With its welcoming beaches, stunning temples, delicious food, unique wildlife, and premium shopping opportunities, the Land of Smiles is on millions of people’s bucket lists. But how do you start planning your dream vacation? 

A little bigger than California, but smaller than Texas, Thailand has something to offer for everyone. Looking for luxury shopping, beautiful temples, riverboat trips, and cultural enrichment? You can easily stay in Bangkok for your entire trip and find plenty to do. Love mountains, hiking, and lush jungle landscape? Chiang Mai is a great choice, and you’ll still get luxury shopping and beautiful temples. Want to relax on the beach, snorkel and scuba dive? Down south, there are multiple islands and beach towns to choose from. The options are overwhelming, but don’t worry; whatever you choose, you’ll form delightful memories that you’ll be talking about for years. First, you must choose a region of Thailand to explore: 

Needs an Interactive Map or Drop Down Menu of regions to click on.

• Northern Thailand
  • Chiang Mai
  • Chiang Rai
• Northeastern Thailand
  • National Parks (26)
• Central Thailand
  • Bangkok
    • Cooking School
    • Museums
    • Jim Thompson House
    • Erawan Museum 
    • Train Market
    • Floating Market
    • Muy Thai tickets
    • Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise
    • Long Tail Boat Canal Cruise
    • Temple Tour
    • Food Tour
    • Chinatown walking tour
    • Elephant sanctuary
    • Cabaret
    • Bike Tour
    • Death Railway & Hellfire Pass (Bridge of the River Kwai)
  • Pattaya
    • Sanctuary of Truth Temple Tour
  • Ayutthaya
• Southern Thailand
  • Phuket
  • Krabi
    • Rock climbing
    • Kayaking
  • Koh Samui
    • Pig Island
  • Koh Tao
    • Scuba diving

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get around Thailand?

Thailand has three seasons: wet, cool, and hot. While most people prefer to come while it’s cool, each season has its charms. 

The wet season runs from May to October, with most of the rain coming in September and October. Typically it will rain every day, almost at the same time of day, but it can be unpredictable. The humidity builds between showers to just under 80% and temperatures reach about 29C. When the rain comes there is a lot of it. Umbrellas are of no use; the roads flood easily. But when it rains, it’s awesome to behold, and the air is clean, clear, and cool when it’s done. Prices on hotels are also more reasonable during this time of year and there are fewer tourists at the local attractions. If you want a quieter vacation and enjoy watching rain, this is the time to come.

The cool season is from November to February, and is the most comfortable time to be in Thailand. Average temps are about 24C, and can drop to 20C at night and the humidity drops to about 70%. If you come from a warm climate, you might even want a light sweater at night. This is the time to do some sightseeing in the city or go on hikes in one of the parks. Thailand also goes all-in for Christmas, celebrating from November to the end of January. You’ll enjoy lots of beautiful decorations and performances at the malls and parks. Because of the relatively mild weather, this is the time when most tourists come to Thailand for vacation. Prices for hotels will go up, and attractions will be more crowded. 

The hot season goes from March to May; temperatures average 34C but can go up to 40C and humidity ranges from 70% to 75%. With the increase in temperature and humidity, you are almost guaranteed to sweat through your shirt while sightseeing. This is the ideal time to go south to one of the beach towns or an island. It may be hot and humid, but at least you can cool off in the ocean. Hotel prices are a bit more reasonable, and there are fewer tourists. If you can, try to schedule your trip so you’re here over April 13th-16th for Songkran. This is Thailand’s traditional Thai New Year; a time of symbolic cleansing, reverence, and good fortune. What was once a quiet tradition of pouring scented water over the heads of buddha statues and the hands of monks has now evolved into a nation-wide water fight complete with water guns. Just step outside, and you will be blessed with good fortune by a group of teens with a bucket of water from the back of a passing pickup truck. 

How do I get around Thailand?

The roads are congested at all times of day or night, but traveling around Thailand is relatively easy. Coming off the plane, many hotels in Bangkok offer pick up service, but you can also rent a car right outside customs or take a taxi or Grab. Within Bangkok itself, the BTS Skytrain is clean, fast, air-conditioned, and will take you all over the city and even to some of its suburbs. It is also easy to hire a driver to take you on short trips outside of Bangkok, like to Ayutthaya or Pattaya, or to local attractions like Dream World, Safari World, or a nearby elephant sanctuary.   If you’re traveling outside of Central Thailand, to Chiang Mai or down south to a beach town, you can get there by plane, or train, or you can hire a driver or rent a car and drive yourself, depending on your time and preferences. It is also easy for tourists to rent small motorcycles in Thailand; this choice is particularly popular outside of Bangkok. 

