Thailand Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip

How Much Time Should You Plan for Thailand?

We’ve found that three weeks is perfect for a first road trip through Thailand. In those three weeks, you’ll already get a really great feel for the country.

You’ll have enough time to explore Thailand’s culture in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, while also being able to relax on some Thai islands or take part in some cool activities.

That said, we totally understand if you only have 2 weeks — but that should be the minimum you plan for your first trip. Two weeks are ideal for a little mix of culture and islands, or a full island-hopping adventure.

In our road trip article, we share 6 great itinerary suggestions for 2, 3, and 4 weeks.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Thailand?

The best time to visit Thailand isn’t something you can answer in one sentence — it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Dry and pleasant weather across the entire country really only happens in January and February. From November to February is high season, and it’s pretty crowded everywhere.

In Thailand, the best time varies greatly by region. Even the low season, from May to October, can be a great time for your Thailand trip — depending on what you’re focused on.

We’ve written up all the details and the best times for each region in a dedicated article, complete with weather and temperature breakdowns.

We also share our personal experiences during high season and the rainy season, and tell you when you can vacation in Thailand on a budget.

Finding Good Flights to Thailand

Currently, there are direct flights to Bangkok from Frankfurt and Munich, as well as direct flights from Frankfurt to Phuket. The flight time to Thailand is about 12 hours.

From most other airports, you’ll need a connecting flight with a layover — usually just one stop. Personally, we can recommend a stopover in Singapore.

Prices vary a lot depending on the airline and travel month. In high season, you should budget at least 800 euros for a direct flight. With a layover, it’s usually a bit cheaper.

In the low season, you might get really lucky with direct flights and pay only 500 to 600 euros — though you’ll need to be flexible with your timing.

We love searching for flights on Skyscanner, where all airlines and departure times are compared side by side. You can also filter by how many stopovers you’re willing to make.

Note: Prices on Skyscanner often only include carry-on luggage. If you want to travel with checked baggage, budget at least 100 euros more, depending on the airline.

Our tip: We recommend booking directly with the airline, even if it’s sometimes a bit more expensive than through third-party providers. If anything changes or there’s a delay, dealing with the airline directly is so much simpler.

Check flights on Skyscanner

Entering Thailand: Do You Need a Visa?

As a tourist, you don’t need to sort out a visa in advance. You can enter Thailand for 60 days without a visa.

There are two things you need to take care of before you go:

1. You need a passport that is valid for at least six months — as long as you stay for a maximum of 60 days.
2. You must fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within three days before arrival.

This applies whether you arrive by plane or cross the land borders by bus from Cambodia or Myanmar, by boat from Malaysia or Laos, or even by slow boat from Laos to Thailand.

A one-time extension of your visa-free stay is possible for up to an additional 30 days — for tourist purposes only.

You must apply for the extension at the relevant Thai Immigration Bureau before your 60-day visa-free period expires.

Info on the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

The new digital arrival card TDAC has been mandatory for all foreign tourists since May 1, 2025. It replaces the paper arrival form you used to receive on the plane.

Fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online here
What else you should know:

• The digital arrival card is mandatory for all foreign tourists
• It should be filled out within three days before arrival (the day of arrival works too)
• It is free of charge
• It does not replace a visa

Our tip: Don’t stress too much about the digital arrival card. We did it for the first time ourselves in June 2025 and it’s super easy to fill out. On arrival, we didn’t even have to show anything — they apparently have it in the system. And if you do forget, you can fill it out on the spot.

You can find more entry information on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office. Always check the latest requirements before your trip, as things can change at any time.

Health and Vaccinations for Thailand

There are no mandatory vaccinations for Thailand if you’re traveling from most Western countries. However, if you’re arriving from a yellow fever zone, you will need a yellow fever vaccination.

The following vaccinations are generally recommended for travel to Thailand:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Dengue Fever

One of the most important Thailand travel tips: Get advice from a tropical medicine specialist well in advance.

Protecting Yourself from Mosquitoes in Thailand

As in virtually any tropical country, you should protect yourself well from mosquitoes — both during the day and in the evening. They can transmit diseases like the Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria.

Our advice for your Thailand vacation:

• Always use mosquito repellent spray. We’ve had great results with Anti Brumm Ultra Tropical spray.
• Even when it’s hot, wear loose, light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Sleep under a mosquito net.
• Avoid hygiene products with strong sweet fragrances. Shower gels with a lemon scent are also said to keep mosquitoes away.

Gastrointestinal Illness in Thailand

The most common issue tourists run into in Thailand is simple gastrointestinal illness — stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea.

