Travelling Thailand

Travelling Thailand Contents

Overview | Location | Regions | Essential Info | Visa | Language | Pre-Trip Plan

Further Info

Overview

Thailand is a hotspot for global travelers and a world-renowned destination for tourists, ex-pats, digital nomads, and retirees. Moreover, the capital city, Bangkok, before the Covid-19 pandemic, was referenced as the most visited city in the world by Forbes. And it’s not that hard to see why. You see, tourism is/was a dominant factor in Thailand’s economy, which is the second-largest in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. Besides that, the rugged mountains, picture-postcard beaches, island getaways, friendly locals, and the world-famous street food cuisine render Thailand a tropical paradise! It’s full of cultural heritage and classified as a newly industrialized nation. Thus, it’s a force to be reckoned with in the 21^st Century! No matter what kind of traveler you are, Thailand is ready for you!

Location

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. Myanmar and Laos form a border in the north, Laos, and Cambodia in the east, Malaysia in the south, and southern Myanmar in the west. The Andaman Sea also borders the west coast and the Phi Phi islands, up to Phang Nga Bay. While the Gulf of Thailand borders the south, and in particular Eastern Thailand.

Six geographic regions comprising 76 provinces make up Thailand, formerly known as Siam, with a population of ~66 million! Click the interactive regions above for further info!

Thailand Regions

Northern Thailand comprises nine provinces. While the most well-known are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son, Nan province is becoming popular. The north is famous for mountains, cooler weather, and spectacular scenery. Moreover, a horrendous proportion of digital nomads and online content creators began their careers in Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North.” With wi-fi speeds the envy of the world, low cost of living and a city so easy to fit into it’s not surprising! …. read more!

North-eastern Thailand, known as Isan, is the largest region, and comprises 20 provinces. Many local Thai leave this region and head to the industrialized areas for work. Whereas Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, are popular provinces with retired ex-pats, Isan is generally less well-traveled by international tourists. However, Nong Khai and Loei are popular tourist provinces for the locals, ex-pats, and share the Mekong River……read more!

Western Thailand has six provinces. The coastal resort city of Hua Hin is located in Prachuap Khiri Khan; it’s popular with both ex-pats and Thai. Cha-am, a quiet little town, also on the coast, just north of Hua Hin, is located in the Phetchaburi province. Have you ever heard of the bridge of the River Kwai? You’ll find that in the Kanchanaburi province of Western Thailand…..read more!

Central Thailand comprises 22 provinces. While greater Bangkok takes up seven of these, north-central has a further seven, followed by the south-central with eight. Ayutthaya, the royal heritage city within the province of Ayutthaya, is located 80km north of Bangkok…. read more!

Eastern Thailand has seven provinces directly east of Bangkok. Cambodia forms a border on the East, Isan on the north, and Central Thailand to the west. While the four coastal provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat form a boundary with the Gulf of Thailand. Collectively these four are also referred to as Thailand’s East Coast. The islands of Trat, the tropical fruit of Chanthaburi, and the coastal resort of Pattaya are star attractions of Eastern Thailand….read more!

Southern Thailand is a favorite region, comprising fourteen provinces. Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Ranong are the star attractions. The south has also, for many years, been a magnet for tourists! In particular, you’ll find the Phi Phi islands in the Andaman Sea, James bond island in Phang Nga Bay, and the Phuket island itself…..read more!

Essential Info

Water: All tap water in Thailand should be considered non-drinkable. However, you can easily purchase bottled water, or better still, use the osmosis filtration water filters that are readily available.

Place your empty bottle into the osmosis machine, insert 5 baht, and press the button … that easy! When refueling up your car, you’ll sometimes get a free 1.5L bottle of water!

Some people advise against cleaning your teeth with tap water, but personally, I don’t have a problem with that. Of course, if you boil the water, then you can safely use it for anything.

Currency: Thai Baht is what you’ll need, while US dollars will also be handy for crossing borders!You can get both at Suvarnabhumi Airport, on the bottom floor; exchange rates are pretty good.

Credit Cards and ATMs: You can easily find ATMs in Thailand, especially in the major tourist spots. Most restaurants and businesses will also accept credit card payments. However, to avoid your bank locking your card, make sure you notify them that you’re going overseas before departure. You can even do that online!

Electricity: You’ll have 230-volt power supplied at 50 hertz. Power sockets are double pinned flat or round, or round triple pinned. You should always pack a universal travel adapter and make sure your electronic gear accepts 230 volts. Note: The US uses a 110-volt supply, for example. But most chargers these days take a range of voltage from 110 to over 230 volts! That said, it’s wise to pack a voltage converter to avoid frying your device!

Note: You can purchase a dual-purpose travel adapter and voltage converter combined.

Safety: I consider Thailand safe for traveling. However, always know your surroundings, and keep your belongings out of sight.

Language: The official language in Thailand is Thai.

