Thailand
Thailand is the “Land of Smiles”. Make sure you know all these essential things before organizing your trip to Thailand!
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General Info:
Also called the Land of Smiles, Thailand is one of the most famous countries in Southeast Asia that tourists choose for planning unforgettable vacations.
Thailand is known for the charming nature, famous sandy beaches, ancient temples, interesting food choices, modern buildings and a well-known vibrant nightlife.
The official currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (TBH): ฿. One Baht is divided into 100 satang.
When to visit Thailand:
The climate in Thailand is divided into three main seasons:
- The cold season – from November to February,
- The rainy season – from May to October, and
- The hot season – between March and May
In general, the best time to visit Thailand is from November to February as temperatures drop and rain decreases.
You will need cash
Similar to other countries in Asia, you will be mostly using cash in Thailand. There are a few places where you can pay by card (supermarkets such as 7-Eleven accept it, malls accept it etc.), but it is recommended to have some cash with you.
In Asia the street food is very popular and this is where you will always be paying in cash. It is the same when it comes to mall fruit shops.
If you are in rush and you want to withdraw some cash from an ATM, you will be charged 220 Baht no matter the amount.
Extra tip: Take your passport with you and go to the bank! There you can withdraw as much as you want for as many times as you wish with no fees applied.
I mostly used Klook for organizing my activities in Southeast Asia as it is very intuitive and has some great deals!
You can use the platform to book tours, buy tickets for diverse shows, rent a car, or even to get your public transportation card beforehand!
Check it out before planning your trip to Thailand!
If you travel to Thailand, you should not miss Phuket!
Here are the best things to do in Phuket!
Transportation
In the city:
In most cities in Thailand you can use the public busses, scooter taxis, order a Grab (scooter or car), or even drive a scooter yourself. Make sure you have an international driving license for scooters when it comes to driving the scooter by yourself.
In general, the prices of the public transportation are cheaper than in other countries (especially in Europe).
Between cities:
Thailand is a very big country, therefore, it might take up to 24h to arrive from Chiang Mai (in the north of Thailand) to Phuket (the south of Thailand).
This is an essential information you have to take into account if you are planning to spend a short vacation (1 week) in Thailand and you want to visit more cities. If this is the case, I recommend you to travel by plane between main destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket) as the prices are not expensive.
If you are traveling on a budget, then consider taking the bus, as it is a bit cheaper, but not always comfortable (when compared to the bus experience I had in Japan or Malaysia).
Extra tip: When purchasing the bus ticket, always check how the seats look like: try searching for videos on YouTube where travelers filmed the busses. The next step is to check the ratings of the transport company. Last but not least, always check where the toilet is located. Most busses will have toilets in Thailand as the destinations are usually far and there are only a few stops during the way. Purchase your ticket as far as possible!
In 3 months in Thailand, the best bus experience I had was with the Green Bus. Their website is not that intuitive, but the seats were comfortable, they had Wi-Fi and air conditioning, they offer snacks and water. If you want to access their website, you can click here.
Additionally, you can check my Instragram highlights to see how the green bus looked like when I took it from Chiang Mai to Phuket.
Safety in Thailand
Thailand is a safe country for travelers, especially for solo women traveling.
After 3 months in Thailand, I can admit that it is a safe place, but you might not feel this way no matter the city. For example, Bangkok is a very popular destination, so you will see a mixture of nationalities, and characters. Take care of your belongings no matter where you will be.
In Thailand it is rude to…
As soon as you arrive in Thailand, there are several things you should never ever do. For example, you are not allowed to enter a temple with shorts / short skirts / dresses or with your shoulders not covered (as a woman).
Never ever say anything bad about the kings. Whoever insults or defames the royal family might be imprisoned up to 15 years.
You will also see that Thai people arrange offerings in front of the temples or on the streets (rarely). Take care not to step on them!
Fun facts about Thailand
Did you know that Thailand is the birthplace of Red Bull?
In the same time, Thai people also love street food so you will find many “street food” shops all around the country, even in malls! This is why you need to always have some cash!
One more thing I liked in Thailand is that, due to the heat, iced drinks are very popular. This is why almost everyone is using reusable stainless steel bottles. Get yours from here!
Additionally, here’s a cool thing I learned in Thailand: no need to hold your drink in your hands! You can carry it in a bottle shoulder holder.
Is your iced drink too cold to keep it in your hands? Get an insulator sleeve for your glass!
One last important note! You will see that the locals are mostly wearing long sleeves despite the heat. This is to be protected by the sun! Make sure you pack some sunscreen as it might be quite expensive in Thailand (depending on your local prices).
Other useful things to pack for your trip
In addition to the above essentials, you should also consider packing (you can directly purchase them with a simple click on the product’s name):
- Hats/Caps
- Water sports shoes
- A sand proof beach blanket
- Fast drying microfiber travel towel
- A waterproof phone pouch, especially for your trips or if you will be in Thailand for Songkran (the water festival)