If you didn’t already know Thailand is a huge favourite with backpackers or gap year takers. It’s such an affordable and colourful country to visit and is definitely one of the most popular destinations in Asia. I wanted to share with you my ultimate guide to Thailand, which is filled with all the information you need to know for planning your trip to The Land of Smiles.

It has to be one of my favourite countries to visit especially as everyone is so friendly and there is always something to see no matter where you go. I thought I would put together this ultimate guide to Thailand to help you guys out when planning your trip.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THAILAND // THE TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

There are so many exciting and quirky places around Thailand to visit, you will be spoilt for choice on which ones to visit first.

EXPLORE THAILAND

• ♥ Bangkok
• ♥ Phuket
• ♥ Krabi
• ♥ Chiang Mai
• ♥ Koh Lipe
• ♥ Phi Phi Island

THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL IN THAILAND

You don’t want to book your time in Thailand on the worst weather they could possibly get. You need to make sure you book it when it’s their best weather. Usually their best weather is during the UK’s winter time so from November to about April. The only trouble is booking during those months, is also the high season in Thailand and when the flights will generally be more expensive. Other than that, it’s Thailand and Asia’s monsoon weather, which will be lots of rain, cooler temperatures and thunderstorms.

To avoid the high season and queues of people you will need to book around May to October time. Whilst they still get shorter rain storms then, the hotels and flights will generally be cheaper.

READ MORE: How To Get From Langkawi To Koh Lipe 

BOOK YOUR EXCURSIONS HERE…

BOOKING FLIGHTS TO THAILAND

Booking your flights to Thailand should be one of the first thing you do before you travel. Booking accommodation, flights and injections should be at the top of your list before you do anything else. When you book your flights early, you are guaranteed to pick up on some sort of deal to get cheaper flights than normal that are usually around the price range of £300 for a return flight from the UK. Make sure you keep checking SkyScanner for price drops and rises to make sure you get the best price for when you want to travel.

You also need to hunt for the best airline to fly with for a long haul flight. If you are struggling, these are a few of the trusted and my favourite airlines to fly with. It is possible to fly that way in Economy but if you can’t do it you can always book Business or First depending on your budget. A flight to Thailand from the UK is usually around 13 hours.

• • British Airways
• • EVA Air
• • Emirates
• • Etihad
• • Thai Airways
• • Qatar Airways

DOWNLOAD MY THAILAND DESTINATION BUCKET LIST HERE

READ MORE: Affordable Hotels To Stay At In Thailand

BOOKING ACCOMMODATION IN THAILAND

When booking your hotels or hostels in Thailand, I would definitely recommend searching through TripAdvisor for the best results and deals. Me and my Dad always do our hotel research before we book a family trip, he always likes my opinion on the hotels we stay at. There are so many different hotels and hostels around Thailand, so you are bound to find something in your budget and tastes.

These are the hotels we’ve stayed at in Thailand:
• Ban SaiNai, Ao Nang Krabi
• The Scene Cliff View Villas, Ao Nang Krabi
• Eastin Grand Sathorn, Bangkok (on the BTS line)
• Amara, Bangkok (in the Central Business District)
• Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Hotel, Bangkok (on Chao Phraya River)
• The Lancaster, Bangkok (near Petchburi MRT station)
• Navatara, Rawai District of Phuket

INJECTIONS FOR THAILAND 

• • Tetanus and Diphtheria
• • Hepatitis A
• • Typhoid
• • Measles
• • Mumps and Rubella

Additional injections you may need are:

• • Cholera
• • Hepatitis B
• • Polio
• • Rabies
• • Meningococcal Meningitis

Depending on where you will be staying and for how long will determine what other injections you will need. Especially if you are staying in a more rural and jungle set area. Please talk to your GP for the other injections you may need for these parts of Thailand. Ideally you will need your injections as soon as you can before you travel as there could be a waiting list. The latest you should get your injections is about a month before you leave for Thailand.

VISAS FOR THAILAND

You will need a Visa to visit Thailand, whether you are going as a tourist or on a working holiday visa. Visas will usually last for 60 days in Thailand depending on what you are going there for. You must not exceed your timescale on your visa. The best website for booking your tourist e-visa on is www.e-visa-thailand.com or www.thaiembassy.com.

If you do exceed your stay in Thailand they will charge you per day you stay in the country, and payment will be required when you come to leave Thailand. The minimum charge is 500TBH per day. This can reach a maximum of 20,000TBH for overstays of 40 days or longer.

If you do want to stay for longer than 60 days as a tourist, and to avoid the overstay charge you will need to leave the country. And then apply for a new visa before you re-enter the country.

THINGS TO DO IN THAILAND 

There are so many things to see and do in Thailand, you won’t run out of things to do.

• • Grand Palace and Reclining Buddha – Bangkok
• • Bang Pa In Palace – Bangkok
• • The Giant Buddha – Phuket
• • The King & Queen Pagoda – Chiang Mai
• • Karen Tribe Village – Chiang Mai
• • Phi Phi Island
• • James Bond Island – Phuket

I really hope this ultimate guide to Thailand has helped you and answered your questions! If you have any other questions, leave them down below for me to answer.

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