Getting Into Thailand

There are numerous ways to get into Thailand, with the main one being through the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airport. However, Phuket international airport is popular as well.

Other Flight Options: UTapao International airport, about 40 km south of Pattaya, is an alternative. This will get you into the heart of Eastern Thailand much quicker, and I see an increasing number of Europeans using this route. However, check and compare flight costs into all airports.

Border Crossing: Lastly, if you’re backpacking from Cambodia by road, you will likely cross the Khlong Yai Border checkpoint. Located on the southern tip of Eastern Thailand, you’ll find this is a great place to start an island-hopping itinerary. Traveling north on the coast road will also bring you into the heart of Eastern Thailand.

Getting Around Thailand

Transport: Getting around Thailand is super easy, and there are many transport options! Locally the motorbike/scooter is the most popular, with cars being an obvious choice when out on the highway. A really cheap option when you just want to get around the city or town is what I call the baht bus. The charge is always relative to the distance, but usually around 10 – 20 baht.

Organizing transport throughout Thailand before you leave your hometown is a smart choice and will minimize stress. You might not want to drive at all, for example. Fortunately, you can easily pre-arrange your transport through 12Go or Bookaway. These are two super online websites that provide a range of transport options for getting from point A to B throughout South East Asia. They cover planes, trains, automobiles, buses, and boats.

At some point, you’ll want to hire a car or motorbike for sure, so read on!

Driving in Thailand

Driving: Driving in Thailand is on the left-hand side of the road, the same as the UK, Australia, NZ, and Japan. If you plan to ride a motorbike or drive a car in Thailand, and I highly recommend you try the car option, there are a few simple things you need to have in place before you start your trip.

Get your driving license converted to an international driving license in your home country. That’s a simple trip into any RAC office, if you’re in the UK or Australia, for example. Other countries are pretty much the same. They’ll translate it into numerous languages for you, charge you a small fee, and you’re done!

If you’re qualified to ride a motorcycle in your own country, have that added to your international license! You’re going to need that!

Finally, if you forget the steps above, and you’re already traveling, you’ll find this online company can help!

Public Transport

Public Transport: Public buses can take you throughout Thailand from the Bor Khor Sor public transport service at the Suvarnabhumi airport passenger terminal. Daily bus and coach services are also available from the Bangkok city center, Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) Soi Sukhumvit 63 Sukhumvit Road. The airport-city shuttle bus will get you into the city. Besides that, an Airport Rail Link (ARL) operates a train daily from the airport to the city stopping at eight stations along the way. All tickets can be purchased in advance or at the airport.

Train Services: Thailand has a good rail service that connects you to most places within the Kingdom. You can travel to Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Nong Khai, Hua Hin easily; combine a bus or ferry service, and you’ll go just about anywhere in Thailand. Check this site out for further details.

Check Latest Travel info: You can compare travel costs and check the latest travel info here!

Visa Requirements

Before Covid-19, a 30-day trip to Thailand, in general, was no problem for all EU passport holders, the USA, the United Kingdom, and all southeast Asian neighboring countries. The UK’s Brexit deal with Europe makes no difference at all.

Post Covid-19, with a vaccine in place, should see a return to the 30-day stamp, albeit with additional Covid-19 medical checks and travel insurance. This, however, will be the norm for traveling worldwide!

Entry by air, which is the most common route, usually gives a visa stamp of 30 days in the Kingdom. However, if you enter through a land border, you’ll get a 15-day stamp. Do not assume entry by air and land borders are the same. I did that and paid the penalty.

Extension of your visa once in the Kingdom is doable; every visa case is obviously based on its own merits. But, if you already know that you intend to stay longer than 30 days. Then, in that case, it’s better to apply for a longer-term tourist visa at the Thai Embassy in your home country before you embark on your trip.

Of course, a simple 15-day extension can be had by going out of the country and back in at a land border checkpoint. Cambodia is a typical example.

Long Term Visa

Are you contemplating staying in Thailand long term? For example, you don’t want to go home any time soon. Furthermore, you’d like the flexibility to come and go as you please. Then, in that case, it’s best to apply for a 12-month multi-entry visa in your home country to get you started. I’ve done this several times now from Australia, and it’s called a “NON-IMMIGRANT O” visa and costs 300 AUD (~216 USD).

It will cover you for 90 days, and after that, you need to take a quick trip out of Thailand to wherever you want for a short holiday and back again for another 90 days. Rinse and repeat the process for twelve months. But you can have an extra 3 months by simply exiting and re-entering Thailand before the final date on your visa. So, 12-months become fifteen.

Finally, the rules may be slightly different for the NON-IMMIGRANT O visa for individual countries. So, if this visa is something you want, check with the Thai Embassy in your country of origin first.

Language

Language: English is the most used language by tourists in Thailand. However, the further you venture out into remote parts or into the Thai community, the more difficult it will be to communicate. For example, a visit to the Markets early in the morning would be a fun way to test your Thai language skills. And some tourists would actually put this as a ‘must-do activity to really experience the Thai culture! That said, if you speak English, you generally won’t have a problem.

