Essential information to prepare a trip to Thailand

Visa and passport

To travel to Thailand, there are of course visa formalities, but they are very simple if you are going as a tourist (see visa and entry requirements for Thailand): for stays of up to 30 days, they are usually limited to a free entry stamp in your passport (depending on your nationality). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
The best time to visit Thailand is from November to April; the rest of the year, rain is much more frequent (see climate and weather in Thailand).
The best way to find cheap flights to Thailand is to use price comparison websites.

The country

As for the country itself, in short, the North has most of the historical and cultural sites and is more authentic than the more touristy South. To discover Thailand's history, culture, way of life and traditions, head north, especially to Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai, the capital of the North. The South is better suited to relaxing holidays on its beaches and islands, where you will often be surrounded by other tourists, even though there are still some less-visited spots. The Northeast, called Isan, is probably the part of Thailand that has best preserved its authenticity. Few travelers go there, yet it has some amazing Khmer temples. The country also has many national parks with lush nature, the most visited being Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Accommodation and transport

Once there, you will need somewhere to stay. There is plenty of choice and you won't have much trouble finding a room even without a reservation. For peace of mind, however, it is best to book at least your first night in Thailand, as well as your nights in very popular destinations such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Pattaya or Koh Samui, especially from December to February (Agoda often has the best deals).
There are several ways to travel from city to city. The plane is the fastest and most expensive option, and only serves certain destinations (see traveling by plane in Thailand). The train doesn't serve every city in the country; it is the cheapest but also the slowest option (see traveling by train in Thailand). And finally, the bus is the most practical option: faster than the train, it can take you almost anywhere (see traveling by bus in Thailand). For the islands, there are boats and ferries (see boats to the islands of Thailand), and combined bus + ferry tickets are also available.

Travel budget in Thailand

A trip to Thailand can be very affordable, as the cost of living is low. You can enjoy a luxury holiday for the price of a 2-star hotel in Europe, or travel as a backpacker and spend only a few dollars a day on accommodation and food. This is one of Thailand's great advantages. On this website, we list many addresses and phone numbers of cheap hotels and guesthouses. In Thailand, cheap doesn't mean seedy: value for money is excellent. For a room with basic comfort (double room with air conditioning and private bathroom with shower), expect to pay between 400 and 1,200 baht, the most popular destinations (mainly in southern Thailand) being more expensive. You can of course find cheaper or more expensive options depending on the location and the level of comfort you are looking for (rooms with a fan and/or shared bathroom are cheaper, of course). In general, for the same level of comfort, rooms are more expensive in the South than in the North (see the list of hotels and guesthouses in Thailand).

Food in Thailand

As for food, in tourist areas you will find everything (Thai food, pizza, fast food, German, Scandinavian, Indian, Japanese, French restaurants...), but do try Thai food: it is one of the tastiest cuisines in the world. If you don't like spicy food, make sure to say so, otherwise you may be in for some surprises; with time, you will learn which dishes are not spicy or only mildly so. The famous Pad Thai, for example, is not spicy. To eat cheaply, there are many small restaurants, street stalls and night markets offering delicious food at very low prices. As for money, with a Visa or Mastercard you can easily withdraw cash from the many ATMs (there is usually a fee of at least 250 baht per withdrawal, whatever the amount).

Other information

Prostitution does exist in Thailand – we won't deny it – but it is only really visible in certain places or neighborhoods that are easy to identify and avoid. So you can choose Thailand for a family holiday without any worries. That is all we will say about prostitution in Thailand; if it is the reason for your trip, please look elsewhere.