The Thailand Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me Before My First Trip
- Emilee McElwain
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Planning your first trip to Thailand is so exciting. But if you're a type-A planner like me, I know it can also feel overwhelming. Between stepping into a completely new culture and the constant warnings about potential mistakes, it can feel like you'll never be "ready."
Take it from someone who watched every YouTube video, read every blog, and took all the notes: you won't know everything, and that's okay. This is everything I learned, found genuinely useful, or wish I'd known before the trip.
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Want help planning your own trip to Thailand? Whether you just want a second opinion or want us to handle the entire thing, we're happy to help.
Quick Tips and Facts
Water: Stick to filtered or bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Bring a reusable water bottle and pack electrolytes, since the heat catches up with you faster than you'd expect.
Credit cards and ATMs: Cards are accepted in many places, but cash is still king. My favorite place to exchange money is SuperRich (look for the orange branches around Bangkok), which consistently offers better rates than the airport counters. Note: Bring your passport.
Driving: Thailand drives on the left, so look both ways more carefully than habit tells you to, especially crossing streets where traffic patterns feel unfamiliar.
Visa: As of right now, Thailand allows visa-free entry for up to 60 days for travelers from 93 countries. Heads up though: Thailand's Cabinet approved a change in May 2026 that would cut this back down to 30 days for most of those countries, and it could take effect with as little as 15 days' notice once it's officially published. Confirm the current rule for your passport before you book, since this is genuinely a moving target right now. Either way, you'll need to fill out the Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before you arrive; it's free directly through the official government site. I did mine a few days in advance, while my boyfriend filled his out at arrival without any issues.
Phone service: I recommend grabbing an eSIM before you land, so you have data the moment you touch down. My go-to service provider when I travel is Airalo.
Health and Safety
Travel insurance: Non-negotiable for me. I used SafetyWing, which covers medical emergencies, trip delays, lost luggage, emergency evacuations, and more. It definitely made me feel protected while riding a bike around Koh Tao and Koh Samui. And the best part is that you can customize it to the exact dates of your trip.
Food: I was convinced one of us would get food poisoning, because that's what everyone told me before I left. But it never happened. You can't prepare for everything, but if you're mindful about where you eat (avoid vendors with food that's been sitting out), you don't need to spend your whole trip stressed about it. I also took Saccharomyces boulardii (a pre- and probiotic) and vitamin C in the weeks leading up to and during the trip.
Language
Thai people are incredibly kind, and English is spoken widely enough that I never struggled to communicate.
A few phrases worth learning:
Thank you (arguably the most useful phrase you'll use): male speakers say khàawp khun kráp, female speakers say khàawp khun kâ
Hello: sà-wàt-dee kráp (male) / sà-wàt-dee kâ (female)
Spice levels, because you will need these: not spicy - mâi pèt, a little spicy - pèt nói, very spicy - pèt mâak
Where to Stay in Bangkok
Thonglor: Not as central, but this neighborhood blew us away. It's growing fast, with a great concentration of upscale restaurants and bars.
Sukhumvit: As someone who prefers more authentic stays, I didn't enjoy Sukhumvit. Everyone tells first-timers to book here, but I'd actually skip it. We stayed on Sukhumvit Soi 11 without realizing it's a major party street, and moved after the first night. I love a good night out, but that street was chaos.
Silom/Sathorn: My overall favorite pick for first-time travelers. It gives you easy access to the Old City and shopping in Sukhumvit and Siam, plus green space at Lumphini Park and nearby canal walkways. Trendy, walkable, and full of great restaurants and bars.
Getting Around the City
BTS Skytrain and MRT: Bangkok's elevated BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit and Silom lines) and underground MRT (Blue and Purple lines) are easy to navigate and genuinely convenient once you get the hang of them. Note that you'll need cash for ticket machines at most stations.
Car (Grab): Rides are cheap, but Bangkok traffic is no joke. Plan around peak traffic hours, or you'll spend a lot longer in the car than expected.
Waterways: Limited in reach, but an iconic experience, and a great way to see neighborhoods along the canals that you'd otherwise miss entirely.