No need to panic if this happens. In most cases, it’s just the result of unfamiliar, heavily spiced food and tap water.

Our pointers for reducing the risk:

• Never drink tap water. Stick to sealed bottled water only.
• Only brush your teeth with drinking water.
• Wash your hands more frequently or use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid restaurants or street stalls that seem unhygienic. We like to check Google reviews and see whether lots of locals eat there.
• Pack medications for diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain in your travel kit.
• You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a cholera oral vaccine.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
• Order your drinks without ice.

Travel Medical Kit for Thailand

You can find almost all the medications you need on the ground. Pharmacies in Bangkok especially are very well stocked and usually offer competent advice in quite good English.

Still, it’s worth having a small travel medical kit with the most important medications on hand. Our recommendations:

• Riemser Pharma Bite Away, sting healer (This thing really works like a charm. Hold it on the bite and the itching stops right away — we honestly couldn’t believe how well it works!)
• Perenterol Forte & Imodium & Electrolytes (Perenterol is especially important — if your stomach struggles with local food, it rebuilds your gut flora rather than just stopping things like Imodium does. In Thailand, Perenterol goes by the name “Bio-Flora”)
• Bepanthen Wound and Healing Ointment Mini
• Fucidine (A miracle ointment for all kinds of inflammation. Unfortunately it’s prescription-only, but if you ask your doctor nicely…)
• Ibuprofen
• Chewing gum for motion sickness

Healthcare System in Thailand

Especially in Bangkok and other larger cities, medical care is of very high quality — it meets European standards and most doctors speak good English.

In more rural areas, however, you can’t always count on the same standards or English-speaking staff.

We recommend taking out good travel health insurance for every trip.

Currency, Payments, and Costs

The official currency in Thailand is the baht. Around 40 baht equals 1 euro, depending on the daily exchange rate (as of April 2025).

The best way to pay in Thailand is still with cash, which you can easily withdraw from an ATM.

On every trip, we withdraw a small amount of cash right at the airport — but you’ll also find plenty of ATMs in every tourist area throughout Thailand.

At almost all Thai banks, you’ll be charged a withdrawal fee. A good travel credit card means at least your own bank won’t add extra charges on top.

Card payments are now accepted at many larger hotels and international restaurants, but you shouldn’t rely on cards alone in Thailand.

Costs for a Thailand Trip

Thailand is still a budget-friendly destination in Southeast Asia — and definitely cheaper than many countries in South America or Europe.

How much your vacation ultimately costs is very individual and depends on whether you’re more of a budget traveler or like to treat yourself every now and then.

For a rough overview, here are some average prices in Thailand:

Accommodation:

• Bed in a good hostel: from 10 euros
• Double room in a good mid-range hotel: 50 to 120 euros
• Double room in a luxury beachfront hotel: from 150 euros

Food

• Lunch at a simple local restaurant: 4 euros
• Dinner at a night market: 2 euros
• Dinner at an international restaurant: 10 euros
• Beer at a bar: 2.50 euros
• Really good coffee: 1.80 euros
• Fresh fruit shake: 2 euros

Getting Around

• Ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan: 9 euros
• Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a sleeper car: 40 euros
• Flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket: from 60 euros

Activities

• Entrance to the Grand Palace Bangkok: 14 euros
• Tour to Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi: from 60 euros
• Cooking class in Khao Lak: 50 euros
• Diving course: from 60 euros, one of the coolest activities around Koh Phangan

Language and Communication in Thailand

The official language of Thailand is Thai. Locals always appreciate it when you can say a few words like “hello” or “thank you” in Thai.

In tourist areas, most hotel and restaurant staff speak good English. At larger hotels — like the beautiful beachfront hotels on Phuket — you won’t have anything to worry about.

At our accommodation on Koh Lanta and in less touristy areas, we’ve also run into staff who spoke very little English.

Even in tourist areas, staff at massage parlors or smaller restaurants and shops may only know a few words of English. In those situations, gestures go a long way.

The same goes for taxi or tuk-tuk drivers. If they don’t speak English, just show them your destination on Google Maps.

On most guided tours in Bangkok or activities throughout Thailand, you’ll always get along just fine with English.

SIM Cards, Internet, and Power Outlets

Before you fly to Thailand, it’s worth sorting out SIM cards, internet, and power outlets in advance.

SIM Cards in Thailand

In Thailand, you can pick up a local SIM card — which makes a lot of sense if you’re doing a road trip and not just staying in one place.

