Thailand is a must-visit destination for any travel bucket list! For many, it is the gateway between the Western and Eastern worlds with lush jungles and tropical beaches. For others, this is the land of ladyboys, Thai boxing, full-moon parties and ping-pong shows. Whatever your interests, Thailand has an awful lot to offer. To properly prepare for your future trip to this country, you do need to take a few things into account. Here are 10 essential travel tips for Thailand to ensure you’re fully prepared and can enjoy your trip without worries!
1) Check your itinerary in advance
While it’s not necessary to plan every detail of your trip in advance, having an efficient itinerary can save you both time and money. Thailand is a huge country with vast distances. Transportation will therefore be one of your more expensive expenses during your trip, which is why an efficient itinerary is convenient for your wallet. Consider in advance how you want to travel and what your mode of transportation will be. Especially in the south with the various islands, it is interesting to check your needs beforehand. In Thailand, there are several ways to get around: plane, bus, boat or (night) train. For booking your transfers, feel free to wait and arrange this locally. Only exception are the night trains which are best booked several days in advance to be sure to have a seat. Through Asia12Go you can easily book your itineraries and tickets in advance!
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2) Get your visa in order in advance
To enter Thailand, you need a visa. When traveling to Thailand, most nationalities will receive a visa on arrival that is valid for 30 days. This is arranged upon arrival at the country’s airport and is completely free of charge. If you wish to stay longer than 30 days in Thailand and know this in advance, it is advisable to apply for an extended visa in advance at the embassy of your country. Further information on this is best inquired through the agency responsible in your country that will also give you the latest status regarding travel advice.
You can also extend your visa locally in Thailand, but that involves an administrative (and expensive) process. From our own experience we can say that this will take you several hours, but in return you will have an extended stay from 30 to 60 days. The price to extend your visa in Thailand costs about 1950 THB or €52 and you need to pay cash on the spot.
3) Download the map of Thailand offline
It is useful to download a map of Thailand on your phone in advance. This ensures that navigation capabilities are available to you at all times. After all, in the jungle or on remote beaches, you don’t always have coverage, but it’s nice to know exactly where you are. With Google Maps, offline use of navigation is possible only for highways. Hiking trails will not be included in detail, but at least you know how you are oriented. An alternative to Google Maps is MAPS.ME, where you also have maps available offline.
4) Take into account the (rainy) season
Thailand is a vast country which brings with it the necessary variation in climate. Most of the country has a tropical monsoon climate, which can be divided into three seasons. The best period to visit Thailand is from November to April. This is the period with pleasant temperatures (25-30 degrees) and when there is little precipitation.
The hot season falls between March and June where temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celcius. This is then followed by the rainy season from June through November. Don’t let this deter you, however, often in a short period there is a lot of rain that alternates with a few hours of sunshine. Heavy rains fall mainly in the afternoon or evening. So even though it is always pleasantly warm in Thailand, it is best not to forget your raincoat or poncho!
5) Provide probiotics if you have sensitive intestines
Thai food is great! Varied, healthy and always freshly made. It is very accessible, but it may take some getting used to for your (Western) stomach. Nothing is more annoying than cramps, nausea or lying in your bed all day because you ate something wrong. One tool for this is taking probiotics. You can get this in advance and without a prescription at your home pharmacy. Should this not be in your suitcase, you can get drinks for promoting gut flora in local supermarkets in Thailand. The most famous example in this is the well-known Yakult drinks.
6) Essentials you should definitely carry in your luggage
Time to pack up! But what to bring with you on your trip to Thailand? Below are the most important things to remember when traveling to the land of smiles:
- Sunscreen: it sounds logical, but the sun in Thailand burns hard and our sensitive skin needs protection for this! Sunscreen is very expensive in Thailand and often does not spread as well as our sunscreen. Therefore, be sure to bring plenty from home!
