Travel to Thailand: budgets, apps and routes

Thailand can combine cities, mountains and islands in one trip, but trying to cover everything often creates unnecessary flights and transfers. A useful first decision is to choose two main areas and build the route around them.

How the regions differ

Bangkok brings together transport connections, markets, historic neighbourhoods and a vast food scene. Chiang Mai and the north offer a different pace and access to nature. In the south, conditions depend on both coast and season: weather patterns differ between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Practical preparation

• Payments: cards work in hotels and larger businesses, while cash remains common in markets, local transport and small shops.
• Getting around: compare public transport, metered taxis and apps such as Grab or Bolt in each city.
• Connectivity: SIMs and eSIMs are easy to find; compare coverage and validity rather than choosing on data allowance alone.
• Weather: check the forecast for the specific region and leave some flexibility around ferries or domestic flights.

How much time to allow

One week is enough for Bangkok and one additional region. Two weeks make it possible to add the north or a beach stay without spending every other day in transit. For smaller islands, account for the journey to the pier, ferry time and weather disruption.

How to use this guide

The money, apps, connectivity and route pages develop each topic separately. Check the season first, set the number of nights in each place and only then book internal transport.

Review entry requirements, health advice and transport conditions through official sources before travelling, as they can change at short notice.