The best time to buy one is right when you arrive, at the airport. The SIM card stands are usually near the baggage carousels or in the arrivals hall — you can’t miss them.

Alternatively, you can get SIM cards at shopping malls or at larger ferry terminals if you’re entering Thailand by boat from Malaysia.

Three carriers offer SIM cards for short-term use: dtac, TrueMove H, and AIS. They don’t differ much from each other — network coverage is quite good with all of them.

Most plans include a 4G or 5G network with a data allowance (usually starting at 10 GB) or even unlimited data. You’ll mainly choose based on the number of days you’ll be in Thailand.

For 30 days of unlimited data, budget a little more than 30 euros. The staff will set everything up for you on the spot — you don’t have to do a thing.

Alternatively, you can buy an eSIM for Thailand before your trip. That’s what we prefer these days — it’s much more convenient.

Always connected on the go: With an eSIM from Saily

We always travel in Thailand with a Saily eSIM. You buy it from home and install it easily through the app. After landing in Thailand, the eSIM activates automatically.

Saily is affordable, super easy to use, and perfect for a trip to Thailand.

• Fixed GB plans and unlimited data available
• 200 destinations
• Top security features

Use the code 22places to save 10 percent on your Saily eSIM.

Get your eSIM from Saily

Internet and Wi-Fi in Thailand

Network coverage from all three providers is very good — we haven’t been anywhere in Thailand where mobile internet didn’t work.

On top of that, almost every hotel now offers very good Wi-Fi, which makes Thailand a great destination for digital nomads.

Power Outlets in Thailand

Thailand predominantly uses outlet types A and C, sometimes also B and O. Even if a standard plug sometimes fits, we strongly recommend bringing a travel adapter for Thailand or a universal adapter.

Travel adapter for Thailand
Universal adapter

Accommodations in Thailand

In Thailand, you’ll find places to stay for every budget — from budget hostels to luxurious beach resorts.

We usually book good mid-range hotels or nice bungalows, but we’ve also stayed in hostels and 5-star hotels on this trip.

Hotel prices in Thailand vary a lot depending on the time of year and location. You’ll generally find cheaper options on Koh Phangan and in Chiang Mai than on Phuket or Koh Samui, for example.

During high season from November to February, budget between 50 and 120 euros for a good double room, depending on the location.

In the low season, you can find a nice room for around 30 euros. The real bargains in the low season are at luxury hotels — especially around Khao Lak.

For many popular destinations, we share our best hotel recommendations in separate articles.
Our hotel recommendations for Bangkok
Our hotel recommendations for Phuket
The 15 best hotels in Khao Lak
The best hotels on Koh Phi Phi
Our hotel recommendations for Koh Lanta
Our hotel recommendations for Koh Samui
Our hotel recommendations for Koh Phangan
Our hotel recommendations for Koh Tao
Our hotel recommendations for Chiang Mai

Getting Around in Thailand

In Thailand, you generally don’t need a rental car — it’s not a classic road trip destination, and getting from island to island by car simply isn’t an option.

Getting around is a mix of semi-private minivans, buses, trains, flights, ferries, and scooters. It really depends on where you are and where you’re headed.

• Flights: Make sense if you want to get from Bangkok or Chiang Mai down south to Phuket or Koh Samui to kick off your island hopping.

• Trains: Best for inland travel when you don’t want to fly. There’s a great overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, for instance. Many day trips from Bangkok can also be done by train.

• Minivans: Good for shorter distances or when there’s no train connection — for example, traveling from Khao Lak to Phuket or across from the southeast to the southwest. You’ll usually share them with other tourists.

• Buses: We only recommend these if you want the cheapest possible option or there’s no minivan on your route. This might come up if you’re traveling off the beaten tourist path.

• Ferries: Essential between the Thai islands and the mainland. You can also get around Bangkok by boat.

• Scooters: The best way to get from A to B on most islands.

• Tuk Tuks: A great way to get around central Bangkok.

• Taxis: A solid alternative to tuk-tuks in Bangkok — the cars are bigger and more comfortable. On the islands, taxis can work as an alternative to a scooter, though you won’t have as much flexibility.
• Grab in Thailand: In most larger cities, the Grab app works great. You order through the app and can pay online. Rides are usually cheaper and safer, since the trip is tracked.

Important Travel Tips for Getting Around in Thailand

By law, you need an international driver’s license to ride a scooter in Thailand. In practice, you’ll almost never have to show it — unless you’re pulled over by the police.

Download the Grab app before your trip and sign up. With the app, you don’t have to negotiate prices upfront, which makes things so much more relaxed.

