I’ll never forget the first time I visited Thailand—and not just because of all the things it set in motion, including (but not limited to) this website and my private trip planning service.
You see, back then in 2010, it was much more difficult to find accurate information about travel to the Kingdom, let alone any that was insightful or nuanced. I was flying blind by modern standards, and my trip was far more turbulent than I would tolerate today.
The good news? You’ll enjoy your first time in Thailand, even if it’s a disorganized mess like mine was. The better news? I’m here to help you make sure it isn’t.
You Can’t See “Everywhere” in Thailand—and You Shouldn’t Try
Think you can “see it all” on your first trip to Thailand? You can’t—I say this in the nicest way possible. Even if you stay for a month (and most people don’t), you’re unlikely to get beyond the basics. In other words, Bangkok and the North (and maybe Isaan), plus a handful of islands. You likely won’t even scratch the surface of secondary and tertiary provinces like Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Sukhothai.
Which is not to say you should focus entirely on quality over quantity. I’m a big fan of packing trips full, particularly if you’re a young and energetic traveler, as I was when I first arrived in the Kingdom almost 16 years ago (as of the date I published this post’s first draft). But rather than starting with a list of places you absolutely must see and things you absolutely must do, using the number of days you have in Thailand as your starting point.
5 Things to Decide About Your First Time in Thailand
Where to go
For most first-time Thailand travelers, there are three main destination “buckets” to consider. These include Bangkok (and destinations accessible from the capital via day trip); the North (which includes Chiang Mai, but also sometimes Chiang Rai or Lampang); and the Islands, which comprises not only Phuket and Krabi, but also potentially Koh Samui, and less often the Trang and Trat archipelagoes.
When to go
If it’s your first trip to Thailand, you might not realize that Thailand has two seasons: Wet and dry—or, according to some people, hot and hotter. In most of the country, the cooler and drier period (which, for the vast majority of tourists, is preferably to the rainy season) lasts between about November and April, with December and January being the “best” months to visit Thailand.
How long to stay
In general, I’d suggest staying in Thailand as long as you can, keeping in mind that you’ll need to balance your time here with your itinerary for the rest of Southeast Asia. Most travelers will stay somewhere between two weeks in Thailand and a month in Thailand, though if you’ll be in the region for a while, this may be split into multiple trips. In general, I wouldn’t stay less than a week in Thailand unless you only plan to focus on a single region.
How much to spend
If it’s your first time in Thailand, you might not be sure of what things cost there. In general, you can expect Thailand to be much cheaper than the US or Europe, but more expensive than Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos (and much more expensive than it was before covid-19). A good rule of thumb is to expect a per-day travel cost of no less than 25-50 USD (around 800-1,500 THB) per person per day.
TIP: Speaking of money, a great way to save in Thailand is to install a Thailand eSIM in advance. Downloading the Grab application, meanwhile, will help you get rides more cheaply and reliably than you would using taxis.
What to eat
A trip to Thailand is nothing if not a culinary discovery. I don’t want to spoil everything, though I will tell you two things. First, try to explore foods beyond Pad Thai and Green Curry. Second, prioritize some of my favorites, including Pad See Ew (stir-fried fat noodles with dark soy sauce), Pad Grapraw Kai Daaw (stir-fried Thai basil served over rice with a sunny-side up egg) and Khaaw Man Gai (Thai-style steamed chicken with rice).
Why You’ll Probably Return to Thailand (Probably Many Times)
Remember earlier, when I said you can’t see everywhere in Thailand? Well, that hasn’t changed. I’ve been coming here for almost two decades, after all, and while I rarely meet people who’ve been more places than I have, I still have a much longer bucket list than you might expect. That’s not a bad thing, nor is it something that keeps me up at night.
I bring this up because your first time in Thailand almost certainly won’t be your last time. Even if you don’t return as often as I have, you’ll have a chance to do all the island hopping your heart desires, to stay in Bangkok for longer than a few days and maybe even to go legitimately off the beaten path. In my experience, the more times you return to Thailand, the less pressure you will feel with each subsequent trip.
Other FAQ About Your First Trip to Thailand
Where should I go for the first time in Thailand?
Most travelers will divide their first Thailand trip into three parts: Bangkok; the North; and the Islands. How extensively you’re able to explore each will depend upon how long you’re traveling in Thailand, and what proportion of your trip each region of the country will occupy.
What to do when you first arrive in Thailand?
When you first arrive in Thailand, you need to buy a SIM card (assuming you haven’t already downloaded your Thailand eSIM), get some cash (since it can be difficult to pay with a credit card in Thailand) and download the Grab app to take you to your hotel, since Uber doesn’t work here. You should also aim to sit down for an authentic Thai meal as quickly as possible!
What do I wish I knew before going to Thailand?
I wish I’d known that my first Thailand trip wouldn’t be my last, and that I didn’t have to travel as if the stakes were as high as I thought they were back then. On the other hand, I wish I’d done more research. When I arrived in Thailand, for example, I believed I was doomed to hate Bangkok, which ended up being my favorite city in the entire world.
The Bottom Line
I’m so excited that you’ve visited my website as you plan your first time in Thailand. The first thing I want to encourage you to do is relax—no matter where in Thailand you go, or how long you stay, there’s no such thing as a “bad” first trip to Thailand. With this being said, having the guidance of someone older and/or wiser can help you avoid making the many, many mistakes that I have over the nearly two decades I’ve been exploring the Kingdom. This is true, whether you peruse the 100+ free articles I’ve published on this website, or hire me to plan a personalized Thailand itinerary for you.
