Thailand Travel Tips – Expert Advice from 8 Trips (2024)

A detailed explanation of the best Thailand travel tips and advice for all travellers.

Thailand is a beautifully diverse and culturally enriching travel destination in Southeast Asia. 

This small country has towering mountains, bustling cities, picturesque beaches, rugged cliffs, dense jungles, and a whole lot more. 

The people are friendly, the food is mouthwatering, and the activities are endless. 

You can spend your days hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, practicing yoga or island hopping. You can spend your nights eating street food, watching a ladyboy cabaret or attending a Muay Thai boxing match. 

See the famous Grand Palace or Wat Pho in Bangkok or explore the temples of Chiang Mai. Attend cooking classes, learn to scuba dive in Koh Tao, or attend the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha Ngan.

There is truly so much to see and do in Thailand, so you want to make sure you enter the country prepared for anything. 

In preparation for your trip, you may want to brush up on some general travel tips for Thailand so you can feel confident in your knowledge of the country and its customs. 

Thai culture is very centered around respect, so it is important to always be respectful of Thai people and their way of life. 

My Expert List of the Best Thailand Travel Tips

With this article on Thailand travel tips, you can read about some of the recommended things to know before travelling around this beautiful country in Southeast Asia. 

In addition to general travel tips for Thailand, you can read about cultural tips, budgeting tips, safety tips, health tips, and a few recommendations about what not to do in Thailand. 

READ MORE: Plan your trip to Thailand with our comprehensive Thailand travel guide.

Thailand Travel Tips
Thai beauty extends to the offshore islands

General Thailand Travel Tips

Without further ado, let me share my ultimate list of things to know before you travel to Thailand. Whether you’re visiting Bangkokg, Chiang Mai, islands in the Gulf of Thailand, national parks, or anywhere in between, these travel tips apply to anywhere when you visit Thailand.

Check Visa Requirements

Check if you need a visa before travelling to Thailand.

The visa requirements are different for many countries; some nationalities do not need visas for a stay of less than 30 days, some nationalities can obtain their visas when they arrive at the airport, and some nationalities must obtain a visa in advance.

Always check the visa requirements for your country to make sure you are allowed to enter Thailand!

Pack For Hot, Humid Weather

The weather in Thailand is hot and humid. That’s just a fact when considering Thailand travel tips.

Unless you are in higher altitudes where the temperature drops a bit, pack plenty of lightweight, breathable warm weather clothes

Even if you’re in northern, mountainous destinations like Chiang Mai, still prepare for heat and humidity.

If you’re wondering the best time to visit Thailand for weather, you’ll encounter this hot weather year-round. July, August, and September have the most rain, but they are the best time to visit Thailand on a budget!

Prepare to Pay with Cash

Paying with cash is much more convenient than paying with a card around Thailand.

Street markets, local restaurants, and many tourist attractions usually only accept cash as payment, but luckily ATMs are frequent in touristy areas.

Make sure you alert your bank that you’ll be travelling so they don’t assume your transactions around Thailand are a fraud. 

Verify Companies’ Legitimacy Before Booking

Before booking any hostels, guesthouses, volunteer programs, or tours, read customer reviews to make sure it is legitimate.

The rise in tourism in Thailand has unfortunately led to a rise in scams and illegitimate businesses that try to get money out of tourists.

Just confirm before you book anything that the business is reputable. We recommend using Klook for Thailand.

BONUS – Booking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount code “NOMADS10” on the website when checking out, you’ll get $10 off your first booking!

Klook.com

Cultural Tips for Thailand

Here are some other travel tips for Thailand that relate specifically to the beautiful Thai culture.

Remove Your Shoes

Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body in Thai culture.

You’ll have to remove your shoes whenever you enter temples, people’s homes, spas, and other establishments, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. 

Avoid Touching Other People’s Heads

The head is considered the holiest part of the body, so you should never touch someone’s head.

