Going to Thailand for the first time? This is what you need to know

Will this be your first time in Thailand? Are you a bit anxious about how to prepare? It’s not as complicated as you may think. Thailand is an amazing country and very easy to travel around. It’s easy to navigate, it’s safe and traveller-friendly. You will love it, I guarantee. However, it’s best to do some research first and find out how to prepare before you travel for the first time to Thailand. In this post you will find the best and most reliable information from a person, who lived there and travels there every year.

When I first went to Thailand I was really stressed. This was my first trip to Asia and I had no idea what to expect. I remember I took a backpack that was packed to the rim and I took things I really didn’t need. The total weight of it was 25 kgs! That was way too much!

Your plan for your first trip to Thailand

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I was also very scared and went through culture shock. Back then I got my information from paper guide books. There weren’t that many blogs that talked about the country.

Now, it’s a bit easier and you can find lots of information online. My blog will help you to prepare for your first trip to Thailand and make the whole experience much more pleasurable.

When is the best time to visit?

To me the best time to visit Thailand is in the winter – from December until March. First of all, the weather in Europe is not great, so it’s nice to get out and travel to Asia, but also the weather in Thailand is good.

During this time you can visit Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the north and the East of Thailand – best islands are Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak.

Other months are also great. It’s Thailand, so there are always some areas where it doesn’t rain.

From April till November visit the West of the country. This part includes Prachuap Khiri Khan and Hua Hin.

From December till March the area of the Andaman Sea is the best to visit, which includes places like Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, or Phuket.

Having a rough plan helps

A lot of travellers to Thailand like to go and see different places. You don’t need to have an exact plan, but if you are there for 2-3 weeks, then having one helps a lot, so you don’t need to waste your time looking for transportation or accommodation. Here you will find my suggested plan for visiting Thailand for the first time.

Think about your visa

For many countries there is no visa requirements. At the moment you can arrive in Thailand and get a stamp at the airport that allows you to stay for 30 days. After 30 days, or just before, you can leave the country by air and go back in, but you can only do it once per calendar year. If you’d like to stay longer, you can go to an immigration office and get another extension for another 30 days.

If you’re planning to stay long, you’ll need a visa. There are different types of visas, including 60-day visa for tourists, which you can also extend. To get a tourist visa, you should apply outside of Thailand online. To get it, you will need a return flight ticket, booking of your accommodation for the first few nights as well as your passport and a passport photo. The process is quite straight forward and you should get your e-visa by email in a couple of days.

Buy insurance

Having travel insurance is required when applying for a visa and I’d encourage you to buy it, even if you’re not applying for it. This will protect you in case your flight is cancelled, delayed, or something happened to your luggage. It will also be useful if you have an accident.

I always use Safetywing as it suits my needs and the customer service is great. Another good one is Genki, which is targeted towards digital nomads, but it will suit also other types of travellers.

One month before – get vaccinated

There are no requirements for people to get vaccinated. From 1.10.22 you don’t even need the Covid certificate. However, you are going to a place where you haven’t been before and your body might not be immune to certain things. Have a look at my advice on vaccinations to Thailand.

You don’t really need malaria tablets

If this is your first time in Thailand, you might wonder about malaria and other serious diseases. Thailand doesn’t have a huge problem with malaria. It only occurs in less developed areas. I was told my a nurse that if I don’t go there, I won’t need the tablets and as they cause some side effects, I chose not to take them.

I’m not a doctor, so I will can’t give you a medical advice. If you’re not sure, ask your GP about it. Here you will find some more information about malaria.

More serious is dengue fever. It’s more common and you can get it even in Bangkok. You can cure it and recover from it, but it needs to be diagnosed and treated. Untreated dengue fever can cause serious health risks.

To avoid getting dengue, cover your body at night with some light clothing – long pants and long sleeves. Use mosquito sprays and nets, if they are available in your hotel.

Prepare your first aid kit

Hospitals and pharmacies in Thailand are very developed and well-stocked. You really don’t need to take all medications with you. I usually take:

• painkillers like Ibuprofen
• plasters
• something to disinfect
• diarrhoea medication

When I’m in Thailand I buy tiger balm, which helps with mosquito bites. I sometimes buy antihistamine tablets as well, if I come up with an allergy.
You really don’t need anything else and if you do, you can always buy it there.

Pack light

Some people like to take their whole wardrobe. If that’s something you like, go ahead, but I think there’s no need to pack a lot of things. I normally take:

• 2 bikinis
• 2 pair of shorts
• a few tops
• flip-flops
• trainers
• long jeans
• 2 long-sleeved jumpers

The last two things I take because I normally go to Chiang Mai in the cold season.
If you’re going in the rainy season, then pack a waterproof jacket and an umb

Getting there

Your first time in Thailand will most likely start from Bangkok. The capital city has two airports and most international flights land in Savanabhumi Airport. However, there are tour agencies and some airlines that have connections with other places, such as Phuket and Chiang Mai.

There are plenty of airlines flying to Thailand. My favourite ones are Quatar and Emirates. Turkish Airlines are also great. I heard good things about China Airways, but haven’t tried them yet.

In recent times the flight ticket prices to Thailand are very high and it’s difficult to find something reasonable. I usually go on Skyscanner and use the flexible dates option, which gives me the best possible prices.

When flying to Thailand, you will need your passport valid for at least another 6 months with at least one clear page. Take your e-visa with you, if you applied for one. I normally print it out as I’m not sure if they accept this document on a mobile. If you don’t have a visa and you can enter the country on a visa exemption, then you don’t need anything else.

