Are you planning a Trip to Thailand? This exotic, vibrant Southeast Asian paradise has so much to offer! From lush jungles to warm water beaches, Thailand is a must-visit destination. But before you hit the country’s many attractions, there are a few important things to know. In this Thailand blog post, you’ll learn key pieces of advice to make your trip smooth and seamless, including the best destinations, itineraries, when to go, what to pack, how to get around and more. Follow this guide and you’ll be ready to make the most of this incredible country.

Quick Facts about Thailand

OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Thailand
CAPITAL: Bangkok.
LOCATION: South East Asia neighbouring Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Thai
RELIGION: 93.5% Buddism, 6.5% Islam. You’ll find a lot of influences and references to Hinduism in their architecture. It’s very interesting.

Best Months to Visit Thailand

Thailand is a large country and weather varies throughout the year with different coasts having different weather at the same time.

March (even early April) and October are fantastic times to visit as they’re right at the beginning and end of peak season. Though the weather is becoming more unpredictable by the day, you’ll probably get decent weather – neither too hot in March nor too rainy in October.

I visited last time in late September-early October 2019 and thought the weather was perfect. It rained only once and it was too little to be bothersome in any way. Crowds were comparatively less which is always fantastic.

Number of days to spend in Thailand

Thailand is a vast country with much to see! You could stay here for a month or more and still have enough left and see and do. Even after two trips to Thailand of 9 and 13 days, I’m looking forward to going to Thailand again to see all that I missed.

So I’d say, you need at least 2-3 weeks to see enough of Thailand. If you don’t have that kind of free time, you can do a 7-10 day trip and visit again someday.

best Places to Visit in Thailand

These are a few popular places to visit in Thailand. Pick and choose what you like based on your preferences.

We’ve been to places in all regions of Thailand – north, central, south – and highly recommend visiting them all These are the specific places we’ve been to – Chiang Mai (love it), Chiang Rai (love it), Phuket (twice and will never go again), Krabi (love it!), Kanchanaburi (beautiful nature), and Bangkok (has so much to do).

Northern Thailand

While southern Thailand and Bangkok feature on everyone’s itineraries, Northern Thailand seems to not be as popular. However, we think Northern Thailand has so much to offer including beautiful hills, the most delicious food and the nicest people. Do add at least Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to your itinerary for your first Thailand trip.

Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai is all about night markets, street food, historic temples and elephants. It also has unique cafes and hotels.

Chiang Rai: Chiang Rai has the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand. You can’t not see them.

Pai: Pai is a backpacker hub famous for its idyllic scenery and laid-back bohemian vibe. It’s full of natural hot springs.

Phayao: Phayao is a lakeside town full of dreamy mountain views.

Other popular places in Northern Thailand include Nan and Sukhothai.

Central Thailand

Central Thailand has a lot of history and culture as it has been home to three capitals of Thailand over the years. You can base yourself in Bangkok and take day trips to Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya though we think that Kanchanaburi deserves more time. It is beautiful.

Bangkok: Capital of Thailand, city life, shopping, palace, temples, Michelin star restaurants

Kanchanaburi: WWII history, river and mountain views, waterfalls

Ayutthaya: Seat of the Kingdom of Siam from the 1400s to the 1700s. See old city ruins, Buddhist temples and statues.

South West Thailand

Hello, beaches. No one misses visiting beaches when in Thailand because Thai beaches are wow!! Think white powdery sand, turquoise water and massive limestone karsts (my favourite bit). Also, there are no better spots to party! Choose 1 or 2 of these locations for your first Thailand trip.

Phuket: Phuket is best for families travelling to Thailand as it has lots of beautiful resorts and is easily accessible by road. Since it has so much to do you could spend all of your time in Phuket and do day trips to nearby islands.

Krabi and Phang Nga: Just 3 hours from Phuket, Krabi has beautiful beaches, surrounded by beautiful islands, spectacular viewpoints, kayaking adventures, tall limestone karsts and islets.

