Thailand first-time traveller guide

Thailand is one of the easiest entries in Asia for many passports under the visa exemption scheme. Classic routing is Bangkok for temples and street food, then Chiang Mai or a southern island. November to April is the dry, comfortable window; rainy season mostly means a short afternoon downpour.

Verified against: Tourism Authority of Thailand visa exemption guidance

Chinese passport holders enter visa-free for up to 30 days per entry under the mutual exemption; many Western passports get a longer stay under the updated exemption list. Passport should be valid well beyond your stay and onward tickets are occasionally checked. A digital arrival card is being rolled out — confirm current requirements on official channels before flying.

Verified against: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs / consular announcements

In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain and MRT beat traffic at rush hour — a Rabbit card tops up for repeated BTS trips. Grab gives metered, upfront fares; agree prices with tuk-tuks first. Between cities, budget airlines (AirAsia, Nok), SRT trains for scenic legs and VIP buses cover everything cheaply.

Cash is still king at street stalls, markets and songthaews; cards work in malls and chains. Airport and hotel exchange desks give poor rates — city counters like SuperRich are better. ATMs charge a fixed per-withdrawal fee, so take out larger amounts less often. Daily spend scales from backpacker to resort level.

Tourist SIMs from AIS, TrueMove and dtac are sold at airports and 7-Eleven counters; coverage is solid even on most islands. eSIM via Airalo or Nomad activates on landing if you prefer skipping the queue. No VPN needed, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafes and malls.

Temples require covered shoulders and knees. Jet-ski rentals: photograph the hull first. Tuk-tuk drivers offering cut-price government tours usually detour to gem or tailoring shops — walk away. Match the licence plate before boarding a Grab. On Buddhist holidays some shops stop selling alcohol for the day.