Whether you are a solo traveler or on the road with your partner or your family, Thailand is the perfect destination. Beautiful beaches, ancient temples, amazing food, exciting nightlife, great shopping opportunities – the country has it all. Need some travel tips for Thailand? You have come to the right place – read on for my first time to Thailand guide!
Travel Tips Thailand from A to Z
Table of Contents:
How to get a Thailand visa
A total of 93 nationalities including travelers from Germany, the US, and UK can travel to Thailand without a visa under the visa excemption scheme. This will allow you to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days.
Important: There has been a lot of chatter in the last few months that the visa excemption will be cut back to 30 days. Make sure to check with your Thai embassy before you book your trip.
Another 31 nationalities can get a visa on arrival, VOA, when you arrive. This visa cost 2000 baht ($61?) and is valid for 15 days.
Legally you will need proof of a return ticket and depending on the airline you may be asked for it before you even board the plane. Airlines do that because if you get refused by the country you are traveling to, they are in charge of taking you back to where you came from. To be honest, I rarely have a return ticket or can prove onward travel as my trips tend to be a bit more spontaneous these days and I never had an issue. But those are the legal requirements and if you don’t want to take the risk buy a roundtrip ticket or purchase a cheap flight to a neighboring country beforehand.
You will also need to fill out the TDAC, Thailand Digital Arrival Card, within 3 days of your arrival in Thailand. This replaced the old paper arrival card in 2025.
If you want to stay longer than 60 days you can either go to an immigration office in Thailand and extend your visa (they have different offices throughout the country). Cost for this is 1900 baht (approximately $58) at the moment.
How to get to Thailand
Many international and regional airlines have direct flights to Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui, and they are great hubs if you are connecting to other Southeast Asian destinations.
Depending on time and budget go for a direct flight or choose a connection with a layover. From Germany airlines like Thai Airways fly directly, while Turkish Airlines, Finnair and Emirates offer the possibility of a stopover and have very generous luggage allowances especially if you upgrade to Premium Economy.
Note that if you are flying to Bangkok or Phuket you will go through immigration there. If you are flying to Koh Samui or Chiang Mai with a stop in Bangkok, you will go through immigration first in Bangkok.
Flight delayed, cancelled, or denied boarding? In many cases, you can claim compensation from the airline, in addition to a measly airport meal or a seat that you already paid for.
Read all about AirHelp and how they can help you get compensation, and check below if you have a valid claim – absolutely free, of course!
How to get to and from the airport
Bangkok has two airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang. Both are international airports but Don Mueang is the one that covers most domestic flights for airlines like Air Asia, Nok, and Bangkok Airways.
If you have connecting flights within Bangkok make sure to check if it’s at the same airport. There is a shuttle to connect them both but it takes a minimum of 50 minutes, probably more with traffic. Do allocate enough time if you are coming from overseas as you will need to go through immigration at your arrival airport.
Getting to and from each airport you have a few choices depending on your budget. If you are flying from Suvarnabhumi Airport you can take the Airport Rail Link which connects you to either the BTS Skytrain or MRT.
I personally prefer to take a taxi since I am always traveling with a lot of luggage and the prices are not that bad. Both airports have taxi counters where you get in line and show them where you want to go before getting a driver allocated. Make sure you have your hotel address in Thai and a phone number so the driver can call if needed. You need to pay extra for highway tolls which makes it a little more pricey but a whole lot faster. Don’t worry though the driver will always ask you first! Make sure to have some smaller bills (50-baht and 100-baht notes) – I have yet to find a Bangkok taxi driver with change for a 1000-baht note.
If you are traveling to the airport I prefer Grab (Asia’s version of Uber). Especially at the end of a stay in Bangkok, it is great if you are low on cash as you can put your Grab on your credit card and you can even pre-order a car. I have tried this thrice and it worked twice – just make sure you check half an hour before your scheduled pick-up time that your driver has not canceled on you last minute.
Depending on which airport, which area in Bangkok you stay at, and traffic you will pay between THB 400 and 600 for a taxi or Grab.
Things are a little different when you get to Samui or Phuket. While Phuket airport now has a Grab counter, Samui taxis are notoriously expensive. Check with your hotel if a pick-up is included and if you are heading to an island afterwards, make sure to book a transfer with your boat company.
Tip: My preferred transfer option is Welcome Pickups that you can book at most airports. Prices are competitive and you get your driver’s WhatsApp number before. They are also monitoring your flight so the pick-up can be adjusted if needed.
Getting around Thailand
Even when visiting Thailand for the first time don’t worry about getting around – the country has some really good public or semi-public transport options. For longer distances, there are a few domestic airlines like Air Asia that will get you from A to B for relatively low prices. If you want to avoid short-distance flights or save even more money take a train or a bus to get around in Thailand!
The night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for example is a great adventure and quite comfortable as are the many bus connections that take you from Bangkok to Phuket or the Gulf of Thailand. Companies like Lomprayah not only offer ferry trips but also busses for the overland part of the journey. I have been on a few long bus trips before and was amazed by the comfort and ease.
