This list with the best tips for traveling to Thailand will help you prepare a trip to the country of smiles and not miss anything important.
We do not know if you are still organizing your trip, you already have the tickets or only Thailand sounds like a possible destination. Whatever your situation, what we do know is that a trip to Thailand It will be one of the most incredible experiences that you have lived and during the organization of the trip, we would be delighted to help you with a series of tips that at the time, if we had had them, would have helped us a lot.
After having been twice in the country of smiles, the first one making a 3-week route through some of the places to see in Thailand essential and the second in a route more stay in Phi Phi and Koh Lipe, almost two months, of which we write this travel guide to Thailand, We assure you that you could not have made a better choice, since Thailand is one of the most incredible countries in the world.
If you have not yet decided and you have arrived here by chance or looking for information to travel to Thailand, we hope you continue reading and let us tell you some of the tips and recommendations, which we are sure, will make travel arrangements much easier.
Chiang Rai White Temple
Best time to travel to Thailand
One of the questions you ask us most is about the best time to travel to Thailand. Although we would dare to say that any time is good to do so, we understand that this may be an answer that does not clarify and can help you little, so we will try to make a summary, taking into account the different areas of the country, based on Everything, in the monsoon era.
North Zone: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Between the months of March to June, this area of the country is very hot, followed by the time from July to September, which would be the rainiest months and from October to February, the coolest, although always with temperatures above 25 degrees.
If we take into account all of the above, we consider that the months of November and December are the best for traveling north of Thailand.
East side: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
This area of the coast of Thailand, from April to September has the hottest months, followed by the rainiest time of the year, which includes the months of October and November and the coldest time that usually goes from December to February.
With these data, the best time to make a trip to the eastern part of Thailand would be between the months of December and March, when it rains less and temperatures are more benign.
West zone: Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman Sea area
The western part of Thailand could be divided into two distinct periods. From May to October, which is the rainy season, especially in July and August and the rest of the year, in which these are much less frequent.
With this in mind, we could determine that the best time to travel to the western part of Thailand would be between the months of December to March, especially in December and January, which are the months with less heat and are perfect for enjoying Long days at the beach.
If we put all the previous data together, we could say that if you want travel to thailand, making a tour that includes several of the most tourist areas such as Bangkok, Ayuthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and some area of the coast like Krabi, the best time to do so would be the months of November, December and January, which are the least rainy and with more pleasant temperatures.
Phi Phi beach in Krabi
Keep in mind that despite everything mentioned above, the weather is totally unpredictable anywhere in the world, so these data should be taken as merely informative and as we said at the beginning, it is best to choose to travel to Thailand when you can and enjoy to the fullest, have the weather you have.
Transportation in Thailand
After our two trips around the country, we can say that depending on your route, it may be more advisable one way or another for transportation, being at general levels, the most recommended way the plane, bus and train.
If your route includes the most tourist points, we leave you a list of those that are for us, the best options.
- Bangkok - Ayutthaya: According to our experience, the best options to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya are the train, for a price of approximately 250THB the journey in second class or directly a Grab, which for a price of about 700-1000THB depending on traffic , will take you from door to door. For more information you can consult this post on how to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.
Visit Ayutthaya, one of the best tips for traveling to Thailand
- Ayutthaya - Sukhothai: From the bus station of the new city of Ayutthaya you can take a direct bus, which takes 6 hours to Sukhothai. The price is 310THB per person in first class and the hours are 7: 10h, 09: 30h, 11: 30h, 13h, 19: 10h, 20: 30h and 21: 40h.
It cannot be booked in advance.
Another option is to take a train to Phitsanulok and there take a direct bus to Sukhothai.
If you don't want to make intermediate stops, the bus we think is the best option.
Sukhothai
- Sukhothai - Chiang Mai: From Sukhothai we advise you to opt for the bus, which in a 5: 30h journey will leave you in Chiang Mai for a price between 195THB and 217THB, depending on the bus company. The schedules are 06: 30h, 07: 15h, 08: 20h, 08: 30h, 09: 30h, 10: 10h, 10: 20h, 11h, 11: 50h, 12h, 13: 40h, 18h, 23h, 01: 30h and 2h.