What about your accommodation?

Before your first time in Thailand, you might want to plan and organise everything before you go. I think it’s not a bad idea, but leaving some space for being spontaneous is good, too.

I normally book the first two nights in Bangkok since I always want to explore some hidden gems, like Koh Kret. Before I go, I always know where I want to go after, but I normally have a few option, which I choose once I’m there. A day before I go, I book transport and then I book a hotel on Booking.com.

You can choose to do it differently and book everything in advance. It’s personal preference.

A good thing is that accommodation in Thailand is not only affordable, but also widely available and you can get a room anywhere you go, even in less known destinations.

Money and payments

The currency in Thailand is Thai Baht. I never take any cash with me. I have my Revolut card and take money out of an ATM.

Withdrawing money costs 220 BHT each time. That’s why I take out the maximum amount, normally 20.000 THB. Revolut doesn’t charge me for those withdraws. Your banks might have some extra charges.

At the markets and in small shops you can’t pay with cards. That’s why having cash is always good. In bigger shops, supermarkets and hotels cards are accepted. Find out more about payments in Thailand here.

Which places to visit during your first trip to Thailand?

There are plenty of places to visit in Thailand and it will be hard to choose something for the first time. Here’s my suggestion:

1. Bangkok – don’t spend too much time there. Maybe 2-3 nights maksimum will be enough. Visit Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, drink a beer on Khao San Road and party on one of the rooftops.
2. Chiang Mai – from Bangkok fly to Chiang Mai. The flights are direct from Don Mueang Airport with AirAsia and cost very little. Once there, visit a nice coffee shop, eat some good food, visit a market and get out of the city to see some nature. Don’t forget that I have an ebook guide to Chiang Mai, which will help you to plan your time there. You will need around 4 nights to enjoy most of it.
3. The islands – it depends on the time you’re going. Based on the time, choose your base. You can either go to Koh Samui and then travel to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, or stay in Ao Nang and make trips to nearby areas, such as Railey Beach.

If you have time, you can also visit:

• Ayutthaya – it’s a one day trip from Bangkok. You don’t need to spend a night there.
• Sukothai – which is an ancient capital of Siam and a smaller version of Ayutthaya.
• Kanchanaburi – with its Erawan Waterfall, nature and some of the best train rides, it’s a travellers paradise.

Download my free PDF for your first time in Thailand, which will help you with planning.

Getting around

Thailand is super easy to get around. The transportation is not that hard to get your head around it.

A lot of places have their own airport. Check on AirAsia if there are connections you’re after.

There is also an extensive network of buses and trains. You can go to a lot of places overland. The tickets are super cheap. Travelling by sleeper trains or buses is normally safe and it’s an experience. If you want something comfortable, go for the 1st class. Otherwise, pay less and take a trip without aircon.

You can book tickets in advance, which I would suggest doing. Some routes get booked up quickly. Find your connections on 12GoAsia.

There are lots of ferries and boats connections between the islands. However, they destinations need to be close to each other. If they are on the opposite end of the country, or on the other side of the peninsula, you will need to get somewhere closer and then change.

Find your boat connections on 12GoAsia.

Read about the culture

Thai culture is totally different from cultures in other countries. Read about it, find out as much as you can and follow the general rules. Thais usually forgive foreigners if they do something that is not accepted, but some of the cultural norms are very strict. It’s really worth reading up on it.

During your first trip to Thailand, you should remember to:

• Always respect the Thai King. – Lese majeste in Thailand is one of the strictest in the world. Anything can be taken as an offense, including stepping, or not respecting Thai money, or writing something bad about the Royal Family on a Facebook group. For offending the King and his family you might end up in prison for 15 years!
• Always respect temples, monks and Buddha. – No one will force you to kneel and pray in front of a Buddha image, but please cover your arms and knees before you enter the temple. If you’re a woman, don’t approach monks and don’t touch them.
• Not to argue with anyone or offend them. – Try not to get into any fights. Thais don’t like to lose face.
• Not to write bad reviews. – Recently some foreigners were accused of bringing a bad name to hotels for which they wrote a bad review. The owners sued them and they might win. It’s best not to write bad reviews until after you’re back in your own country.
• Smile and take it easy. – Thais don’t like direct conflicts and they usually sort their problems out with a smile. Remember that some things here are chaotic and take time. Just relax and go with the flow.

Thai language – What you should know?

Thai language is quite difficult. The grammar is not hard at all, but the vocabulary and the tones make it quite hard to learn. Don’t worry, though. Thai people know this and are very forgiving if you don’t know how to speak Thai.

It’s a good idea to learn a couple of things before you go. The basics include:

• Thank you – Khop khun ka (ka – if you’re a female, krap – if you’re a male)
• Hello – Sawadee ka/krap
• No problem/it’s nothing – Mai bpen rai
• Excuse me/I’m sorry – katod na ka/krap
• How much is it? – Tao rai ka/krap?
• I don’t understand – Mai khao jai, ka/krap
• I don’t speak Thai – Chan (female)/Pom (male) mai put pasaa Thai

Thailand is safe. Don’t stress.

Thailand is a really safe country. Of course, bad things might happen, like everywhere, but in general it’s a very tourist-friendly place. So, don’t worry. Just pay attention to your surroundings and don’t stress too much.

There you go – these are the most important thing to think about before your first time in Thailand. I hope I helped and you’re a bit less anxious and more excited about the trip. Go and enjoy it. I’m sure you’ll have an unforgettable time!