Plan your trip
Plan Your Trip to Thailand
Everything with a deadline attached: when to come, how to get in, how to move once you are here, and what it costs. The country itself is next door, under About Thailand.
Four decisions, in the order they matter
- 1
The month
It decides more than the destination does, because Thailand's two coasts are about three months out of step. Both are genuinely dry in January, February and March. After that they part: through the northern summer the Andaman takes roughly three times the rain the Gulf does, which is not the same as the Gulf being dry, and the Gulf's own wet season arrives late, in October and November. So the same fortnight is a good trip on one side of the peninsula and a wet one on the other. All twelve months, measured
- 2
How many places
Three is the practical limit for a fortnight and two is usually better. Every move costs half a day, and the moves that look shortest on a map are not always the quickest. Which combinations work in which month
- 3
How you will move
Fly the long hops, take the sleeper north, and accept that the islands mean a boat with a last departure in the early afternoon. The eight ways to move and 24 checked routes
- 4
The paperwork
Two separate things and people conflate them. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality; the digital arrival card is required of everyone and has to be submitted within three days of landing. Visas and the arrival card
Then, and only then, where you sleep. In Thailand the area decides more of a week than the hotel does, because on the islands there is often nothing running between the beaches. Where to stay in Thailand, area by area.
Everything in this section
- Routes and Transfers
- Getting Around Thailand
- Getting to Thailand from the UK
- Driving and Scooters
- Is Thailand Safe?
- The Best Beaches
- The Best Time to Visit
- Thailand Month by Month
- Multi-Centre Holidays
- Visa and Entry Requirements
- The Digital Arrival Card
- What a Trip Costs
- Plugs and Power Sockets
Or start from your dates
Start here
The six that decide a trip
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Best Time to VisitTwo coasts about three months out of step, measured at Phuket and Koh Samui rather than repeated. Every month has its own page.
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Routes & Transfers24 routes with real times, frequencies and fares, drawn on one scale so you can see which choice costs you a day.
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Getting AroundFlights, the sleeper train, minivans, ferries, Grab and the Bangkok Skytrain, and which one suits which length of journey.
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Visa & EntryMost nationalities get visa-free entry for 30 or 60 days depending on recent rule changes. Check current requirements before you fly.
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The Arrival CardEvery foreign national has to submit a TDAC within three days of arriving. It is free, and the sites charging for it are not the government.
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Budget & CostsThailand is affordable but the range is wide. Street food and guesthouses keep costs low; beach resorts and tours push them up.
First time in Thailand?
What to sort before you go
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Timing your visit
The two coasts are three months out of step. The Andaman is dry from December to March, the Gulf from January to April, and through the northern summer the Gulf is the drier of the two without being dry. The north is at its best in November and December, before the burning season starts in February.
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Money & budget
ATMs are everywhere but charge foreign-card fees. Bring some baht from home for the first day, then draw cash as needed. Cards are accepted in most hotels and larger restaurants.
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Health & insurance
Travel insurance is essential. Mosquito repellent is useful year-round. Healthcare in Bangkok is excellent; rural areas have less coverage, so keep your insurer's number handy.
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Plugs and power
Thailand runs at 220 volts and the socket takes flat American pins and round European ones. British and Australian plugs do not fit. See our guide to plugs and sockets.
Top-rated Thailand tours and tickets
Free cancellation
The Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise
Free cancellation
Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride
Free cancellation
Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai
Free cancellation
Phang Nga Bay Canoeing & James Bond Island Tour from Phuket
Free cancellation
Deep Mangrove and Canyon Kayak Tour in Krabi
Free cancellation
Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour
Free cancellation
Private Tour: Best of Bangkok in A Day
Free cancellation
Half-Day Floating Market and Railway Market Tour from Bangkok
Free cancellation
Chiang Rai White and Blue Temples Private Trip
Free cancellation
Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
Free cancellation
One Day Tour Khao Sok Cheow Lan Lake from Krabi
Free cancellation
Angthong National Marine Park VIP Small Group Tour
Practical questions, answered
Do I need a visa for Thailand?+
Many nationalities receive visa-exempt entry for 30 to 60 days, but the rules change. Check with your country's Thai embassy or the official Thai e-Visa portal before booking.
What is the TDAC?+
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, which every foreign national has to submit within three days of arriving. It replaced the paper TM6 card on 1 May 2025 and it is free on the official immigration site, whatever the sites charging for it imply.
When is the best time to visit Thailand?+
December to March on the Andaman coast, and January to April on the Gulf, measured as the months at Phuket and Koh Samui that stay under 150mm and under sixteen days with rain. February is the driest month in the country. Through the northern summer neither coast is dry, but the Gulf takes about a third of the Andaman's rain. The one to avoid on the Gulf is November, its wettest month of the year.
Is Thailand expensive?+
No, relative to most Western countries. Budget travellers can get by cheaply; mid-range travel is comfortable and affordable. The main costs are flights and island accommodation in high season.
How do I get around Thailand?+
Domestic flights save time on longer hops (Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bangkok to Phuket). Overnight trains are comfortable and cut a hotel night. Islands are reached by ferry or speedboat from the coast.
Is Thailand safe to visit?+
Yes, for most visitors. The main risks are road accidents, petty theft in crowded areas and occasional political disruptions in Bangkok. Travel insurance and basic precautions cover the rest.