I will never forget my first visit to Thailand – and not just because of all the things it set in motion, including (but not limited to) this website and my private travel planning service.

You see, back then, in 2010, it was much more difficult to find reliable information about traveling to the Kingdom, let alone insightful or nuanced information. By today's standards, I was completely unprepared, and my trip was far more turbulent than I would tolerate today.

The good news? You'll enjoy your first visit to Thailand, even if everything goes as chaotically as it did for me. The even better news? I'm here to help you make sure it doesn't.

You can't see "everything" in Thailand – and you shouldn't try.

Do you think you can "see everything" on your first trip to Thailand? You can't—and I mean that in the best possible way. Even if you stay for a month (which most people don't), you probably won't get beyond the main tourist attractions. In other words: Bangkok and the north (and maybe Isaan), plus a few islands. You likely won't even get a glimpse of the smaller provinces like Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Sukhothai.

That doesn't mean you should focus solely on quality over quantity. I'm a big fan of packing trips, especially when you're young and adventurous, as I was when I first came to Thailand almost 16 years ago (at the time of writing the first draft of this post). However, instead of starting with a must-see list of places and activities, consider the number of days you'll be spending in Thailand as your starting point.

5 things you should decide before your first visit to Thailand

Where should one go?

For most first-time visitors to Thailand, there are three main categories of destinations: Bangkok (and destinations that can be reached from the capital on a day trip), the north (with Chiang Mai, but sometimes also Chiang Rai or Lampang) and the islands, which include Phuket and Krabi, as well as Koh Samui and, less frequently, the island groups of Trang and Trat.

When should you go?

If this is your first time traveling to Thailand, you might not know that it has two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season – or, as some say, hot and even hotter. In most parts of the country, the cooler and drier period (which most tourists prefer to the rainy season) lasts roughly from November to April, with December and January considered the best months to visit Thailand.

How long should one stay?

Generally, I recommend staying in Thailand as long as possible. However, keep in mind that you'll need to coordinate your time here with your itinerary for the rest of Southeast Asia. Most travelers spend between two weeks and a month in Thailand. If you're staying longer, you can split your visit into several trips. Generally, I wouldn't recommend spending less than a week in Thailand unless you plan to focus exclusively on a single region.

How much should I spend?

If this is your first time in Thailand, you might be unsure about costs. Generally speaking, Thailand is significantly cheaper than the US or Europe, but more expensive than Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos (and much more expensive than before the Covid-19 pandemic). As a rule of thumb, expect to spend at least USD 25–50 (approximately THB 800–1,500) per person per day.

TIP: Speaking of saving money: A good way to save money in Thailand is to install a Thai eSIM in advance. With the Grab app, you can also get rides that are cheaper and more reliable than taxis.

What you should eat

A trip to Thailand is above all else: a culinary journey of discovery. I don't want to give everything away, but I can tell you two things. First: Be sure to try dishes beyond Pad Thai and green curry. Second: Definitely try some of my favorite dishes, including Pad See Ew (thick fried noodles with dark soy sauce), Pad Grapraw Kai Daaw (Thai basil stir-fried with rice and a fried egg), and Khaaw Man Gai (Thai-style steamed chicken with rice).

Why you will probably return to Thailand (probably many times)

Do you remember when I said it's impossible to see everything in Thailand? Well, nothing's changed. I've been coming here for almost twenty years now, and although I rarely meet people who've seen more places than I have, my bucket list is still much longer than you might expect. But that's not a bad thing, and it doesn't keep me up at night.

I mention this because your first trip to Thailand almost certainly won't be your last. Even if you don't return as often as I do, you'll have the opportunity to do as many island-hopping tours as you like, stay in Bangkok for more than just a few days, and perhaps even venture off the beaten track. My experience is that the more often you travel to Thailand, the less pressure you'll feel on each subsequent trip.

More frequently asked questions about your first trip to Thailand

Where should I travel to on my first trip to Thailand?

Most travelers divide their first trip to Thailand into three parts: Bangkok, the north, and the islands. How thoroughly you can explore each region depends on the length of your trip and the proportion of time you dedicate to each area.

What should you do when you arrive in Thailand?

Upon arrival in Thailand, you will first need a SIM card (if you haven't already downloaded your Thai eSIM), some cash (as paying by credit card can be difficult in Thailand), and the Grab app to get to your hotel, as Uber doesn't work here. You should also enjoy some authentic Thai food as soon as possible!

What would I have liked to know before my trip to Thailand?

I wish I had known that my first trip to Thailand wouldn't be my last, and that I wouldn't have to travel as if everything was at stake, as I thought at the time. On the other hand, I wish I had prepared better. For example, when I arrived in Thailand, I thought I was going to hate Bangkok forever—but it ended up becoming my favorite city in the whole world.

Conclusion

I'm delighted that you're visiting my website while planning your first trip to Thailand. First and foremost, I'd advise you to relax – no matter where you travel in Thailand or how long you stay, a first trip to Thailand can't be "bad." However, the support of an experienced traveler can help you avoid the many mistakes I've made over nearly two decades of traveling throughout the Kingdom. This applies both to reading the more than 100 free articles on this website and to booking a bespoke Thailand tour.