The 10 apps you need for Thailand (all free)
Deadly mistake: Arriving in Thailand without Grab installed. Without it you're lost in Bangkok β taxis don't stop, tuk-tuks rip you off, and public transportation is confusing.
Transportation β Those that save you
1. Record The Uber of Asia. It works in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and all major cities. Payment by card, without haggling.
2. Bolt Cheaper than Grab in many cities. Same function, slightly better prices.
3. Google Maps It works perfect in Thailand. Tuk-tuks and taxis appear in real time.
- Trick: BTS and MRT trains appear with exact prices. Use this to compare with taxis.
Food β Where to eat the best food in the world
4. Wongnai The Thai TripAdvisor. Locals use this, not Google Maps for restaurants.
- wongnai.com
- Trick: Look for restaurants with 4+ stars and more than 100 reviews. They are the good ones.
5. Eatigo Reserve restaurants with discounts of up to 50%. It works in Bangkok and major cities.
- Useful for: Nice dinners at street food prices.
Translation
6. Google Translate DOWNLOAD Thai offline. Without internet it doesn't work.
- How to: Open the app β Download language β Thai β Download
- Camera trick: Point to the menu and translate in real time. Essential in markets.
Accommodation
7. Agoda In Thailand, Agoda is usually cheaper than Booking. It is an Asian company.
- Tip: Book with free cancellation. Hotels in Thailand change prices constantly.
Shopping and souvenirs
8. LINE Thailand's messaging app (like WhatsApp). Use it to contact hotels and businesses.
- Trick: Many sellers in markets have LINE. You can ask for prices without speaking.
Health and safety
9. Trail Wallet Travel budget app. You enter each expense and see how much you have left per day.
- Settings: Put your daily budget (ex: 1,500 baht / β¬40) and track everything.
10.ηΏ»θ― offline (mCamera Translator) Alternative to Google Translate with better Thai text recognition.
Step-by-step setup: What you need to do TODAY
Step 1: Install Grab and Bolt (5 minutes)
- Download both apps
- Register with your email
- Add your credit/debit card
- Try placing a mock order to see what works
Step 2: Set up Google Translate (10 minutes)
- Download offline Thai package
- Activate the camera
- Try translating something in Spanish into Thai
Step 3: Prepare your budget (5 minutes)
- Open Trail Wallet
- Set your daily budget: 1,500 baht (β¬40) = budget, 3,000 baht (β¬80) = medium
- Start registering from day one
What apps you DON'T need
- β Uber: Does not exist in Thailand
- β Google Maps for booking: Doesn't work there
- β Chinese translation apps: They do not work for Thai
Errors I see over and over again
- β Install apps upon arrival β You don't have internet to download
- β Do not register card in Grab β You have to pay the taxi driver in cash
- β Do not try the apps before β They work differently than you expect
- β Rely only on Google Maps for food β Wongnai is better
Final checklist
- β Grab and Bolt installed with registered card
- β Google Translate with Thai offline
- β Trail Wallet configured with daily budget
- β Agoda installed for reservations
- β LINE installed (to contact hotels)
- β Wongnai for local restaurants