Thailand travel tips

Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is a dream destination with breathtaking landscapes, majestic ancient temples, and a vibrant culinary scene. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Bangkok, the serene beaches of Phuket, or the rich cultural heritage of Chiang Mai, this country has something for everyone. If it’s your first time visiting, planning your trip can feel overwhelming-but don’t worry! Style Travel has put together the ultimate guide with essential tips to help you navigate Thailand like a pro. Let’s dive in!

Thailand Visa

Passport holders from the following countries/territory are not required to obtain a visa (Visa Exemption) when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days on each visit:

US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Maldives, Bahrain, Kuwait, Andora, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Peru and ASEAN countries.

Other passports and depending on your nationality, you need to apply for the Thailand Visa before flying/entering the country. You can also check if your passport is exempt for the Visa or not, or apply for the E-Visa before flying/entering Thailand by the below link: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

When you start to apply or after receiving your Thailand E-Visa, kindly take time to double check and make sure all the information in the E-Visa are exactly with the information in your passport and in your international flight (Ex: full names, number of passport, date of expiry, date of birth, gender, period of entry Thailand, name of airport/city when entering Thailand, etc.)

       Learn More: When is the best to visit Thailand

Do’s and Don’ts in Thailand

Dress respectfully when visiting temples and palaces

Knees and shoulders should be covered.

Take off your shoes before entering temples

This can sometimes apply to shops too, so look for signs outside. If you see shoes already lined up outside, take yours off before going inside.

Learn a few useful phrases

Thais are very proud people and will appreciate you taking an interest in their language. Here are some of our go-to phrases:

Hello => Sawasdee krap ; Thank you => khawp khun krap ; Goodbye => Lah gorn ; Bill please – Kep tang krap ; Delicious => Aroi ; No spice => Mai pet ; No sugar => Mai sai nam tam

Carry cash

It is highly recommended to carry cash with you while going to the markets of Thailand. A credit card usually doesn’t work at many local shops and stalls. Some smaller accommodations also prefer taking cash.

Watch out for scams

Speaking of Tuk-tuks, watch out for the tuk tuk scam. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. That means they’ll be taking you around to perfume shops, antique dealers, jewelry stores, and anything else they can get you to buy.

Learning to bargain when you go around for shopping on the streets

For example, if you go to a flea market and you are looking to buy a souvenir, always ask for the price first and negotiate. Once they won’t go any lower, go to another store and repeat. Do that a few times for other stores nearby, and you should be able to get the cheapest price possible.

Underestimate the time on the road

It might look that with such widespread and efficient transport, you can reach airports in the wee of time. But that’s not the case. At peak hours, Bangkok is infamous for their congested roads. So, to avoid delays like missed flights, especially for the international flights, we suggest taking a cab hours before, calculating the traffic time.

Be careful while enjoying the nightlife

While enjoying your time in Krabi, Bangkok or Phuket, ensure that you follow the general safety tips. Do not leave your drink unattended, avoid going to ill-lit areas, avoid getting heavily drunk, etc.

Don’t take Buddha images out of the country

Although it is allowed in some cases and if a permit has been granted, there are laws about what Buddha images can and can’t be taken out of Thailand. However, stores and market vendors will probably still sell them to you without telling you about the regulations.

Don’t stand on the raised threshold of a house or temple

Traditional Thai belief says this is where the guardian spirits reside and to show respect and avoid disturbing them, you should step over the threshold.

Don’t touch monks

Women should never touch a monk or hand anything directly to them.

Don’t show disrespect to the Thai royal family

Thailand has strict laws on this which also cover social media.

Don’t touch a Thai person’s head

The head is regarded as the most sacred part of the body and shouldn’t be touched. There are exceptions (e.g between lovers, when you go for a head massage, and parents ruffling children’s hair), but generally speaking don’t risk causing offence by touching someone’s head.

Don’t ride a motorbike without a good helmet

We advise against hiring motorbikes as Thailand is notorious for motorbike accidents, but if you do hire one, heed sensible advice on traffic rules before heading out onto the seemingly chaotic roads.

Don’t swim if a red flag is showing on the beach

Thailand’s rip tides can be vicious, and water can be rough during the wet season. So, pay attention to safety when you enjoy swimming during the Trips in Thailand.

Don’t keep a passport as a deposit

There are many fraudulent local travel agencies and car rentals that will ask you to deposit your passport in exchange for the service they provide. However this is not essential for doing this.

And your passport is your life when you are on a foreign land. So never let your passport away from you even for a single second. The reason is that the foreign passports are highly misused in Thailand for carrying out illegal activities across the border.

Don’t get scammed with fake prices for rent vehicles

These Tuk-tuks and Auto-rickshaws do not use any meter to count the travel rent. They charge a lump-sum amount based on distance. But they do know that foreign tourists do not know this rule and are also ignorant of the shortest route.

So, they charge you with much higher amounts. To avoid this trouble, you should use the Grab ride which is already clear for the price before using their service.

Don’t risk your health with tap water

Though the tap water in Thailand is potable, don’t take risks while you are on a holiday here. Also, you will find lots of vending machines for potable water in Thailand on the road to quench your thirst while roaming around. Though this water is considered safe, it is advisable to spend some small money to buy the bottled water to consume during your stay in Thailand for your good health.