Currency Thai baht (THB), divided into 100 satang. Reference exchange rate approximately 35 THB per USD (verify before travel).
Exchange Change money at houses such as SuperRich or Vasu in Bangkok, not at the airport or hotel. Bring crisp, unmarked USD notes.
Cash Budget 200 to 400 USD per person per week for cash expenses. Convert gradually rather than all at once on arrival.
Cards Visa and Mastercard accepted at hotels, malls and upscale restaurants. Markets, tuk-tuks, massage parlours and street food are cash only.
ATMs Available throughout the country, with a fixed fee of around 220 THB per withdrawal for foreign cards. Notify your bank before travelling.
Gratuities Not obligatory but appreciated. 10% at full-service restaurants, 50 to 100 THB at spas, 200 to 500 THB per day for a private guide.
Latin America Colombians, Mexicans, Argentinians and most South Americans do not require a tourist visa.
Length of stay Since 2024 Thailand extended its visa exemption to 60 days for many nationalities, with a free entry stamp on arrival.
Spain Spanish nationals also do not require a tourist visa to enter Thailand.
Passport Valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Immigration rules change — verify before travelling.
Documents Confirmed onward ticket, international insurance and the first accommodation voucher to hand on arrival.
Mandatory None from Latin America or Europe, except yellow fever if you arrive with a long layover in an endemic country.
Recommended Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, up-to-date tetanus and Japanese encephalitis for rural areas during the rainy season.
Dengue Endemic year-round, with peaks in the rainy season. Bring repellent with 20–30% DEET or picaridin.
Insurance Essential — minimum USD 100,000 medical cover and evacuation. Thailand has first-class private hospitals.
Water Always bottled, even for brushing teeth. Industrial ice with a hole through the centre is safe.
Domestic flights Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and AirAsia connect Bangkok with Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket and the islands on short hops.
Grab Southeast Asia's answer to Uber, operating in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi. Avoids 90% of fare disputes with taxi drivers.
Private longtail The CocoVolare standard on the Andaman: a dedicated boat, not a shared ferry with forty other tourists.
Bangkok The Skytrain (BTS) and metro (MRT) are fast and cheap, covering 80% of tourist sites without traffic.
Overnight train Bangkok–Chiang Mai in a first-class sleeper cabin: costs less than a hotel and saves a travel day.
Official language Thai, with its own alphabet derived from ancient Khmer. Regional languages include Isan, Lanna and Pak Tai.
English Functional in hotels, upscale restaurants, with guides and at airports. Limited in everyday transport and rural provinces.
Local touch CocoVolare assigns guides with certified English and, where applicable, functional Spanish for Latin American clients.
Useful phrases Sawadee (hello) · khop khun (thank you) · aroi (delicious) · mai phet (not spicy) · jai yen (keep calm).
Apps Download Google Translate offline for deep provinces like Phrae or Nan, where English is scarce.
The head The most sacred part of the body: never touch anyone's head, not even a child's in a gesture of affection.
The feet Never point your feet at a person, a Buddha image or an altar. Do not step on banknotes — the king's image appears on them.
The monarchy The king and royal family are beyond reproach. The lèse-majesté law applies to tourists as well. Never joke about this.
Temples Remove your shoes, cover shoulders and knees, remain quiet and avoid flash photography. Women must not touch monks.
Jai yen The cool heart: never raise your voice. Arguing in public causes loss of face and rarely resolves anything.
01 · Capital
3–5 nights
