Are you going to visit Thailand? We bring you the practical tips travelling to Thailand that every traveller should know to prepare for their trip and enjoy it without surprises
There are some tips travelling to Thailand that are worth having under control, especially if it is your first trip to this country. Some of the aspects range from the documentation that you will need to travel to Thailand to the customs, the currency, the electricity, or the gastronomy that you will find once there. They are simple things but worth knowing for a calm and perfectly planned trip.
If you would like to delve into our travel recommendations to Thailand, keep reading!
Here are some important tips travelling to Thailand:
Table of Contents
Necessary documentation
The first and most essential tips travelling to Thailand is about the documentation to enter the country. To travel to Thailand you will need your passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the day of return. If your nationality is Spanish, you do not need to process any type of visa in advance in case your stay is touristic and does not exceed 30 days.
Fortunately, there is no need to pay any entry fee to the country or exit.
If you have another nationality, please check with your embassy for the necessary documentation to enter the different countries that are part of your itinerary, including the countries where you make a stopover.
Here you have all the information in more detail to further complement our tips travelling to Thailand:
Vaccines and health
For residents in the USA, there is no compulsory vaccination. Now, if you have visited a risky country before, you will be required to have the yellow fever vaccine. This also applies even if you have only been to the airport of these countries at risk. In addition, in any case, vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, tetanus, and typhoid are normally recommended when leaving Europe.
In general, health conditions in the country are below European standards, although in large cities it is possible to receive very advanced medical care in private hospitals, requiring payment in advance. That is why one of our tips travelling to Thailand is to always take out fairly comprehensive travel assistance insurance.
In turn, the Thai Ministry of Health has warned of the high prevalence of dengue, aggravated by the onset of the rains. The largest number of cases has been recorded in the centre and north of the country. The symptoms of dengue are similar to those of the flu: fever, muscle pain, nausea, and chills. If you have a fever you should go to the doctor immediately and exclude the option of self-medicating. Taking aspirin can be dangerous.
Currency
The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht, THB (1 US dollar is equivalent to 33.50 bahts), which is divided into 100 satangs.
Currently, there are coins of 25 and 50 satangs and 1, 2, 5, and 10 baht. There are bills of 20, 50,100, 500, and 1,000 baths. It is not advisable to change US dollars for dollars since you will carry out one more operation and you will have to pay a double commission.
The use of credit cards is commonly accepted in restaurants of a certain level and hotels. You can also use it to withdraw cash from the ATM. When it comes to exchanging US dollars for bahts, you will find the best exchange rate in banks, even though almost all of them charge commissions.
If you want to know the exchange rate between the US dollar and the baht in real-time, we leave you with this website.
Idiom
The official language of Thailand is Thai or Siamese, originally from India and influenced by Sanskrit and Pali. English is understood and spoken in most hotels, restaurants, and shops in tourist centres and major cities. However, knowledge of this language among the population is limited.
Here we leave you with some words in Thai that may be useful to you during your trip:
- hi > swasdi
- goodbye > the kon
- Por favor > yin-dii
- Gracias> kop khun khrap
- Good morning / good night > sawat di khrap
- Perdón> kho thot
- Yes > chı̀
- No > mị̀
Another of our tips travelling to Thailand is to know some basic words to be able to understand yourself even better with the locals.
Religion
The religion in Thailand majority is Buddhism with 95% of followers. The Buddhism practiced in Thailand is of the Theravada school, considered by some to be the “original” teachings of the Buddha.
Many young men choose to be apprentice monks or nehn (not so common for women). It is common for them to spend 3 months in a Temple learning about the principles of Buddhism and leading the same way of life as the monks.
One of our tips travelling to Thailand is to respect any type of religion once you arrive in the country. Keep in mind that, for example, to enter the temples it is essential to go barefoot or to respect the silence. These simple manners will help you to be more integrated and not have any kind of problems when making your visits to this type of monument.
Electricity
The electric current in Thailand has a power of 220 volts and a frequency of 50 hertz. However, in this country different plugs are used; type A (two flat pins), B (three flat pins), and C (two cylindrical pins). That is why we recommend that you put an adapter in your suitcase.
Weather in Thailand
An essential piece for tips travelling to Thailand if you are wondering what to take to Thailand is to be well informed about the weather at the time of year in which you travel.
In Thailand, it is always hot. However, the country’s climate is made up of three seasons: the rainy or monsoon season (more or less from May to October), the cooler season (from November to February), and the hotter season (from March to May). ).
Thus, the best time to travel to the country would be from November to February since it is when it rains less and it is less hot, that is why it is when there are more tourists and travellers. However, if you can’t travel during this time, that’s okay, in reality, travelling during the low tourist season also has its advantages: prices are cheaper, accommodation is freer, it’s easier to find train tickets, there are offers and discounts, etc
Travelling around Thailand in the rainy or monsoon season does not have to be a problem. The rainy season is very unpredictable, and even if it rains, it rarely rains all day, but it rains for a couple of hours very hard, usually in the afternoon-night and then it stops.
In short, it is always the best time to travel to Thailand if you are looking for warmth and good weather. And if you want to go into more detail in terms of prices, the number of travellers, temperatures, precipitation, and festivals in the country.
Remember tips travelling to Thailand in the high season, it is highly recommended to book flights, accommodation, and excursions in advance, to avoid high prices and have more options available.
