🇹🇭 Thailand vs 🇮🇩 Indonesia

Bangkok has BTS Skytrain and MRT subway. Buy a Rabbit Card for BTS. Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis are everywhere. Agree on price before boarding.

⛔Tuk-tuk drivers in tourist areas sometimes take you to jewelry stores or shops for commissions — they may claim your destination is 'closed today'. It is a scam. Stay firm on your destination.

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Gojek and Grab (motorbike or car) are essential apps; Jakarta has TransJakarta BRT and a commuter rail network; Java has excellent intercity trains; Bali has no reliable public transport.

⛔Never use unmarked or unlicensed taxis, especially at airports. In Bali, local taxi cartels have historically conflicted with Gojek/Grab drivers — be discreet when using ride-hailing apps in some areas.

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Thailand has excellent private hospitals at affordable prices. Travel insurance is still essential. Bangkok's private hospitals rival those in the West.

⛔Do not rely on public hospitals as a tourist. Costs and quality vary wildly. Stick to private hospitals in cities. Medical evacuation from remote islands can be extremely expensive.

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BIMC and SOS Medika serve Bali tourists; Siloam Hospitals are reliable in major cities; medical evacuation insurance is critical, especially for Bali where motorbike and surf injuries are very common.

⛔Medical evacuation from Bali or remote Indonesian islands to Singapore or Australia can cost tens of thousands of dollars without insurance. Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of tourist injuries in Bali — comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is not optional.

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Never disrespect the monarchy. Drug laws are extremely strict. It is illegal to criticize the King. Dress codes apply at temples.

⛔Multiple tourists have been arrested and imprisoned for social media posts about the Thai monarchy — including foreigners posting from abroad about Thailand. The law is enforced aggressively.

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Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws including the death penalty for trafficking; Aceh province follows Sharia law; a 2023 criminal code restricts sex outside marriage.

⛔Indonesia's drug laws are among the harshest in the world. The death penalty has been carried out on foreign nationals. Do not carry, buy, or use any illegal substances under any circumstances.

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Cover shoulders and knees at temples. Beachwear stays at the beach. Thai people dress practically — you won't be judged for casual wear in cities.

⛔Wearing revealing clothing at temples is deeply disrespectful to Thai Buddhists. Many temples will refuse entry to tourists dressed inappropriately.

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Cover shoulders and knees at all temples and mosques; sarongs are required at Balinese temples and usually provided; bikinis are fine at beaches; dress more conservatively in non-tourist Muslim-majority areas.

⛔Entering a Balinese temple without proper covering is deeply disrespectful and you will be denied entry. Menstruating women are traditionally not permitted inside some inner temple areas — signs are usually posted.

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Drinking age is 20. Alcohol cannot be sold during election day or Buddhist holidays. Standard hours are 11am–2pm and 5pm–midnight at most venues.

⛔Drink-driving enforcement has increased significantly. Random checkpoints are common, especially during holidays. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% and penalties are serious.

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Alcohol is freely available in Bali and tourist areas but restricted or absent in many parts of Java; Aceh is completely dry; fake arak and methanol spirits have caused tourist deaths.

⛔Methanol-tainted spirits sold cheaply in Bali and other tourist areas have killed and blinded tourists. Never drink cheap, unlabelled, or locally bottled spirits of unknown origin — the risk is real and documented.

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Photography is generally allowed. No photos of monks without permission. Inside temples, follow posted signs. Never photograph military or government buildings.

⛔Photographing military checkpoints or personnel has resulted in tourist detention. Avoid pointing cameras at anything that looks official or governmental.

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Photography is generally permitted but ask permission before photographing people in religious ceremonies; inner temple sanctuaries are often restricted; never photograph military or police installations.

⛔Photographing or filming military and police facilities is prohibited and can lead to detention. Drone flights near Bali's sacred sites and busy areas require prior permits from the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority.

