Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

Planning a trip to Thailand? Whether you're heading to bustling Bangkok, relaxing on the beaches of Phuket, or exploring Chiang Mai’s temples, Thailand promises unforgettable experiences. But before you take off, there are a few important things to know when traveling to Thailand. This guide offers essential Thailand travel tips and advice, covering everything from safety to cultural etiquette—so you can enjoy your trip with confidence.

CAPITAL
Bangkok

LANGUAGE
Thai is the official language of Thailand

RELIGION
Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country (approx. 95% of the population). Minority religions include Islam and Christianity.

LOCAL TIME
The standard time for Thailand is calculated from Bangkok. Indochina Time (ICT) is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts - sockets are usually two-pronged flat pin (i.e. America style but without the earth wire) or two-pronged round pin used in Europe.

PASSPORT & VISA

A passport valid for 6 months is required by all nationalities. Many nationalities can obtain a free Thai visa valid for 30 days on arrival by air but it is important that you check to ensure your country is included. Visa requirements can and do change without notice so please contact your closest Thai consulate or embassy for current advice before you travel.

All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour.  Passports are required; in addition, travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). Baht (THB; symbol ฿) = 100 satang. Notes are in denominations of ฿1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of ฿10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 satang.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Credit cards:

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are found in all major cities and almost all provincial banks.

ATM:
ATMs are found in all major cities and almost all provincial banks.

Banking hours:
Mon-Fri 0830-1530.

Currency exchange:

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks (which have the best rates), hotels (which charge high commissions) and bureaux de changes can be found in larger towns (generally open 0800-2000). Outside large towns and tourist areas, notes higher than B500 may be difficult to exchange, so visitors are advised to carry small change.

Social conventions:

Western visitors will generally receive a handshake on the meeting. A Thai will be greeted with the traditional closed hands and a slight bow of the head - the wai. Buddhist monks are always greeted in this way.

The Thai Royal Family is regarded with an almost religious reverence. Visitors should respect this. It is very bad manners to make public displays of anger, as Thais regard such behavior as boorish and a loss of 'face'. Public displays of affection between men and women are also frowned upon.

When visiting temples, dress conservatively - women particularly should wear long skirts or trousers, have their shoulders and knees covered, and should not wear sandals.  Many temples state as you enter that photography is not allowed.  Even if there is no sign, please be respectful and consider whether it is appropriate to be taking flash photography of a place of worship.  Even more so if monks are present worshipping!

Always remove your shoes when entering temples (same rule if entering a person’s home) do not sit with your feet towards the Buddha - sit either cross-legged or with your feet tucked behind you.  In many Asian cultures, the feet are considered the lowest, dirtiest part of the body, and the head the highest.  Hence do not point to things with your feet, hold doors open with your feet, point your feet to the Buddha images, point at or touch peoples' heads, or under any circumstance (especially women), touch a monk.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard wearing and easily washed. Thailand has a tropical climate and therefore the weather is generally warm to hot all year round. However, the weather in the north and particularly in the hill tribe areas can become quite cool at night especially between December and February. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. Fleece can be invaluable. You should bear in mind that Thailand has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote areas. Most Thais always look neat and clean, and scruffiness not only looks out of place but is also considered an insult. Women, and also to certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women. The issue is not nearly of such importance in ‘touristy’ areas, such as the coastal areas and beaches, where you can be just about as casual as you like. Make sure you bring lots of clothing that covers shoulders and knees (for time away from the beach) and also at least one outfit which covers your legs to ankles and your arms past the elbows. In certain areas and religious sites, such as temples or wats, your guide may ask you to dress conservatively. Out of respect for local values, we ask that you follow your guides advice at all times.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Telephone:

A popular way to call overseas is through a service called Home Country Direct, which is available at various post offices and CAT centers in towns and cities. It offers an easy connection to international operators in many different countries. Some accommodation places will have a mobile or landline that customers can use for a per-minute fee for overseas calls. Public phones are not recommended as they are often on noisy main streets.

Mobile phone:

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. There is good coverage, especially around main towns.

Internet:
There are plenty of internet cafés, some even found in remote areas visited by tourists.

Post office hours:
The General Post Office in Bangkok (on Charoen Krung Road) is open Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat-Sun and holidays 0800-1300. Post offices up-country are open Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0900-1200.

Media:

While the government and military control nearly all the national terrestrial TV networks and operate many of Thailand's radio networks, the print media is largely privately run. Many daily and weekly Thai newspapers are available, including Thairath. The English-language dailies are Bangkok Post and The Nation.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Thailand is situated between the tropics and therefore experiences warm/hot weather all year round. The northern half of the country has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season lasts from November until April and the wet season stretches from May to October. Additionally, it’s important to note that in the mountainous areas of the far north, temperatures can drop as low as 7 degrees Celsius at night between December and February, so warm clothing is required if you are traveling to hill tribe areas at this time. Conversely, the southern part of Thailand has an equatorial climate, is never cool and experiences rainfall (usually in short, heavy showers) throughout the year. The heaviest rainfall occurs on the eastern side from November until April and on the western side from May to October.

Northern Thailand – Chiang Mai: (approx)

Central Thailand - Bangkok: (approx)

Southern Thailand - Phuket: (approx)

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 0.50-1
• Light meal - $US 1- 2.50
• Fancy restaurant - $US 5-50

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water - $US 0.12
• 30cl bottle of the soft drink - $US 0.20
• 60cl bottle of local beer - $US 1.50

It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Thailand. Use only bottled or boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth. Bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, and fruit juices are widely available throughout the region.

