Plan your trip to Thailand
Most of what goes wrong on a first trip to Thailand happens before you've seen a single temple: the wrong visa, a taxi whose meter is mysteriously broken, an ATM fee every time you need cash. This is everything we'd want sorted before landing, roughly in the order you'll need it.
Before you go
Thailand is easy to wing, but a little planning saves real money. Pick your season, work out what it'll cost, and pack less than you think you need.
Best time to visit
Any time is the best time to visit Thailand, but each season in Thailand does play out a little differently depending on which region you're in and what activities you plan to do.
What a trip costs
Flights, beds, food, temples and getting around, with real prices for backpackers, mid-range trips and the occasional splurge.
Packing guide
Clothes, bags, toiletries and a few questionable fashion choices to avoid. Here's what you'll actually need.
Things to buy before you fly
A power bank, dry bags, decent flip-flops and nine other things we'd sort before leaving home.
Travel insurance
Why you shouldn't travel without it, and the catch most people miss: plenty of policies won't cover you on a scooter.
Tips & tricks
Fresh off the boat? This is our collection of tips and tricks we wish we'd known on our first day in Thailand.
Visas and arriving
Most passports still get you in without a visa, but the rules have changed a lot in the last couple of years and the immigration queue is a bad place to find out. Sort the paperwork first, then get through the arrivals hall without overpaying for your first ride.
Which visa do you need?
Visa exemption, a tourist visa, the DTV or something longer: which one fits your trip, and what you need to get in.
Visa exemption and visa on arrival
The practical difference between the two, who gets which, and the common mistakes that cause trouble at the border.
Arrival card (TDAC)
The online form that replaced the paper arrival card. You can fill it in up to three days before you land, and the official one is free.
Visa finder
Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions and it points you at the visas worth looking into.
Arrival survival guide
Onward tickets, money, SIM cards and getting out of the airport without being overcharged, all in one place.
All our visa guides
Every visa we've written about, from retirement and marriage visas to the Thailand Privilege card.
Getting around
Bangkok traffic is every bit as bad as you've heard, but you rarely have to sit in it. The trains and river boats will get you most places, and for everywhere else there's a taxi, as long as the meter's on.
Getting around Bangkok
Skytrain, river boats, tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis and buses: how each one works, with the Thai you need to ask for it.
Bangkok taxis
Getting the meter on, what to do when a driver won't take you, and the departures-level trick for getting out of the airport.
Driving licences
International driving permits, converting a foreign driving licence, and taking your driving/riding test.
Money and phones
Thailand still runs on cash at markets and street stalls, and every ATM charges foreign cards for the privilege. Get your money set up properly and you'll stop paying for it.
Sending money
Your bank takes a cut of every transfer, usually hidden in a terrible exchange rate. This is how we get money into Thailand for less.
ATM and card fee calculator
Compare what a cash withdrawal or a card payment really costs you once the fees and exchange rate are in.
Banking
Initially a small hassle, but having a Thai bank account will save you money and provide a ton of convenience.
Credit cards for Americans
The card we recommend to Americans abroad: no foreign transaction fees, lounge access, and points that turn into flights.
VPNs
Safer banking on hotel Wi-Fi, your shows from home, and the occasional cheaper flight. The VPN we use and why.
Health and safety
Thailand is a safe place to travel, and what actually goes wrong is usually small: mosquitoes, the odd street dog, a tuk-tuk driver who swears your temple is closed today. Save the emergency numbers, and don't travel without insurance.
Emergencies & contact numbers
It is not as simple as just calling one number for everything. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of all the useful contacts you need in an emergency.
Mosquitoes and dengue
Dengue is the one to worry about, not malaria. How not to get bitten, what dengue feels like, and why it's paracetamol only.
Vaccinations
There's a lot of misinformation online about the vaccinations you need before you head to Thailand. We cover it all here.
Dog bites
Wash it, get to a hospital, start the jabs. What rabies treatment involves in Thailand and what it costs.
Avoiding scams
In day to day life, scams aren't usually an issue in Thailand - but they do exist and you should be aware of them.
Keeping valuables safe
It starts with the time I lost a 14,000 baht dive watch. Where theft actually happens, and the system we use so it doesn't happen again.
Fitting in
Thais are forgiving with foreigners, but a few things will still get you funny looks, starting with your feet and the royal family. These are the unwritten rules, plus a few tricks we picked up the hard way.
Culture & etiquette
An introduction to Thai culture and behaviours to help you fit in like a local.
Travel tips we actually use
Cheap domestic flights, sending your luggage ahead with Thai Post, eating well for very little, and the apps worth downloading.
Reading Thai restaurants
Noodle shops, curry shops, som tum stalls and meat on a stick: how to tell them apart from the street, and what to order.
Cannabis rules
Decriminalised in 2022, prescription-only since June 2025. Where things stand, and what to do if you've had a little too much.
Drone laws
Every drone with a camera has to be registered, even the little ones. The rules, the no-fly zones and the fines.