- Mosquito spray: Mosquitoes come to Thailand all year round and there are many of them. It is therefore recommended that you protect yourself from this. In addition to mosquito spray, the purchase of a mosquito net or mosquito net may be of interest, as not all accommodations have them.
TRAVEL TIP! Did you know that malaria is almost non-existent in Thailand? Therefore, you do not need to take preventive treatment for this. If you do go trekking in the pristine jungle, you can always take an emergency treatment with you.
- Medication kit: It is always recommended to bring a medication kit with you when traveling. Painkillers, medication for abdominal pain and nausea are always indicated. In addition, we definitely recommend medication for motion sickness. In fact, when traveling around the country, you often take the boat and/or bus. As previously reported, having probiotics is also a win in your baggage.
- Appropriate clothing: there are a lot of dress codes when visiting (religious) buildings such as temples. Often your arms and legs must be covered or you won’t get in. In addition, be sure not to forget your raincoat or poncho, because if it rains, it pours in Thailand.
- Female hygiene: For our female readers, we recommend bringing plenty of tampons. In Thailand, you can only find (thicker) sanitary pads in stores, which is not so pleasant in hot temperatures.
7) Cash is king
Thai currency is expressed in Thai Baht (THB). At the time of writing this post, 100 baht is about €2.50. The most convenient way is to install an app on your phone that easily converts currency. In several places you can only pay cash so make sure you always have enough in your pocket. Paying by card is often not possible, or they charge an additional fee of 3% of the total amount.
To withdraw cash, there are plenty of vending machines available throughout the country, but this comes with an additional cost of 220 baht (~€5.8). This is another cost in addition to the standard fees your bank charges. Often, “With or Without Conversion?” is also asked. If so, always choose “without conversion. To avoid unnecessary costs, we recommend that you arrange the necessary cash through your bank before departure.
8) Vaccinations
If you are traveling to Thailand, there are no mandatory vaccinations required. However, many vaccinations are recommended. For this, we recommend that you visit the following website Consult the following website. Especially if you are planning a longer trip through Asia, it is important to check this out in advance.
9) International driving license
Renting a scooter in Thailand is one of the most convenient and cheapest ways to get around within a region. You can find scooter rentals really everywhere, usually for a price between €5 and €8 per 24 hours. Just make sure you never hand over your passport as collateral! A copy or your driver’s license often suffices. Although wearing a helmet is not always strictly enforced, it is mandatory in Thailand and highly recommended for your safety.
To legally drive a scooter, you need an international driver’s license. In practice, this is rarely asked for, but officially your regular driver’s license is not valid. So apply for it in time! Scooters in Thailand fall under category A of your driver’s license. Checks are rare, but those who ride without a valid document risk a small fine of about €15 and are usually allowed to continue riding afterwards.
10) Install the following apps
As the last of the 10 tips for your next trip to Thailand, we would like to give you some useful applications.
- Airalo : If your phone supports e-sims, you can take a digital mobile subscription. You can already arrange this in advance so you don’t have to look for a telecom provider when you arrive. The downside is that it often comes out slightly more expensive than a local sim.
- Asia12Go : Looking for the most optimal way of transportation between A and B in Thailand, this app is indispensable on your phone. After various travel options are presented, you can proceed directly to book to secure your tickets.
- Booking.com: The most well-known tool for booking your stay. For different price ranges, you can always find accommodation through this app.
- GetyourGuide : If you are looking for inspiration to do fun activities in Thailand then this app is ideal. It not only gives you an overview of the best to-do’s, but it is suddenly your booking platform to capture the activity.
- Currency converter: 100 baht is about €2.70 at the time of writing this post. Taking into account the exchange rate, it is often convenient to do the necessary conversions briefly with the help of a currency converter.
- Maps.Me: this app is useful so you can download the map of Thailand offline. That way you always know where you are and can easily find your way back.
Did you know that you can easily combine a trip to Thailand with a tour of Malaysia? If that sounds like you, be sure to readour ideal travel itinerary for Malaysia!
Do you have any questions about your next trip to Thailand? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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