It seems unlikely that you would touch someone’s head anyway, but just be aware that it is seen as disrespectful so try to avoid that. 

Dress Respectfully

When entering temples, you have to abide by the dress code.

In addition to removing your shoes, you have to wear clothes that cover your knees, shoulders, chest and stomach. 

There is no strict dress code for everyday life, but Thais do tend to dress modestly.

Respect their way of life by covering up a bit more.

You are perfectly fine wearing shorts and T-shirts when it is hot out, just try to hide areas like cleavage and the midriff so you seem a bit more aware of Thai modesty.

Ask Before Photographing People

Before taking a photo of someone, ask for their permission.

If you see a local wearing a traditional garment or a monk praying in a temple, this can be a beautiful image to capture.

Thais are usually very friendly, so if you ask for a photo they will most likely oblige. 

If you need more help with this, check out our guide to travel photography tips for beginners.

Travel Tips For Thailand
A photogenic Thai girl posing for a photo.

Respect the King

Thais love their king. You’ll find posters, monuments, emblems, and other displays of affection with the king’s face plastered on them.

All that this means for travellers is to respect monarchy and never say anything negative or offensive about the king. 

Learn to Love the Ladyboys

Be prepared to see lots of ladyboys…or not see them.

Ladyboys are Thai men who dress up as women, and sometimes they do it so well that you would never even notice the difference.

You can attend a cabaret show to see the ladyboys performing their hearts out, or you can just wander through the streets of Bangkok or Chiang Mai and try to spot them in the crowds. 

Bargain with Dignity

Bargaining for goods at street markets is a huge part of travelling to Thailand.

Definitely give it a try, but always be respectful and don’t bargain too low.

See what the original price is, and slowly try and lower the cost.

Generally speaking, half of the original price is as low as you should go. Anything lower than that may offend the vendor.

If you are buying something handmade or truly unique and special, just pay the full price as your money will benefit the local artist and community.

READ MORE: Know what to bring with you with our Thailand packing list.

Budget Travel Tips for Thailand 

I get it, you’re trying to save money when you travel. We all are. Luckily Southeast Asia is the perfect place to travel on a budget.

So here are some budget-specific travel tips for your Thailand itinerary.

Keep in mind, the local Thailand currency is the Thai Baht.

Consider the Economy of the Country

Generally speaking, northern Thailand is cheaper than the south.

Besides popular cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, there aren’t many tourist destinations in the north of Thailand so the prices haven’t been hiked up.

If you are really trying to stretch your money to last a long time, consider spending more time exploring northern Thailand than the south. 

Check out our lists of the best things to do in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai!

Stay in Hostels

Staying in hostels will be cheaper than staying in hotels.

This Thailand travel tip can actually apply to any country, but you’ll find hostels in Thailand to cost as little as 6 USD per night.

On average, hostels cost between 10 and 15 USD per night.

Thailand is such an affordable destination that even nice hotels can be cheap, but you’ll save the most money by staying in hostels. 

Eat Like The Locals

Eat local street food whenever possible! Thailand has some amazing food, and the locals know how to cook it the best.

Pad thai, spring rolls, curries, mango and sticky rice, all these essential Thai food dishes you can find in the street.

Definitely treat yourself to a few nice Thai restaurants, but you’ll find that the street food tastes the same, if not better than the expensive stuff.

Do trust your judgment though. If you have a sensitive stomach, maybe skip the meat and seafood and eat safer street food, like noodles and fruits. 

Street Food In Thailand
Street food in Thailand can be pretty awesome

Avoid Drinking Too Much

Drink responsibly to save money. Partying and buying lots of drinks in bars or clubs always adds up quicker than we’d like to think.

If you’re on a tight budget, limit your drinking to a few beers a week and you’ll save a lot.

Also be on the lookout for happy hours so you can get discounted drinks, or consider buying some drinks from the liquor store for cheaper prices. 

Consider just cutting down on drinking in general if you want to save the most money; you’ll also have a clearer head and fewer hangovers so you can enjoy exploring even more.