Phi Phi: Picture perfect islands with limestone cliffs, fine sand beaches, clear water coves, and parties! You can visit PhiPhi on a day trip from Phuket and Krabi.

Koh Lanta: Just north of Krabi, Koh Lanta has coral-fringed beaches, mangroves, limestone cliffs and rainforests. It’s much less touristy and hence quiet than the above three.

Khao Sok National park: This national park has large ancient rainforests, towering limestone cliffs, waterfalls, and rare flora & fauna.

Similan Islands: It’s a remote national park offering white-sand beaches & wildlife-rich reefs for diving & snorkelling. Can be done as a day trip from Phuket

South East Thailand

If you love partying and beautiful beaches, then visit these three islands. They’re all close by and hence can be done together.

Koh Samui: Beaches, partying, resorts, best for families

Koh Phangan: White-sand beaches. Mainly known for its monthly Full Moon Party.

Koh Tao: Scenic white sand beaches, coral reefs & scuba diving.

Thailand Trip Itinerary

Here are some itinerary options for you ranging from 5 days to 14. I have grouped the locations by area so travel time is minimal.

5 days for beach bums: Krabi + Koh Lanta/Phuket OR Koh Samui+ Koh Phangan + Koh Tao

7 days for beaches, culture, and shopping: Add Bangkok to the above ( 3 or 4 days at beach destination + 3 or 4 in Bangkok)

10 days for beaches, culture, shopping history, & nature: Add Kanchanaburi/Khao Sok National Park OR Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai

12 days: Slow down in the above-chosen locations. They all have much to offer.

14 days or more: Add more locations in any region or slow down.

Here’s how we spent time our time on our two Thailand trips

Itinerary of my first trip to Thailand: Phuket (2 days), Krabi (3 days), Bangkok (3 days)

This was my bachelorette trip it was focused on having fun, partying and chilling.

Itinerary of our second trip to Thailand (13 days): Chiang Rai (2 days), Chiang Mai (2 days), Phuket & Phang Nga (1 day), Krabi (2 days), Kanchanaburi (2 days), Bangkok (4 days)

This was a more holistic trip meant to get a better taste of Thailand- beaches, mountains, unique stays, amazing food, beautiful temples, waterfalls, springs, markets, and culture. You name it!

Visa for Thailand

Visa on Arrival: You can easily get a visa on arrival for Thailand for THB 2000 (~INR 4900). This is valid for 15 days of stay (extended to 30 days till March 23) and is a single-entry visa. You just need a passport-size photo (white background and facing front), proof of hotel bookings for all days, and proof of return flight. I suggest you keep printed copies in order of stay so that it’s all arranged and easy to understand. This will help save time at the airport.

We found the visa-on-arrival process to be very smooth and fast.

E-Visa on Arrival: It’s such a strange concept but yes, you can get an e-visa as well. All you have to do is apply on the VFS website. Upload all the documents and make a payment of THB 2500 (~ INR 6000). The process is straightforward though a bit more expensive and tedious than just going for a regular visa on arrival. It’ll save you a bit of time at the airport in Thailand. That being said, we think sticking to the regular visa-on-arrival process is the way to go!

Tourist Visa: This is the cheapest at INR 2,500 (plus INR 500 for the service fee) but also the most inconvenient option since you must submit documents to the embassy. It is the best option if you’re going to Thailand for more than 30 days up to 60 days or need a multi-entry visa (a multi-entry visa costs ~INR 12,000). You can also get a transit visa through this option. See the process and documents on the VFS website.

How to get around Thailand

Here are the four main ways to get around Thailand.