It cannot be booked in advance.
* In case you want to go from Sukhothai to Chiang Rai there are only two buses a day, at 06: 40h and 09h, in second class, for a price of 231THB per person on a 9-hour journey. It cannot be booked in advance.
Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai: The journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is approximately 3 hours and there are buses throughout the day for a price between 166THB and 255THB, depending on the class of the bus.
One of the best tips for traveling to Thailand is to book this bus and others in 12Go in advance. - Chiang Mai - Krabi: The fastest and most convenient way to get from Chiang Mai to Krabi or any other island with an airport is the plane.
Chiang Rai Blue Temple
- Public transport between islands: Between islands, the best option is to opt for the ferry. Depending on the island you can book it more or less in advance and prices will vary.
For example, from Krabi to Phi Phi (Klong Jilard Pier-Ton Sai Pier (Koh Phi Phi)) it takes 2: 30h and we pay 470THB per person.
We made the journey from Phi Phi to Koh Lipe (Ton Sai Pier Koh Phi Phi-Koh Lipe) by fast boat, it took 5: 30h and we paid 2600THB per person.
From Koh Lipe to Trang airport, from where we took a flight to Bangkok, we paid 1000THB per person, which included the fast boat and the transfer to the airport, in a total journey of 4 hours.
We booked all these routes through 12Go in advance, something that allowed us to be much calmer knowing that we had places for the days we needed.
Koh Lipe
Transportation in Bangkok
Before traveling to Bangkok, it must be clear that it is a city large enough to have to move by public transport, to cover all areas of interest and places to visit in Bangkok.
Taking this into account, depending on the destination, we would opt for skytrain, subway, boat, Grab, taxi or tuktuk.
Skytrain in Bangkok
Also known as BTS, the Bangkok Skytrain is an elevated train that reaches many of the most tourist places in the city.
Today it has two lines and the price varies depending on the distance traveled, but is usually between 15 and 45 baths.
If you are going to use it on many occasions, it may be worth buying a daily subscription for 140 baths.
Keep in mind that tickets must be purchased before boarding the train at the machines enabled for it. You must put the number that belongs to your destination station on the machine, you can see it on the panels with the stations, and then pay in coins, since they do not accept cards or tickets.
Bangkok subway
Having only one line, this is perhaps the worst transport, if the stops do not match the places you want to go to.
Ship
In addition to being a perfect transport, if your destination is on the route, navigating the river is an experience in itself, so we advise you to use it to go to a nearby place of interest, such as the Palace Real or Wat Arun.
The ticket for Chao Phraya Express ships is priced between 10 and 30 bahts, depending on the route, as with the rest of the transport.
The boats begin to work around 6 in the morning and end the tour around 7 in the afternoon, although it depends on the boat they can make more or less extensive schedules.
Boat for Wat Arun
Bangkok taxi
Probably the most used means of transport by tourists, since in many occasions it is cheaper than any other, besides being more comfortable.
Keep in mind that it is quite common that they do not want to put the meter, so it is necessary that you ask for it, if you do not want to take any surprise with the amount to be paid.
In case you do not want to put it, you can always reach an agreement of a closed price, without paying more than 100 baths, for the longest journey.
Grab
For us, one of the best tips for traveling to Thailand is to use Grab. Very similar to the Uber or Cabify options, Grab is one of the best transports in Thailand, its operation is very simple:
- You must download the application to your mobile and register.
- Once you have made the registration, we advise you to select the payment method and in this case, according to our experience, it is best to associate it with a wallet card, which will be the one with which the payment is made automatically, without having to worry about nothing else.
In our case, we used the BNEXT card to get money from the cashier, with which all commissions will be returned and you will also receive 10 euros if you sign up from this link, and it was great!
In this post about the best cards to travel without paying commissions you can find all the details. - After this, you only have to select the collection point and the destination.
- Select the type of Grab you want, which can be a Grab normal, Grab Taxi, motorcycle or van, if you are more people.