Find the Cheapest Form of Transportation

Compare different forms of transportation to find the cheapest option.

Thailand has an extensive network of travel options.

For travelling short distances you can take a tuk-tuk, rent a motorbike, or hop into a songtaew (red pickup trucks that serve as shared taxis).

For travelling long distances, you can take buses, minivans, trains, or planes.

One transport option isn’t always cheaper than the others, so ask around, do some research, and try to find the cheapest option before you travel. 

I recommend you start off by using 12Go.asia as a guide. You’ll often find the best price here, but do your research.

Fly Budget Airlines

If you plan on flying around the country, choose budget airlines like Nok Air, Lion Air, Air Asia, Vietjet, Orient Thai, or Thai Smile.

Any of these reputable airlines can get you across the country quickly and cheaply.

They fly into popular cities like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, and more.

Because budget airlines are so cheap, they often charge extra for other things like food, drinks, and bags.

To save the most money, pack your own food and water, and keep your bags to carry-on size. 

Health Tips for Thailand Travel

It’s important to stay healthy when you travel, and a trip to Thailand is no exception.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Always have travel insurance for your travel itineraries.

You never know what will happen abroad, especially if you are taking part in more extreme activities like riding motorbikes, hiking mountains in national parks, cliff-jumping, and doing water sports.

Even if you don’t plan on doing crazy sports, you still want to be covered in case you get sick. 

READ MORE: Check out this post if you need more reasons to purchase travel insurance.

Important Note! Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.

Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is World Nomads.

Consult Your Doctor

Visit your doctor at home before you visit Thailand. Ask them if they recommend taking any medications or if you need any vaccinations before you go. 

Don’t Drink the Tap Water

The tap water is not safe for drinking in Thailand.

Bring a reusable water bottle that you can refill at drinking water stations, or bring your own filter so you can always have clean water.

You can buy bottled water during your trip to Thailand, but try to reduce your plastic waste whenever possible!

Use Sun Protection

Always wear sunscreen. Whether you are on the beach, in the city or in the mountains and national parks, whether it is sunny or cloudy, just wear sunscreen to be safe.

The sun is so strong in Thailand, so you are always at risk of burning, no matter what skin type you have.

You may want to bring your own sunscreen from home, as the prices are quite expensive in Thailand. 

Also, wear sunglasses and a hat whenever possible.

READ MORE: Plan your trip with our 1,2 and 3 week Thailand itineraries.

Safety Tips for Travelling in Thailand

Thailand is overall a very safe country for tourists.

Just use common sense and street smarts and you shouldn’t have any problems. 

Avoid Petty Theft

The biggest crime for tourists to encounter in Thailand is just petty theft. Most of it will occur in touristy cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

To keep your belongings safe, lock your stuff in a safe or locker at your accommodation and try not to bring too many valuables out with you while exploring.

Only take as much money as you think you’ll need, and avoid wearing flashy jewellery or expensive watches as it makes you a target for pickpockets.

Carry your belongings in a secure bag that you can always have a hand or an eye on, especially when walking through large crowds. 

Take Caution on Public Transport

Also, try to keep your baggage safe when travelling on local buses.

Especially on overnight buses or when your bags are thrown up onto the roof of the bus, lock everything up and keep your most important items on your person in a smaller handbag. 

Stick With a Group

Try to avoid walking around alone at night. This is common knowledge, but it is so true.

Stick with a group and don’t stray too far from the touristy areas unless you are very familiar with the area.

If you’re travelling alone, you’ll be fine to sightsee during the day or check out touristy areas at night on your own.

But if you plan on straying off the beaten path, try to find a travel buddy in your hostel to accompany you, especially at night. 

Tuk Tuk At Night In Thailand
Exercise extra caution at night

Be Safe on the Road

Drivers in Thailand can be insane to say the least.

Sometimes road traffic doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason, and some locals drive super fast.