Flights: Flights in Thailand are the most convenient way to get around. You can easily check and book flights on Skyscanner for the cheapest fares. Do note that flights in Thailand (Air Asia) usually do not have checked-in luggage included in the fare. You have to pay extra for that. Costs on average INR 3000-5000 per person per flight

Check flights on Skyscanner

Bus/Van: Buses and vans (minibuses) are fantastic and cheap transport options in Thailand. Just book them off 12Go or at the ticket counter at the bus stop. Do pre-book your bus tickets during peak season (November-February) because buses on certain popular get sold out! During shoulder or low season, you can check timings on 12Go and book at the ticket counter accordingly. Also, if you’re planning to travel by bus/van then pack light. Vans especially do not have overhead storage and your main luggage will be stored by the driver’s seat.

Check buses on 12Go

Train: Trains are another excellent way to get around Thailand, especially for long distances like Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We didn’t use the train system so can’t comment on how comfortable the trains are. These too can easily be booked on 12Go.

Check buses on 12Go

Rental Car: You might need to rent a car at times if you need to visit places off the beaten path. Though not cheap, it may actually turn out to be less expensive than taxis in a lot of cases. You can compare prices before renting. You need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Thailand legally. However, you will be handed the by the rental company even if you don’t have an IDP and if you’re stopped by the police you will have to pay a fine. That being said, we rented a car twice through Discover Cars (in Chiang Mai and in Phuket/Krabi) and never got pulled over.

Check rentals on Discover Cars

Ferry: You can go to islands like PhiPhi, Koh Lanta, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao via ferry. In some cases, these will be the only ways to reach the island. You can also go shorter distances/island hopping via the traditional Long Tail Boats (can be hired on the beach) or speed boats (can be hired through local travel agencies). INR 500-1500 depending on the route.

Book ferries on 12Go

How to get around the cities in Thailand

You’ve got a lot of options to get around.

Taxi: Most places in Thailand have Grab (like Uber). Some cities even have InDrive and Bolt which can turn out to be cheaper than Grab. Download all three apps and keep them handy because prices will (in all probability) be lower than what the local taxi guys charge. On buying a sim at the airport, you’ll also get discount codes for Grab applicable on your first few rides, don’t forget to use it. An average ride costs about INR 300.

Metro (MRT) /Sky Train (BTS): Bangkok has an extensive MRT and BTS system that’ll save you a lot of money getting around. We found the system very easy to use. To understand the routes and stations, just enter your destination in Google Maps like you normally would and switch to public transport. The routes given by maps are very accurate!

Tuktuks: Most places have tuk-tuks which are very easy to hire right from the road. Just remember that you’ll need to bargain a lot because they can try to rip you off, especially in touristy areas. You can also book these on Grab.

Songthaew: Songthaews are huge tuk-tuks (mostly red in colour) that can accommodate about 8-10 people. They charge a very minimal fare and work almost like Uber Share. These don’t follow a specific route like a bus but go wherever you want to and take the optimal route based on all the passenger’s destinations.

Tip: If you ride these in Chiang Mai, then don’t ask for the fare as you’ll be charged taxi prices. Any trip within the city will cost about THB 30.

Bus: We never took a bus to get around a city but it’s something you can consider if you’re on a low budget.

Rental Bike: Bike rentals are really inexpensive at about THB 200-300 a day. Just head to a local shop renting them, give them your passport or a minimal deposit (about 1000 baht) and zoom away with your bike.

Rental Car: You can also rent a car to get around. While this is a fantastic option for regions like Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai since distances can be large between popular sights and stays, I don’t recommend it for a city like Bangkok. It’s very expensive here and you’ll be stuck in traffic forever! INR 2000-3000 per day (if you return the vehicle to the same place. An extra charge is levied if you return to another location). Book on RentalCars for low prices.

Check car rentals RentalCars

Currency

Thai Currency is the Thai Baht.

1 US dollar equals 35.31 Baht. See the latest rates here.

1 Indian rupee equals 0.43 Baht. See the latest rates here.

Currency to carry: It is best to carry Baht from your home country (at least this is the case for India). If the Thai baht isn’t available in your home country at good rates, then carry US dollars and exchange them for Thai Baht in Thailand itself. Just do not do this at the airport as the exchange rates are the worst!

