9 Things to know before traveling to Thailand your First Time
Points 2 Wanderlust contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associate Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for more information.
Tips for Traveling to Thailand
Getting ready to go to Thailand can feel like an overwhelming process, from packing to figuring out how you will stay in touch with family and friends to planning all your excursions to fit into a limited time. This guide will help you prepare for your vacation by giving tips and tricks to get ready. I hope you enjoy Thailand.
1. Check your Airline Baggage Rules
For my seven-day trip, I flew Air France and Qatar Airways in an Economy seat. I do regret this and next time, I will be purchasing first and/or business-class seats using my points but if you want to know how I booked my flights for less than $400 check out this post.
Depending on the type of ticket purchased, baggage limitations differ. I initially started off with a travel book bag and a checked bag but that only lasted until my layover. Air France was fine when it came to luggage, as my economy ticket allowed for a personal item, hand luggage, and checked luggage. When I purchased things during my layover in France, I still met the luggage restrictions.
However, on my return flight with Qatar Airways in Economy, I was only allowed a personal item and 2 checked bags. I had to re-pack my luggage to meet the requirements. I wanted to keep my valuables on me and check everything else. Also, Qatar Airways does weigh your luggage and charges fees for overweight luggage, so if you think your bags will be overweight pay for it ahead of time.
If you are flying within Thailand, make sure to check those requirements as well. I flew AirAsia, and my ticket included checked baggage and a carry-on, so I made sure to meet the weight restrictions for both. You can purchase additional weight if needed through the app before you check in.
Pro Tip: If flying Qatar Airways, bring a luggage scale to make sure you meet the weight requirements.
2. Packing List
As you are getting ready for your trip, packing is something you either really enjoy or dread and leave to the last minute. I started packing early for my trip to make sure I had everything and could use Amazon Prime to get any last-minute things I may need. Below are the things that stood out to me to make sure you have a more enjoyable time in Thailand.
Modest Clothing: When visiting temples, it is required that you have your shoulders and knees covered. I went when it was over 90 degrees. The day we went to the temples, I was in shorts because it was a last-minute decision on our part. So I had to purchase an outfit.
Some of the temples do have red scarves you can borrow, mainly the ones in Bangkok, but the Big Buddha in Phuket did not. I purchased the outfit to the left. I believe it was about 450THB. My other option while at the Big Buddha was to purchase two separate scares for 150THB each. All of this happens before entering, and there are guides at the entrance stopping people from entering if they are not dressed correctly.
Sunblock: You will need sunblock and a hat. I got badly sunburnt after my trip to Phi Phi Islands and regretted not having enough sunblock to make sure I could reapply throughout the day. When at Phi Phi Islands, you are in the sun the entire time unless your boat has a cover. In addition, many of the excursions in Phuket have you out in direct sunlight. Make sure to bring enough sunblock to avoid being sunburnt.
Comfortable Shoes for Walking: I did a lot of walking to explore both Bangkok and Phuket. I would prioritize a pair of walking shoes or comfortable sandals for your adventures, especially if you are visiting any of the markets such as Chatuchak or Jodds Fairs. I did bring heels, but only wore them to dinners that we took a cab to. I would bring a pair of heels, as there are some really nice restaurants to head to, and when we went, most of the people were dressed and wearing heels.
3. Passport + Visa
One of the biggest things you want to check as you are getting ready for your trip is your passport’s validity. For travel to Thailand, your passport must be valid for 6 months after arrival. If you are staying less than 30 days, you do not need a visa. However, if you are staying longer than 30 days, you will and can find out more information about the process here.
4. Cell Phone Coverage
As a Verizon girl, it is expensive to use my phone coverage abroad. It is $10 a day. To make sure I can communicate with family and friends when I am away from wifi, I use an e-sim called Airalo. You install it before you travel and can activate it upon arrival. There are two options for Thailand, one that costs $9.90 for 50GB of data and one that is unlimited for$19.95. Choose the one that works best for you and save money on international fees.
5. Plan your Layover
If you are heading to Thailand from the US, you will more than likely have at least 1 layover. Planning your layover can make it easier on your body. Ideally, I would have found a layover halfway between my destination, but Paris was calling my name.
When heading to Thailand, I had the option of Paris and Doha and chose Paris because it would push me to sleep for almost all of the flight before waking up at the airport for my layover and then finishing up my last 15-hour flight. I probably should have chosen Doha since I flew out at night and would have been able to sleep longer.
