Receiving over 35 million tourists in 2024, Thailand is one of Asia’s most popular destinations and is known for stunning Buddhist temples, elephant sanctuaries, and flavorful street food. Having spent two weeks in Thailand, I share well-researched and firsthand travel tips that are especially useful for first-time visitors.
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📌 Planning
Popular Places l When To Visit l How Long To Visit l Entry Requirements
Popular Places
- Bangkok – the country’s biggest city, a busy urban area that feels dynamic and overwhelming. Its top attractions include The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun.
- Chiang Mai – Thailand’s top northern destination, known for its numerous ancient temples, elephant sanctuaries, and mix of traditional and urban atmospheres. Top attractions include Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Old City, and Elephant Nature Park.
- Phuket – the largest island off the West Coast, offering stunning beaches with lively nightlife and a party scene.
- Krabi – home to breathtaking limestone cliffs, Railay Beach, and island-hopping adventures to Phi Phi islands.
- Koh Phi Phi – a set of islands, including Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh, known for their mind-blowing breathtaking natural beauty.
I visited all the places above except Phuket, and here are my honest thoughts on them:
- Bangkok – While I was fascinated by the city’s combination of modern and traditional landscapes, I enjoyed it less than my trip to other areas of Thailand. The city doesn’t feel as unique as Chiang Mai and was very hectic. My Bangkok highlight was this amazing authentic multi-course food tour.
- Chiang Mai – Like many others, I loved Chiang Mai. My highlights were visiting an elephant sanctuary, eating unique northern Thailand dishes during an exceptional food tour, and learning about monk life in a casual conversation. The only downside was that I felt a bit “templed out” by the third day of my trip.
- Koh Phi Phi – The beauty of Koh Phi Phi is undeniable. It’s easily one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen in my travels. But it’s extremely crowded, which reduces the enjoyment.
- Krabi – I loved Krabi’s relaxed but busy atmosphere and could have stayed longer despite being here for 6 days. I enjoyed eating at its affordable night market every night.
When To Visit
- Cool/dry season (November-February) – the best time to visit Thailand because there’s less rainfall and it’s not unbearably hot. But it coincides with the country’s high season so it’s more crowded.
I visited Thailand in November and experienced intermittent rain in the southern region. The weather was otherwise mostly warm and sunny. It wasn’t the hot season, but I still felt the intense heat, so I was most comfortable wearing loose-fitting clothes.
How Long To Visit
- 3-5 days – enough time to explore Bangkok and maybe do a nearby day trip
- 1 week – enough time to visit 1-2 destinations in 1-2 regions (e.g., northern and central, central and southern, but not all three)
- 2 weeks – enough time to explore 3-5 destinations in all 3 regions
Transportation times between the regions take several hours if you’re not traveling by plane. It’s only worth visiting more than one region if you have at least a week in Thailand.
I spent 12 days in Thailand: 2 in Bangkok, 4 in Chiang Mai, and 6 in Krabi. I could have easily stayed longer since each region was vast and diverse. I don’t think I could have visited more areas in those 12 days without feeling rushed.
🏝️ 10 Epic Days in Thailand: An Active & Unique Itinerary
Entry Requirements
- not required for US citizens visiting Thailand for up to 60 days. Visa-exempt visitors must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting in the latter half of 2025.
- currently, there’s no tourist card or visa fee. But once ETA goes into effect, the application fee will be $10 USD.
Entering Thailand was straightforward for me as a US citizen. I didn’t have to apply for a visa or pay an entry fee.
💰 Logistics
Money
- Many places do not accept credit cards. Thailand’s economy heavily relies on cash transactions, so bring cash.
- The Thai baht is the country’s official currency. USD is not widely accepted, so make sure to exchange currencies.
💰 My 2024 Thailand Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown
Getting Around
- Thailand has several international airports. The biggest and most commonly used ones are:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok
- Phuket International Airport (HKT) in Phuket
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) in Chiang Mai
- For long distances, the best way to get around is by domestic flight since the regions are far apart. You can also take the public bus, but the experience is significantly worse. For short distances, you can rely on songthaews (red passenger trucks), tuk-tuks, motorbikes, or taxis.
Download the Grab app (iOS, Android), the ridesharing app of Southeast Asia. It’s a convenient way to call taxi drivers to get around cities and tourist areas.
I traveled around Thailand in various ways and here are my observations:
- Grab – I used Grab to call motorbikes and cars to get around large cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Grab motorbikes do not provide a helmet, so you should ride at your own risk.
- Boats – I took several boat rides to reach other beach areas or islands like Railay Beach and the Phi Phi Islands while in Krabi. The boat rides were serene on a wooden boat or fast on a speedboat, so they didn’t give me motion sickness issues like boats typically do.
