Thailand Travel Guide
10 Essential Tips for Traveling Thailand
By Nicole | 9 min read
All my best tips as someone who spent 2 months living and traveling through Thailand.
Thailand is one of those places that just works — the food is unreal, the people are warm, it's easy to get around, and your money goes far. But there are a handful of things I wish I'd known from day one that would've saved me time, money, and confusion. Here they are.
Download 12GO Asia
This is the best app to figure out how to get around Thailand. All forms of transportation on one app — ferries, buses, trains, vans — with the best prices. Even when a journey requires multiple legs it collates them into one ticket with perfectly timed connections.
Example:
Traveling from Koh Tao to Khao Sok typically requires a ferry, a transfer at the pier, and a van into town. 12Go collates all three legs for you so you don't have to navigate the transfers yourself.
Bring Cover-Ups for Temples
Thailand's temples are breathtaking, but they have a strict dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered — especially enforced for women. To avoid being turned away or forced to rent a heavy, communal robe, pack modestly.
What works:
• Linen trousers — chic, breathable in 90% humidity, dry quickly
• A lightweight sarong — tie it as a skirt, drape as a shawl, double as a beach blanket
Buy the Pink-Bottle 7-Eleven Mosquito Spray
The mosquitos are no joke in Thailand. Look for the Soffell repellent — small white bottle with a pink floral cap, found in the travel aisle of any 7-Eleven. It smells like roses and works significantly better than anything you'll bring from home.
Pro tip:
Keep it in your bag at all times. You never know when you'll need it — especially at sunset and near water.
The Bolt vs Grab Strategy
Grab is the Uber of Asia, but Bolt is another similar app in Thailand. Download both and compare prices — Bolt is often 20-30% cheaper for cars.
Bolt
Best for getting around cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Usually cheaper than Grab for car rides.
Grab
Best for food delivery (GrabFood is elite) and GrabBike for solo riders beating Bangkok traffic.
Buy Your Sunscreen at Home
Sounds counterintuitive, but sunscreen is incredibly expensive in Thailand. And many local brands contain "whitening" or "brightening" agents designed to lighten the skin — probably not what you're going for on a tropical vacation.
Stock up on your preferred SPF before you leave. It's a major budget and skin-health hack.
Head to "The Basement" for Food
In major malls (Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Terminal 21), skip the fancy restaurants on the top floors. Go to the food court in the basement. These aren't like Western mall food courts — you can get authentic, high-quality Pad Kra Pao or Khao Soi for $2-3. It's where the locals eat.
Many food courts specifically seek out famous street food vendors who've been operating for 30+ years. The quality is legit.
Be Wary of Scams
Tuk tuk drivers and "friendly strangers" near major landmarks (the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun) will tell you the attraction is "closed today" and offer to take you somewhere else — usually a gem shop or tailor where they earn commission.
The shutdown phrase:
"That's okay, I just want to go look at the gate anyway." This ends the conversation immediately because they know you aren't an easy mark.
Remember:
These are "Professional Friends" who use your politeness against you. You're allowed to say "No, thank you" firmly and keep walking.
Don't Be Afraid of the Street Food
You haven't truly experienced Thailand until you've eaten on a plastic stool by the side of the road. Some of the most incredible flavors in the country come from night markets and street vendors — don't let "Bangkok Belly" fears keep you away.
The safe street food rules:
• Arrive early — fresher ingredients, hasn't been sitting out
• Look for the longest lines (especially locals) — high turnover = fresh food
• Stick to vendors who cook in front of you — heat is your best friend
Keep Toilet Paper on You
The "Bum Gun" (handheld bidet sprayer) is the standard in Thailand. Many restrooms — especially in markets or rural areas — don't provide toilet paper at all.
The fix:
Always keep a small travel pack of tissues in your daypack. Lifesaver for public restrooms, long bus rides, and remote island stops.
7-Eleven Will Become Your Best Friend
In Thailand, 7-Eleven isn't just a convenience store — it's a lifestyle and a sanctuary. Whether you need air conditioning, a cheap meal, or last-minute travel supplies, this place has you covered.
7-Eleven highlights:
• Ham and Cheese Toasties (grilled on the spot) — a backpacker rite of passage
• Onigiri (triangle sushi wraps) — my personal favorite
• Beauty aisle: hair masks, sheet masks, "morning after" vitamins
• SIM cards, rain ponchos, iced coffee — you'll visit at least twice a day
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Island hopping routes, day-by-day itineraries, budget breakdowns, and everything else from 2 months on the ground.
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