What should I eat?

If you consider yourself a Foodie, you’re going to love visiting Thailand! In fact, you might even consider a culinary tour or cooking class as part of your vacation.  Thoughtful Thai chefs skillfully balance 5 tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and umami, and you can best experience this by eating family style from a variety of dishes with a group of people.   But if you’re eating by yourself, fried rice, pad Thai, pad see ew, noodle soups, and pad kra pao are excellent choices. Just be sure to let your server know if you can’t handle spice! Click here to learn more about ordering Thai food. 

One of the best things about eating in Thailand is the fruit! The pineapple here is some of the sweetest in the world, and if you can find the mini pineapple, it’s like eating candy. Keep an eye out for fruit vendors. They pop up all over the cities, and sell freshly cut fruit in small bags that you can take with you as you walk and shop. You can also buy precut fruit at grocery stores that you’ll find at the bottom of shopping malls in Bangkok. Papaya, watermelon, mango, and pineapple are of course easily recognizable favorites, but be sure to try others as well. Rose apple tastes like a cross between an apple and a cucumber and is crisp and refreshing. Mangosteen is creamy and tastes a bit like a banana and raspberry. Because many of these fruits are difficult to transport, you’ll only find them in southern and southeast Asian countries, and with such reasonable prices, it’s worth it to experiment.

But not everybody is an adventurous eater. In smaller cities, like Krabi or Hat Yai, you might struggle, but in Bangkok, there are restaurant options from all over the world. You may have to take the Skytrain to get there, but rest assured, on Google maps, you can find an authentic Ethiopian restaurant just as easily as a Starbucks or a McDonalds. There are even vegan and gluten free restaurants if you have food restrictions. 

Can I drink the water?

You’ll hear lots of mixed messages about whether or not the tap water here is drinkable. There are plenty of people online saying that they drink the tap water with no ill effects, but in general, Thai people do not drink their tap water. However, they will use it to brush their teeth, wash dishes, and clean fruits and vegetables. 

As a tourist, you can generally follow this same plan system. At hotels, you will usually get a couple of complimentary bottles every day, and you can buy it at your closest convenience store. If you have a strong, moral outrage to bottled water, you should plan on bringing and using a filtration system that you trust. 

I ate/drank something and now I have food poisoning. What do I do? 

It’s very common to get food poisoning in Thailand, ranging from a mild case of diarrhea for one day, to full-blown E. Coli that requires hospitalization. For a mild case, you can see a pharmacist and explain the situation; they will likely give you charcoal tablets as well as medicine to relieve your symptoms. Ask the pharmacist for packets of electrolytes, stay hydrated, and eat bland food, like boiled rice, bananas, and toast. If you’ve got a very high fever, you have bloody diarrhea, or your symptoms have lasted for 3 days, it’s time to see a doctor. Don’t worry, they’ve likely handled multiple cases of food poisoning that day, and they will get you fixed up right away. Medical treatment in Thailand is surprisingly cheap and the care is excellent.

How do I communicate while I’m in Thailand?

It is very easy to get around Thailand using only English. In the big tourism hubs, like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, most Thai people that you interact with will speak English well enough for you to communicate. And most signage for directions, buildings, hospitals, and restaurants will be in both English and Thai. And now that most smart phones come equipped with a translation app, it’s easier than ever to communicate with anyone you meet. 

While most cell phone providers have a roaming plan, it’s best to avoid those charges if you can. There is free wi-fi service at most shopping malls and restaurants if you need to use the internet or make a call. But, it’s also very easy to get an e-sim card installed on your phone when you get here. You can buy an e-sim at the airport upon arrival, or at your closest convenience store and install it yourself. Or you can go to one of the numerous malls and find a mobile operator like AIS, DTAC, or TrueMove and have them install it on your phone for you. Just remember that you’ll need to bring your passport with you in order to purchase an e-sim. 

In Thailand, most communication happens through WhatsApp or Line.  You can often make reservations for restaurants and beauty services this way. Be sure to create an account for yourself on both apps. 

How do I pay for things in Thailand?

The best way to pay for things in Thailand is with cash. You can use an ATM at any bank to withdraw money from your US bank account; there will of course be a fee. Most hotels, department stores, and large restaurants also take VISA and MasterCard, and some take AMEX; these businesses will often charge a 3% fee for using a credit card. To avoid extra fees, you should exchange your cash when you’re in Thailand. You can exchange money at the airport upon arrival, at banks, and at local exchange offices. 