You’ll see about 10 people on motorbikes in one lane, all packed close together and whipping around corners.

It is a bit scary, so always pick reputable bus companies so you know you are safe on the road. 

If you plan on driving in Thailand, either in a rental car or on a motorbike, be very careful at all times!

Like I said, local drivers can be crazy so always be aware of them and make sure you drive carefully.

On a motorbike, always wear your helmet. 

What NOT to Do in Thailand

Now for some tips for how to act, or more importantly how NOT to act, in Thailand.

These are some of the most important things to know before you go travelling in Thailand.

Do Not Flaunt Your Feet

Do not use your feet for anything except for walking.

As mentioned earlier, the feet are the dirtiest part of the body and doing anything out of the ordinary with your feet is considered disrespectful.

That means no putting your feet up on seats, no pointing at things with your feet, and no pushing or moving things with your feet.

Keep them pointed away from people, or under your body and out of sight. 

Do Not Ride Elephants

There are lots of companies that exploit animals for tourism, which is a sad and horrible reality.

Elephants’ spines are made to carry lots of weight underneath them, not above them.

That means riding elephants puts lots of stress on their bodies and can be extremely harmful.

Some elephant sanctuaries rescue elephants and keep them in a safe environment.

Here, you can visit with the elephants, photograph them, and observe them without harming them.

So if you are eager to see Asian elephants in their natural habitat, always do your research to ensure you are choosing an ethical tour company, and never book a tour that allows you to ride the elephants. 

Let me say it again. DO NOT RIDE ELEPHANTS!!!!!!!!!!

Check out our complete guide to sustainable tourism.

Do Not Disrespect the Buddha

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand, so the Buddha is highly revered by locals.

When visiting temples and statues of the Buddha, avoid taking any inappropriate or goofy photos and avoid touching the Buddha.

You are also not supposed to point your feet directly at the Buddha since the feet are considered dirty.

That is why you’ll see locals kneeling with their feet pointed behind them when praying to the Buddha. 

Do Not Touch the Buddhist Monks

Especially if you are a woman, avoid touching the monks in any way.

That means no hand-shakes or hugs, and sometimes you can’t even hand them anything; you’ll have to put it on the ground first for them to pick up.

Buddhist monks are not allowed to touch women, so, therefore, women should not touch them either.

Monks
Monks are a highly respected part of daily life in Thailand

Do Not Stand Taller Than a Monk

Do not put yourself in a physically higher position than a monk.

If a monk is sitting down, you should not stand next to him, but lower yourself down to his level.

The monks are some of the most highly respected people in Thailand, so they take their traditions very seriously.

Do Not Make a Scene in Public

In Thailand and lots of other Asian cultures, modesty and respect are very important.

Try not to attract attention to yourself in any way.

That means no screaming, yelling, arguing or fighting, and no excessive public displays of affection.

Just carry yourself in a poised and humble manner and you will blend in with the locals more. 

Do Not Abandon Your Passport

Do not leave your passport with any tour companies, medical centres, or scooter rental companies.

Some businesses can be sketchy, and leaving them with your most valuable travel item allows them to scam you.

Always carry a paper copy of your passport and give that to them instead.

Do Not Overstay Your Visa

Do not stay in Thailand longer than your visa allows.

Thais are pretty strict with their immigration rules in terms of overstaying visas.

Usually, in your passport they will write the ending date for your visa, so make sure you leave before then.

If you fall in love with the country and want to stay longer, which very well may happen, you can apply for a visa extension. 

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Gabby Boucher

Gabby Boucher

After four years of working in hospitality, volunteering abroad and travelling for fun, Gabby has developed a knack for budget travel and admiration for different cultures. Her travels have taken her through the cloud forests of Ecuador, into the villages of eastern Europe, across the islands of Thailand, and to the beaches of New South Wales, Australia, where she is currently living with a working holiday visa. She plans to continue her adventures around the world for as long as possible. Follow her on her blog, and on Instagram.

