Plan Your Trip to Thailand
When to go, visa and entry rules, money and costs, what to pack and how to get there: everything to sort out before you land.
Planning a trip to Thailand comes down to four questions: when to go, whether you need a visa, what it will cost, and how you will arrive. This section answers each of them with rules and figures checked against official Thai sources, dated so you can see how current they are.
Several things changed in 2026 that older guides, forums and AI answers still get wrong. The 60-day visa exemption ended on 15 September 2026, and most visitors now get 30 days. Visa on arrival is now only for three nationalities. The paper arrival card has been replaced by a free online form, and look-alike websites charge for it. If you read anything about Thai entry rules written before late 2026, check it against the pages below.
When to go
Thailand has no single best month, because the Andaman coast and the Gulf islands have their rainy seasons at different times. Our guide to Thailand's weather month by month gives the official climate averages for every region, and the best time for the Thai islands turns them into a choice between Phuket, Samui and Koh Chang. If your dates fall between May and October, read what the rainy season is really like. Check Thai public holidays too: banks close, transport fills up around Songkran, and alcohol is not sold in shops on Buddhist holy days.
Visas and arrival
Start with the Thai visa exemption, which lists who can enter without a visa and for how long (as of October 2026). Every foreign visitor must also file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the three days before arrival. Separate pages cover visa on arrival, the rules for Chinese citizens, and what happens if you overstay. Anyone planning a longer stay should also read our older guide to visas and retirement in Thailand.
Money, packing and getting there
Foreign-card ATM withdrawals at KBank and SCB now cost 250 baht, or 350 baht with Mastercard (as of October 2026), so money planning matters more than it used to. Our guides cover the price level in Thailand, ATM fees, exchanging cash, tipping, cards and the VAT refund for tourists. Practical pages explain what to pack, whether you need a power adapter, SIM cards and eSIMs, and the apps that help on the ground. For the journey itself, we compare Thailand's airports, flights from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, and the overland crossings from Malaysia.
How we check these pages
Rules on visas, fees, alcohol hours and entry cards change often in Thailand. On these pages we cite the Thai government source (the Immigration Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department) and give the month we checked it. Where we could not verify a figure, we say so rather than guess. Our editorial policy explains how we work. Before you travel, always confirm entry rules with a Thai embassy or the official sites linked on each page.
44 guides in this section.
When to go
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
Dry season, rainy season and the north's smoky months, plus why low season can be worth it.
Thailand Weather Month by Month: Where to Go and When
Rain, heat, haze and sea conditions region by region, month by month, from official climate data.
Travelling in Thailand's Rainy Season: What It Is Really Like
How the rain really falls, where it is wettest, and what it means for boats, floods and plans.
The Best Time to Visit the Thai Islands: Andaman vs Gulf
Two seas, two monsoons: which islands to choose in which month.
Thai Public Holidays and Festivals: What Closes and When
Official 2026–27 dates, what closes, alcohol bans on Buddhist days and the busiest travel weeks.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Visas & entry
Visa and Retirement in Thailand
How retirees and younger long-stayers approach Thai visas, and the pitfalls of relying on visa runs.
The TM30 Explained: Thailand's Key Requirement for Smooth Visa Extensions
Why the landlord's address report can make or break your next immigration appointment.
Do Hotels in Thailand Need Your Passport?
A copy is routine, holding the original is not: how to handle check-in, rentals and lost passports.
Thailand Visa Exemption: Who Can Enter Without a Visa and for How Long
Back to 30 days since 15 September 2026: who qualifies, who gets 15 or 90, and what to carry.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): How to Fill It In
Who must submit it, the 3-day window, the official site and the fake sites that charge fees.
Visa on Arrival in Thailand: Who Needs It and How It Works
Now only for three nationalities: the 15-day stay, fee, documents and the e-Visa alternative.
Thailand Visa Rules for Chinese Citizens: The Mutual Visa Exemption
The mutual visa exemption, 30 days per entry, the 90-in-180 cap, and HK, Macao and Taiwan passports.
Overstaying in Thailand: Fines, Bans and How to Avoid It
The daily fine, re-entry bans and the legal ways to extend.
Thailand Customs Rules: Duty-Free Allowances and Banned Items
Alcohol and cigarette limits, cash declarations and banned items like vapes.
