• The best time to visit Thailand is from December to March.  Thailand weather can be broken up into three seasons: Rainy/Monsoon (May-Oct), Cool (Nov–Feb), Hot (March-May). If you’re plan to spend your days around the pool and on the beach, avoid Monsoon season if you can. March-April in Northern Thailand is know a ‘burning season’ which is when farmers burn their crops and the air becomes quite unpleasant.
  • Pack light.  All you need is a change of clothes, underwear, costume, shoes and your toothbrush.  Everything else you can buy there, including toiletries and medicine  Thailand is hot and humid and anything you bring from home is not going to be good enough.
  • Thailand is very much a cash-based society outside of high-class hotels, luxury shopping malls, and restaurants. There’s little point in heading to a market, for example, with a credit card. Many smaller accommodations also expect payment in cash, as do local restaurants and many attractions. Even some tour operators prefer traditional payment methods over plastic. Make sure you carry enough cash to pay for your everyday needs. ATM’s are generally widely available, even in smaller towns, but if you’re heading to more off-the-grid locations or remote islands, it’s best to replenish your funds before setting off. It also pays to have a good stash of smaller notes and coins for low-value purchases.  Many smaller stores and taxi drivers don’t have much change.
  • Buy a ‘data’ sim card when you land in Thailand.  Ideal for Whatsapp, Whatsapp calls and surfing the internet.  Make sure you phone is ‘unlocked’.  All three networks sell tourist or traveller sim cards.  The base model is unlimited internet for 7 days and 100 baht of calling and internet credit.  There are also sim card options with unlimited Whatsapp or WeChat as additional benefits.  Every Seven Eleven in the country carry sim cards and top up cards.  Majority of cell towers in Thailand offer 4G internet speed.
  • Electricity sockets in Thailand are 220V AC electricity. Power outlets are usually two-prong round or flat sockets. Pack a universal power adaptor so you can still use all your electronic devices.
  • Go to TripAdvisor before booking trips through your hotel.  Most of the time you will find a similar trip or better through tour operators on TripAdvisor at a fraction of the price.
  • Hire a scooter – it’s the best way to see the country and the most fun.
  • Respect the locals, their culture and religions.  Remember that you are a visitor in their country