Neil Aronson Planning travel to Thailand, or any foreign country can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time visiting. And I feel like it is even more complicated when you are visiting a place with so much to offer, like Thailand. This makes narrowing down your choices difficult.
After over 15 years of traveling back and forth from Thailand and the United States, I have gathered up a lot of intelligence and tips. 13 years ago I also married a Thai from Chiang Mai, and we have a house in the mountains nearby. So I get local perspectives and advice from family and friends living there.
The one thing I have learned from first timers planning a trip is that they tend to over think it. Thailand is one of the most travel friendly and easy places to visit, and I have been all over Asia and Europe.
Get some knowledge before you go and make some plans, but keep an open mind and be flexible. You will find once you’re in a new city in Thailand that you really didn’t need to plan every minute of every day. You will quickly discover places to go and things to do once there.
That said, here are basic tips and things to consider.
- What is your Personality?
- Choose Your Destinations
- Check Thailand Holiday Calendar
- Budget for Your Trip
- Typical Costs
- Booking Your Trip
- Entry Requirements
- Purchase Travel Insurance
- Embrace Local Culture
- Pack Light
- Phone & Internet
- Resources
What is your Personality?
All the time on social media people ask where to go and what should we see? We’ll one size does not fit all for travel to Thailand, and the answer depends on what your interests are and budget is.
As someone who spends many months a year in Thailand, we go to Bangkok for example once every couple years. I prefer the smaller slow paced cities like Chiang Mai and the mountains.
Determine Trip Length:
- 10-14 days is ideal for a first trip, allowing you to see a few different areas. My first trip in 2010 was 3 weeks, and it was not enough. Most likely you need a couple days to adjust to the time change as well.
TIP: Unless you like to keep moving every few days, pick 1-2 destinations only. And you can always take lots of day trips. Too often I see people flying to 5-6 places in only two weeks. Do you really want to spend half your time traveling to the next place?
Choose Your Destinations
What are your Interests, determines where you want to go.
- Bangkok: Explore temples, Museums, Markets, and experience the vibrant city life. Great Nightlife, Food Scene, and easy to get around.
- Chiang Mai: Historical Culture, Mountains, Outdoor Activities, Cooking Classes, and explore the old city. Hotels are cheaper, and the food and coffee scene is the best. Many National Parks neraby. Very easy to get around and a much more relaxing pace than Bangkok.
- Beaches: Choose from various islands like Phuket, Krabi, or Ko Samui for relaxation and water activities. There are many other small beach towns and islands to explore such as Koh Samet and Hua Hin.
- Do your reseach is going to beaches and islands. Because each are pretty different with different crowds. Some areas are known for partying and crowds. However you still can find quieter beaches and ares in places like Phuket.
- Party Spots: Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samet, Koh Samui
- Quieter Spots: Hua Hin, Krabi, Koh Lanta.
Plan for more time if you want to explore multiple islands or delve deeper into one region. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are great for taking day trips or short trips. For example from Bangkok you can be on Koh Samet Island by car and boat in a few hours. And you can take a train or private car to Hua Hin Beach down south in just a few hours.
When To Go
- The best time to visit is generally during the cool and dry season, November through February. Northern Thailand starts getting hot and dry in March- May. There is often a lot of pollution during this time.
- Avoid the rainy season (June to October) if you prefer dry weather. However personally I love the rainy season, and up north around Chiang Mai it gets very green. Waterfalls are best July-November.
Check Thailand Holiday Calendar
So it is important to check the calendar when planning travel to Thailand. Visiting during Songkran or Loy Krathong is awesome, but be aware you have to book hotels well in advance, and prices will be much higher. If you go to Chiang Mai during a festival time, these Walkable Hotels will be where you want to be.
💡 Tips: Plan ahead if going during Loy Krathong (November, dates change), Songkran (April 13th-15th), Chinese New Year (Changes), New Years Week.
Budget for Your Trip
- Travel to Thailand is generally affordable, particularly comparred to many destinations.
- Budget travelers can expect to spend $30-$35 USD per day, plus hotel. In Chiang Mai you can get nice hotels for $20-40. Local meals will be 90-120 baht ($3-$4).
- Luxury travelers may spend $100+ USD per day per person, not including hotel.