- At this point, you will see the fare for your trip, which will be charged to your card at the end of the race. If Grab Taxi is selected, it will set the meter and the rate will be updated depending on the traffic. As an example we will tell you that one of the trips we took was from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and the forecast was 1199THB and it ended up being 665THB since we went first thing and there was practically no traffic.
- From this moment, you just have to relax and enjoy the journey.
Tuktuk
For us one of the transports that you can not stop using in Bangkok, although it is not usually the fastest nor the most comfortable.
That said, you have to keep in mind that many of them will want to take you on a tour of stores where they charge a commission to take tourists, so if you do not want to do it, it should be made clear before riding.
Tuk Tuk in Bangkok
Whatever the means of transport you want to use in Bangkok, it is advisable to take an offline GPS to be able to show the place you want to go, in addition to being able to control the stops and the place where you are going.
How to get from Bangkok airport to the city center
The first thing we should know is that in Bangkok there are two airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang, the first being the international airport and the second in which most domestic flights and some companies such as Thai Airways operate.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
As we mentioned earlier, this is the airport where most international flights arrive, so it will probably be the place where you start your trip to Thailand.
From here, to get to Bangkok, you have several options.
Cab
This is the fastest way, next to the private transfer, to go from the airport to Bangkok. Although it depends on the traffic and the location of your destination, in general terms this journey will be about 45 minutes and the price of maximum 500 baths, in addition to the 50 baths that you must pay if you want to go by highway, something highly recommended.
If you opt for this option, you should keep in mind that when you leave the terminal you will meet people who offer taxi services, these are not the official ones, so you must follow the “Public Taxi” signs, where you will find the airport officials .
Cab
Grab
Like the taxi, this is one of the fastest and most comfortable options and also at a tighter price than the taxi.
You can see its operation and details in the previous section. For us, one of the best options to move around and one of the best tips for traveling to Thailand is to use Grab, without a doubt.
Private transfer
This is another of the best options to go from the airport to Bangkok, both for times and for comfort, since when you arrive you will be waiting for a chauffeur with a cartel with your name in the Departures Terminal.
You can book this service directly here.
Keep in mind that this service also makes transfers between airports, something you should do in case you connect a domestic flight with another international.
Airport Rail Link
Depending on the location of your accommodation, the Airport Rail Link may be the best option, since it connects the airport with the city from 6 in the morning until 12 at night in a 15-minute journey.
The price varies according to the distance traveled, with 45 baths being the most expensive.
Stops Airport Rail Link: Suvarnabhumi Airport - Lad Krabang - Ban Thap Chang - Hua Mark - Ramkhamhaeng - Makkasan (City Air Terminal - interchange with MRT Blue Line (Phetchaburi Station)) - Ratchaprarop - Phayathai (interchange with BTS Sukhumvit Line (Phayathai Station) )
Bus
Taking into account train and taxi prices, this is the least comfortable option for us. To consider only if the others do not fit you.
Don Muang Airport
This is the secondary airport of Bangkok, which you will arrive in case of making a domestic flight or traveling with some companies, such as Thai Airways, which use this airport.
Taxi or Grab
If you want to get to the city center, these are some of the fastest ways. Keep in mind that prices depend on the location of your destination, but they are usually a maximum of 500 baths, adding tolls if you want to go by highway, something highly recommended.
Private transfer
In our experience, one of the best options and tips for traveling to Thailand is to use the private transfer, both for times and for comfort, since when you arrive a chauffeur with a cartel with your name will be waiting for you at the Departures Terminal.
You can book this service directly here.
Keep in mind that this service also makes transfers between airports, something you should do in case you connect a domestic flight with another international.
Train to go from Don Muang airport to Bangkok
This is a fast and cheap option, with which you can connect the airport to the city center from 6 in the morning to 8 in the afternoon.
Keep in mind that the final station is Hua Lumpong, the main one in the city, which you must use to go to different destinations in the country.
Bus
If you want to go to the most central areas of the city, such as Silom, another option is to opt for the bus. In this case there are several lines with different paths.
For more information you can check this post on how to go from Bangkok Airport to downtown.