Thai cuisine
In our tips travelling to Thailand, a mention of Thai cuisine, a symbol of the country’s culture, could not be missing.
Thai cuisine is unique and combines many spices and ingredients that make each dish a particular delight. It is common to find dishes that combine spicy, sour, sweet, and salty flavours.
A typical Thai meal includes soup, salad, fish, rice, vegetables, and sometimes pork, chicken, or beef. Thai cuisine combines the best of Chinese and Indian culinary traditions – Chinese noodles, curries, sweet and sour dishes, and exotic spices.
Thai food can be found everywhere. From street vendors serving pad thai, Chinese noodles, or grilled meat, to the most ostentatious restaurants.
Open-air garden restaurants and riverside restaurants are laid-back places that Thais prefer for evening dining, especially in Bangkok. Menus are extensive, service is prompt, and prices, like everywhere else in Thailand, are reasonable.
In Bangkok, many hotels offer evening dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya River. The gentle breeze, candlelight, traditional music, and dance create a romantic atmosphere.
Are you interested in Thai cuisine? We give you more information about it and we explain the 12 typical dishes that you should surely try :
Shopping in Thailand
We continue with our travel recommendations to Thailand talking about the purchases you can make in the country. The most typical national products are Thai silk, antiques, woodwork, bronze sculptures, pottery (highlighting the red Dan Kwian or five-color pottery), lacquerware, ivory, paper umbrellas of rice, and precious or semi-precious stones. If you choose to acquire a gem, do it in establishments that offer you guarantees.
It is also common for tourists to get tattoos or enjoy traditional Thai massage in Buddhist temples and establishments equipped for it.
Is haggling common?
Department stores and some shops in Bangkok have fixed prices, but elsewhere haggling is generally expected and accepted.
There are no rules and depending on how both the buyer and the seller do it, the final price can be up to 30% lower than the first price offered.
An important point to keep in mind is that Thai people admire good manners and a sense of humour and tend to reject outbursts.
Customs
The customs law prohibits the introduction of more than 200 cigarettes (one carton) per person. If you exceed this amount, the fine is 467.50 baht (about 10 euros) per pack if the cigarettes are for your consumption, or 701.25 baht (about 29 euros) if they are for commercial use.
The limit of alcohol that can be brought into Thailand is one litre per person. This law applies to both travellers to Thailand and those in transit.
What to take to Thailand: packing
Are you wondering what to bring to Thailand so you can pack your luggage to perfection? Here are some tips travelling to Thailand so you can be proactive and pack exactly what you need in your suitcase.
Regardless of the time of year in which you make this trip, we advise you to take fresh and light clothing with you (cotton and linen are the ideal fabrics for the Thai climate).
If you plan to travel in January or December or plan to visit the mountainous areas in the north of the country – such as Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai – we recommend packing a long-sleeved shirt or t-shirt, as well as a light sweater or jacket for the evenings. nights when it cools down.
If you intend to visit Buddhist temples, remember that men should wear long pants and women should wear clothing that is not too short or tight. You will also always have to take off your shoes before entering a sacred precinct or a private house.
Now that you know what to take to Thailand and how to prepare your luggage, you can travel without surprises, without missing any of the essentials, and without carrying extra things in your luggage that you will not need.
Tipping in Thailand
Tips are discretionary and voluntary. They are not included in the contracted services or any circuit. Most hotels include a 10% service charge and an 11% government tax on the bill.
If you want more detailed information about customs around tips travelling to Thailand, we leave you with more information:
Thai customs
Finally, in our tips travelling to Thailand, we could not stop talking about the most common customs in the country. This, as a rule, are very kind and understanding. They do not expect foreigners to be aware of all the customs of the Thai culture. However, showing some respect is always good.
A Thai does not usually greet in the same way as a Westerner. It is not usual for them to wish you good morning or good night. They usually greet with the word s awardee and then put their palms together and lower their heads a little. This greeting is called WAI. If you are greeted in this way, it is best to return the greeting in the same way.
These simple tips travelling to Thailand will make you look great and win the sympathy of the locals.
Some last tips travelling to Thailand:
- Try to smile whenever you can. It is polite in Thai culture to smile frequently and it is never too much.
- Take off your shoes when you enter a Buddhist temple or someone’s home. Even in some stores, you have to leave your shoes at the door. These simple tips travelling to Thailand will save you from being noticed in some cases.
- Carry an identification document with you. Our recommendation to travel to Thailand is to always carry your license, passport, or driving license in case the police stop you.
- Dress appropriately. Thais pay a lot of attention to the way they dress, try to adapt to local customs, and cover themselves as much as possible.
- Be careful if you plan to drive in Thailand. Use only car rental companies that offer comprehensive insurance.
- Show great respect to the monks, and offer them your seat on the bus or boat. Remember that women cannot touch monks, please take this into account or you will find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation.
- Avoid touching someone’s head. The head is the most important thing for Thais, being the highest part of the body, and the head is sacred.
- Avoid pointing your feet at a Thai’s head.
- Avoid using a guide who approaches you on the street, even when he appears to have good credentials.
- This in general tries to keep calm and raising your voice is rude.
- Touching, scaling, or otherwise degrading a Buddha image or images of the Thai royal family is highly frowned upon.
- If you want to party, keep in mind that they usually open until 2:30 in the morning.
Here is All the important tips travelling to Thailand, happy travelling…