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9 thoughts on “Thailand Travel Tips – Expert Advice from 8 Trips (2024)”

  1. Hello all – I can add a few cents from a trip to Thailand just finishing today.

    If you are staying in Bangkok, the train system is really good and very cheap. You can get this directly from the airport for just a few dollars. Consider getting your hotel near a train station so you can literally just have a short walk from the station, so you will avoid being stuck in hellish traffic and also being ripped off by taxis. The train is fast, very safe, efficient and has excellent aircon. The staff were always around somewhere and invariably helpful even at a far flung place at 11pm! This was a superior experience to trains in Australia and I have used them regularly in all metro areas there so speak from extended experience.

    Before you leave your country, I suggest you estimate how much money you will spend and then bring it in cash to Thailand. This is to reduce transaction costs. On the lowest level at Suvarnabhumi airport, level BL, near the ticketing area is the place with the best exchange rates. It is called HappyRich. There is a helpful guide to find this place elsewhere on the internet. The others are all total ripoffs even if they say they have the best rate in Thailand!

    By using the train and getting the best currency conversion rate you will save a lot of money and time that you can now spend to enjoy yourself!

    For example, let’s say you bring $5000 AUD (as I did). HappyRich gives you around 8-10% more money than the other exchanges – that’s getting up to 500 dollars extra!

    Another tip in Bangkok for less hassle with travel and keeping discretionary costs down – if you must catch a cab, get the GRAB app (equivalent to Uber) – this ensures you get a quoted fare that the driver has to agree to. It is the best way to go. I still always tip around 10% myself with GRAB drivers because the cost of the ride is low and the tip too, therefore you are appreciating this honest option without being scummy with money. Even with a nice tip this will still be a LOT cheaper than dealing with taxi drivers and tuk tuk drivers – avoid them when you can!

    My trip was mostly Koh Samui, with a few days each side of it in Bangkok. For Koh Samui, you can use the KLOOK application which is the “Uber” option for Koh Samui. That way, you can book your transport costs as Koh Samui taxis are expensive. For example, the standard airport taxi was 400 THB to Chaweng which is not very far! That said, it is better to pay that then get the minivan which is marginally cheaper as you might be waiting at the airport for an hour as we did!!! Not worth the 5 bucks savings. Using klook, the quoted cost of the taxi from our hotel in Lamai at 5am back to the airport was 593 THB and Lamai is a lot further out than Chaweng!

    The other thing I did was to choose accommodation in a place where I was going to stay for most of the trip, to avoid any unnecessary taxis. This means you can spend the money on better accommodation instead. Much nicer!

    One thing I would have done differently is to rent a car there. But you need to know in advance that to hire an insured car, the minimum time is a 3 day hire and so it is best to make your enquiries early enough. I left it too late for that. If you can use a motorbike or moped/scooter, this is an alternative. Both are preferable to using taxis.

    A few ideas for Bangkok – the hop on, hop off boat on the Chao Phraya river there is very cheap and a good way to explore. It is also much better than commuting by road traffic to some big tourist attractions. One way you can get to the Sathorn pier via the train is the Saphan Taksin stop but there are others. Ignore the touts at the entrance to the pier and go straight to the tourist hop on hop off counter. Get a blue day pass.

    From there you can go to Wat Arun, the Grand Palace/Wat Pho (reclining Buddha). There are some other stops like SiamICON and the last one is close to Khao San Rd. Khao San Road is not worth visiting in my opinion. Boring, pointless and a waste of time of time. The others are definitely worth it. Make sure you wear below knee shorts and a top with sleeves, otherwise you cannot enter the temples (but you can buy garments). You will need cash to go to Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.