What is 12Go?
Currently the 12go.asia online platform is the best option to make bus, train or ferry reservations if you are traveling to Thailand.
The operation of the web is incredibly simple and intuitive:
- Enter 12go.asia.
- Select origin and destination.
- Decide which option best suits your needs (type of transportation and schedules).
- Select the payment method.
- You will receive the voucher by email with your reservation.
Keep in mind that on some routes, such as from Koh Lipe to Trang airport, it is possible to directly hire the ferry and van transportation to the airport, something that makes this platform extremely useful and recommended.
You can book all your bus, train and ferry tickets in Thailand here.
Bangkok
Accommodation in Thailand
We know that accommodation is one of the big headaches when traveling to Thailand. We leave you the direct links to the most important locations in the country:
In case you want to go more direct and not have to dive in search of the best accommodation in Thailand, we leave this post with the hotels we stayed in during the route, with a brief description of them.
- Where to sleep in Thailand. Recommended hotels.
Another highly recommended option is to use AirBnb at travel to thailand. We have done it in Bangkok, on our second trip to country of smiles and it has been an incredible experience, in an apartment with stunning views with infinity pool.
Get 35 euros discount on AirBnb here
AirBnb Apartment in Bangkok
Accommodation in Koh Lipe
Internet in Thailand. Buy a SIM card to connect to the internet
The first thing to consider when traveling to Thailand is that there are different telephone companies. If you want to buy a SIM to connect to the internet, the first thing you have to know is that your phone must be free, otherwise you will not be able to use it.
If this is your case, you can choose between AIS, DTAC and TrueMove, which is from the 7Eleven chain and is what travelers usually buy.
Where to buy your SIM card with Internet in Thailand
When you arrive at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport, you can purchase the SIM card for Thailand right there, at the Departures Terminal, where the ticket offices of the 3 companies are located.
In case you want to buy it in the city, we recommend you go to one of the stores that are distributed by one of the many shopping centers.
Once you have purchased it, in one of the companies they will ask for your passport, you will only have to choose and activate the data plan that best suits your needs. Normally this process is done directly in commerce, so you should not worry about this step.
AIS company data plans
AIS is the largest company and they say, it offers more coverage in the country, so in principle, it could be the most appropriate, especially if you need extensive coverage on your trip.
Depending on the time you are in Thailand you can choose between the different Internet packs they offer.
We bought the 15GBB AIS Traveler SIM Card (valid for 30 days) for 1049THB for one of the phones and the 4G Unlimited (valid for 30 days) for 1749THB.
The AIS plans are:
- 8 days unlimited internet 299THB
- 10 days unlimited internet 449THBB
- 4.5Gb (valid 30 days) 549THB
- 9Gb (valid 30 days) 849THB
- 15Gb (valid 30 days) 1049THB
- 4G unlimited (valid 30 days) 1749THB
If you need internet for more than a month, after 30 days, you can purchase another AIS plan and recharge.
At these prices you must add 50 baths that is the price of the card and that you only have to buy once, since if you need it, you will only have to make a recharge.
Holafly prepaid SIM card
Another option is to choose to buy one Holafly SIM card being in Spain, with which you will have internet from the moment you land, saving you all the time of the negotiations and making the whole process to have internet in South Africa much more comfortable, fast and easy.
In this case, with the Holafly SIM you will have several Gb to surf the Internet (depending on the option you choose), they will send it to you for free at home, you will keep your WhatsApp number and you will have assistance service in Spanish. You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader
More information on the Holafly post, the best prepaid SIM card for travel
Money in Thailand
One of the questions you ask us most, especially when we are traveling, is how to get money abroad. To avoid paying commissions and always having the current change, we recommend using the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
- Something to keep in mind is that in Thailand, especially in tourist places, you can pay by card in virtually all places, so having a card without commissions can be the best travel companion.
In the islands it is customary to charge a 3% surcharge for paying by card, but keep in mind that this amount is minimal depending on the total of the account, so it may be worth paying by card even in these cases. - Regardless of what we mentioned earlier, carrying cash is also necessary, since in some places they do not accept a card, so it is always important to carry some money.