Bangkok is best explored partly by canal, though traditional longtail boats do contribute to engine fumes and noise pollution. Hidden Bangkok has introduced an electric boat as part of a broader push toward quieter, lower-impact canal tours.
They offer a longtail boat tour that takes you through the undiscovered side of Bangkok, with a view of the Big Buddha statue. This experience won a 2025 Viator Experience Award and also holds a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award.
A few additional experiences worth booking ahead:
Floating Market & Train Tour: A more premium version of the classic floating market tour, with a live guide and photographer instead of the usual prerecorded audio.
1:1 Muay Thai lesson: A great way to get a workout in while learning a Thai tradition.
Muay Thai fight at Rajadamnern Stadium: Want the atmosphere without throwing a punch yourself? Watch a match at one of Bangkok's most historic stadiums instead.
Thai cooking class with market tour: You'll come home with a new skill, and your next dinner party guests will thank you.
Food tours: At some point, it's worth handing the decisions to someone who actually knows the city's food scene. Choose between the Old Siam food tour with 15 tastings or the Chinatown Michelin food stalls tour.
Bike and food tour through hidden Bangkok: Explore the city sustainably by bike on a small-group ride through backstreets and canals most tourists never see, with stops for homemade Thai food, temples, and a local floating market.
Apps You Need to Download
Grab: taxis and food delivery
GoWabi: spa and beauty bookings
12Go: buses, trains, and ferries between cities
Google Translate: the photo/camera translation feature is genuinely useful for menus and signs
Google Maps: the most accurate option for walking and transit directions
fillintheblanktrip: keep your whole group's itinerary, tasks, bookings, and trip details organized in one place instead of scattered across texts and screenshots.
A currency converter app
GetYourGuide, Viator, or Klook: for booking activities and tours
An eSIM app: like Airalo.
A VPN: if you want to feel more secure while traveling
What to Pack (and What You Can Buy There)
7-Elevens in Thailand are genuinely incredible and have almost everything. If you forget something, don't stress. It's convenient, and a lot of it will be cheaper to buy there anyway.
Packing List:
Clothing and accessories: breathable tops, swimsuits and coverups, linen pants, shorts and light skirts, a shawl or sarong for temple visits, cute sandals, beach sandals, comfortable walking shoes, sleepwear, intimates, socks, a sun hat or cap, sunglasses, a foldable tote
Note: My all-time favorite walking sandals are by Melissa. Their collection is incredibly comfy and stylish. For a bag, my biggest travel companion has always been Baggu.
Toiletries: skincare, reef-safe sunscreen, aftersun care, motion sickness medicine, minimal makeup (less than you think you'll need), hand sanitizer, antacids (for upset stomachs), Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS Probiotics, Vitamin C
Tech: portable charger (I cannot stress this enough!), charger, a small electric fan (get one like this that can stand up on a table), a Kindle, headphones, a mini speaker, a waterproof phone bag, a camera, a luggage scale (if traveling around on a budget)
Everything else: a carabiner (decided not to bring one and I regretted it), a collapsible or regular water bottle, TSA-approved locks (if you're backpacking), waterproof bags, a quick-drying towel
Optional: a packable clothesline, reusable ziplock bags, a travel steamer (for linens)
What to Buy There (at 7-Eleven):
Bug spray, baby wipes, any skincare you forgot, a Thai inhaler, Tiger Balm, mini laundry detergent, a small first aid kit, tissues for bathrooms
What Not to Buy There:
Sunscreen, aftersun care (It’s very expensive and most have whitening additives)
Don't Bring:
Thick clothing, too much white (it doesn't stay clean and laundry services sometimes change the color of the piece), anything that's hard to style on its own
Want to skip the packing stress? Check out my Amazon list for my recommendations.
One Last Thing Before You Go
I hope this guide made you feel more prepared and a little more excited about what's ahead. If there's one thing worth remembering above everything else on this list: don't stress, and let yourself actually enjoy the journey. Thailand shifted how I see travel, and honestly, my outlook on life. I hope it does the same for you.
Got questions I didn't
cover here, or want a second opinion on anything you're still figuring out? We'd love to help.
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