Learning Thai: Do you want to know enough Thai for your arrival? Head this way! However, if you’re really in this for the long haul and want to seriously learn the Thai language, consider an online course. Two courses that I highly recommend are LTFWG and ThaiPod101. Both will enable you to speak the language at your own pace, and you can start learning before your trip!

Pre-Trip Planning

Creating a pre-trip plan or checklist for any international travel is a great habit to get into. Especially when traveling to Thailand.

Best Time To Visit

The Best time to visit Thailand is November through to February because of the less humid and slightly cooler weather. But if you’re not fazed by tropical storms and rainy days, then any time’s a good time. Outside of the high tourist season, you’ll also score a bargain on flights and accommodation costs, in particular the shoulder season. However, once the clement monsoon weather rolls in, it can restrict boat access to some islands. But generally, you’ll still have a good time.

Must Have Items!

Must-have items are basically things that you can’t do without, so check the following items and put them onto your checklist!

Passports must have 6 months beyond your intended stay, and that’s now a typical requirement for travelers. Also, photocopy or photograph your passport’s main pages; that’ll come in handy if you lose it.

Get a ‘Visa’ if your planning on staying for more than 30 days. You can easily organize this at the Thai embassy in your home country before your trip. If your trip is under 30 days, don’t bother!

Sort your ‘International Driving Licence’ permit out before the trip. Also, add the motorcycle license if you have it!

Get covered for medical emergencies, in particular, COVID-19 through Travel Insurance. International travel is always better when you know you’re insured. I personally recommend World Nomads because they’ve been at the game longer. But Safety Wing does provide a very cost-effective alternative.

Thailand is a foreign country, and just like anywhere else, accidents can happen. However, by making good choices, most can be avoided. But sometimes the inevitable happens, so you want to be prepared. Please note, there are also some age-influenced differences in the costs.

Thailand International Hospitals are amongst the best in the world, and the Bangkok International Hospital, in particular, has branches in most built-up areas and tourist hotspots. I am registered with the BNH Hospital in Bangkok (my son was born there). Obviously, remote islands will be the exception. But the point is this if you require urgent medical attention while in Thailand, you are in good hands.

Vaccinations

The CDC (Centres for Disease Control) & WHO (World Health Organisation) recommend the following vaccinations for Thailand.

Do you need all of the above? Probably not. But it’s best to go see your doctor in your home country before your trip and check and update your vaccination records. A good website for vaccination info is thaitravelclinic.com. Lastly, pack mosquito repellent!

If you regularly have prescription medication, make sure you have enough for your trip!

Take enough ‘Cash’ (Thai Baht) to get you out of the airport by taxi if required!

Notify your bank either electronically or in ‘person’ of your intention to be overseas. This will negate your cards being blocked!

Packing For Thailand

Like a pre-trip plan or checklist, having a packing list for any trip will make the task of packing your gear easy, and you’ll actually enjoy the process. This will also help you take what you need and not necessarily what you want.

Thailand’s weather is generally never cold. Although Northern Thailand can be a little chilly in the mornings and evenings during winter. So, your packing should be light clothes for a classic western summer, plus beach/swimming gear and hiking boots. Don’t forget essentials like your beach towel, swimming gear, water bottle, credit card RFID protector, thongs, and a daypack!

Research

Always do a little research, checking the must-see spots, the tours, the trips available, activities accommodation, and expected costs. Lastly, I recommend you research where you’re going through Google Earth. Because this gives a geographical ‘birds-eye view’ and enables you to plan what you want to do. I can’t stress this enough … We are in the age of digital technology, so start using it!

How many people get to their destination, have their trip, and return home only to find they missed out on something they’d like to do or see? Trust me, it happens, so do your research!

Thailand Tourists Costs

Traveling in Southeast Asia is considered pretty cheap compared to the western world. And you’ll also find many budget options when choosing accommodation. However, extravagant luxury vacations and everything in between does exist, especially in the major tourist areas.

Feeling hungry, on a budget, no worries, because I can and do still eat a good meal on the street from $2-$4, no exaggeration.

There are some days when my total expense is no more than ~$12. But, if I decide to walk into a restaurant on the water with views to die for, I’ll end up blowing the budget out to $50, $60, $70, on nothing but the meal alone. I can do that if the other days are much lower! That’s called budgeting.

Nomadic Matt’s “How to travel the world on $50 a day” is a great guide to plan your trip by. Just remember, extra activities and expensive accommodation will always push the limits of your budget. Below I have tabulated the expected daily costs for touring Thailand. Note: this does not include flight costs to get you there.

Tourist	Style	Daily	Monthly
Backpacker	Dorm / Hostel	$15 - $30	$450 - $900
Ave Tourist	Budget Hotel	$40 - $50	$1,200 - $1,500
Flash Packer	Resort / Hotel	$60+	$1,800+

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