Why go to Thailand?

With almost 40 million visitors, Thailand continues to attract many travelers each year in search of exoticism and a welcoming country. And if the country attracts, it is not just a fad, Thailand still has serious arguments to be able to afford such an attraction.

Thailand is a mixture of flavors, not only in its cuisine, unique in its clever dosages of sweet, salty, spicy, but also a mixture of culture. We find sometimes Chinese elements, sometimes Khmer but also Burmese.

Chinese and Hindu deities and (nature) spirits are part of everyday life, and yet Buddha is not a god as such. This is an overview of the subtleties that make this country, more than 90% Buddhist, a pleasure to discover the different facets that compose it.

When we think of "Thailand", characteristic images come to mind: its beaches, its temples, its welcoming people. It is a country that makes many dream and attracts a lot. And that is understandable, Thailand, with its mixture of traditionalism and modernity, offers a rather seductive cocktail for an exotic trip.

The country has beautiful beaches and islands with coconut trees and translucent waters worthy of postcards while the mountains of the north transport the traveler to another universe. This is the domain of the Lanna kingdom, made of lush jungles, populations from different ethnic groups lost in the mountains.

With its countless temples and its Buddhist religion, the country revolves to the rhythm of numerous ceremonies, festivals and other events, religious or not.

Here is a summary of some essential information to know before any stay in Thailand

Visa exemptions for short stays (up to 60 days)

Since July 2024, if you hold a French, Belgian, Canadian, or one of the following passports: 93 eligible nationalities, you get a visa exemption for a tourist stay of 60 days maximum (instead of 30 days previously). This period is valid for entry by air or land.

A few points to note:

• Your passport must be valid at least 6 months from your arrival in Thailand.
• Land entrance : Exemptions are limited to two per year. By air, no limits other than the 180 days maximum per year.

If you wish to extend your stay beyond 60 days, it is possible to request an extension of 30 additional days to immigration offices for 1 900 THB (around €50), thus bringing the total possible stay without a visa to 90 days.

Longer stays or specific cases

For stays longer than 60 days, several options exist. Those presented here mainly concern extended stays in a resolutely "holiday" setting. I will therefore not detail here the visas for future residents (OA long stay visa, for retirees and non-immigrant visa O, especially Franco-Thai couples).

Tourist Visa (TR)

1. TR(S) Visa :
   • Duration : 60 days (extendable by 30 days on site).
   • Cost : € 35.
   • Request : 100% digital via the e-visa system.
2. TR (M) Visa (former METV):
   • Duration : Multiple stays of 60 days within a 6 month period.
   • Conditions : Bank statement justifying a monthly balance of €6.
   • Cost : € 175.
   • Ideal for : Travelers wishing to explore several neighboring countries (Cambodia, Laos, etc.).

SMALL SPOILER: With the 60-day exemption currently in effect, these two visas, although still in existence, are of little use...

Visa Destination Thailand (DTV)

A visa designed for foreigners who travel and work remotely (Digital Nomads). Main conditions (see details on the official website:

• • Proof of a minimum credit balance of 15 euros dated less than 000 days.
  • Two scenarios stand out for the purpose of your visit:
    • Workcation: Proof of employment in a foreign company or as a self-employed person
    • Thai soft power: acceptance letter for an activity in Thailand (Muay Thai training, medical treatment, Thai cooking lessons)
  • Validity: Up to 5 years.
  • Period of each stay up to 180 days maximum.

SmartVisa

Intended for entrepreneurs, investors, and skilled professionals in specific sectors (technology, healthcare, etc.). This visa allows you to reside and work in Thailand with additional facilities, such as exemption from work permits. It covers 4 main categories:

1. Consultant
2. Investor
3. Executive Management Person
4. Start-ups

Each category is distinguished by its own version of the smart visa:

1. The SMART visa << T >> (Talent) to work in a company
2. The SMART visa << T >> (Talent) to work in a government agency
3. The SMART visa << I >> (Investor)
4. The SMART visa << E >> (Executive / senior manager)
5. The SMART visa << S >> (Start-ups)
6. The SMART visa << O >> (Spouse and child).

