Thailand remains one of the first ports of call for first-time backpackers. But don’t be fooled – though traveling here means following a well-beaten tourist trail, there’s no denying that this beguiling country can take a while to get to grips with. To ensure you hit the ground running on your first visit, follow our top ten Thailand travel tips.
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Prices in Thailand
We start our Thailand travel tips with a rough overview of costs in Thailand. As you’ve probably heard, traveling to Thailand is affordable, which is one of the many reasons it’s so popular! If you’re on a budget, expect local Thai food to be your everyday favorite, with western fare costing two to three times as much. Here’s a breakdown of some necessary travel expenses in Thailand.
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Be respectful of the Buddha statues and temples
When visiting Buddha statues or places of worship in Thailand, always be respectful of your religion. This means dressing appropriately (covering shoulders and knees), removing shoes when asked, and speaking softly, especially around praying people. Remember that these are places of worship, not just tourist attractions. You should also not take pictures of Buddhas from behind (like a selfie). This is considered disrespectful; unfortunately, you still see many photos of them.
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Don’t wear shoes inside
Another of our tips for traveling to Thailand is to take off your shoes when entering another person’s home or business. In Thailand, it is considered disrespectful to wear shoes indoors. Most places have a sign saying no shoes are allowed. Inside. If you’re ever unsure, ask someone before you go inside. This is especially important in sacred temples, statues, and places of worship. But again, pay attention to the signs!
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Renting a scooter in Thailand
Can I rent a scooter in Thailand? It depends on your driver’s license type—for example, the gov. UK website states that you must obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent and drive a scooter in Thailand. (Another of the top tips for traveling to Thailand)
If your driver’s license and IDP have the motorcycle section stamped, you’re good to go! Once, we were stopped by the Thai police during a driver’s license check and were grateful to have the correct papers with us. Please note that IDPs must be purchased in your home country before travel; they cannot be issued in other countries. If you don’t feel comfortable riding a scooter, it’s best not to take chances without experience. It’s also against the law to ride topless, so don’t be ‘that’ person!
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Do not disrespect the Royal Family
The Chakri Dynasty is the current ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is against the law to speak badly of, criticize or threaten the Thai royal family. This includes intentionally stepping on Thai currency (Thai Baht) whenever King appears on the bills. Avoid this when traveling lest you get in trouble! This is one of the most important things to know before visiting Thailand.
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Watch out for Thailand Scams
Another of our tips for traveling to Thailand is to be very wary of people who sell you things that seem too good to be true. Be some “cheaters.” Be careful when taking taxis or tuk-tuks and agree on a safe price beforehand; the meter should never be broken and shouldn’t cost the same price as your home country (it should cost less).
If you’re unhappy with the price, walk away, they might even call you back with a better price! A popular scam in Bangkok is people telling you the temples are closed, and they can take you to another one.
So, you get in their tuk-tuk, but they take you to a random temple in a couple of hours, visit n all their friends’ shops trying to sell you stuff, and charge you for the tuk-tuk ride in the meantime. The main problem was that the temple was never closed.
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Bring your water-filter
As in many other countries in Southeast Asia, tap water is not drinkable. If you do, you may develop a stomach problem that no one wants to have when traveling. That means the country must use filtered or plastic bottled water. Water. We always want to reduce the amount of plastic we use; that’s why we carry a water filter. There are also many water vending machines in Thailand, which usually cost 1 THB per liter.
When using bottled water, widely available at stores like 7-Eleven, make sure to recycle the bottles responsibly and not throw them away!
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Using ATMs
All ATMs charge a fee of around 220 baht for cash withdrawals, even with Starling/Monzo/No Fee debit cards. Unfortunately, these ATM fees seem inevitable as all banks charge a fee. You’ll still be charged if you travel with a multi-currency bank card like Starling or Monzo. It’s best to select “Continue without exchange rate” to get the best rate through your bank to save a little money on every withdrawal.
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Be prepared to see a lot of street dogs (Soi dogs)
Usually, you should avoid petting any stray animal due to a bacterial illness or, in sporadic cases, rabies. Be careful with wild animals (monkeys) or abandoned dogs, as you don’t want to add a hospital. Journey to your Thailand Bucket List. Stray dogs in tourist areas on the beach are usually amiable and can even have owners with or without a collar.
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Do not contribute to unethical animal tourism in Thailand
Yes, it’s still a problem in 2022. Unfortunately, you will witness unfair elephant tourism on your travels as it is still trendy, and people still pay for it. The elephants are still chained and used for tourist rides, which is not fair to the elephants. Many “sanctuaries” and “orphanages” use elephants to make money rather than having the primary motive of elephant rescue. It’s just another way of labeling them to make them sound better than they are. The same applies to tiger sanctuaries in Thailand. The best way to stop unethical pet tourism is not to contribute money.
