If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, it’s important to be as prepared as possible so you don’t run into any trouble or issues while abroad. Here are 10 useful Thailand travel tips for your big trip.
Traveling to Thailand can be the adventure of a lifetime. It’s a gorgeous country filled with fascinating things to see and do. Whether you are backpacking alone in the country for the first time or enjoying a luxury vacation, there are things you should know to make your trip go as smooth as possible.
Tourists need all the information they can get, and knowing a few Thailand travel tips can help you avoid common mistakes. Let’s take a look at a some of these tips before you take off on your trip.
10 Helpful Thailand Travel Tips For Your Big Adventure
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, it’s important to be as prepared as possible so you don’t run into any trouble or issues while abroad. Here are 10 useful Thailand travel tips for your big trip.
1. Know When to Wai
The Wai is an important custom among Thai people. It’s a part of social behavior used to express gratitude, greet someone, say goodbye, and for apologizing. Simply bow with hands pressed together in a prayer-like posture.
For tourists, a nod of the head or a smile will typically suffice as an acceptable form of greeting. Beware that an improper use of the Wai with a Thai person could put you in an awkward situation.
2. Thai Monks
It’s quite common to see monks out and about in Thailand, especially if you are near a temple. Keep in mind that there are a few rules for contact with Thai monks. First, women must never touch a monk or a monk’s robe. When contact is made between a woman and a monk, the monk must go through a cleansing ritual.
A woman should never give anything directly to a monk. She should either give it to a man to give to a monk or place the item on the floor.
While in Thailand, treat yourself to a beautiful place to stay, as you can view here.
3. Be Prepared for Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are everywhere in Thailand. So do yourself a huge favor and pack some good spray-on repellent. We recommend choosing a repellent with at least 50% deet during the day and 100% at night.
Also be sure to treat your clothes with permethrin pesticide spray as soon as you arrive in the country. This stuff is nasty, so be sure to apply to clothing outside and give it time to dry.
4. Avoid Scams
Thailand is a place where you can feel like there is always someone trying to rip you off. We strongly recommend not trusting random helpful strangers. Make sure your taxi has a functioning meter, and agree on the price before getting in a tuk tuk. Also, keep your belongings zipped up and close to you at all times.
5. Cover Up in Temples
Remember, temples are religious places. Therefore it’s important to be respectful when you are in and around them. One of the most important things you can do to show respect is to wear long sleeves and pants. It’s also a good idea to remove your shoes.
6. Don’t Discuss the King
The king is a big deal in Thailand. So it’s a good idea to not mention him at all, or else you might risk saying something insulting. The people of Thailand are very sensitive about the king, so it’s best to not mention him in any way.
Also, never put your foot on a coin or banknote, even if blown by the wind, because this could easily be viewed as highly offensive.
It’s also a very good idea to avoid criticizing the government in any way. There are actually laws in Thailand that essentially forbid citizens and foreigners alike from doing this. Beware that the punishment for criticism of the government can include time in jail.
7. Get Immunized
It’s important to be up-to-date on all your shots before departing for your trip to Thailand. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a variety of immunizations including ones for typhoid and hepatitis A.
The CDC also recommends specific vaccines for the prevention of contradicting diseases like malaria, yellow fever, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis.
We really cannot overstate the importance of getting all your shots before traveling to a place like Thailand. There are just so many things you can be potentially exposed to that there’s no reason to risk your health.
8. Don’t Drive a Motorcycle in Bangkok
Sure, it looks fun on TV and in the movies, but riding a motorcycle here is a bad idea for a tourist. Bangkok has the second most dangerous roads in the world in terms of deaths per capita, and many of these deaths involve motorcycles. Just remember, the streets of Bangkok are teaming with reckless drivers.
9. Don’t Feed the Monkeys
There are tons monkeys in Thailand. In Koh Phi Phi there’s even a beach dedicated to them. But as tempting as it might be to offer them a scrap of food, don’t do it. This is for your own safety because when the monkey’s become accustomed to getting food from humans, they can become extremely aggressive and start biting.
Always keep in mind that though the monkeys of Thailand are cute, and fun to watch, they are also wild animals. And the more they become conditioned to be comfortable around humans and accustomed to eating human food, the less chance they have of being able to survive in their natural wild habitat.
10. Bring Multiple Forms of Identification
Visitors to Thailand are required by law to carry identification with them at all times. We recommend always keeping your passport on you, but never offering it as a form of insurance when renting a motorcycle.
Be a Smart Traveler
Traveling to Thailand is an adventure you will never forget. No matter how many times you visit, or how long you stay, there are too many things to see and do to ever be able to fit everything in.
This Thailand travel guide is a good starting point for preparing for the most enjoyable trip possible. A smart traveler is a prepared traveler, and the more prepared you are, the smoother your experience will be.
Click here to see more Thailand travel tips for 2018.