- Tuk-tuks – I used tuk-tuks a few times to cover short distances. I usually flagged these downs on crowded streets, but negotiating with them was sometimes tricky depending on the driver.
- Songthaews – I took several of these in Chiang Mai and they were very cheap but mostly uncomfortable, so I only recommend them for very short distances.
- Public transit – Public transport is uncommon in Thailand except in Bangkok, which has the affordable MRT and BTS Skytrain. It was convenient to take them when traveling to and from the airport.
💊 Safety
Health
- not safe to drink, so purchase bottled water from convenience stores and restaurants.
- Thailand has a tropical climate and disease-carrying mosquitoes (dengue fever is common), especially during the rainy season, so protect yourself.
I didn’t have any health-related issues in Thailand and recommend taking some precautions:
- Tap water – On top of not drinking tap water, the general word of wisdom is to avoid eating raw vegetables or seafood in Thailand to reduce your chances of food poisoning. I generally heeded this advice but ate some raw vegetables a few times.
- Mosquitoes – I found mosquitoes to be prevalent in Thailand. I was constantly applying bug-repellent lotion every time I stepped outside.
Crime
- Thailand is considered a safe country to visit and is one of the safest in Southeast Asia.
- The country has a travel advisory level of 1 per the US government.
- It’s ranked #75 out of 163 safest countries by the Global Peace Index (for reference, the US is ranked #132).
- Some typical scams to watch out for include:
- The close attraction scam – don’t follow locals to other attractions and stick to your original plan.
- The fake gem scam – don’t buy valuable items from strangers.
- The scooter or jet ski rental scam – rent from reputable sources and take photos of any existing damages.
I didn’t have any issues with theft or violence in Thailand, but I was approached by a scammer in Bangkok. He walked up to me and started a friendly conversation, asking me where I was from and where I was headed. He eventually told me the Muay Thai match I wanted to see was canceled. When I grew suspicious and stopped smiling, he abruptly walked away with no explanation.
🌍 Culture
Language l Food l What To Wear
Language
- Thai
- somewhat used (about 45% of locals speak basic English in tourist areas)
Thailand is more English-friendly than some expect. If you venture into truly local areas, even in large cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you’ll find that English is not widely spoken. Menus and signs will typically not include English unless you’re at a tourist attraction.
Food
- Pad Thai (a stir-fried noodle dish with sweet, sour, salty, and umami flavors, commonly served with shrimp, tofu, or chicken)
- Tom yum (a spicy and sour shrimp soup infused with lemongrass, lime, and chili), som tam (a refreshing green papaya salad mixed with chili, lime, fish sauce, and peanuts), and massaman curry (a rich, mildly spicy curry featuring tender meat, potatoes, and peanuts in a coconut milk base).
One of the greatest things about visiting Thailand is the flavorful, mouthwatering food that’s also very affordable.
- Spicyness – I loved Thai food in Thailand, but fair warning that they serve many of their dishes extremely spicy. Their definition of “mildly spicy” is very very spicy. I went on several food tours where most visitors could not handle the spice level.
- Varied cuisines – Each region, especially in northern Thailand, has its own unique cuisine. I highly recommend going to night markets and food tours to try dishes you wouldn’t otherwise get. I highly recommend these two exceptional food tours I did: an authentic food tour in Bangkok and a delicious one in Chiang Mai.
What To Wear
- What to wear – Thailand is a Buddhist country with many beautiful temples. All temples require women to cover their knees and shoulders, so pack long skirts and pants. One of the best things to pack or buy is a light scarf that you can throw onto your shoulders or wrap around your legs if you need to cover up. Several temples will also require you to remove your shoes, so pack sandals or shoes that are easy to take off.
- How locals dress – they dress in more conservative ways than people from the US. You won’t see locals wearing tight-fitting clothes, short shorts, or tank tops despite the heat.
I bought light, long, and loose-fitting clothes in Thailand to keep myself covered but also cool. You can find many of these types of clothes for cheap there. When I was walking around a temple area in Chiang Mai, I was told to cover my shoulder by an employee even when I wasn’t inside the temple. Thailand has stricter dress codes than some of its neighboring countries.
💡 Miscellaneous Tips
Other practical observations I made during my trip:
- Bring TP – Make sure to carry some toilet paper in a bag as many public bathrooms do not carry them.
- Monk etiquette – Monks are highly respected in Thailand, so you should not disrespect one. Don’t touch or sit next to a monk if you’re a woman.
- Buddha images – Buddha images are considered sacred, so respect and refrain from touching them. Thai people have deep reverence for Buddha images, so don’t climb or put your feet on Buddha statues.