While traveling in Thailand may not seem to be as organized and straightforward as in Germany, I have always felt super safe, gotten where I needed to get, and was amazed that Thais seem to be even more punctual than Germans.
If you are heading to a particular island and are unsure how to get there, check with your hotel or guesthouse or have a look at 12Go where you can also buy your tickets. The website will show you different options, you can compare prices, and book.
How to get around on the Thai islands & in the cities
Bangkok offers some great and inexpensive public transport but if you are visiting an island in Thailand or another city, you should consider renting a scooter to get around. Mind you, depending on where you go you should be a somewhat good driver because traffic and roads can get a bit crazy. Make sure beforehand that your insurance will cover any scooter-related incidences as many don’t. And, this should go without saying, even when it is hot make sure to wear a helmet!
If like me you don’t drive a scooter your other options are to walk or use taxis. Depending on where you are those taxis might come in form of sidecar taxis or songthaews, a vehicle with benches in the back that is often shared by different passengers. On some bigger islands like Koh Samui or Phuket, you can also use services like Grab which is super practical and a lot less expensive than regular taxis.
Alternatively, you can get on a local songthaew. These are shared taxis where you sit in the back of a pick-up truck. It isn’t the most comfortable option but cheap and a truly local experience.
Weather in Thailand
When is the best time to travel to Thailand? It depends a bit where you want to go and if you are on a tight budget or not. A great season all around is November to February when it is dry and a lot cooler. However, in the rainy season between May and October, you will be able to find the best deals.
If you are heading to the coast for diving, come during November and April for the best visibility. However, from May onwards many of the marine parks close for the season in the Andaman Sea.
Regardless of when you go, you don’t need to worry about getting cold in Thailand as the temperature is tropical and has an average of 25° C all year long. In the rainy season, showers are usually short and intense, but chances are good you won’t get rained in for days on end.
If you are heading north to Chiang Mai you may want to avoid January to March. This time is called burning season and the air quality is at an all-time low due to farmers burning their fields to prepare them for the next crops.
Language & Communication
The official language of Thailand is Thai, and to be very honest I have yet to master more than a few words… it is a difficult language. Luckily in most tourist areas, you will be able to get by with English however it is only polite to learn a few words.
Sawasdee ka (if you are a woman) or Sawasdee krab (if you are a man) – hello. This is used all day long and also colloquially used for goodbye.
Khob khun ka or Khob khun krab – thank you
Aroy – delicious (always important when eating in Thailand!)
Luckily wifi and data are cheap in Thailand. Once you arrive at an international airport you can easily buy a local SIM card and get a data package. If you don’t buy it at the airport you can buy it at a mobile store later but make sure to take your passport with you when you go. Once you have your Thai sim card you can easily use your phone as a hotspot if you are out of wifi reach. While it is convenient to have a small amount of money on your phone to make local calls, I usually use Whatsapp calling to stay in touch with people.
A great app to download is Line which is used both by businesses and amongst friends to chat or make bookings.
Money & Currency
Thailand’s currency is the Thai Baht – THB or ฿. You can find a current exchange rate here. Thai Baht comes in 20, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 baht notes as well as 1, 2, 5 & 10 baht coins. Make sure to keep some smaller notes for taxis and street food. 7/11 stores are great to break down bigger notes.
I usually take out money from the ATM when I arrive at the airport. While most ATMs charge a fee of 220 baht (about $6,70) I still think it works out cheaper than exchanging actual cash. That said, many ATMs will give you a maximum of 10,000 baht. If you prefer exchanging money go to a bank or a Forex counter, preferably one that is not at the airport as you will get a better rate. You also need to bring your passport to exchange money in Thailand.
Credit cards are accepted at most places except of course at small street food stalls and shops. Mind you, most companies and hotels will charge you a credit card fee of 3-5 %.
A great option for payments to smaller hotels, dive centers, or other service providers is Wise. They allow you to do international transfers at a lower fee and often in a matter of hours. The fees depend on the amount and your payment method (i.e., bank transfer in your home country, credit card, or PayPal).
It can definitely pay off to do a bit of math and figure out which one is your cheapest payment option: cash with high withdrawal fees, a credit card payment with a set fee, or a Wise transfer.
Another great option for payments is an app like Moreta. Thais love QR payments, and they are used everywhere these days – from fancy spas to street food stalls and bars. Until recently, you would need a Thai bank account in order to get such a payment app, but Moreta also allows international travelers to pay with QR in Thailand and a few other Southeast Asian countries.
You top up your account with Wise or your credit card; options vary depending on where you are from.
Important: There are private and business accounts with QR codes. A lot of smaller businesses use a private QR code. So far, Moreta only offers payment to business accounts. You can, however, apply for the beta version, which allows payments to private accounts too.
How much do things cost in Thailand?
