Thailand Travel Guide: Where to Go & How to Save

Plan a Thailand trip around Bangkok, northern temples and the right island coast, with practical ways to spend less on food, rooms and getting around.

Golden temples, blue-water islands and some of Asia's best food

Thailand is the kind of place we recommend when you want a trip with real variety. Bangkok gives you riverside temples, ferries, markets and brilliant street food in the same day, while Chiang Mai brings old-city temples and cooler mountain air.

Then choose a coast. Krabi and the Andaman islands are made for limestone cliffs, snorkelling and longtail boats; the Gulf islands are a better beach bet when the Andaman side is wet. Between them, Ayutthaya's ruined temples and Songkran's huge April water festival give the journey plenty of character.

This hub brings together what to know before going to Thailand and how to save money while still getting the most out of the trip.

Good to know

Criticising the monarchy is a criminal offence, so avoid jokes or comments about the royal family. The royal anthem also plays before cinema screenings, and everyone stands.

Top tips

Currency: THB (฿)
Daily spend: 300–1000+ THB per person
Hotels: 250–1000+ THB per night
Plug: American 2-prong / Europlug / Thai
Tipping: Welcomed
Timezone: GMT+7
Taxis: Grab / Bolt
Food: Grab / LINE MAN / ShopeeFood

Best time to visit

Weather, prices, crowds and the events worth travelling for.

Cool and dry season

Great

Nov – Feb

Dry weather and 25–30°C suit sightseeing and beaches, though peak-season prices and crowds are highest.

Hot season

Good

Mar – Apr

Inland temperatures reach 35–37°C, while prices ease and crowds thin; Songkran fills 13–15 April with water celebrations.

Green season

Good

May – Oct

Humid low-30s°C weather brings afternoon downpours, lower room rates and quieter sights; some marine parks close mid-May.

Cost saving tips

Eat at street stalls and local markets, where a meal costs less than the westernised restaurants on the main beach strips.
Use metered Grab or Bolt rides for short journeys instead of unpriced tuk-tuks and detouring temple tours.
Pay in baht at card terminals and withdraw cash in fewer, larger amounts to avoid repeated flat ATM fees.

Top tips

Book popular hotels and island transport two to three months ahead for the November–February peak season.
Compare both coasts before booking flights, since the Andaman and Gulf islands have different wet-season patterns.
Keep small cash for markets, street food and smaller transport operators, even when larger businesses accept cards.
Choose a shared longtail or pier-side island operator instead of buying every excursion through a hotel desk.
Dress with shoulders and knees covered when visiting temples, and carry a light cover-up for spontaneous stops.