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Most shops, malls, and restaurants are open 7 days a week. Convenience stores never close. Buddhist holidays cause alcohol bans and some closures.

⛔Alcohol sales are banned on 5–6 Buddhist holidays per year. These dates change annually. Venues serving alcohol on these days can lose their license.

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Indonesia operates 7 days a week commercially, but Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha cause widespread multi-day closures; Friday midday prayer causes brief business interruptions in Muslim areas.

⛔Eid al-Fitr travel causes the largest annual human migration in the world in Indonesia — book all transport weeks in advance or your itinerary will collapse.

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Grab is the dominant rideshare app in Thailand covering both cars and motorbikes, while metered taxis are widely available in cities — always insist on the meter.

⛔Tuk-tuk drivers at tourist areas sometimes steer you to commission-paying gem shops or tailor shops, claiming your intended destination is closed. This is a well-known scam — verify closures independently.

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Gojek and Grab are the dominant and most reliable options; Blue Bird is the trusted metered taxi company; never use unmarked taxis.

⛔Unmarked taxis and transport touts at airports and tourist areas will quote prices 5–10 times higher than metered or app-based alternatives. Only use Blue Bird taxis or Gojek/Grab.

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Tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink — always use bottled or purified water, which is cheap and widely available everywhere.

⛔Waterborne illness from tap water or contaminated ice is one of the most common causes of traveller sickness in Thailand. When in doubt about ice at a remote street stall, skip it.

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Never drink tap water anywhere in Indonesia — bottled water is extremely cheap and widely available; Aqua is the most trusted brand.

⛔Drinking tap water or eating food washed in tap water is a very common cause of Bali Belly (traveller's diarrhoea). Symptoms can be severe and ruin days of your trip — the precaution of drinking only bottled or purified water is worth taking seriously.

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Thai ATMs charge a 220 baht fee per foreign card withdrawal — minimise withdrawals, carry cash for markets and temples, and always choose to be charged in Thai baht.

⛔Card skimming has been reported at standalone ATMs in tourist areas. Use ATMs inside bank branches or inside shopping malls where possible, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.

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BCA, Mandiri, BNI, and BRI ATMs are most reliable for foreign cards; cash is essential as many places are cash-only; only use authorized money changers in Bali.

⛔Bali money changer scams are extremely common. Unauthorized changers offer artificially attractive rates and then shortchange you using distraction techniques. Always use a licensed money changer and count every note before leaving the counter.

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Telkomsel has the best nationwide coverage; Indosat Ooredoo (IM3) offers good value; buy at airports or malls with your passport; Airalo eSIM works well.

⛔SIM card registration requires your passport — the seller will scan it. This is mandatory under Indonesian government regulations. Unregistered SIMs will be blocked.

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Indonesia uses Type C and Type F plugs (European two-pin round) at 220V/50Hz — the same as most of Europe; American visitors need both an adapter and a voltage converter for older devices.

⛔Using a 110V US device on Indonesia's 220V supply without a voltage converter will destroy the device. Always check the voltage label on your device before plugging in.

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Bargaining is normal at markets, but tourists face specific scams including tuk-tuk gem shop detours, fake tours, and the notorious jet ski damage scam in Phuket.

⛔The jet ski damage scam in Phuket is well-documented and can cost victims $200–$500 or more. Operators sometimes have corrupt police present to pressure payment. Photographic evidence before riding is your best protection.

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Common scams include transport price inflation, unauthorized money changer tricks, fake temple ceremonies requiring large donations, and fake Blue Bird taxis.

⛔The Bali money changer shortchange scam is extremely sophisticated. Changers distract tourists, recount notes at speed, and palm bills before handing over the bundle. Count your cash yourself, in full, before leaving the counter — no exceptions.

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Thailand is generally safe for tourists, with petty theft and motorbike bag snatching the most common risks — violent crime against tourists is rare.

⛔Accepting drinks from strangers in bars — particularly in Pattaya and Patong — has led to drink spiking incidents. Always watch your drink and decline drinks from people you have just met.