Thailand Tourist Visa (TR) in 2026: How to Apply on the e-Visa Portal
When 30 visa-free days are not enough: the TR visa step by step.
Border Runs from Thailand in 2026: What Still Works
Which crossings still work, what they cost and when you get turned back.
Can You Cross from Thailand to Cambodia Overland in 2026?
Border status, official travel advice and the flights to use instead (October 2026).
Thailand's Tourist Entry Fee: Is the Travel Fee Coming?
What has been proposed, what you pay today (nothing), and what to ignore.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Money & costs
Price Level in Thailand
What meals, massages, rooms and rides typically cost in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and more.
Thailand on a Budget: How to Travel Smart and Save Money
Where to save, where to splurge and which regions stretch your baht furthest.
How to Use ATMs in Thailand Wisely?
Fixed withdrawal fees, skimming checks, island cash planning and the card that comes out last.
How to Save Money on ATM Fees When Traveling to Thailand?
Fewer withdrawals, smarter cards, bank counters and exchange shops to cut your cash costs.
Where to Exchange Money in Thailand for the Best Rates?
Why the airport basement beats arrivals, which exchangers to trust and when a card is better.
Tipping Culture in Thailand – What’s Expected?
How much to leave for meals, massages, drivers and guides, and where no one expects anything.
What a Day in Thailand Costs: Budget, Mid-Range and Comfort
Fixed costs you can count on, hotel benchmarks by region, and the fees that break a daily budget.
Using Credit and Debit Cards in Thailand: Fees, Contactless and Pitfalls
Surcharges, currency conversion, contactless on the MRT, and paying by QR with Alipay, WeChat or PayNow.
VAT Refund for Tourists in Thailand: How to Claim It
2,000 baht per shop per day, the P.P.10 form, Customs before check-in, and the real refund amounts.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Packing & practical
How to Pack for a Trip to Thailand – What You Actually Need
Why less is more in the heat, the few items worth bringing and what to buy after you land.
Do You Need a Power Adapter for Thailand? Everything You Need to Know
Voltage, socket types, which travelers need a converter and where to pick one up after landing.
Is It Worth Buying a SIM Card in Thailand or Using eSIM?
Airport SIM counters versus instant eSIMs: price, coverage and which suits your trip.
The Best Travel Apps for Thailand
Booking, ride-hailing, messaging and money apps worth installing, plus a note on Airbnb rules.
How to Send Mail and Packages from Thailand?
Post office or courier, what customs looks at, and how to pack souvenirs so they arrive intact.
Travel Insurance for Thailand: What It Must Cover
Hospital guarantees, motorbikes, diving, alcohol exclusions, advisory areas and long stays.
Internet in Thailand: Wi-Fi, Mobile Data and VPNs
Wi-Fi, 5G in cities, data on the islands, VPNs and what changes for visitors from China.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Getting there
Thailand's Airports: Which One to Fly Into
Bangkok's two airports, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Samui, U-Tapao and Hat Yai, by destination.
Flying to Thailand from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong
Which Thai airport to fly into, low-cost or full-service, distances and approximate flight times.
Overland from Malaysia to Thailand: All the Border Crossings
Padang Besar, Bukit Kayu Hitam–Sadao, Langkawi–Koh Lipe, and which crossings are under travel warnings.
Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang? Bangkok's Two Airports Explained
BKK or DMK, who may use the free shuttle, and how much time a self-transfer really needs.
Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang: The Slow Boat from Northern Thailand to Laos
Two days down the Mekong: the crossing, the boat and the night in Pakbeng.
From China to Thailand by Train: Kunming, Vientiane and the Sleeper to Bangkok
Kunming to Bangkok overland by rail, step by step, with the Vientiane transfer explained.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Itineraries & trip types
Two Weeks in Thailand: A First-Timer's Itinerary (with 10- and 21-Day Variations)
Bangkok, the north and the islands in 14 days, with realistic travel legs and no rushing.
Northern Thailand in 7 to 10 Days by Bus: Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai linked by bus and minivan, at an easy pace.
Thailand with Kids: Where to Go, Health and Practical Tips for Families
Choosing destinations, staying healthy and moving around with children.
LGBTQ+ Travel in Thailand: The Law, Pride and Practical Advice
The law since 2025, Pride, and practical tips for couples.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.