Thailand holidays: plan your trip, from visas to getting around

Thailand holidays are easy to plan once three things are settled: the entry rules, the month, and how many regions you can fit in. US, UK and EU travellers get 30 days without a visa and fill in a free arrival card online. Two weeks in Thailand covers Bangkok, the north and one coast. Everything below was checked on 14 November 2026.

Tours and activities to book in Thailand

Six well-rated outings from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Koh Samui, with live prices and availability.

See more activities in Bangkok

Before you fly to Thailand: entry rules, arrival card and insurance

Most of the preparation fits in an evening. Check your passport, the length of stay you are allowed, then sort the arrival card, insurance and a data plan in the last week.

Visa-free stay and the tourist visa

Since 15 September 2026, travellers from 60 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and the EU, can stay 30 days in Thailand without a visa, for tourism only. Anyone who entered before that date keeps the 60 days stamped on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the day you land.

For a longer trip, a tourist visa gives 60 days, and an extension at an immigration office adds up to 30 more for 1,900 THB. You apply online through the Thai e-Visa portal. Visa on arrival no longer exists for these nationalities. The full list of options is on our Thai visa guide.

Officers can ask to see an onward ticket and at least 10,000 THB per person, or 20,000 THB per family. The check is not systematic, but the UK Foreign Office reports British visitors refused entry without them.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Every foreign visitor fills in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before landing, by air, land or sea. It is free on tdac.immigration.go.th and opens three days before arrival, the arrival day included. Sites that charge a fee are agents, not the government.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is not required for a visa-free stay, but private hospitals ask for a guarantee of payment before treating you, says the UK Foreign Office. A standard double room at Bumrungrad in Bangkok costs 10,600 THB a day under its January 2026 rates, before any treatment.

Check the scooter clause before you buy. Many policies only cover bikes up to 50 cc unless you add an option, and most refuse claims if you rode without a helmet or a valid licence.

eSIM and phone data

An eSIM for Thailand installed at home works as soon as the plane lands. On 14 November 2026, Airalo sold 10 GB for 30 days at 11 USD, and an AIS tourist SIM at the airport cost 699 THB for 15 days. Register on Grab before you leave, since the app texts a code to your number.

Money, cards and cash

The Bank of Thailand rate on 13 November 2026 was about 33.86 THB to the US dollar and 44.86 THB to the pound. Thai ATMs add 250 to 350 THB per foreign card withdrawal, depending on the bank and the card network, so take out larger sums less often.

Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants. Markets, street food, longtail boats and park fees are cash. A menu price followed by ++ means 10% service and 7% VAT on top, so 1,000 THB becomes about 1,177 THB.

Best time for a Thailand holiday

For most of the country, the best time to visit Thailand is November to February, the cool, dry season in Bangkok and the north, and the high season everywhere. The Thai Meteorological Department declared the start of the 2026 to 2027 winter on 9 November 2026. Expect full trains and higher room rates around Christmas and New Year.

From mid-February to mid-May it gets hot. April is the peak, with average highs of 35.7°C in Bangkok and 36.7°C in Chiang Mai over 1991 to 2020. In the north, crop burning often brings smoke from February to April. The rainy season then runs from mid-May to mid-October.

The two coasts work on different calendars. The Andaman side, with Phuket and Krabi, is best from November to April. The Gulf islands get most of their rain from October to December, with Koh Samui averaging 445 mm in November alone, and are drier from January to August. The best Thai islands for each month follow this split.

How many days in Thailand, and which route

Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot for a first Thailand itinerary: enough for Bangkok, the north and one coast without spending every other day in transit. With a week, pick two bases at most.

Start in Bangkok for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the river, and add one of the day trips from Bangkok, such as Ayutthaya, if you have a fourth day. Then fly or take the night train to Chiang Mai for temples, the Sunday market and elephant sanctuaries that do not offer rides.

End on the coast that matches the month. Phuket has the most flights and boat trips on the Andaman side. Every region is compared on our things to do in Thailand page.

Thailand holiday cost in 2026: budget per day

Without the international flight, a mid-range Thailand holiday costs about 2,500 to 4,000 THB a day per person. That covers a double room with air conditioning, three meals, local transport and one paid visit or tour.

These ranges cross three guides updated in 2026: Nomadic Matt (1,750, 3,100 and 6,000 THB or more), Thai Holiday Guide, checked in October 2026, and Orange Travel in July 2026. Dollar and pound amounts use the rates of 13 November 2026.

