7 Important Things To Note Before Your Trip To Thailand

By christinelai on 19 May 2019

Are you thinking of your next vacation? We feel you. We are only a short 2-hour flight away from Bangkok, and other cities in Thailand. This means that you can even make a weekend trip to Thailand and escape for a little while.

If this is your first trip to Thailand, take note of these seven things before your flight!

Photo from pinterest

Photo from Pinterest

1. It is best to buy your air tickets 6~8 weeks in advance
Air tickets are at its cheapest during this time. Keep your eyes out for Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. It will be even better when their promotional deals include baggage allowance!

Budget airways are known to be obnoxious for excessive baggage charges, seat selection and the worst of all, flight delays and rescheduling. Make sure you do your research and purchase what you need in advance!

2. Buy Happy Card (SIM Card) at the airport before you leave
You can request for the staff to set it up for you at the point of purchase. To make sure you stay safe and contactable, get a local sim card that sufficiently covers the duration of your travel. Choose a plan that includes unlimited 4G/3G traffic for XX days. Ask if you can turn on your hotspot for sharing if you're on a tighter budget!

Photo from DTAC

3. Download the 'Grab' app
Grab is a popular mode of transport for tourists in Thailand because it is cheap and convenient. It will be helpful to have the address you're staying at and all the locations you planned to go.

Plus, you can choose a four-seater or six-seater for bigger groups! If you're worried, you can see exactly where the driver is going and the estimated time of arrival at each location.

4. You can take local subways (BTS/MRT) in Thailand
Especially during peak hours, traffic jams can be daunting. You don't want to be stuck in a jam when your trip is short, and you want to maximise your time in Thailand.

Research and take the local subway instead of Grab; it is safe and easy to navigate.

5. Accommodation
Apart from mainstream hotels, you can book your accommodation on Airbnb for a more local experience. Sometimes, these places do not provide toiletries and slippers. It will be helpful to check where is the nearest 7-Eleven so you can get what you need just in case!

6. Always have a couple of ฿20 with you
There's somewhat a tipping culture in Thailand. It will be helpful to have a couple of ฿20 notes and be ready to tip taxi drivers, servers, etc as a form of respect and courtesy.

7. Proper Outfits
If you're planning to visit the temples, try to avoid skimpy clothing such as shorts, tank tops, short skirts and revealing dresses. It will be more appropriate to wear jeans and long dresses.