in Thailand
Be Spontaneous
Thailand is a really great place to decide things last minute, whether that’s a tour, a hostel, a coach journey or a totally new destination! Don’t get bogged down sorting everything out before you go – just sort out what you need for the first week and give yourself the chance to travel spontaneously.
If you want to see elephants – do your research
Elephants are beautiful and majestic creatures, so it’s no wonder that most tourists want to see them when they go to Thailand. But just double check the place you’re going to first – if they let you ride them, they’re a no-go. Make sure no elephant suffers for the sake of your enjoyment. Sanctuaries are the way to go.
Travel as much of it as you can
Thailand is so diverse, one moment you could be relaxing in paradise, the next you could be trekking in the jungle – if you’ve got the time, travel the length of the country, you could find somewhere you’d never even heard of before (and they usually end up being your favourite!)
Negotiate costs, especially when it comes to travel
If you look like you don’t know what you’re doing, the locals will pick up on it, especially the taxi drivers. Never accept the first price and always try to haggle/ask them to put their meter on. It gets easier to gauge how much you should be paying the longer you travel.
Download maps.me – it’s amazing anywhere you go
There are lots of apps which allow you to download a map of the area you’re in and then use it offline – no pesky data charges for you!
Experience Songkran
Songkran is the Thai New Year festival. In the morning, families visit local temples and perform purification rituals. By lunchtime, they’re priming ballistic super soakers and readying a water-bomb armoury that would frighten SAS Commandos.
Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand, but Chiang Mai is the country’s unofficial water-fight capital. Streets close down, people pack heat and the city erupts in one of the coolest super soaker battles anywhere in the world. Pro tip: be safe, watch for traffic, and leave the Armani loafers at home. This is one of the world’s best festivals.
Top Phrases to Learn
We’re all used to being told to use our manners by our parents, so if you want to sound more polite when greeting someone in Thai, you need to add ‘khap’ to the end of the greeting if you’re a guy, and ‘kha’ if you’re a woman.
Sa-wat dee (hello)
Used for both hello and goodbye.
Khop koon (thank you)
How to show your appreciation once you’ve been handed your Singha beer and pad Thai.
Gee baht? (how much)
Essential for all the shopping you’ll be doing, or when haggling with tuk-tuk drivers.
Yoo tee nai…? (where is…)
Invaluable when lost! Just point at a place on your map or in your guidebook and say ‘yoo tee nai’. Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket or otherwise.
Mai ow (don’t want)
Useful for fending off persistent street vendors.
Foods to Try
Thailand is a foodies dream! Here are some of the most popular local delicacies to try.
Pad Thai
A tasty noodle dish with egg, peanuts, veggies and your choice of meat (if you want it), you’ll find this dish absolutely everywhere, but you can snag great ones from street vendors from as little as 30 baht (approx 70p).
Thai Green/Red Curry
Where else to try this creamy, spicy curry than in its native land?! You’ll never be able to buy the sauce in a jar again…
Massaman
If you sweat at a korma then maybe a Thai green curry isn’t the choice for you, however the Massaman curry is a mild but equally delicious local curry made with potatoes, coconut milk and peanuts.
Mango and Sticky Rice
On a hot day there’s nothing like a ripe and juicy mango to cool you down – pair it with some cold, sticky rice mixed with coconut milk and you’re on to a winner! Thailand, you do spoil us.
Fried Insects
Tourists flock to fried insects like moths to a flame – I still have no idea why, but when you walk down the Khao San Road in Bangkok you’ll be inundated with great offers of fried spiders, scorpions, frogs, and various insects.
I recently wrote a guide to the best breakfast foods in Thailand which you might want to check out.
Festivals
Many festivals are linked to Buddhist or Brahman rituals and follow a lunar calendar.
New Year/Songkran is celebrated in mid-April by ‘bathing’ Buddha images, paying respects to monks and elders by sprinkling water over their hands, and generally tossing a lot of water in the air for fun. Expect to get soaked, unless you’d prefer to skulk in your room. The sowing and harvesting of rice has given rise to a cycle of festivals.
To kick off the official rice-planting season in early May, the king participates in an ancient Brahman ritual in a large field in central Bangkok; a Rocket Festival is held in May in the country’s northeast, using a volatile mixture of bamboo and gunpowder to convince the sky to send rain for the new rice season; and the rice harvest from September through to May leads to joyous local celebrations throughout Thailand.
The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket and Trang, during which devout Chinese Buddhists eat only vegetarian food, runs for nine days from late September to early October. Merit-making processions are the most visible expression of this festival, but there are also ceremonies at Chinese temples.
The Elephant Roundup in Surin in November is a festival popular with the kind of people who enjoy watching pachyderms play soccer. During the Loi Krathong Festival, held after the rainy season (usually in November), candle-lit floats are cast into waterways to bring good fortune for the coming year.
Public Holidays
1 January – New Year’s Day
9 February – Chinese New Year’s Day
23 February – Makabucha Day
6 April – Chakri Day
13 to 15 April – Songkran
1 May – International Labour Day
5 May – Coronation Day
11 May – Royal Ploughing Day
22 May – Visakabucha Day
22 July – Start of Buddhist Lent
12 August – Queen’s Birthday
18 October – End of Buddhist Lent
23 October – Chulalongkorn Day
16 November – Loi Krathong Day
5 Dec – King’s Birthday
10 Dec – Constitution Day
31 December – New Year’s Eve
Health
Medical Services
Thailand health care is of a good standard in all the major tourist destinations. Most have hospitals or clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses. An ambulance can be summoned from a private hospital in the case of an emergency.
Thailand Vaccinations
Vaccinations are recommended but not a must. If you’re planning on trekking or passing through the more remote areas then check out the list of recommended vaccinations for visits to Thailand. Avoid drinking the tap water to ensure you don’t get sick. Make sure you stock up on bottled water.
Safety
Below are a few hints and tips to ensure you have a hassle-free trip to Thailand:
Beware of unauthorised people who offer their services as guides. You could end up going somewhere completely different from where you intended or paying through the nose. For all tourist information, phone the Tourism Authority of Thailand on 1672.
Observe the usual precautions with regards to personal safety and the safety of your passport, airline tickets, money, jewellery and other belongings. Most hotels will have a safety deposit box either in the room or at reception so make use of that, otherwise when walking make sure all zips and bag openings are closed and secured. Walking alone on quiet streets or deserted areas is not recommended. Visitors needing assistance relating to safety, unethical practices, or other matters, should phone the Tourist Police on 1155.
Do your bit to keep the streets clean – drop your garbage into a waste container. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration strictly enforces the law in an effort to keep the city clean and will fine anyone caught spitting, discarding cigarette stubs, or dropping rubbish in public areas.
Do not get yourself involved with drugs. Penalties for drug offences are very severe in Thailand including long jail sentences or even death.
Don’t support wild animal trafficking or abuse and never purchase any products or souvenirs made from wild animals including reptiles like snakes, monitor lizards, and also turtle shell and ivory. Avoid local restaurants that serve wild animal delicacies as it is against the law to slaughter wildlife for food in Thailand.
Buy travel insurance! Accidents happen – and they can happen in the strangest places at the strangest times, like on the side of a mountain in Krabi or in an alley in Bangkok at 3 am. Travel insurance can cover you for all sorts of mishaps during your travel, and even before you leave.