Thailand is generally known as a rather inexpensive country for traveling. Even luxury hotels tend to be a lot less than in most European countries, the US, or other big Asian cities. Just like anywhere else in the world, rates go up for holidays and peak travel season. And of course, things are not as affordable anymore – again, just like anywhere else – due to raising prices and inflation.
Favorite Hotels in Thailand for all budgets:
If you like eating authentic food you can pay as little as 40 baht ($1.20) for a dish as long as you don’t mind street food and eat where the locals eat. ‘Western’ food tends to be more expensive as is non-Thai alcohol; expect to pay a premium for international wines and spirits. If you are on a budget stick to local drinks or beer like Singha, Chang, or Leo.
And be prepared to pay more for food and drinks in general if you are traveling to a Thai island than you would in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
Do I have to tip in Thailand? Generally no but in some touristy areas, it is getting more and more common. While people usually don’t expect it, it is always appreciated. Mind you there are no hard and fast rules as to how much you should tip in Thailand. Any upscale restaurant or business that requires a set service charge will clearly state that on the menu. For anything else, I usually go with my gut or round up. At hotels or massage places I tend to tip the person who was looking after me directly and in restaurants, I leave something in the communal tipping jar.
If you go for dinner at a nicer restaurant they will usually add a 10 % service charge and 9% city tax is added to your bill.
Hygiene & Safety
As in many other countries, you should not be drinking tap water in Thailand. Take a bottle that you can refill from water coolers in hotels or businesses, or use a Grayl or Larq bottle that allows you to filter water from taps or even streams making it suitable for drinking. When it comes to food, I guess it depends a bit on how sensitive your stomach is. If you want to be uber-careful don’t use tap water to rinse fruit and vegetable, and when eating out only eat them peeled or cooked. The same goes for glasses or utensils.
One of my travel tips in Thailand: When in doubt travel with your own reusable straw and cutlery set that you can clean yourself.
When using a toilet in Thailand make sure not to flush any papers or sanitary products as pipes will quickly block. Many toilets, public and private will have a bum-gun which is even better than toilet paper to make you feel clean and fresh. It can take some getting used to but give it a go – you might like it and will never have to worry about another toilet paper shortage!In case you come across a toilet with a big water barrel and a small bucket inside – this is the flushing system. Scoop a few loads with the small bucket in the toilet and you should be good to go!
Thailand is overall a very safe country also for solo female travelers. As with any destination don’t sport your valuables and be smart when moving around at night. When in doubt, choose a Grab taxi over walking or hitching a ride though I dare say even that is fine in Thailand.
Two things to keep in mind: Keep your thoughts about the royal family to yourself and don’t do illegal drugs. Also, don’t bring any e-cigarettes or vapes – those are illegal in Thailand.
Thai Culture & customs
Thai people are known for their friendliness that seems to go far beyond them seeing tourists as a mere source of income. With that, it makes me sad to see visitors misbehaving in Thailand and not even sticking to the most basic etiquette rules. Please don’t be that person!
- Keeping face in Thailand is important. I will admit that concept is still hard to adhere to for this blunt German but shouting at people or getting angry won’t get you anywhere in Thailand. Keep calm and smile was never more appropriate than here!
- Take your shoes off before entering a home or a business. Unless you are in Bangkok chances are there is already a small pile of shoes by the door and a sign – take the hint and take them off.
- Don’t touch a Thai person on the head as this is considered the holiest part of the body.
- Make sure to wear long sleeves and pants/skirts when visiting a temple and don’t point your feet towards a Buddha.
- Do not, and I repeat, do not speak badly about the king and the royal family. Not only is it disrespectful as a foreigner but it could also land you in jail.
- The national anthem is played publically each day at 8 am and at 6 pm. The country will literally come to a complete halt while it is played and so should you if you are in a public place.
- As a greeting Thais will press their palms together and bow their head slightly. Yes, even before Covid this is a non-handshake culture.
Thai food
One cannot give travel tips for Thailand without speaking about Thai food. After all, the food is world-renowned and at least for me a reason on its own to go to Thailand.
Thailand’s food is sweet, sour, spicy, and unbelievably scrumptious. Soups, salads, and curries await as well as the most amazing selection of Thai fruit. While you can get some ‘western’ options in most places I think you cannot go on a Thailand holiday without at least giving Thai food a go.
While a lot of the dishes are quite spicy, Thais are usually really good at toning down the heat for foreigners. When in doubt ask for “mai ped” which means not so spicy. Mind you, for some dishes that is just not an option.
Also, be aware that Thai cuisine uses a lot of sugar. If you want to keep your sugar intake at a minimum pay attention when ordering a cocktail, tea, or coffee and ask for no sugar.
And yes, eating street food is a must when in Thailand because honestly, no country does it better. If you are a bit apprehensive about where to eat safely consider a food tour in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, or Phuket Old Town to find some great recommendations.
I love A Chef’s Tour for street food tours – you can find tours for Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui with them.
Need some tips on where to travel to for your first Thailand trip? Check out these posts:
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