Recommended route for a first trip to Thailand
We know that another one of the doubts that you do most when deciding travel to thailand It is which route to follow. Taking into account the days we leave what would be for us the ideal routes:
Thailand in 7 days
If you have a week to travel to Thailand, we would choose to focus only on two areas of the country, in order to make the most of the time.
- Bangkok (3 days)
- Ayuthaya getaway (1 day)
- Fly to northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) with possible day trip to Chiang Rai (3 days)
In case you don't want to do northern Thailand, you could substitute this area of Thailand for some beach area like Krabi that you can fly to from Bangkok.
Ayutthaya
Thailand in 15 days
If you can travel to Thailand for two 2 weeks, we would choose to do the same route mentioned above for a week, making the north and beaches and adding a couple of days to each of the areas, so that the trip is much more Complete and also more relaxed.
- Bangkok (4 days)
- Ayuthaya getaway (1 day)
- Fly north of Thailand (Chiang Mai) with possible day trip to Chiang Rai (4 days)
- Beach area (4-5 days)
Koh Lipe
Thailand in 21 days
In case of having 3 weeks, our recommendation would be to follow the same itinerary that we did on the first trip to Thailand, which includes much of the tourist attractions of the country.
- Bangkok (4 days)
- Ayuthaya (1 day)
- Sukhothai (1 day)
- Chiang Mai (4 days)
- Chiang Rai (2 day)
- Beach area (5 days)
Sukhothai
What to see in Thailand
In addition to charting a route through the country according to the days you have, if you want to fully enjoy the kingdom of Siam, it is important to know some of the most tourist attractions in Thailand, in addition to the areas to visit, in order to make the most of time.
We leave you several posts in which we talk about the places that we believe are, essential to know and understand this incredible country, of each of the most common cities on the routes to travel to Thailand.
The 5 best tours and excursions in Bangkok (Coming soon)
Recommended excursions in Thailand
When traveling to Thailand it is important to take into account the amount of excursions that can be done in both Bangkok and the surrounding area, as well as in the northern part of the country and on the different islands. This is a comfortable and interesting way to know many places, with a guide in Spanish, which we are sure, can fit you according to the type of trip you want to do.
We leave you a selection of those that we believe are the most interesting as well as the best valued by travelers.
Excursions in Bangkok
- Excursion to the market on the track and to the floating market
- Dinner at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel
- Essential Bangkok tour with tickets
- Bangkok private tour
- Market on the tracks, floating market and ruins of Ayutthaya
- Ayutthaya excursion with river cruise
- Muay Thai Live show
- Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River
- Bangkok transfers
- Many more excursions and tours in Bangkok here
Excursion to the market on the track and to the floating market
Recommended excursions in Chiang Mai
- Excursion to the temples of Chiang Mai
- Excursion to Doi Inthanon
- Doi Suthep Temple and Bhubing Palace
- Khantoke dinner with dance show
- Chiang Rai excursion
- Many more excursions and tours in Chiang Mai here
Doi Suthep Temple
Excursions in Phuket
- Boat trip to James Bond Island
- Excursion to James Bond Island by speedboat
- Excursion to Phi Phi, Yao Yai and Khai Islands
- Cruise to the Phi Phi Islands
- Boat and snorkel excursion on Coral Island
- Many more excursions and tours in Phuket here
James Bond Island in Ao Phang Nga
Excursions in Krabi
- Excursion to the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat
- Excursion to the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat
- Krabi Islands excursion
- Hong Islands excursion
- Excursion to the islands of Poda, Tup and Chicken
- Krabi Crystal Lagoon Kayak Tour
- Many more excursions and tours in Krabi here
Phi Phi
Security in Thailand
Another of the questions you ask us most when traveling to Thailand is about security in the country. In our experience, Thailand is a safe country and we understand that you do not have to have any problems, whether traveling with friends, as a couple or alone.
Despite that and taking into account that we are not experts in the subject, since we have only been traveling for a couple of months and traveled some areas, we leave you a series of recommendations that we believe, are valid for all countries, including Thailand:
- At the bus and train stations, try to keep track of your luggage.
