Thailand is welcoming and easy, but a few things trip up first-timers. Respect the monarchy and never step on a banknote. Dress modestly at temples and remove your shoes. Carry small cash, use Grab instead of tuk-tuks, never leave your passport as a deposit, and save the Tourist Police number, 1155. Complete the digital arrival card before you land.
Thailand is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel, which lulls people into skipping the homework. Then they step on a banknote, hand a scooter shop their passport, or overpay a tuk-tuk by ten times, and the trip sours for no reason.
None of that needs to happen. Here are twelve things worth knowing before you land, grouped by what actually matters.
Respect the King, literally
This is the one non-negotiable. Thailand has strict lese-majeste laws protecting the monarchy, and they are enforced with real prison sentences. The King’s image appears on every banknote and coin.
The practical rule: never step on money to stop it blowing away, and never lick your thumb over the King’s face. It sounds trivial, but it is genuinely serious here. Keep any opinions about the royal family to yourself, online included.
Temple etiquette
Temples are living places of worship. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes and hat before entering, and step over the raised threshold rather than on it.
- Never climb on or pose disrespectfully with a Buddha image. People have been deported for it.
- Women should not touch a monk or hand anything directly to one; place it down for him to pick up.
- Point your feet away from Buddha images and people when sitting. Feet are considered the lowest part of the body.
The head, by contrast, is respected. Do not pat anyone on the head, even a child.
The scams to see coming
Thailand is safe, but a handful of well-worn scams target tourists. Recognise them and they lose all their power.
The jet-ski and scooter damage scam
You rent a jet ski or scooter, and on return the operator points to pre-existing scratches and demands 10,000 to 50,000 baht for repairs, sometimes while holding your passport. Rent only from reputable, well-reviewed shops, photograph every scratch before you set off, and never hand over your passport as a deposit. Leave a cash deposit or a photocopy instead.
The temple is closed detour
Near a major temple, a friendly stranger or tuk-tuk driver tells you it is closed for a ceremony, then offers a cheap tour that ends at gem shops paying him commission. Ignore it and walk to the official entrance yourself. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are not closing for you.
Currency and fake goods
Change money only at booths tied to major banks such as Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn. Avoid isolated stalls flashing premium rates.
Money and cash
Thailand is increasingly card-friendly in cities, but cash still rules street stalls, markets and small towns. Carry a mix of small notes; nobody wants to break a 1,000-baht note for a 40-baht meal.
Thai ATMs charge a fixed fee of about 220 baht per foreign withdrawal, on top of your home bank’s charges. Take out larger amounts less often. Tipping is not obligatory, but rounding up or leaving 20 to 50 baht is appreciated.
Transport that works
Skip the haggling. In cities, use the Grab app for fixed-price cars and motorbike taxis, or Bolt where it operates. In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain and MRT metro beat sitting in the city’s legendary traffic.
If you rent a scooter, wear the helmet. Road accidents are the biggest real danger to tourists here, far more than crime. Check your travel insurance covers you, and that you hold the right licence.
Health and safety
Thailand is genuinely welcoming, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Common sense covers the rest.
- Drink bottled or filtered water. Tap water is not for drinking, though ice in reputable places is fine.
- Eat where it is busy. High turnover means fresh food.
- Save the Tourist Police number, 1155. If any dispute turns heated, call them and stay calm rather than paying under pressure.
- Never leave your passport as a rental deposit. Use cash or a photocopy.
- Save 1155, the Tourist Police, before you need it.
- Use Grab for fixed pricing instead of arguing with tuk-tuks.
- Carry small notes for street food and songthaews.
- Set up your data before you fly, so maps and translation work the second you land.
Arrive already connected
Most of these tips depend on one thing: having your phone working the moment you arrive. You need data to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before landing, to book a Grab out of the airport, and to translate a menu or a road sign.
Buying a local SIM on arrival now means queueing and a passport-plus-facial-recognition registration. Set up a eSIM for Thailande before you go and skip all of it. Orange serves more than 300 million customers and its negotiated roaming agreements connect you straight to the local 4G/5G networks, with 24/7 support and a 100% refund if you never use it.
Land in Thailand prepared, not scrambling for a SIM
