When to Visit Thailand?
The best time to visit Thailand is from November to January when the weather is cooler and less humid due to Thailand's northern climate, making it much more enjoyable to explore the beautiful outdoors of Thailand.
That said, Thailand has suffered a lot from air pollution in recent years due to the burning season, and it is extremely prevalent during Thailand's winter period (December - January). So, even though the weather is cooler, your visibility might not be the best. Be sure to buy a face mask if you decide to visit Thailand during this time.
March - April are the hottest and most humid periods of the year, so if you can't handle the heat very well, avoid visiting during this time. The air quality may be slightly better during this period, but it's not guaranteed.
All the other months are considered to be a rainy season, which, even though the weather is a little more manageable than the summer months, you will also be seeing a lot more rain that might prevent you from enjoying the outdoors. Air quality during this time should be better due to the rain.
As you can see, the best time to visit Thailand used to be during its wintertime, BUT now that the air quality is getting worse and worse, you will have to decide which is more important to you as a traveler: good weather but bad air quality or vice versa.
How to Get to Thailand?
Every trip to Thailand starts in the capital city, Bangkok. Since Bangkok is one of the largest hubs in the region, you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Muang International Airport (budget airlines only), in Thailand.
From the US, unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Bangkok. So, you will have to rely on transit flights by Emirates, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines from the East Coast, or ANA Airlines or Korean Air from the West Coast.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Thai Airways or local carriers such as British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa to Bangkok. From there, you can fly domestically to Chiang Mai. Alternatively, you can choose to travel with Etihad, Qatar, or Emirates if you don't mind transiting.
From within Asia, there are several low-cost airlines offering multiple routes from many hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta to Bangkok. AirAsia is a great option as they have the most connections to Bangkok from around Asia.
To find a cheap flight to Bangkok, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How To Get From Bangkok's Airports to your Accommodation?
By Bus: If you are staying near Khaosan Road or the Old Town area, I recommend taking the bus as it goes directly to your location without the need for transit.
If you fly into Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you can take the S1 bus, and it will take you to Khaosan Road for 60 THB. Depending on the traffic, the journey should take around 1.5 hours, and the bus runs between 6 AM to 8 PM every 30 minutes.
If you fly into Don Muang International Airport, you can take the A4 bus, which should take you to Khaosan Road for 50 THB. From Don Muang Airport to Khaosan Road, you can expect an approximately 1-hour journey. The A4 bus runs between 7 AM and 10 PM, with a frequency of every 30 minutes.
By Sky Trains: If you are staying elsewhere in Bangkok, you can take the sky train instead. Just make sure that you know which sky train station to get off at.
If you fly into Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you can take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai Station. From there, you will be able to connect to the main Sukhumvit Line and take the train to the nearest station near your accommodation.
The Airport Link runs every 20 minutes and the trip from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai will cost you 45 THB and take around one hour. From Phaya Thai, the price varies depending on how far your accommodation is. The sky train price starts at 15 THB. The train operates from 6 AM to 12 AM.
If you fly into Don Muang International Airport, you will first have to take the A1 bus, which will take you to Morchit BTS Station. The A1 bus comes every 5 minutes, and it should cost you 30 THB.
From Morchit BTS Station, you can then take the train to the BTS Station near your accommodation. The sky train price starts at 15 THB and goes up to 70 THB depending on how far your journey is. The train operates from 6 AM to 12 AM.
By Taxi: Taking a taxi is a comfortable way to get to your accommodation, but it can be pricey due to the airport fee of 50 THB that will be added on top of the metered price. Therefore, if you are coming from Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can expect to pay around 300 THB, and if you are coming from Don Muang Airport, the fare will be around 150+ THB.
One tip for taking taxis in Bangkok: if they don't turn on their meters, get out and get a new one. Do not tolerate this kind of behavior!
How to Get Around Thailand?
By Air: This is the fastest way to get around Thailand, and there are many low-cost airlines like AirAsia and Nok Air that operate numerous routes around Thailand which are extremely affordable. If you are in a rush, I recommend flying.
To book a flight in Thailand, you can do so with the link here: Book a flight in Thailand.
By Bus: This is one of the cheapest ways to get around Thailand, especially for long distances. The buses are cheap, quite safe, and surprisingly comfortable to travel in. It is recommended if you are not in a rush.
If you are looking to reserve a seat for bus travels, you can book through here: Book a bus ticket in Thailand.
By Train: You can also take the train if you want a more scenic way of getting around Thailand. Keep in mind that they are slow and often run late, but traveling by train in Thailand is quite a fun experience, and it is dirt cheap.
If you are looking to reserve a seat for train travel, you can book through here: Book a train ticket in Thailand.
By Motorbike: This is only recommended for exploring the city and the surrounding areas, not for long distances. For long distances, take the bus or train instead. Rent a motorcycle only when you have already arrived in a city and would like to explore it further.
By Car: This is the most comfortable way to get around Thailand, and you can rent one straight from the airports in Bangkok and elsewhere for around 700 - 1500 THB. To rent a car in Thailand, you can book through here:
How Much Money Do I Need For One month in Thailand?
From this one-month rough itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending for 30 days in Thailand as follows:
Accommodation: For 30 days in Thailand, you can expect to pay a minimum of around 231 USD (7,877.56 THB) for accommodation.
Food: Food costs about 60 THB minimum in Thailand on average, so you can expect to pay around 5,400 THB for 30 days.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay approximately 15,000 THB for transportation, including three flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and back to Bangkok, as well as buses, motorbike rentals, and ferries you might take on this trip.
Activities: Depending on how many day trips and activities you want to do, you can expect to pay around 8,000 THB for most activities you might do in Thailand in 30 days.
Total Budget for 30 days in Thailand: 36,277.56 THB (1,063.76 USD)
Is it Safe in Thailand?
Although Thailand is generally safe and the people are friendly, it is always a good idea to second-guess people who approach you and try to offer something that seems too good to be true, as it probably is. That is a sure way to avoid any scam attempts from tuk-tuk/taxi drivers or other scammers who might approach you.
And as always, please exercise precautions like you would when traveling in any foreign country. Do not leave your belongings unattended and watch out for your belongings at all times.
Also, if you are planning to ride a scooter around in places like Krabi or Chiang Mai, always wear your helmet and ideally, cover yourself because accidents do happen. And when they do, they are never pretty, especially if you wear tank tops and shorts.
And, since you will be driving on Thai roads, it is my duty as a Thai to warn you that we are not the best drivers in the world. The roads are great throughout, but we sometimes drive like maniacs, so make sure to be extra careful when you are on the road.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Thailand?
There are 3 major carriers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC, and True. All of them offer a pretty similar range of traveler's packages as well as coverage. Personally, I use AIS as I have been with them since my first phone. They have a lot of Support Centers around Thailand, and their coverage hasn't failed me yet. So, if you are looking for a reliable carrier, I can recommend AIS.
There are 3 packages for tourists: 5 GB for 5 days at 160 THB, 15 GB for 8 days at 299 THB, and 30 GB for 15 days. Depending on how long your trip to Thailand will be, you can pick one of these 3 packages that fits your itinerary the most.
With these three packages, you can top up more in case you need additional data or calls for your trip. More often than not, 5 GB is more than enough for me to travel around Thailand for a month.
For more information about Thailand's local SIM card: Thailand's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This will help you bypass any local Internet censorship you may encounter while in Thailand.
What to Pack for Thailand?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Thailand:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Thailand in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
