How Things Work in Thailand

Tipping is appreciated and expected in tourist areas. 20–50 THB at restaurants, 20–100 THB for massage, round up taxi fares.

Updated 2025-01

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.

Updated 2025-01

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

Updated 2025-01

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

Updated 2025-01

Tourist Police: 1155 (English spoken). Ambulance: 1669. Fire: 199. Regular Police: 191.

Updated 2025-01

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.

Updated 2025-01

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.

Updated 2025-01

Bargaining is expected at markets and street stalls. Fixed prices in malls and supermarkets. Be friendly, smile, and never get angry.

Updated 2025-01

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

Updated 2025-01

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

Updated 2025-01

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.

Updated 2025-06

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

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

Tourist SIMs from AIS or TrueMove cost 299–499 baht at the airport and give you 15–30 days of data with excellent coverage in cities and resort areas.

Updated 2025-06

Thailand uses 220V/50Hz and accepts Type A, B, and C plugs, meaning most international devices plug in without an adapter.

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

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

Updated 2025-06

Thai culture values respect, a calm demeanour, and avoiding public confrontation — greet with the wai, never touch anyone's head, and never point your feet at people or sacred objects.

Updated 2025-06

English is widely spoken in tourist areas but very limited outside them — learning a few basic Thai phrases earns enormous goodwill from locals.

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

Thai street food is outstanding, safe at busy stalls, and incredibly cheap — always specify your spice level, explore pad thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice, and price-check seafood before ordering.

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

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.

Updated 2025-06

Thailand is already very affordable, but eating street food, using shared songthaews, shopping at 7-Eleven, and basing yourself in Chiang Mai instead of Bangkok or the islands can cut costs dramatically.

Updated 2025-06