Thailand

Visa requirements depend on your nationality — check your own passport's rules before booking. Thailand grants visa-free entry to citizens of many countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU); the visa-exempt stay for these passports is currently 60 days, usually extendable once at a local immigration office. Travellers from other countries need a visa or e-Visa in advance. Note that Thailand has proposed shortening the visa-free list and stay — verify the current rule close to departure.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory. Nearly all foreign travellers must complete it online — submit it within the 72 hours (three days) before you arrive. It is a free information form; the only official site is tdac.immigration.go.th, and many lookalike sites charge bogus fees.

Your passport should be valid at least six months beyond your date of entry. Always verify the current requirements through Thailand's official immigration sources and your government's travel advisory before booking.

Thailand's currency is the Thai baht (฿). Cash still matters — while hotels, malls and larger restaurants in cities accept cards, street-food stalls, markets, tuk-tuks and small guesthouses are often cash-only. Carry enough baht for day-to-day spending, with small notes handy.

ATMs are everywhere, but most Thai bank ATMs charge a flat fee of around 220 baht per withdrawal for foreign cards, on top of your home bank's fees — so withdrawing larger sums less often reduces the cost. Decline the machine's offer to convert the charge to your home currency.

Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated — rounding up the bill or leaving small change is common. Many mid-range and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge, in which case an extra tip isn't expected.

The 'wai' is the traditional Thai greeting — palms pressed together at chest level with a slight bow. As a visitor you're not expected to initiate it, but returning a wai with a smile is polite. A friendly smile goes a long way.

Treat the monarchy with the utmost respect. Thais hold deep reverence for the royal family, and this is also a matter of law — Thailand's lèse-majesté laws make any insult or perceived disrespect toward the royal family a serious criminal offence. Never make critical or flippant remarks about the monarchy, in person or online.

Dress modestly at temples (shoulders and knees covered for all visitors) and remove your shoes before entering temple buildings, many homes and some shops. Buddha images are sacred — treat them respectfully. In Thai culture the head is the most sacred part of the body (don't touch anyone's head) and the feet are the lowest — don't point your feet at people or at Buddha images.

Bangkok's rail network is the fastest way around the capital — the elevated BTS Skytrain and the MRT subway are clean, air-conditioned, cheap and bypass the city's notorious traffic. There is also an Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport into the city.

Ride-hailing apps make taxis simple — Grab is the dominant app (cars and motorbike taxis), with Bolt a popular, often-cheaper alternative; both show the fare upfront. For street taxis, insist the driver runs the meter. Tuk-tuks are fun but have no meters — agree the fare before you get in, and be wary of drivers offering cheap 'tours' that detour to gem shops.

For longer distances, Thailand has an extensive, inexpensive domestic flight network linking Bangkok with Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and more. Trains and long-distance buses are also widespread and cheap; book ahead in peak season.

A local SIM or eSIM is cheap and the easiest way to stay online. Thailand's three main networks — AIS, TrueMove H and dtac — sell tourist prepaid packages with generous data, often for only a few hundred baht. Coverage and speeds are excellent in cities and tourist areas.

All major airports have staffed network kiosks in arrivals where staff register and set up the SIM for you (you'll need your passport). If your phone supports eSIM, you can buy a tourist plan online before you fly and have data the moment you land.

Wi-Fi is widely available — hotels, guesthouses, cafés and malls offer it free, though speed varies. For anything you depend on — maps, ride-hailing — a SIM or eSIM is more dependable.

Thailand is generally a safe destination for tourists, and violent crime against visitors is relatively uncommon. Government advisories note stronger warnings for the three southernmost provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat) and areas near the Thai–Cambodian border. The most common problems for tourists are petty theft, drink-spiking and scams — and never hand your passport over as a deposit for motorbike or jet-ski rentals.

Know the classic scams: the gem scam (a friendly stranger or tuk-tuk driver lures you to a shop selling near-worthless 'discounted' gems — never buy precious stones as an investment in Thailand); tuk-tuk scams; and the jet-ski scam (operators claim you caused pre-existing damage — photograph any rental thoroughly before use).

Do not drink the tap water — stick to bottled water, and be cautious with ice from informal vendors. Dengue fever is endemic year-round, so use insect repellent. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical cover is essential. Emergency numbers: 191 for police, 1669 for medical, and 1155 for the English-speaking Tourist Police.

Power: Thailand runs on 220V, 50Hz. Sockets commonly accept Type A, B and C plugs (US-style flat pins and European-style round pins both fit many outlets). Travellers from 110–120V countries should check that devices are dual-voltage.

Language: the official language is Thai, which uses its own script. English is widely spoken in hotels, tourist areas and major cities, though much less so in rural areas — a few Thai phrases are appreciated.

Best time to visit: the cool, dry season — roughly November to February — is generally the most pleasant time to visit most of the country. March to May is very hot, and June to October is the rainy season. The Gulf islands have a different rainfall pattern, often wettest around October–December.

Time zone: Thailand observes Indochina Time (UTC+7) year-round.