{"id":6541,"date":"2026-08-02T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T07:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/thailand-travel-tips"},"modified":"2026-08-02T09:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T07:00:16","slug":"thailand-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/thailand-travel-tips","title":{"rendered":"Thailand Travel Tips: 12 Things to Know Before You Go"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.sayna-article .quick,.sayna-article .tip{background:#f4f7fb;border-left:4px solid #467AFF;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;margin:20px 0}.sayna-article .tip{background:#fff7ef;border-left-color:#ff7900}.sayna-article .h{font-weight:700;font-size:1.05em;margin-bottom:6px;color:#0a0a0b}.sayna-article table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:18px 0}.sayna-article th{background:#eef1f7;text-align:left;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:700;border-bottom:2px solid #dfe3ec}.sayna-article td{padding:10px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #eef1f7}.sayna-article .faq details{border-bottom:1px solid #e5e8ee;padding:4px 0}.sayna-article .faq summary{font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;padding:9px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box{background:#fff5ec;border:1px solid #ffd8b0;border-radius:12px;padding:22px;text-align:center;margin:26px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box a{display:inline-block;background:#ff7900;color:#fff;padding:12px 26px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;margin-top:8px}<\/style>\n<div class=\"sayna-article\">\n<div class=\"quick\">\n<div class=\"h\">\u26a1 In short<\/div>\n<p>Thailand is welcoming and easy, but a few things trip up first-timers. <strong>Respect the monarchy<\/strong> and never step on a banknote. <strong>Dress modestly<\/strong> at temples and remove your shoes. Carry <strong>small cash<\/strong>, use <strong>Grab<\/strong> instead of tuk-tuks, never leave your <strong>passport as a deposit<\/strong>, and save the <strong>Tourist Police number, 1155<\/strong>. Complete the digital arrival card before you land.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\"><span class=\"h\">Stay connected on arrival<\/span> Set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">eSIM for Thailande<\/a> before you go: 100% online activation, no physical SIM to swap.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav aria-label=\"Contents\" class=\"toc\">\n<div class=\"h\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#respect\">Respect the King, literally<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#temples\">Temple etiquette<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#scams\">The scams to see coming<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#money\">Money and cash<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#transport\">Transport that works<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#health\">Health and safety<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#connected\">Arrive already connected<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>None of that needs to happen. Here are twelve things worth knowing before you land, grouped by what actually matters.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"respect\">Respect the King, literally<\/h2>\n<p>This is the one non-negotiable. Thailand has strict <strong>lese-majeste laws<\/strong> protecting the monarchy, and they are enforced with real prison sentences. The King&#8217;s image appears on every banknote and coin.<\/p>\n<p>The practical rule: <strong>never step on money<\/strong> to stop it blowing away, and never lick your thumb over the King&#8217;s face. It sounds trivial, but it is genuinely serious here. Keep any opinions about the royal family to yourself, online included.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"temples\">Temple etiquette<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Never climb on or pose disrespectfully with a Buddha image.<\/strong> People have been deported for it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women should not touch a monk<\/strong> or hand anything directly to one; place it down for him to pick up.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Point your feet away<\/strong> from Buddha images and people when sitting. Feet are considered the lowest part of the body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The head, by contrast, is respected. Do not pat anyone on the head, even a child.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"scams\">The scams to see coming<\/h2>\n<p>Thailand is safe, but a handful of well-worn scams target tourists. Recognise them and they lose all their power.<\/p>\n<h3>The jet-ski and scooter damage scam<\/h3>\n<p>You rent a jet ski or scooter, and on return the operator points to pre-existing scratches and demands <strong>10,000 to 50,000 baht<\/strong> for repairs, sometimes while holding your passport. Rent only from reputable, well-reviewed shops, photograph every scratch before you set off, and <strong>never hand over your passport as a deposit<\/strong>. Leave a cash deposit or a photocopy instead.<\/p>\n<h3>The temple is closed detour<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>Currency and fake goods<\/h3>\n<p>Change money only at booths tied to major banks such as Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn. Avoid isolated stalls flashing premium rates.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"money\">Money and cash<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Thai ATMs charge a fixed <strong>fee of about 220 baht per foreign withdrawal<\/strong>, on top of your home bank&#8217;s charges. Take out larger amounts less often. Tipping is not obligatory, but rounding up or leaving 20 to 50 baht is appreciated.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"transport\">Transport that works<\/h2>\n<p>Skip the haggling. In cities, use the <strong>Grab app<\/strong> 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&#8217;s legendary traffic.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"health\">Health and safety<\/h2>\n<p>Thailand is genuinely welcoming, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Common sense covers the rest.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Drink bottled or filtered water.<\/strong> Tap water is not for drinking, though ice in reputable places is fine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eat where it is busy.<\/strong> High turnover means fresh food.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Save the Tourist Police number, 1155.<\/strong> If any dispute turns heated, call them and stay calm rather than paying under pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"h\">\ud83d\udca1 The tips seasoned travellers swear by<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Never leave your passport as a rental deposit. Use cash or a photocopy.<\/li>\n<li>Save 1155, the Tourist Police, before you need it.<\/li>\n<li>Use Grab for fixed pricing instead of arguing with tuk-tuks.<\/li>\n<li>Carry small notes for street food and songthaews.<\/li>\n<li>Set up your data before you fly, so maps and translation work the second you land.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"connected\">Arrive already connected<\/h2>\n<p>Most of these tips depend on one thing: having your phone working the moment you arrive. You need data to complete the <strong>Thailand Digital Arrival Card<\/strong> before landing, to book a Grab out of the airport, and to translate a menu or a road sign.<\/p>\n<p>Buying a local SIM on arrival now means queueing and a passport-plus-facial-recognition registration. Set up a <a class=\"cta-inline\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">eSIM for Thailande<\/a> before you go and skip all of it. Orange serves <strong>more than 300 million customers<\/strong> and its negotiated roaming agreements connect you straight to the local 4G\/5G networks, with <strong>24\/7<\/strong> support and a <strong>100% refund<\/strong> if you never use it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\">\n<p>Land in Thailand prepared, not scrambling for a SIM<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">Explore the Orange Travel eSIM for Thailand<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<section aria-label=\"Frequently asked questions\" class=\"faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What should I know before travelling to Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Respect the monarchy and never disrespect banknotes, which carry the King&#8217;s image. Dress modestly at temples, remove shoes indoors, carry small cash, use Grab rather than tuk-tuks, and complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you land.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What are the most common scams in Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">The jet-ski and scooter damage scam, the temple-is-closed tuk-tuk detour to jewellery shops, and dodgy currency stalls. Rent from reputable operators, never leave your passport as a deposit, and if a dispute starts call the Tourist Police on 1155.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Is Thailand safe for tourists?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Yes, it is generally very safe. The main risks are scams, road accidents on rented scooters, and petty theft. Wear a helmet, use reputable rental shops, keep valuables secure, and save the Tourist Police number 1155.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Do I need to dress modestly in Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">For temples, yes. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes and hat, and never climb on Buddha statues. Elsewhere, beachwear is fine at the beach but not in towns or shops.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>How do I stay connected in Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">You need mobile data to complete the arrival card, use Grab and translate on the go. A travel eSIM set up before departure connects the moment you land, with no passport registration at a SIM counter.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":6540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Thailand Travel Tips: 12 Things to Know Before You Go | Orange Travel","_seopress_titles_desc":"Thailand travel tips for 2026: etiquette, common scams, money, transport and safety. 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