Plan your trip to Thailand without a travel agency!

Preparing a trip to Thailand by yourself, without an agency, is much easier than it seems as long as you have the right information and practical advice. That's exactly what you'll find on this site! And unlike many other websites or guides about traveling in Thailand, here we go into the field, travel like tourists do and test everything to give you reliable information based on experience.

Let's start on this first page of the website with some recommendations for preparing your trip to Thailand:

1. Plan several months aheadPlan your trip several months in advance to have time to find good deals on plane tickets, take care of vaccinations and get an international driving licence. Ideally, start 6 months in advance: request your international driving licence first (in some countries it takes a long time) and set up price alerts for flights to catch the right deal. Booking the excursions or experiences that you absolutely want to do at least 2 months in advance is highly recommended too, to be sure they have availability (even 3 months in advance if you are in Thailand in January-February or July-August).
2. Avoid school holidaysAvoid, if possible, traveling during school holidays as plane tickets are more expensive. Book your plane tickets directly on the airlines' websites: if there is a dispute or a ticket change, it will be easier.
3. Stay at least 10 daysPlan to stay at least 10 days in Thailand to get the most out of the plane ticket, which is always a big part of the travel budget.
4. Work out your travel timesEstimate the travel times between destinations and mark them on a map to optimize your route. The “Transport” section has all the information to help you estimate journey times and, for each destination, there is a “Getting there / Leaving” section with even more detailed information specific to the destination.
5. Don't overload your scheduleAvoid going from destination to destination at a frantic pace and wanting to do too much in one day. You will get tired, miss the essentials and above all forget to enjoy your time in Thailand. You won't be able to do everything interesting in Thailand in a single trip anyway. I have traveled all over Thailand for 14 years and I am still discovering new places! You will come back. I'm sure you'll want to come back as soon as you're on the plane home ;)
6. Pick the right seasonChoose the time of year you go wisely, as the weather can have a big impact on your trip. Destinations should be chosen according to the weather, especially during the rainy season. Avoid going in September and October, which are the rainiest and least pleasant months for traveling in Thailand. Also check whether there are any interesting festivals and adapt your dates and itinerary accordingly. Check the “Festivals & Events” section at the bottom of this page regularly because, unfortunately, apart from the big festivals, dates are often announced only a short time in advance.
7. Get travel insuranceTake out travel insurance to cover any health problems or accidents during your stay. Check your credit card or home insurance policies, as they often include travel cover. But take a good look at the exclusions, especially for riding a motorbike and diving.
8. Travel lightDon't come with too much luggage. Most of the time, for domestic flights in Thailand, checked baggage is not included (and when it is, the maximum is 20 kg). You can find almost everything in Thailand, often cheaper, and there are plenty of laundry shops that will wash your clothes for around 40-50 baht per kilo. And when you travel by yourself, you have to carry your bags or suitcases around a little more than on an organized trip, so better if they are not too heavy.
9. Leave room for the unexpectedLeave some room for improvisation. You may fall in love with a destination where you will want to stay longer, or hear about a festival or an activity you'd like to try, and if everything is scheduled to the minute, you will miss it. It is often the spontaneous moments that make the best travel memories and, in Thailand, the opportunities are numerous.
10. Tell your bankLet your bank know you are traveling to Thailand, otherwise it may block your credit card after the first withdrawal or payment in Thailand, suspecting fraudulent use.