Avoid withdrawing from ATMS: Do carry enough Baht or US dollars to change into Thai Baht because ATM withdrawals aren’t the best option in Thailand. Each withdrawal will cost you about THB 100-200 which is a lot!

Instead, you can go to a bank to withdraw if you’re in such a situation since charges are minimum. But this apparently works only for Mastercard cards.

Thailand Budget breakdown & tips to save money

Thailand is a destination for all budgets. It can be dirt cheap or super expensive depending on the choices you make. Your budget would vary significantly for hotels and activities depending on the season of travel with it being the most during peak season and lowest during low season. I’m just going to give you some general costs below so you get an idea. These are just approximations and your costs could look entirely different.

Backpacker

Visa: THB 2000 ~ INR 4,900

Flight ticket: 15,000 (typically ranging from 11,000-20,000)

Bed in a Hostel: INR 900
Food (street food): INR 600
Local transport (songthaews and grab bikes): INR 400
Buses between cities: INR 350-600 for short distances cities
Activities: INR 500
Miscellaneous (sim, shopping, snacks): INR 200

Total Variable expenditure per day: avg 3,000 per day

Total for 7 days: INR 41,000
Total for 10 days: INR 50,000

Mid-Range

Visa: THB 2000 ~ INR 4,900

Flight ticket: 15,000 (typically ranging from 11,000-20,000)

Hotel room: INR 4,200
Food (street food & restaurants): INR 1,500
Local transport (cabs): INR 800
Buses: INR 350-600 for short distances cities
Activities: INR 1000
Miscellaneous (sim, shopping, snacks): INR 500

Variable expenditure per day: INR 8,500

Total for 7 days: INR 79,000
Total for 10 days: INR 1,05,000

Do note that some days you will not be taking transport and some days you may not be doing any activities. So these amounts calculated will ultimately balance out for other things you do.

Mid-Range to Luxury

Luxury trips could cost anything but compared to other countries in the world, even a luxury trip will be significantly cheaper for good quality of service and probably even superb views. Here are the general costs for a luxurious trip!

Visa: THB 2000 ~ INR 4,900
Flight ticket: 20,000 (typically ranging from 11,000-20,000)

Luxury Hotel: INR 12,000
Food (restaurants & bars): INR 5,000
Local transport (cabs): INR 2,000
Flights between cities/car rental/cabs: INR 4,000
Activities (private tours & entry): INR 3,000

Variable expenditure per day: INR 23,000

Total for 7 days: INR 1,86,000
Total for 10 days: INR 2,55,000

Food in Thailand

Thailand has a reputation for its unique and exotic flavours, from sweet and sour dishes to the spiciness of its curries. And don’t get me started on the variety on offer. You simply won’t be able to taste everything on one trip.

The best bit is that food in Thailand can be really inexpensive if you eat street food. Costs about INR 200-300 per person.

While the food in cafes and restaurants can be expensive and a meal for one person would cost about Rs. 800 per person (1 main course, 1 drink)

Food for vegetarians: Contrary to popular belief, you can find good Thai food even if you’re vegetarian. A lot of restaurants (especially in tourist areas) have a vegetarian menu or at least a few veg items. If not, ask them for a Thai dish like a green curry without meat, chicken, fish, and fish oil. We did this quite a few times and really enjoyed the food we ate. Also, look for restaurants on Tripadvisor, Google and Happy Cow.

Here are some dishes we tried and loved.

