A typical first trip here runs about $400 to $525 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty flavors
- Street food is excellent and safe (look for busy vendors)
- Regional variations: Pad Thai, Tom Yum soup, green curry
- Fresh tropical fruits and coconut-based desserts
- Songkran (Thai New Year, April) - water festival
- Loy Krathong (November) - floating lantern festival
- Buddhist temples central to culture
- Traditional Thai massage and wellness practices
Thai is primary. English is common in tourist areas, less so in rural regions.
Learn basic phrases like "Sawasdee ka/krap" (hello). Thai people appreciate efforts to speak their language.
- Remove shoes before entering homes and temples
- Never touch someone's head or point feet at people/Buddha images
- Dress modestly in temples (cover shoulders and knees)
- Don't criticize the monarchy - it's illegal
- Bangkok: Ornate temples (Wat Pho, Wat Arun), labyrinthine markets, extraordinary street food scene, and legendary nightlife and rooftop bars
- Chiang Mai: Hill tribe villages, ethical elephant sanctuaries, the famous Night Bazaar, and a slower-paced gateway to Northern Thai culture
- Phuket & the South: Stunning Andaman Sea beaches, vibrant nightlife in Patong, and access to island-hopping across the Phi Phi Islands
- Chiang Rai: The mystical White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), Golden Triangle where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar, and remote hill tribe communities
- Koh Samui & Koh Tao: Gulf of Thailand island life, world-class scuba diving on Koh Tao, and luxurious beach resorts on Koh Samui
Latest for Thailand
Updates for Thailand will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.