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Indonesia is generally safe for tourists; petty theft and scams are the main concern in Bali; bag snatching from motorbikes occurs; do not leave valuables on beaches or in parked cars.

⛔Bag snatching from moving motorbikes is a real risk on Bali's busier streets. Keep bags held firmly with the strap across your body and the bag away from the road side when walking.

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Always use your right hand for giving and receiving; remove shoes at homes and temples; never touch someone's head; use your thumb to point rather than your index finger.

⛔Public displays of affection, including kissing and intimate touching, are socially unacceptable in most parts of Indonesia and can draw hostile attention or even police intervention under the 2023 criminal code.

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Thailand has world-class beaches but swimmers should watch for jellyfish, rip currents, and always obey the flag warning system — never swim under a red flag.

⛔Box jellyfish stings can be fatal within minutes. Vinegar neutralises the sting; do not rub it. Seek emergency medical attention immediately. Some beaches sell vinegar spray for this reason.

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Indonesia has world-class beaches including Bali, Lombok, Komodo, and Raja Ampat; strong surf and currents at some Bali beaches are dangerous for non-surfers; wear reef shoes on coral beaches.

⛔Rip currents on Bali's popular surfing beaches (particularly Kuta and Seminyak) are powerful and have killed tourists who ignored flag warnings. Only swim at patrolled beaches between the flags and never enter the ocean alone at unfamiliar beaches.

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Thailand drives on the left; an international driving licence is required, but scooter rental is common and accident rates among tourists are very high — always wear a helmet.

⛔Many travel insurance policies are voided if you ride a motorbike without a valid licence or without wearing a helmet. Check your policy carefully before renting any motorised vehicle.

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Indonesians drive on the left; scooter and motorbike rental is common in Bali but the tourist accident rate is very high; an international driving licence is required; avoid driving at night.

⛔Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of tourist deaths and serious injuries in Bali. Many travel insurance policies exclude motorbike accidents if you did not hold a valid motorcycle licence at home — check your policy before renting.

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Indonesian cuisine is extraordinary — nasi goreng, rendang, satay, gado-gado — with warungs (local stalls) offering excellent food from 15,000–30,000 IDR; halal food dominates except in Bali and Chinese restaurants.

⛔Bali Belly (traveller's diarrhoea) is common among tourists who eat raw foods washed in tap water. Stick to cooked food, bottled water, and busy stalls with visible high turnover — especially in your first few days.

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Remove shoes and hats before entering any place of worship, cover shoulders and knees, never turn your back to a Buddha image, and maintain respectful distance from monks.

⛔Disrespecting a Buddhist temple or monk — including inappropriate clothing, loud behaviour, or physical contact with monks — is considered deeply offensive and can result in being asked to leave or, in extreme cases, police involvement.

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Remove shoes and cover up at all religious sites; sarongs are always required at Balinese Hindu temples; Borobudur and Prambanan require modest dress and charge entry fees.

⛔Inappropriate behaviour at Balinese temples — including entering restricted inner areas, failing to dress modestly, or behaving disrespectfully during ceremonies — is taken extremely seriously and has resulted in tourists being banned from temple grounds and prosecuted under blasphemy laws.

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November to April is the best overall time to visit Thailand, with the cool dry season bringing ideal conditions — but the two coasts have different weather patterns.

⛔Tropical storms and typhoons can affect Thailand's coasts during monsoon season, occasionally causing dangerous sea conditions and disrupted ferry services to islands. Always check forecasts before booking island hops.

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Indonesia has two seasons — dry (April–October) and wet (November–March); Bali is best July–August and May–June; Komodo is best April–June; Borobudur is best May–September.

⛔Monsoon rains in the wet season can be extremely heavy and cause flooding, landslides on mountain roads, and rough seas that suspend ferry services between islands — always have flexible plans and travel insurance during November to March.

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