A Thailand Checklist is a guide for any traveler to prepare before landing in Thailand, the land of smiles.
Get there
There are several ways to get to this country depending on where you come from.
By air: Thailand’s main airport is located in Bangkok, called Suvarnabhumi International Airport. However, there are many other airports in all regions of Thailand for travelers to connect to all parts of the country, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi. One little trick is that since there is great competition in the domestic flight market, travelers should compare airfares from more than one source before booking. Also, be careful with the initial price offered, as there could be a lot of additional taxes and surcharges applied in the next booking steps. Therefore, be sure to continue with the reservation process until the final total price is displayed. Popular airlines for domestic flights are Thailand Airways, Bangkok Air, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, and Air Asia.
By Train: If tourists are traveling from Malaysia, a train is another option to enter Thailand. Also, as the railway connects with all parts of the country, if tourists don’t mind spending a little more time on transportation, this is another option to travel around the country and enjoy the landscapes of Thailand.
By boat: this route is becoming more popular nowadays. There is the cruise line that goes to the Southeast Asian route, including the visit to Thailand. The recommended 5-star service cruise is Costa Cruises.
Checklist before check-in in Thailand
1. Find basic information
After choosing the means of transport to enter the country, learning some basic information is always a good idea before your arrival. The Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT is always a reliable and valuable source to search for any information about the country. The main channel to connect to TAT is through its website. Also, even when you have arrived in the country, there are many TAT branches in Thailand to cater to tourists, starting with the one at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
2. Preparation of vaccines
In terms of health preparedness, vaccines against hepatitis A and B, polio, rabies, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis are recommended, but not required. If you plan to enter the jungles around the border areas (connected to Cambodia, Burma and Laos), vaccination against malaria is also recommended.
3. Verification of the entry document for the check in of Thailand
For Visa, visa regulations can be changed without prior notice, so when planning to visit Thailand, be sure to double-check with the Thai embassy before departing. For the passport, it must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Thailand.
4. Prepare some money and know your currency
About the currency, the currency used in Thailand is the Thai baht. Your money includes both coins and bills, starting with “satang” coins, 100 satangs equivalent to 1 baht, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht coins. Banknotes are 1,000 baht, 500 baht, 100 baht, 50 baht, and 20 baht notes. One recommendation is that you do not keep large denomination banknotes, such as 1,000 or 500 notes, or try to exchange them for smaller ones, since street vendors or taxis usually do not have a large number of changes. Exchange houses are also scattered throughout the country, especially in tourist places. It is strongly recommended to exchange your money at these bank counters rather than in hotels, as the latter’s fee would be more expensive. In addition to cash, it is also a good idea to carry cards, as ATMs are widely available throughout Thailand. The credit card is also accepted in many places, however, be sure to keep an eye on who is handling your cards to avoid cheating practices, such as copying your card codes.
5. Clothes to match the weather
The usual climate in Thailand is hot. There is a Thai joke that Thailand has 3 seasons: hot, hot and hot. As a result, the clothing to be worn in this country should be somewhat light with short sleeves. However, pants or long skirt are something that you should also bring at least one since some tourist attractions such as temples will not allow people with shorts or a shirt to enter. You may need some winter clothing only if you plan to climb the hills in the north or northeast part of the country during the winter, otherwise it will be quite useless for your trip. To ensure this, travelers are strongly advised to check the weather forecast again before their departure.
6. Baggage check
To make your check-in in Thailand smoother, check your baggage allowance correctly and make sure your bags are not overloaded. The baggage allowance depends on the airline’s policy, so check this on your airline-issued reservation.
Once all the listings have been verified, you are ready to register in Thailand. The final suggestion is that you always look for promotional prices in advance for any services that you will be using in Thailand, such as accommodation, transportation, limousines, spas or other activities. Many services often offer excellent deals for early booking.