I really wanted to stop in Paris to shop without all the import fees we have in the US. I headed to a few stores, grabbed some food, and got on my flight to my final destination. This would have been a great opportunity to utilize a lounge, but at the start of this trip, I did not have any memberships. I now do, and if you want to know which ones, check Airport Convenience and Travel memberships to live by.
Lastly, I connected to wifi and downloaded more movies to my iPad to prepare for the final leg of my trip, the longest part. I enjoyed my layover in Paris but found it hard to sleep for the remaining 15 hours, so I will rethink this next time.
My return was not planned well. My layover in Doha was quick. I had to almost run from one flight to the other. Had I planned better,I would have been able to explore what has been named the “World’s Best Airport.” In addition, Qatar Airways offers a stopover program in Doha that I could have used to explore the city.
6. Get Local Currency: Thai Baht
Having local currency is really important as you navigate Thailand. When buying food from local stands, paying for cab rides, and purchasing souvenirs, you will need cash. You can get it ahead of time by ordering from your bank and picking it up, or you can wait until you land.
Upon arrival, after picking up my luggage, I headed to one of the green ATMs. I took out about 5,000THB. Make sure when you take out currency, you do not click for the conversion; instead, let your bank do the conversion for you. Also, make sure you have some small bills for things like snacks, water, and tipping.
7. Getting Around Thailand
There are many ways to get around, which include public transportation, cabs, and ride-share apps. In Bangkok, you can use the MRT Subway to get around the city. I did not use this as the ride-share apps were fairly cheap.
Before arrival, I downloaded both Bolt and Grab and set up my accounts. My rides were fairly cheap and they had multiple options for you to choose from when it came to rides. I used this to get everywhere around the city. When we landed in Phuket, we got a driver from the stand at the airport because Grab + bolt are not allowed to come into the terminal.
Furthermore in Phuket, one of the drivers at our hotel called for us, we really liked, so we got his number and texted him via WhatsApp to arrange transportation to some of our excursions. He also took our group to the airport, even though it took 2 trips, because we were leaving at different times.
8. Booking Excursions
While you can use Viator ahead of time to book excursions, you can also use Klook. We used this in Phuket to book excursions the day before we wanted to do them, and it was very easy to use.
9. Bug Spray
The bugs will eat you alive, nothing we bought from the US was helping. Instead, head to 7-Eleven and buy the mosquito repellent in the clear bottle with the pink and white label called, Dawiwa pictured to the left.
This bug spray worked wonders and after purchasing I no longer felt like I was being eaten alive by mosquitos. I highly recommend bringing a bottle or two back with you.
Thailand Travel Tips
These are the things that helped me prepare for my trip. A few things take place once you land, but since I knew I needed to do them, I made sure to build in extra time to gather those items. Let me know in the comments what things I may have left off.
If you want to learn more about what to do while in Thailand, check out my Bangkok and Phuket Guides.
More Thailand Related Post
Chatuchak Weekend Night Market
Custom Clothing in Phuket, Thailand
Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket, Thailand
How to book a trip to Thailand
Pin for Later
| Travel Resources | Information about Resources |
| Airalo | If you need phone service while out of the country, check out Airalo to avoid all the fees. |
| Amazon | Find the perfect items for your next vacation! |
| Booking.com | If you want to book a mix of hotels and houses, check out booking.com! |
| Expedia | Need a package that includes flight + hotel, or want to add a car? Expedia is the perfect site to book an entire vacation. |
| Priority Pass | You can still get lounge access through Priority Pass if you do not have a credit card. |
| Ticketmaster | Heading to a concert or event, make sure to check out Ticketmaster. |
| Vrbo | Find the perfect rental house for your vacation and/or staycation. |
| Viator | The perfect place to find all your excursions and things to do in the many cities you visit. |
Great tips and steps for a trip. Have never been to Thailand. Would love to go once👍
I’d love to return to Thailand! Phuket is one of my favourite destinations in Thailand. You have some great tips here, especially about packing modest clothes and comfortable shoes.
Totally recommend rideshare apps like Grab – it’s unbelievably but they’re actually cheaper than tuktuks sometimes. 😵💫
These are great tips for any travel, but especially when international travel is involved. Things like phone usage is always a biggie.