I spent 10 days traveling in Thailand during the Chinese New Year holiday, mainly visiting Bangkok and Krabi. As a country where tourism is a major economic engine, the overall travel experience was really great.
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Preparation • Visa. Thailand offers visa-free entry for many countries, so getting through immigration was super smooth. • Payment. A Visa or Mastercard is a must — most merchants accept them (some charge a 3%-10% service fee). More importantly, you can tap your credit card to ride the subway, saving all the hassle of buying tickets and dealing with change. Just bring a moderate amount of cash ($200 USD), and withdraw more if needed — ATMs and currency exchange shops are everywhere, very convenient. • SIM card. After clearing immigration, just pick up a SIM card for however many days you need based on your plan. • Sunscreen. Super important! It's really hot and the UV is intense — skip sunscreen for a day and you'll definitely get burned. No worries if you didn't bring any though, convenience stores have plenty. • Getting around. The subway and Grab cover pretty much all your transportation needs. • Hotels. Pick a price range that fits your budget — what matters most is the location: near Siam or Sala Daeng BTS stations are both great choices.
Things to Keep in Mind
<ImageGallery columns={3} images={[ { src: "/posts/travel-to-thailand/alcohol-time.jpeg", alt: "" }, { src: "/posts/travel-to-thailand/subway.jpeg", alt: "" }, { src: "/posts/travel-to-thailand/restarant.jpeg", alt: "" }, ]} /> • Etiquette. Dress appropriately and remove your shoes when visiting temples and other sacred sites. • Alcohol. Outside of restaurants, alcohol sales are generally limited to 11 AM to midnight. • Smoking. E-cigarettes are completely banned. Most cigarette brands available are local Thai ones, so if you're used to a specific brand or foreign cigarettes, it's best to bring your own (one carton — anything over the limit must be declared and taxed). Also, Thailand's no-smoking laws are very strict — you can only smoke in designated areas, or you'll be fined. • Tipping. Not mandatory, but there's a custom of showing appreciation for good service. Here's a handy reference:
| Scenario | Suggested Amount | Notes | |----------|-----------------|-------| | Street food / casual eateries | Not expected | — | | Upscale restaurants | 20-100 THB | Check if service charge is already on the bill | | Hotel bellhop / doorman | 20-50 THB / trip | — | | Housekeeping | 20-50 THB / day | Leave it on the pillow | | Massage / SPA | 50-200 THB | Definitely tip — hand it directly to your therapist | | Metered taxi | Round up the fare | e.g. 83 THB → give 100 THB | | Grab | Optional | You can choose a tip amount in the app | | Tuk-tuk | Not expected | Fare is negotiated upfront | | Tour guide | 100-500 THB / day | Honestly you don't really need a guide in Thailand, haha |
> ⚠️ Always tip with banknotes, never coins. Giving coins as a tip is considered impolite in Thailand. Keep some 20 and 50 THB bills handy.
Bangkok
Bangkok is an inclusive and open city with a highly developed service industry. People are incredibly warm and polite!
For sightseeing, I mainly checked out the Jim Thompson House and Wat Pho, took a river boat cruise, admired Wat Arun from across the river, and explored the iconic ICONSIAM mall. My top recommendation is the Jim Thompson House — a peaceful oasis amid the city buzz, with traditional Thai architecture and wonderfully detailed, passionate guided tours. A truly great experience.
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