    Also in Bangkok, I liked the Siam Paragon on the second last day of my holiday – Siam station is easy to get to and if you use trains at some point you’ll probably cross through there, so it is worth a visit. It is a very high end mall, with outstanding shopping and unexpectedly great to wander around in as a tourist. To give you an idea, there are Aston Martins, ferraris, a bentley, maseratis, various beamers, teslas, minis range rovers etc in just one small area. There’a a whole floor for technology and something I’ve never seen – a shop just for deluxe high end PC gamer rigs. Paragon is really massive and knocks the mall experience out of the park compared to what I have seen in Australia, at the same time removed any doubt about the wealth that is in Thailand now compared to 20 years ago on my last visit.

    I watched a movie at the top – where there is a large plush cinema complex, also IMAX and 10 pin bowling. The food court was better than I have seen in Australia in any city. There is also the finest fresh food market I have ever seen. Just the sushi and sashimi section alone was 6 whole cabinets, there were more than a dozen types of fresh oyster from around the world, enormous live crabs, a caviar display, even salmon from Tasmania. The sheer volume and variety was awe inspiring.

    I did this near the end of my holiday and it was an amazing contrast to some of the other experiences and to buy gifts. I used this to find the elusive Thai items I cannot get at home in any asian stores and the best dumpling sauces. Exchange rates were also about the same as HappyRich here, so it is a good place to do this, eg OH!Rich on the 3rd floor, but also there was a jeweler I saw with the same rates so it may be more general.

    I can also recommend watching a Muay Thai fight night. I got ringside seats but it’s probably better to get the second class or club class as you are higher up and the cost difference is not justified, imo. It was crazy enough on Wednesday with the gambling thai guys going bananas and seeing some pretty brutal beatings, however international level fights are on Saturday, at least at Rajadamnern. It’s not all that easy to get to, because of the slow traffic and a bit of BS with cabs/tuk tuks, but you can get quite close to it via Sam Yot station (we used Grab on the way back from the stadium to get there) and we got there by getting off at National Stadium station, walking a bit and then getting a tuk tuk. I would probably just walk it from Sam Yot tbh, in the day and see some of the sights there as it is “old bangkok”, but if you do this it involves several changes of train which might not suit some people. If you are a drinker, it is best to preload with alcohol on the way from the station to reduce costs as on site booze is exxy. You can’t bring alcohol in. There’s some relatively cheap beer outside at half time and some cheap eats.

    Another inexpensive and awesomely local day trip is to get a fairly early morning train out to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital. We got the cattle class train and it was worth the tourist novelty. The sites are revered by thais and remind me of the tomb raider games. There are several clustered together but you’ll need transport to get to several as they are not really walkable.

    Again, temple rules apply for Ayutthaya – sleeves and below knee shorts, as well as entrance fees for each site. You’ll need a driver unless using a moped/scooter. Easiest to use the service at the station.

    Got the “Rapid” train back, which cost a lot more and it was over an hour late! (It comes from Chiang Mai). The train station bar/restaurant chicken with fried basil leaves was surprisingly one of the finest I’ve had ever.

    On Koh Samui – I really liked the VIP rarine park speed boat tour via 100 degrees east and the buggy driving tour with a Z10 buggy (best with 2 people). Neither are cheap options but you get what you pay for and if you save money elsewhere as suggested, you can now spend the money without guilt on really great things like higher grade 4 and 5 star accommodation and awesome whole day tours such as those mentioned.

    I’m not sure if I can say Ko Pha Ngan was worth the trouble of staying there. If I was to do it again (which I won’t), I’d just go there for the day and get the boat back the same night back to Bang Rak (the jetty area on Koh Samui). The boat directly to Haad Rin from there is cheap and the quickest. People cry about the safety with the “Queen” boat but it was ok (with a few bumps and chorus of “ooohs” from the passengers. Book online and get there early to get a good seat. It really doesn’t matter if you are in a big line if you are not carrying much luggage. Make sure there is life jacket above your head and if there is water on your seat, guess who is getting wet when the boat is out to sea! You book via 12go asia. Do NOT get the giant ferry boat that takes 2 hours from Koh Samui and Thong Sala unless you are staying on the west side of Koh Samui (it’s 67km away from Chaweng! The taxi fee will be an atrocity, not to mention the time spent getting there and then 2 hours to Ko Pha Ngan!!!!)