How much should I expect to spend during my vacation?

The average daily wage for a Thai person is about $9.00 USD. If you’re on a strict budget, it’s very easy to travel in Thailand. Street food can cost as little as $0.90 USD  and you can stay in a hostel for as little as $10 USD per night. In Bangkok, the regular bus, (cream & red) costs around 8 THB, or $0.25 USD. But you get what you pay for. Your street food might give you food poisoning, your hostel might be infested with cockroaches and rats, and your (non-air conditioned and overcrowded) bus may take an hour to travel 5 miles. As you plan your trip to Thailand, you’ll want to consider your comfort level and decide where you want to save and splurge. 

Services are cheap in Thailand. You can get a 2-hour Thai massage for $18.00 USD, and a gel manicure or pedicure runs around $15 to $30 USD. You can get a serving of Pad Thai for less than $3.00 USD, and a Thai iced coffee for less than $2.00 USD. If you’re only staying in Bangkok, at a reasonably priced hotel, you can stay here for very little money and save your money for activities and travel within Thailand.

While it is not required or expected that you tip in Thailand, if you can afford it, it is nice to do. Remember, the average Thai person is only making $9 a day. So, if you can, leave your coins behind when you get the change from your bill at the restaurant, tip your cleaning staff at your hotel every time they clean, and for each bag that a porter carries: usually 20 THB ($0.60 USD) is sufficient. For services like a massage, manicure, pedicure, or hair styling 10-15% is reasonable and appreciated. 

Where should I go shopping?

Thailand is known for its world-class shopping experience. Depending on what you count as a mall, Bangkok has up to 575 of them as of January 2025, each with hundreds of stores for everyone’s price point. Malls are a great way to escape the heat and humidity. Each floor is organized by the type of shop: clothing, electronics, restaurants, beauty services, etc. Almost all of them have a movie theater on the top floor featuring Thai movies and global blockbusters and many of them also have an arcade and bowling alleys on the top floor as well.  On weekends and in the evenings, you’ll often see music and dance performances on the ground floor. Then in the basement, you’ll usually find a grocery store, food court, and independent vendors selling handicrafts and food. 

If you’re looking for a more authentic shopping experience, you won’t want to miss the outdoor markets. Depending on your schedule, you can visit a morning or night market, or go to Chatuchak for the weekend market. Prices are usually cheaper than the mall, and you can bargain with shop owners for a better price. Be sure to bring cash and comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for the heat and crowds. Here you can find food, clothes, toys, electronics, wood carvings, pottery, paintings, live animals, home decor…you name it, it’s probably there. 

If you come to Thailand to shop, you should definitely consider buying a bespoke item of clothing. There are tailors of varying quality all over the major cities, so be sure to look at online reviews before you decide where you will go. These tailors will typically specialize in businessattire for men and women and will have fashion magazines for you to look at as well as beautifully soft wool wool, cotton, and linen fabric, suitable for the heat or the cold depending on where you live. If you’re looking for something a bit more casual, you will find that most are able to make silk bathrobes and cotton or linen sundresses as well. If you’re always struggling to find clothes that fit in your home country, you should definitely look for a tailor while you’re here. You can even bring pictures on your phone if there’s something specific that you’re looking for. Go at the beginning of your trip so the tailor has time to make everything that you’re looking for, and be prepared to pay a 50% deposit when you make your order. There will usually be one fitting. The sewing takes place outside of the shop, so schedule a time when you will come in for your fitting and call or text before you leave for the shop so that your clothes will be there when you come in to try them on. 

What should I do if I have an emergency?

As a tourist, there are two numbers that you should know in case of emergencies: 

Medical Emergency: 1669

Tourist Police: 1155

Operators can speak English and Thai and will contact the appropriate emergency services to get you the help you need. Keep in mind that like in any big city, response time may be slow. 

Stay calm and assess the situation. 

If you have a medical problem, but only need first aid, look around first. There may be a police officer nearby that can help. If you can use a taxi or Grab to safely get to a nearby hospital, that will be your best option. If you have a medical emergency and you think you need an ambulance, call right away. 

The tourist police are a special unit of the Royal Thai Police Force. They are multi-lingual and are specifically there to uphold the law when the victim or the accused is a foreigner. If you need the assistance of a police officer, these are the people to call.