FOOD

Thai cuisine has established itself as one of the worlds finest and has, therefore, become somewhat of an international favorite. It has a very distinctive style, combining individual characteristics with influences from Chinese, Lao, Malay, and even Indian cuisine but contrary to popular belief, it is not always hot and spicy. Freshness is of paramount importance in Thai cooking, so ingredients are bought fresh from the local market on a daily basis. Meals usually include rice or noodles as staples along with a vast array of vegetables, seafood, or meats like chicken, duck, beef, and pork. You’ll also find that fish sauce, chopped red chilies, and sweet chili sauce condiments accompany almost every meal. Those who like a bit of a 'kick' to their food will love dishes like tom yum (prawn) soup, green and red curries with coconut milk and spicy green papaya salad (a specialty of the north) or Pak Bung a vegetable dish that explodes in a ball of flame when thrown into a hot wok. There are also plenty of mild but flavorsome dishes such as yellow curry, meat, and seafood dishes flavored with ginger and garlic or pad thai, a popular fried noodle dish with vegetables, meat or seafood, and crushed peanuts. The Thais also like to snack a lot so food stalls can be found everywhere selling delicacies like satay, barbecued meats and seafood, deep fried spring rolls, steamed dumplings, and noodle soup.

Thai food is traditionally fairly hot and spicy, but most tourist restaurants tend to tone down the heat for the more fragile Western palate. Most Thai food is prepared with fresh ingredients such as lemongrass and coriander and rice is commonly eaten with most meals. Popular fruits are papaya, jackfruit, mangosteens, rambutans, pomelos (similar to grapefruits) and, above all, durians, which farangs (foreigners) either love or hate. The thorny fruits have a rather malodorous scent which has even resulted in many hotels banning them from their premises.

Excellent food can be found at the stalls of the many street vendors around the country as well as top-notch eateries.

Specialties:

• Tom yam (a coconut-milk soup prepared with makroot leaves, ginger, lemongrass, prawns or chicken).
• Gang pet (hot 'red' curry with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chili, shrimp paste, coriander, and seasoning).
• Pad Thai (stir-fried rice-noodles) served with shrimp or chicken and garnished with peanuts.
• Desserts include Salim (sweet noodles in coconut milk).
• Well worth trying is sticky rice and mangoes (rice cooked in coconut milk served with slices of mango).

Regional drinks:

• Mekhong (local whiskey) and SamSong (rum) are very popular.
• Singha and Singha Gold are locally made beers which dominate the domestic market.
• Coconut milk straight from the shell during the harvest season is particularly refreshing in the heat and humidity.

Tipping

Tipping is not generally expected in Thailand. The exception is loose change from a large restaurant bill; if a meal costs 488B and you pay with a 500B note, some Thais will leave the 12B change. It’s not so much a tip as a way of saying ‘I’m not so money grubbing as to grab every last baht’. Apart from this, it is not customary to leave behind the change if it is less than 10B.

At many hotel restaurants or other upmarket eateries, a 10% service charge will be added to your bill. When this is the case, tipping is not expected. Bangkok has adopted some standards of tipping, especially in restaurants frequented by foreigners.

Bear in mind that the majority of workers in the hospitality and service industries in Thailand earn very little, so a small tip goes a long way and will generally bring out extra enthusiastic service (they'll remember you too).

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.          

FAQs: Things to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

1. Is Thailand a good place to visit?

Yes! Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world—thanks to its stunning beaches, vibrant street food, welcoming locals, and rich cultural heritage. It's ideal for solo travelers, families, backpackers, and luxury seekers alike.

2. Is Thailand safe for tourists?

Generally, yes—Thailand is considered safe for tourists. Violent crime is rare, but petty theft (like pickpocketing) can happen in crowded areas. Stick to well-lit areas at night, use registered taxis or ride-share apps, and avoid political demonstrations.

3. What are the most useful Thailand travel tips?

• Respect local customs—dress modestly when visiting temples.
• Don’t touch anyone’s head (it's considered sacred).
• Remove your shoes before entering homes or temples.
• Carry cash—many smaller places don’t accept cards.

 

4. What are the top Thailand travel tips and advice for first-time visitors?

• Learn basic Thai phrases—they go a long way.
• Use metered taxis or trusted apps like Grab.
• Avoid drinking tap water—stick to bottled water.
• Don’t over-plan—Thailand rewards flexibility and spontaneous discoveries.

 

5. What are the things to know before traveling to Thailand?

• Thailand has a tropical climate—light, breathable clothes are ideal.
• The currency is Thai Baht (THB), and ATMs are widely available.
• The monarchy is deeply respected—never speak negatively about it.
• The country drives on the left-hand side.

 

6. What are the things to know when going to Thailand during festival season?

During Songkran (Thai New Year) in April, expect water fights and widespread celebrations. During Loy Krathong in November, cities are filled with lanterns and floating offerings. Book accommodation early and expect crowds.

7. What are the key things to know when traveling to Thailand as a tourist?

• Be cautious with street food—start with cooked items if you have a sensitive stomach.
• Always carry a copy of your passport.
• Tipping isn’t mandatory but appreciated in restaurants and for services.
• Respect Buddhist customs—never point your feet toward Buddha images.