    Value for money for accommodation on Ko Pha Ngan was really poor and you are forced to stay 3 days! If I was to do it again, I would not stay in Haad Rin. I would stay near Thong Sala, Baan Thai or elsewhere. This was the exception to the rule about accommodation and taxis. The cost-benefit tilt is definitely to have the accommodation well away from Haad Rin. The cost of the Song Thaow “taxi” from Thong Sala is 150 THB to Haad Rin. The driver will ask for 200 THB. Up to you if you want to haggle. I did once and felt a bit mean afterwards (after all it’s just 2.50 AUD difference you are fighting over, really nothing much and not worth feeling bad about yourself!)

    I would not stay on Ko Pha Ngan unless you can drive a motorbike/scooter/moped or you hire a car, because these are the best and cheapest forms of transport, particularly 2 wheel options. Taxi is not as good and much much more expensive.

    The full moon party was overcast and then rained. It was pretty ordinary I thought. Over rated. But then again, I’m not in my 20s anymore.

    The return speed boat late at night from the Eden party was, however, a “trip to remember” 🙂 Not for the faint hearted. It is not cheap either – 1000 THB. I heard there is a better party of this kind on Koh Tao and if I was to do it again, I’d stay on Koh Tao instead of Ko Pha Ngan. (I did a day trip snorkel and walk there and would not go out there for those things as a day trip – it is better to stay for a bit longer by the look of it)

    Remember to bring at least 50SPF water resistant sunscreen if you need it (80% of UV can get through clouds even when overcast and the sunscreen costs are jacked sky high in Samui), a light wide brimmed deformable hat or at least a cap, bug spray (eg 20% DEET, the mozzies loved me!). I also brought silicon ear plug putty – for perfect sleep at night if in Bangkok near a highway.

    While weed is everywhere (for now), if this is something you do, I would not take it or anything else questionable on a train. I saw some military style dudes with large dogs at times at train stations and maybe they are not just looking for durian fruit!

    I also read vapes were illegal in Thailand with one blogger practically shrieking this. I’m so glad I didn’t caution a tourist I saw using one at Chaweng beach because that evening I must have been asked about 20 times do I want to buy a vape, from people with open suitcases full of them everywhere on the main beach street. Still, given this reality, there is no need to bring one if that is your thing.

    One last tip – Covid is regarded as endemic. I reckon I was exposed to it within 24h of arrival as I had symptoms by day 4, used my RAT on day 5 and it lit up like a neon light. First time I’ve had it ever. It was mild – a few days of fatigue and lack of motivation and this was over in a few days except for a light post viral cough I still have at times. I saw quite a few tourists open mouth coughing and wondered if they knew what they had. Just so you know!

  2. Hi,

    Thank you for these tips! I am travelling soon to Thailand and was looking for some health tips. really scared of mosquito’s bites. Any advice?

  3. HI, thank you for the great article. I have been to Thailand many times and still amazed how much it has to offer. Great tips for anyone visiting Thailand. Thank you

  4. OH! Great insights I am a Thai food addict and I cook too. Whenever I think about Thailand, the first thing that comes to mind is food.

  5. Hi thank you for all the wonderful information Haven’t travelled much but planning on going to Thailand in Nov 2023, with my boyfriend. Doing as much research as possible. I don’t wanna go in not knowing or being disrespectful I really enjoyed reading the guide and your advice just makes me a bit more excited to go! found out a piece of information Id like to look into more as well thanks so much
    Kayla.

  6. Your article is very helpful, especially for the beginner. I love traveling. Thank you for sharing.

  7. Thank you very much for your helpful and educational tips!
    Adi

    • Glad you found the article helpful. Happy travels. 🙂

  8. Thank you for sharing the information, really enjoyed reading it.

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