If you’re planning a trip to the Land of Smiles in the near future, make sure you register for travel insurance before you go.
You can also check out the guide book I used while in Thailand, as well as my list of essential items for backpackers!
In some ways, Thailand is where this whole crazy blog began. While by no means my first international adventure, my time in Bangkok was the first time I truly felt outside of my comfort zone.
Traveling to Asia brought me the kind of adrenaline rush that Western Europe or the Caribbean just hadn’t given me.
While I’ve been living with a severe case of Wanderlust since the age of 12, my trip to Thailand reignited my need to travel with a vengeance.
Today I wanted to share with you a list of things you should know before going to Thailand. I was aware of some of these before I arrived in Bangkok, while others were a more of a shocking surprise once I got there.
Ready?
39 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Thailand
One
Eat off your spoon, not your fork. Eating directly off a fork is considered crude; instead, use your fork to push food onto your spoon.
Two
Yes, the people really are *that* nice. Don’t be surprised if strangers offer you advice or strike up a conversation with you.
Three
People don’t stand in lines. This took me a few days (and many long waits for the ladies room) to figure out. Instead of queuing up, Thais form a crowd. Stand your ground, and get used to a lack of personal space in public places. It is good to know this before you visit Thailand.
Four
Take tuk-tuks during the day and taxis at night. Taxis are more comfortable, but tuk-tuks give you a better view. Both are terrifying.
If you go to Patpong road at night (Bangkok’s equivalent of the Red Light District), ask your taxi to come back and pick you up at a certain time. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time fighting all the other drunk people to find a ride back to your hotel.
Five
Don’t talk about the king. Seriously, not a word.
This is very important for Thailand travel.
Six
Gambling is only permitted on certain days (by order of the king, whom you are still not talking about, right?). Hit up the horse tracks on a pro-gambling day for an awesome experience. Prepare for lots of yelling, drunk people, and general debauchery.
Seven
Eat as many mangoes as you possibly can when you travel to Thailand. The mangoes in Thailand are the most delicious in the world.
Eight
Cover up your elbows and knees when visiting temples, wats, monasteries, palaces, etc. I’d recommend bringing along a light jacket or cover-up even on days when a temple isn’t on the itinerary — you never know when you’ll stumble across a beautiful wat you’ll want to check out!
Nine
Many of the popular beer brands also make bottled water. If you order a “Chang” or “Singha,” the waitress will likely respond “Chang beer?” to clarify. Make it easy by ordering “Chang water” or “Singha beer” to begin with.
As a side note, I’ve tried doing this in Thai restaurants back home and I just get weird looks. Go figure.
Ten
Don’t take a taxi driver’s word on it if they say an attraction or site is closed for the day; many times they will use this tactic to try to “suggest” other destinations which earn them a commission. If in doubt, just thank them for the information and ask another driver.
Eleven
Use public transportation. The BTS (Subway) and MRT (Light Rail) are cheap, convenient, and fast. You can get just about anywhere using these systems and they are really easy to use.
The maps make sense, the token system is efficient and simple, and the trains are kept very clean. Get a day pass to save extra money.
Twelve
You will see some roaches. Some days I saw none, other days they were crawling over my feet while I was trying to drink a mojito. Yeah, they are a little gross, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Better than rats, am I right?
Thirteen
The best-dressed woman on any given train, boat, or sidewalk is probably a ladyboy. I say this without meaning offense to Thai women, who are absolutely gorgeous, but as a compliment to the styling prowess of ladyboys.
Fourteen
Stay in a five-star hotel when visiting Thailand. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal at a top-of-the-line hotel than in Thailand.
We stayed in some fabulous hotels for around $100/night — some came with our own private infinity pools.
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I have been to Thailand every year for the past 6 years, and hope to retire there.
I agree that Tripadvisor is a great site to look at when planning your first trip there. I always stay at the Ibis Riverside hotel when in Bangkok. It is right on the river, walking distance to the sky train, and has a decent restaurant, and pool. It is a budget hotel at only $40 – 45 per night. I always recommend this hotel.
Great tips for first time travelers to Thailand
This is probably the best Bangkok travel tips I managed to search from the Internet. Great post!
Hi Anetta! Thank you for this post!!! I’m going to Chiang Mai in July for two weeks as part of a high school veterinary program and this post is incredibly helpful. I do however still have a question; since I have a couple months until I go, should I try to learn to read/write and speak Thai? I’ve been to a few countries where the locals say they find it annoying when foreigners try to speak the language and I just wanna make sure I’m not gonna make a fool of myself or look like the stereotypical American tourist. Thanks! 🙂
Hi, Kat! I’m terrible with languages, so I might not be the right person to ask. I haven’t visited Chiang Mai yet, but I didn’t have any trouble getting by with English in Bangkok 🙂
Hi there! I love this post – very informative! My boyfriend and I(22 and 23 years of age consecutively), are wanting to visit this beautifully sounding place. In terms of cost, do you know of any reputable packages that you would recommend? Also, over and above the package costs, around how much(rands) should we have(save) to take for say about 8-10 nights of stay, to have a fairly good time, eating different foods and seeing lots of places?
Hello, I read your post about Thailand and you seemed very knowledgable about the country. Wife and I are looking to visit Thailand in December but unsure what cities to visit. We are a couple in our early 30’s and looking for relaxation by the beach but also learn the culture and do the temples and animal rides and all that good stuff. Any particular cities you recommend? We will be in Thailand for 2 weeks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi! I’ve only spent time in Bangkok and Hua Hin (a beach town), but I’ve also heard great things about Chiang Mai and Phuket. I’d recommend searching on tripadvisor.com, there’s lots of helpful information and reviews on that site!