Typical prices reported for 2026: a street pad thai for 50 to 80 THB, a mid-range hotel room for 1,000 to 2,500 THB a night, a one-hour Thai massage for 200 to 400 THB, and a beer for 40 to 60 THB at 7-Eleven or 100 to 180 THB in a tourist bar. Koh Samui and Phuket, with the pool-villa resorts chosen for many a honeymoon in Thailand, sit at the top of these ranges.

How much is a 2-week holiday in Thailand?

From the UK, count about 1,400 to 2,100 GBP per person on a mid-range budget. Economy return flights from London to Bangkok showed up at about 540 to 850 GBP in November 2026 searches, more over Christmas. Fourteen days at 2,500 to 4,000 THB add 35,000 to 56,000 THB, or about 780 to 1,250 GBP.

Backpackers spend 14,000 to 25,200 THB on the ground, about 310 to 560 GBP, so 850 to 1,400 GBP with the flight. Direct flights from London take about 11 hours 30 minutes to 12 hours 40 minutes.

Is $1,000 enough for a week in Thailand?

Yes, once the long-haul flight is paid. 1,000 USD was about 33,860 THB on 13 November 2026. A mid-range week costs 17,500 to 28,000 THB, which leaves room for an internal flight or a boat trip. If you plan to stay longer, the monthly cost of living in Thailand is lowest in Chiang Mai.

Getting around Thailand between regions

For getting around Thailand, domestic flights save the most time on long hops. Night trains to Chiang Mai leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat, the main Bangkok station, and the boats take over between islands.

In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain costs 17 to 47 THB a ride on its core line and the MRT Blue Line 17 to 44 THB, and both beat the traffic. Elsewhere, Grab works like Uber for cars and motorbike taxis. Agree the fare before a tuk-tuk moves, and ask metered taxis to switch the meter on.

A sleeper berth on the night train to Chiang Mai is reported at about 1,000 THB in second class. These trains sell out from November to February, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Is Thailand safe for a holiday right now?

Yes, Thailand is safe in the places tourists go. The US State Department rates Thailand at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, in its 2026 advisory. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel only to the far south (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla) and within 20 km of the Cambodian border, where the land crossings are closed.

The real dangers are more ordinary. Road accidents come first, and the WHO counts motorcyclists as 83.8% of road deaths in Thailand. Red flags on the beach mean strong currents, mostly from May to October. The UK Foreign Office also warns about spiked drinks and methanol in cheap spirits.

Never leave your passport as a deposit when renting a scooter or a jet ski. In an emergency, call the tourist police on 1155, the police on 191 and an ambulance on 1669.

Laws that catch tourists out

Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to own or use, with typical fines of 5,000 to 30,000 THB and no exception for tourists, according to the UK Foreign Office. Cannabis flower has needed a Thai medical prescription since June 2025, and recreational use is illegal again.

Shops and bars may not sell alcohol between midnight and 11 am, except licensed hotels, airport terminals and authorised venues. Since November 2025, drinkers caught during banned hours also risk a fine of up to 10,000 THB, Thai media reported. Criticising the monarchy is a crime that carries long prison terms.

First time in Thailand: travel tips and customs

Thais forgive most mistakes from visitors, but a few rules matter in temples and around the royal family. The rest is practical: water, plugs and how much to tip.

Temples and everyday manners

Cover shoulders and knees in temples, and take your shoes off before entering a hall. The Grand Palace turns away shorts and sleeveless tops. Sit with your feet tucked away from Buddha images, and women should not touch monks or hand them things directly.

The head is considered the highest part of the body, so do not touch anyone's head, even a child's. Keep your voice down when something goes wrong. Losing your temper in public gets you nowhere.

Tipping in Thailand

Tipping is not expected, but it is welcome. Leave the coins or round up in local restaurants. Where a bill already includes 10% service, an extra tip is optional. For a massage, guides report 50 to 100 THB handed to the therapist, who often earns a commission on the price.

Tap water and power plugs

Do not drink tap water. Bottled water costs little at any 7-Eleven, and many towns have refill machines. The sockets take type A, B, C and O plugs at 220 to 230 volts and 50 Hz.

UK three-pin plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers from the US handle the voltage, but check the label on hair dryers and straighteners, which often do not.

Thailand festivals to plan a holiday around

A festival, from Loy Krathong to the monthly Full Moon Party, can make a trip, or fill every hotel in town. Book early for these dates, all taken from the Tourism Authority of Thailand or the lunar calendar.

Songkran is a three-day water fight in the streets. You will get soaked, so keep your phone in a waterproof pouch. Domestic flights and buses fill up as Thais travel home for the holiday.