Typical Costs
- Accommodations for 2; Guest House $10-$30, Boutique or 3 star Hotel $30-$60. Resorts can be had for less than $100 in the North, double at the beaches.
- Eating Lunch/Dinner at Local Thai Restaurant; 60-120 baht. Double or more for western or Japanese food.
- Capuccino; 40 baht
- Massage; 200 to 600 baht, depending on where you go.
- National Park Entrance; 300 baht non citizen.
- Temples; Most are Free, however you should donate.
- Walking the streets, seeing the sights, markets. Free! My favorite activity.
- Museums/Cultural Centers; 90 baht
- Cooking Class; 600 to 900 baht Negotiate!
- Full Day Tours-;To Parks, Elephant Sanctuaries, Jungle and Zipline, etc $900-1,500 baht. Negotiate!
- Golf; 400 to 2,500 baht. Check there websites or Facebook pages for offers.
- Thai Beer at a store- 40 baht. Thai Beer at a bar 80 baht.
- River Rafting; Guided All day with food 2,000 baht.
Money Tips
Just about everyone who travels to a new country for the first time wonders about paying for everyday things, food, shopping, etc. Fortunately in todays modern world, this is much easier these days. Also people are not so sure, but Thailand is as modern as anywhere when it comes to paying with technology.
Cash is still king, but credit cards, Google and Apple Pay work just about everywhere. For the best exchange rates, always exchange cash in town, not in your home country or airport.
You can use your home credit cards almost everywhere now. Check your credit cards to make sure there are no Foreign Transaction Fees. My US banks give me good exchange rates on my credit cards. I also use a Wise International Debit Card. Load your account with the amount you want. You can then convert the money into dozens of currencies, including Thai Baht.
Booking Your Trip
- Book flights in advance for better deals? Sometimes, but not always. I have booked many flights from California a month, or even days before at the lowest prices.
- Consider booking hotels in central locations for easy access to transportation and attractions.
- We have multiple articles for the best hotels in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket.
- We usually use Agoda and Expedia for all traveling. Whatever your preference, I have not seen much difference.
- Stay22 is a newer booking platform that acesses multiple platforms including Booking.com and Expedia.
Local Transportation
- Flights are the quickest way to travel between regions. Air Asia is the most popular regional carrier for Asia. If you are traveling around Thailand and Asia, this is where you will find budget flights. Book ahead of time and they get really cheap. They offer hotels and transportation as well.
- Local transport includes buses, trains, and ferries. 12GO is the most popular source for booking busses, trains, ferries, regional flights and even private cars.
- Consider tuk-tuks and taxis for getting around cities.
💡 Tips: In tourist cities it is easy to find transportation. Flag down a Red Bus for short trips. Yellow busses will take you further. Tuk-Tuk’s cost more but are fun. Private cars are easily booked for day trips.
Shop around if hiring a private driver. There are many stands around town booking them. We recently took a private car from Hua Hin, 3 hours for 1,700 baht. If you go through your hotel you will be charged more.
If planning to fly around the country, try to book these early for the cheapest prices. Air Asia can be cheap, but last minute may be expensive. Air Aisa prices do not include checked luggage. And it is must cheaper to buy luggage allowance online ahead of time.
Booking Tours & Activities
My first trip to Chiang Mai, I was by myself one day, walked by a cooking class, and decided to take it. I had a blast. We have done white water rafting and other mountain tours. There is something for everone.
There is really two ways to book a tour or class. Go through a booking platform like Viator, or just find an operator in town last minute.
Entry Requirements
- U.S. citizens and those from Visa Exempt Countries can enter visa-free for up to 60 days. This was changed recently from 30 days.
- For longer stays, obtain a 90-day tourist visa before your trip.
- Check visa requirements based on your nationality at the official Government Website. You can check your country information here on the Thai E-Visa government site.
- New Rule 2025: You must also complete a Digital Arrival Card within 3 days of traveling.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Even though most restrictions have been lifted, anything can happen when traveling. And Covid-19 is still prevalent. You home health insurance probably won’t help.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended when you travel to Thailand or anywhere. AXA Insurance and Safety Wing are two of the most popular. Safety Wing is geared to those who plan to stay longer, as it is a monthly subscription.
