Thailand travel essentials
SIMs, cash, transport, culture and etiquette — the practical travel layer.
Money: the Thai baht and cash culture
The currency is the **Thai baht (THB / ฿)**, divided into 100 satang. Notes come in 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht; coins in 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. Thailand is still heavily cash-based for street food, markets, taxis, songthaews, small shops and rural areas, so always carry some cash. The baht is legal tender and prices are quoted in baht. Keep small notes for vendors who rarely have change for 1,000s. Dedicated exchange counters (such as SuperRich) usually offer better rates than airport and hotel desks.
ATMs, cards and foreign-card fees
ATMs are everywhere, but Thai banks charge a fixed **foreign-card withdrawal fee** per transaction on top of your home bank's fees, so it is cheaper to withdraw larger amounts less often. Credit and debit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted in hotels, malls, supermarkets and mid-to-upscale restaurants, but small vendors, local eateries and many smaller island shops are cash-only. Always carry a backup card and some cash. Notify your home bank of travel to avoid blocks, and decline the 'pay in your home currency' (DCC) option at terminals — paying in baht is usually cheaper.
PromptPay and QR payments
**PromptPay** is Thailand's national instant-payment system, letting people send baht between bank accounts using a phone number, national ID, or a scanned QR code. Paired with the universal **Thai QR code** standard, it means even street vendors and market stalls often accept payment by scanning a QR with a banking app. It normally requires a Thai bank account, so it's mainly relevant to expats and long-stayers; most tourists rely on cash and cards. Some international wallets are beginning to support scanning Thai QR codes.
Connectivity: SIMs and eSIMs
Thailand has cheap, fast, widely available mobile data. The main networks are **AIS and True** (True merged with dtac in 2023; the merged carrier kept the True name), plus the state-owned **NT (National Telecom)**. You can buy a physical tourist SIM at the airport, at 7-Eleven, or network shops (passport required to register), or load a **travel eSIM** before you arrive if your phone supports it. Tourist data packages typically bundle generous data for a week or a month. AIS and True generally have the broadest coverage, including on islands like Koh Samui. Wi-Fi is common in cafes, hotels and malls.
Inter-region transport: domestic flights
Thailand is large, and domestic flights are the fastest way between regions — Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui takes roughly 1–1.5 hours versus many hours by road. Bangkok has two airports: **Suvarnabhumi (BKK)** and **Don Mueang (DMK)**, the latter being the budget-airline hub — leave plenty of time if transferring between them. Koh Samui has its own boutique airport (USM), built and operated by **Bangkok Airways**, which runs most of its flights. Budget carriers such as AirAsia, Thai Lion, Thai Vietjet and Nok Air keep fares low when booked ahead, mostly out of Don Mueang.
Inter-region transport: trains and buses
The **State Railway of Thailand** runs long-distance lines from Bangkok north to Chiang Mai, northeast to Isaan, and south toward the Malaysian border; overnight sleeper trains are a comfortable, scenic option, with second-class air-con sleepers popular among travellers. Long-distance **VIP and air-con buses** reach almost everywhere, are inexpensive, and often run overnight. For islands like Koh Samui, combined bus-and-ferry or train-and-ferry tickets are sold as a single through-fare. Government buses leave from official terminals; be wary of cheap 'tourist' minibuses with poor safety records.
Inter-region transport: ferries and islands
Thailand's islands are reached by ferry. For the Gulf islands, ferries run from the mainland piers around **Donsak (Surat Thani)** to **Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao**, operated by lines such as Seatran, Raja and Lomprayah; Samui-to-Phangan/Tao hops are short and frequent. Andaman-coast islands (Phi Phi, Lanta, Phuket) have their own ferry and speedboat networks. Seas are roughest and some services reduce in the monsoon months. Combined transfer tickets (flight/bus/train plus ferry plus transfer) simplify island travel.
Health: pharmacies and minor care
Pharmacies (look for the green cross, and chains such as **Boots, Watsons and Fascino**) are plentiful, and Thai pharmacists are knowledgeable and often speak some English. Many common medications are available over the counter, though it's wiser to see a doctor for anything serious. Bring enough of your own prescription medication plus a copy of the prescription, since exact brands may differ. For minor ailments — stomach upsets, cuts, insect bites — a pharmacy is usually the fast, cheap first stop before a clinic or hospital.
Health: public vs private hospitals
Thailand has a strong reputation for medical care and is a major medical-tourism destination. **Private hospitals** (such as Bumrungrad in Bangkok and the Bangkok Hospital group, which has a branch on Koh Samui) offer fast, English-speaking, high-quality care at prices well below Western countries but far above public hospitals — they typically expect payment or proof of insurance up front. **Public/government hospitals** are cheaper and competent but busier, with longer waits and less English. For tourists, private hospitals are usually the practical choice. In a serious emergency, dial the national emergency line for ambulance services.
Why travel insurance matters
Travel and health insurance is strongly advisable in Thailand. Private hospitals expect payment up front, and a serious accident — especially the very common motorbike crash — or an emergency evacuation from an island can cost a great deal. Standard travel policies cover medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, but **many exclude motorbike riding unless you hold a valid motorcycle licence** (sometimes with a helmet requirement), which catches out countless travellers. Read the policy's activity exclusions carefully (diving, riding, adventure sports). For long-stayers, dedicated expat health insurance is the norm. Insurance is also sometimes required for certain visas.
Culture: the wai and everyday respect
The **wai** — palms pressed together at chest or face level with a slight bow — is the Thai greeting and a sign of respect and thanks. As a visitor you're not expected to initiate it perfectly, but returning a wai (except from children or service staff, where a smile or nod suffices) is appreciated. Thai culture prizes calm and 'saving face': losing your temper, shouting, or publicly embarrassing someone is deeply frowned upon and rarely gets results. A smile, patience and a soft voice go a long way. Politeness particles 'krub' (men) and 'ka' (women) soften any sentence.
