First Time in Thailand? 10 Things I Wish I Knew
Your first trip to Thailand is going to be great. In this video, Tao-Tao, our little cartoon elephant, and I go through ten small things nobody tells you, the ones that can cost you money, time or a bit of embarrassment. Here's what each tip covers.
1. Fill in your TDAC before you fly
Every foreign visitor now fills in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online, in the three days before arrival. It takes about five minutes and it is free. Paid look-alike sites exist, so use only the official TDAC form, and fill in a new one for every trip. More in our arrival guide.
2. Land already online with an eSIM
Install an eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, leave it switched off, and turn it on when you land. Check first that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM, and keep data roaming off on your home SIM. Need a Thai phone number? Buy a tourist SIM at the airport and bring your passport for registration. Read the eSIM guide, or see plans at Saily*.
3. Grab first, tuk-tuk second
Since you're already online, open Grab or Bolt in arrivals and see the price before you ride. If a tuk-tuk driver quotes ฿300 for a ten-minute trip, check the app first. Still want the tuk-tuk? Go for it, just agree the price before you get in. And if a friendly stranger says the temple is closed today and offers a cheap tour, smile, say no thanks and keep walking. See getting around.
4. ATMs: the fee and the big NO button
Most Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fee of roughly ฿220–250 per withdrawal, so take out more at once rather than a little every day. When the screen offers its own conversion rate, press no and let your bank do the maths. Bank-branch ATMs, like the ones in big shopping centres, are the safer choice. More in money in Thailand.
5. Cash or card?
Both. Malls, hotels and bigger restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, tuk-tuks and small family places are cash country. Keep small notes and coins, and when a card machine offers your home currency, choose baht.
6. Hotel Wi-Fi is shared Wi-Fi
Hotel, café and airport Wi-Fi is shared with everyone on it, and a "free Wi-Fi" network can be someone's look-alike. A VPN wraps your connection so others on the network can't see what you're doing. Tap connect before you open your bank or book anything. A VPN doesn't make a fake login page safe, so never type a password into a Wi-Fi sign-in page. We use NordVPN*.
7. One password manager, not one password
Imagine losing your phone on day two. If you use one password everywhere, one leak opens your email, bank and bookings. A password manager keeps a different strong password for each account, and on a new phone you log in once and everything is back. Set it up at home, not in a panic at the airport. For example: NordPass*.
8. Temples: shoulders, knees, shoes
Cover shoulders and knees (a light shirt and long trousers or skirt work even in the heat), take your shoes off before going inside, keep your voice low and don't point your feet at the Buddha. Some temples don't allow photos inside, so look for signs. A thin scarf in your bag means you're always ready.
9. Feet, heads and the King
The head is seen as the highest part of the body and the feet the lowest. Don't touch anyone's head, not even a child's, and don't point with your feet or rest them on a table. The monarchy is deeply respected and strictly protected by law, so never joke about the King and treat banknotes with respect. In cinemas, everyone stands for the royal anthem before the film. And a smile fixes almost everything.
10. Heat, sun and your corner shop
It's hotter than you think, especially at midday. Drink water all day, wear sunscreen and a hat, and plan long walks for the morning or late afternoon. Most people don't drink the tap water; bottled or filtered water is everywhere, and the 24-hour convenience stores on nearly every corner have cold drinks, snacks and SIM top-ups.
Want it all in one place? The full Thailand guide has the details, and the first-timer track walks you through it step by step.
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