Always have Google Maps on your phone. It’s perfect for navigation — whether you’re walking or riding a scooter. In a separate article, we show you everything else we plan for trips using Google Maps.

For ferries, buses, minivans, and trains in Thailand, we always book through 12Go. It shows you all available connections with prices at a glance. Booking is super simple — highly recommended!

We search for flights on Skyscanner. Here too, you can easily compare all available flights and prices side by side.

Compare transportation options on 12Go Asia

Compare flights on Skyscanner

Most Beautiful Places and Attractions in Thailand

Thailand has countless highlights that are absolutely worth a visit! Our 6 all-time must-sees in Thailand are:

1. Wat Pho in Bangkok: The oldest and largest temple in Thailand. The Reclining Buddha is the absolute standout.
2. The floating markets near Bangkok: A really cool experience, even if they’re no longer completely authentic. One of the best day trips from Bangkok.
3. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai: This Buddhist temple complex is the landmark of Chiang Mai and truly stunning.
4. Khao Sok National Park: For us, the most beautiful national park in Thailand, with breathtaking nature.
5. Maya Bay near Koh Phi Phi: The filming location for The Beach. Super touristy these days, but still one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
6. Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan: For us, the most beautiful beach in all of Thailand. Bonus tip: stay right at Bottle Beach!

Since not all of Thailand’s highlights fit into our Thailand travel tips article, we strongly recommend checking out our destination-specific attractions articles too.

In these separate articles, we show you the best things to see at the most popular destinations.
The most beautiful attractions in Bangkok
Our absolute highlights in Chiang Mai
The best under-the-radar spots and attractions on Phuket
The most beautiful attractions on Koh Lanta
The 13 most beautiful attractions on Koh Samui
Our 18 must-sees on Koh Phangan
Our 7 highlights and activities on Koh Tao
The best tips and attractions in Khao Lak

Food and Drink in Thailand

Thai cuisine is incredibly diverse and uses a wide array of fresh herbs and spices. Lemongrass, coconut, Thai basil, and chili peppers are all typical of Thai dishes.

Ingredients like galangal (Thai ginger) and fish sauce are also used constantly. These dishes are often served with rice or glass noodles.

It’s actually a misconception that Thai food always has to be spicy. If you say “no spicy at all!” when ordering, you’ll get your food without chili — but still incredibly flavorful!

Our absolute favorite dishes:

• Pad Thai: THE quintessential Thai street food dish. A stir-fried rice noodle dish with tofu and usually chicken, eggs, peanuts, scallions, and a squeeze of lime.

• Tom Kha Gai: Our absolute favorite dish in Thailand. A coconut milk soup with chicken, galangal, lemongrass, and mushrooms.

• Massaman Curry: Our favorite curry — with potatoes and a slightly sweet flavor, served with rice on the side. Other popular curries include Yellow, Red, and Green Curry (from mild to spicy).

• Khao Soi: A delicious noodle soup with a mild but spiced curry broth and coconut milk. Found mainly in northern Thailand.

• Som Tum: A spicy papaya salad with peanuts, dried shrimp, lime, fish sauce, and chilies. Super tasty and refreshing on hot days.

• Tom Yum: A spicy and sour soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and mushrooms. Often served with shrimp, sometimes with chicken.

• Mango Sticky Rice: Thailand’s most beloved dessert. Sticky rice with fresh mango and coconut milk. You have to try it!

• Thai Iced Tea: Iced tea made from black tea with milk. Incredibly refreshing and absolutely delicious — seriously, don’t skip it.

Where to Eat in Thailand?

1. Simple restaurants: We love going to simple, locally run restaurants. You can usually sit comfortably and get delicious, authentic food. A dish costs around 3 euros.
2. Night markets: Thai night markets are the place for great street food and smaller snacks. The food is usually a bit cheaper, though seating isn’t always available.
3. International restaurants: Not in the mood for Thai food — for whatever reason? At international restaurants, you can order pizza, burgers, and the like. Dishes here are more expensive, though.

You like spicy food? Even so, order your dish as “European spicy” rather than “Thai spicy” — Thai spicy is seriously hot! Popular spicy dishes include Som Tum, Tom Yum, and Green Curry. A Thai person once told us that the original Tom Yum soup calls for 14 chilies, but for tourists they only put in 5 — haha!

Our tip: Take a cooking class! You’ll eat amazing food and learn so much. We took the cooking class with Wandee in Khao Lak. It was just really awesome — and she was even featured in the Amazon Prime series “The World Cook Season 2”.

More Questions, Info, and Travel Tips for Thailand