1. Pad Thai (fried noodles)– A classic stir-fried noodle served with sprouts, crushed peanuts and condiments. It is the national food of Thailand.
2. Khao Soi (noodle soup) – A creamy coconut soup with noodles topped with crispy noodles and served with condiments. You must eat this in North Thailand.
3. Som Tam (salad)– Spicy green papaya salad
4. Panang (Thai Curry): Mild coconut curry that is eaten with rice
5. Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry): Spiciest of all the curries
6. Masaman (Red Curry): Rich but mild curry
7. Gaeng Som (Yellow Curry): Mild curry
8. Pad Krapow (Spicy Basil Chicken): The check is served with rice and fried eggs. Too tasty.
9. Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sticky Rice): a dessert you’ll want to eat after every meal
10. Thai Tea: Thai tea is strongly-brewed black tea sweetened with sugar and condensed mild. It is often spiced with spices like star anise, tamarind, cardamom, etc. and is served iced or hot. It has a weird orange colour but is very tasty.

These items are usually all available in local restaurants. All of these we had vegetarians except Pad Krapow.

Language

Thai is a beautiful language to listen to and is spoken in a sing-song manner I find very fascinating. Even when speaking English people add a gender marker at the end – meaning females always finish their sentences with the word Ka (khaa), and males with Krup (khrap). Both sound very similar. But you’ll find them adding it to English words as well like ‘Thank You Khaa’.

A lot of people in Thailand can speak English but many can’t. Especially when you’re travelling more off the beaten path.

It is best to keep Google Translate downloaded along with the Thai language so you can translate even without the internet. If you’ve never used a translation app before do practise at home before leaving for your trip.

Here are some Thai words you’ll hear often and should know.

Kawp Koon (pronounced Khopun khaa): Thank You

Sawadee (pronounced Swadee khaa): Hello

Learn more helpful words here.

What to Carry

1. International Travel Adaptor: There are two plug types used in Turkiye – Type C and F – and operate on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Best to have an international travel adaptor.

2. Swimsuit: For the many beaches and pools.

3. Scarf: To cover your head in religious places.

4. Hat: If you’re travelling in the summer, you will definitely need one. I didn’t understand the intensity of the Turkish sun till I spent a few days there without a hat!

5. Sunglasses: Same as the hat, you simply can’t go without this.

6. Sunscreen: Best to buy a reef-safe skin-safe sunscreen! Please only buy one that contains non-nano Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide. These are very tough to find in India but here is a great option. It has a silicon texture and can be slightly greasy but it hasn’t been a deal breaker despite my oily skin. Do try it and decide for yourself. If you know of any other such sunscreens, tell us in the comments section. Most chemical sunscreens contain very harmful ingredients like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Avobenzone, and Octocrylene which are often disguised by other more complex scientific names. Do check this article for more info on harmful ingredients in sunscreen.

8. Comfortable shoes: You will be walking a lot. It is best to get comfortable walking shoes with no heels. We usually take with us our Neeman’s, Skechers, or Birkenstocks.

7. Sweater/jacket: No matter the season, carry a jacket or a light jacket especially if you’re going to any place north of Bangkok. Early morning and late nights can be very cold.

9 Basic Toiletries: Hotel toiletries, if you’re not staying at established 5-star chain hotels, are quite shady looking. I highly recommend you fill such travel bottles with your own shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and lotion for this trip.

11. A wet bag: You’ll need a plastic bag or a wet bag like this to keep your wet swimsuits. we were super thankful we had this in Pamukkale.

12. A waterproof mobile cover, waterproof phone housing or a GoPro for all your water shots.

Best apps for bookings

Flights: Book at the lowest rates through Skyscanner
Hotels: Agoda offers the lowest prices in South East Asia. But do also check Booking.com.
Hostels: Book through Hostelworld.
Activities: Best to do a price comparison between Viator and Klook
Rental Cars: Discover Cars and RentalCars offer great prices
Transport: Book trains, buses, and ferries on 12Go
Taxis: Keep Grab, Bolt, and InDrive apps downloaded. Do a price comparison before booking.
TripIt: Keep all your flight, hotel and activity bookings details in one place

With all of this in mind, you are sure to have an amazing experience in Thailand. Pack your bags and get ready to explore this captivating country – you won’t be disappointed!!

Let us know if you have any questions. Will be happy to answer.