- In the tourist areas there is no major problem when going with a camera, but if you are going to go somewhere that you do not know at night, it is preferable to be cautious and keep valuables stored.
- Avoid going alone at night for beaches or areas that you do not know or if you have to, ask at the accommodation if they are safe.
- Use common sense. In the end it is one of the most important things to travel safely.
- Keep in mind that tourist places are usually very safe, so it is also important to relax and, above all, enjoy.
Sunrise at Koh Lipe
Various tips for traveling to Thailand
We leave you a series of recommendations and tips for traveling to Thailand, which we believe are important to enjoy it to the fullest. We also leave you with practical information about the country, to make your trip much easier.
- During much of the year, in Thailand they are 6 hours more than in Spain.
- Although business hours may vary from one location to another, they generally open from 8 in the morning to 7 in the afternoon, although there are always stores where you can buy practically everything at any time. An example would be the 7Eleven that open 24h.
Regarding the food, you will not have problems since most restaurants have ample and continuous schedules and there are always street stalls willing to quench your appetite. - Thai is the official language of Thailand although English is quite common, especially in young people and in tourist areas, as it is taught in schools.
- The majority religion in Thailand is Buddhist, although there are minorities of Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
- The currency of Thailand is the baht (THB) and in 2019 37THB is approximately 1 euro.
- The current is 220V and the frequency is 50Hz. The plugs and plugs are of the A / B / C type and in most cases, including the housings, you will not need an adapter.
- As we mentioned earlier in the money section, in Thailand the use of a card, either Visa or Mastercard, is very widespread for payments as well as for taking out money.
- The prefix to call Thailand is +66 plus the city / province prefix, which has between 1 and 2 digits
plus the landline, which has 7 to 8 digits. - Holidays in Thailand:
1 of January New Year
April 6 - Wan Chakri Remembrance Day
April 13 - Songkran (Thai New Year)
May 1 - Labor Day
May 5 - Coronation Day
July 1 - Mid-year vacations
July 22 - Asalha Puja
August 15 - Mother's Day (Queen's birthday)
October 23 - Anniversary of the death of King Chulalongkorn
December 5 - Father's Day (King's birthday)
December 10 - Constitution Day
December 31 - New Year's Eve
Street food stalls
Recommended restaurants in Thailand
If there is something you should not miss at travel to thailand It is its gastronomy. With this in mind that it is one of the most delicious gastronomies in the world, we recommend you not to miss some of their traditional dishes and try, whenever possible, most of them.
Given this, we want to leave you a series of recommendations and advice, both of the restaurants we have tried throughout the trip, as well as the remarkable things that have caught our attention.
- Keep in mind that in Thailand, in most restaurants or coffee shops, you can pay by credit card, although in some of them, you will be charged a 3% surcharge. In the latter case, you will always be notified beforehand so you can decide whether to pay by card or in cash.
- The price of restaurants in Thailand, in general, is very tight, being able to eat in most cases for less than 5 euros per person and food. If you go to a mid-range restaurant and order two dishes plus dessert and drink, calculate around 10 euros per person.
- Something important is to keep in mind that the tip is not usually included in the ticket and although this is not usual, if the service and quality is good, it is worth leaving a tip.
- Although many restaurants, especially those located in tourist areas, no longer prepare such spicy dishes, there are still some who continue to choose to put a lot of spicy in most dishes. If you don't like it or want to make sure, it is best to notify and say "no spicy" in case you don't like it. Despite that, in many occasions, the touch of spicy, always ends up existing.
Where to eat in Thailand. Recommended restaurants.
Massaman Curry
Travel insurance in Thailand
Another of the best tips for traveling to Thailand, refers to health and is that if there is something important in any trip, is to make it safe. For that nothing better than having a good travel insurance for Thailand.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip.
The hiring process is very easy and intuitive and also, just for being a reader of Street Travelers, you have a 5% discount.
If you feel like helping us expand the list of the 10 essential tips for traveling to Thailand, add yours in the comments.