One of the best parts of traveling to Thailand are the many activities there are to do. Especially if you like Extreme Sports and Activities, which Thailand has plenty of. But this also increases your chance of getting hurt, and all the time tourists end up in the hospital from scooter accidents. Even walking the streets, the sidewalks are not built with safety in mind.
Embrace Local Culture
- Be mindful of local customs and etiquette when you travel to Thailand.
- Most temple grounds will have signs before you enter, but don’t be a unprepared tourist. Know before you go, and respect their culture and traditions.
- Dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand. Make sure your shoulders are covered (no vests, tank-tops or spaghetti straps). Although skirts or shorts are acceptable at many temples, they should be smart and at least knee-length.
- Learn a few basic Thai phrases.
- Respect religious sites and avoid touching Buddha statues.
Pack Light
- The amount of time you will be in Thailand as well as where your going, will be part of your decision on what to take. Plus everyone is personally different. However Thailand is generally warm to hot all year. In the North, it gets cooler from November-January. By cooler I mean wearing some pants and maybe a sweater at night, especially were we live near the northern mountains and Doi Inthanon.
- Keep in mind, you can buy anything you may have forgotten or find out later you need. Western shopping malls and superstores are in every city and even smaller towns, with everything you need. Common medications are easily purchased at any of the thousands of pharmacies, as is prescription eyewear.
Phone & Internet
Honestly this is topic is one of the easiest to deal with these days. Back when I first started traveling to Thailand, a cheap burner phone with a sim card from 7-11 was the answer. Now, even carriers from the United States have gotten more accomidating.
I still have an unlimited plan from T-Mobile, and it offers free unlimited text and data in over 60 countries including Thailand. So check you home plan first, you may find you dont need to do anything.
That said, Wi-Fi is everywhere in Thailand now, even in coffee shops in rural areas. 4G is widespread; 5G is available in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. And it is usually fast and free at all hotels.
📱 Phone & SIM Cards
1. Main Mobile Operators
- AIS (Advanced Info Service) – Best overall coverage and reliability.
- DTAC – Competitive prices, decent coverage.
- TrueMove H – Strong in urban areas, fast data speeds.
2. Buy a SIM Card
- At airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, etc.).
- 7-Eleven or Family Mart stores.
- Mobile shops and malls.
3. Save some time and get an eSim.
Most Thai carriers support eSIM now. Ideal for newer iPhones and Androids.
- For longer stays, consider switching from a tourist SIM to a regular monthly plan (~200–600 THB/month).
- If you’re staying in rural areas, AIS usually has the best signal.
- Download LINE — it’s the most widely used messaging app in Thailand. If you make friends in Thailand, this is a must, everyone uses it. You can also make free phone calls in the app.
3. Tourist SIM Packages.
Often sold at airports — great for short stays. Typical offers include:
- AIS Tourist SIM
- ~299 THB for 8 days
- 15–30 GB of data + some local calls
- TrueMove Tourist SIM
- ~299 THB for 8–10 days
- 30 GB data (max speed for first portion, then throttled)
- DTAC Happy Tourist SIM
- Similar pricing and offerings
Purchase A VPN
Virtual Private Network (VPN). You probably have heard the term VPN, but figured it was only for business purposes. It is, but it is just as important to have for personal use. A VPN adds security and anonymity to users when they connect to web-based services and sites. This is important while traveling since you will be on WI-FI often. It makes it hard for someone to ‘hack’ into your device.
💡 Tips: A bonus is that it will allow you to stream your favorite subscription service like Netflix and Amazon while traveling overseas. Connect to a server in your home country, and you will be able to stream. This is a perfect travel resource to have.
I have used Nord for years while traveling. Click Banner below for more.
- NordVPN gives safe access to streams and other content from around the world.
- By shielding their IP addresses, NordVPN protects users’ privacy and virtual location.
- We secure online traffic through encryption, making it hard to spy on or hijack data.
I hope these tips help you plan your trip to my favorite place. Remember, the journey is part of the fun and in Thailand its fun. Take it all in and enjoy yourself.
Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.
Anthony Bourdain
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially Chiang Mai. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a cooking class to tours outside the city to places like Doi Inthanon National Park to see some incredible waterfalls.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