Respect for the monarchy (lese-majeste)
Thais hold the monarchy in profound respect, and Thailand has strict **lese-majeste** laws making it a serious criminal offence to insult, defame or threaten the King, Queen, heir or regent. This applies to foreigners too. In practice: never make disparaging remarks or jokes about the royal family, don't deface anything bearing the King's image (including banknotes and coins, which carry royal portraits — never step on a dropped note to stop it blowing away), and stand respectfully if the royal anthem is played (for example in cinemas). When in doubt, stay silent on the topic. This is the single most important line for visitors not to cross.
Temple etiquette and dress codes
Temples (wat) are active religious sites. Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women; sarongs are often available to borrow at the entrance. **Remove your shoes** before entering temple buildings (and many homes and some shops — follow the pile of shoes at the door). Women must never touch a monk or hand him anything directly; pass items via a man or place them down. Don't point your feet at Buddha images or people, don't climb on or pose disrespectfully with Buddha statues, and lower yourself rather than standing over seated monks or images.
Head and feet: the body taboos
In Thai culture the **head is the most sacred** part of the body and the **feet the lowest**. Don't touch anyone's head, including affectionately ruffling a child's hair. Never point at people or objects with your feet, don't put your feet up on furniture or seats facing others, and don't step over a person or their food. When sitting on the floor near a Buddha image or a monk, tuck your feet behind you rather than pointing them forward. Pointing with a single finger is rude; gesture with an open hand.
Songkran, Loy Krathong and major festivals
Two festivals stand out. **Songkran** (Thai New Year, mid-April) is the famous nationwide water festival — expect days of friendly water-throwing in the streets; protect your phone, and note many businesses close and roads are more dangerous due to holiday traffic. **Loy Krathong** (full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually November) sees people float decorated banana-leaf 'krathong' on water at night; in the north (Chiang Mai) it coincides with the Yi Peng sky-lantern releases. Other key dates include Chinese New Year and several Buddhist holy days, on which alcohol sales are restricted nationwide.
Safety: common scams
Thailand is generally safe and welcoming, but watch for predictable tourist scams. Classics include: the 'the temple/palace is closed today' tuk-tuk driver who diverts you to commission-paying gem or tailor shops; taxis 'forgetting' to run the meter (insist on the meter or agree a price first, or use Grab); jet-ski and **motorbike rental 'damage' claims** where pre-existing scratches are billed to you (photograph the vehicle before renting and avoid handing over your passport as deposit); and inflated 'tourist menu' prices. Be cautious with overly friendly strangers steering you somewhere. Violent crime against tourists is rare; the bigger risks are vehicle and water accidents.
Road safety reality
Road accidents are the **single biggest danger** to visitors in Thailand, which has one of the world's highest road-fatality rates. Motorbike/scooter crashes injure large numbers of tourists every year, often inexperienced riders without proper licences or helmets on unfamiliar, hilly or wet island roads — Koh Samui's ring road included. If you ride: wear a helmet (it's the law and your insurance may depend on it), hold the correct licence, never ride drunk, and go slowly. As a pedestrian, assume traffic won't stop for you. Cross with care and don't assume right of way at crossings.
Safety: water, food and sea
Don't drink the tap water — Thais don't either. **Bottled and filtered water** is cheap and everywhere; ice in established restaurants and bars (the uniform cylindrical kind) is factory-made and generally safe. Street food is a highlight and generally safe at busy stalls with high turnover; pick places where locals queue and food is cooked fresh and hot. Mild stomach upsets happen as your system adjusts. At the beach, respect red flags and seasonal currents — drownings occur in monsoon swells — and watch for occasional jellyfish. Mosquito-borne dengue exists, so use repellent, especially around dusk.
A few useful Thai phrases
A little Thai earns big smiles. Men end polite phrases with **'krub'**, women with **'ka'**. Hello / goodbye: **sawatdee** (krub/ka). Thank you: **khop khun** (krub/ka). Yes: **chai**; No: **mai**. How much?: **tao rai?** Delicious: **aroy**. Not spicy / no chili: **mai phet**. Check please: **check bin**. Where is the toilet?: **hong nam yu nai?** No problem / it's okay: **mai pen rai** — a phrase that captures the Thai easygoing spirit. Even imperfect attempts are warmly received; Thai is tonal, so don't worry about getting it exactly right.
Weather, seasons and regions
Mainland Thailand has three broad seasons: **cool/dry** (roughly Nov–Feb, the peak tourist season), **hot** (Mar–May, with April the scorcher), and **rainy/monsoon** (roughly Jun–Oct). But the **Gulf islands — Koh Samui, Phangan, Tao — run on a different clock**: their wettest stretch is typically October to December (often peaking around November), so Samui can be lovely when the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is rainy, and vice versa. Regions vary widely: cooler mountainous north (Chiang Mai), hot central plains and Bangkok, the Isaan northeast, and the tropical southern coasts and islands. Pack light, breathable clothing plus a light rain layer.
Long-stay life: banking, rentals and costs
For expats and digital nomads, daily life leans on a **Thai bank account** (which usually requires a long-stay visa, sometimes a work permit or an agent's help, and unlocks PromptPay and local apps). **Rentals** are typically arranged locally or via agents and Facebook groups, commonly with a one-to-two-month deposit; condos and houses are widely available monthly. Cost of living is moderate by Western standards — eating local Thai food, riding a scooter and renting outside prime tourist zones is very affordable, while imported goods, Western restaurants, international schools and beachfront property push costs up sharply. Co-working spaces and fast internet support remote work in hubs like Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Koh Samui.