You can consult the site: http://smart-visa.boi.go.th, to scan and download the requested documents following the list on the official website.

Practical advice for your arrival

• E-visa : The procedure is now entirely digital. Prepare the required documents (photo, passport, plane ticket, bank statement, etc.) and submit your application online (see below).
• Return flight or proof of exit : Some airlines check that you have a ticket proving your departure from the territory within 60 days. Consider a low-cost flight or booking if necessary.

Ready for take off?

Get an E-visa

For several years now, Thailand has been implementing an "e-visa" system. In concrete terms, this means that applications can be submitted directly online without having to travel to the country. And since September 2021, it is no longer necessary to go to the country to submit and collect the passport because the Embassy has introduced a stickerless visa, The procedure is therefore 100% digital.

To apply for a visa, you must fill in the necessary information, upload the requested documents (see list below) and pay the processing fee online on the dedicated website www.thaievisa.go.th

The site is now available in French but the Thai Embassy in France provides an explicit image to guide you:

How to complete your e-visa application.

From France, here is the list of documents to be provided for the TR (S) visa :

1. Passport information page (note that it must be valid for at least 12 months, remember to renew it if necessary)
2. A color ID photo less than 6 months old (photo booth in 4x6cm format.)
3. Proof of address for European passports (telephone, internet, EDF bill on which the name, first name and address appear)
4. Booking the flight ticket with details (entry and exit ticket within 90 days, it may be requested by the immigration officer although in practice I have rarely seen it done)
5. Proof of first accommodation upon arrival in Thailand
6. Pay for the visa (the TR (S) is €35)

This is only applicable from your home country, if you arrive and plan to apply for your visa from one of the neighboring countries, ideally Malaysia or Laos, generally only the passport, the form and a photo will be required...

For two-part stays:

As it often happens, if you have planned for example to visit the north of Thailand in less than 60 days, and then go out to visit a neighboring country, let's imagine in this case Laos, you will therefore arrive with the 60-day visa exemption upon arrival in Bangkok.

Following your stay outside Thailand, you will again benefit from a 60-day visa exemption, allowing you to complete your stay with a visit to the south of Thailand this time, so you will be entitled to a total of 2 x 60 days, or 4 months, to visit the country in two stages!

Please note: In order to stop the abuse of run visas (people who entered and left the country regularly, thus renewing their stay in Thailand indefinitely), the authorities are limiting the number of land entries to 2 per year. No limitation on the other hand by air except for a maximum limit of 180 cumulative days per year.

Coming to Thailand

The direct non-stop flight takes about 12 hours, only Air France and Thai Airways allow it. Bangkok has become a hub in Asia, so competition is strong and Paris-Bangkok flights are among the cheapest on the Asian market. In general, you should expect to pay around €500 for a round trip flight with a stopover.

The Gulf (Persian) companies are for me the best in terms of quality/price ratio, making according to their respective origin a stop at their hub which are, Doha for Qatar Airways, Abu Dhabi for Etihad and Dubai for Emirates.

The Emirates A380 on the Dubai tarmac.

Regarding the latter, I suggest you read the article about my one-day stopover in this megalomaniac city.

From my experience, it is best not to book too far in advance, between 2 and 4 months gives good results (sometimes even the month before your departure, you can get amazing promotional rates of €390 return!)

Personally, I like to compare with Skyscanner, you can easily see the cheapest prices, especially if your departure/arrival dates are flexible.

Getting around within Thailand

For this section I strongly invite you to read the full article that I wrote on this subject: How to get around Thailand.

To complete in particular on Bangkok, the most complete site that I know is this one: https://www.transitbangkok.com/

All means of transport in the city are listed there, whether buses, boats, trains. You can choose your starting and finishing point and see the route to take, very practical.

You can also book buses, trains and ferries via the search tool below for inter-city journeys:

I have written several pages that I think are quite comprehensive on several major destinations in Thailand. I invite you to start by taking a look:

• Finding accommodation in Bangkok
• Finding accommodation in Chiang Mai
• Finding accommodation in Phuket
• Finding accommodation in Ko Samui
• Finding accommodation in Ko Chang

Overall, it is quite easy to find hotels directly on site. This allows those traveling without a specific itinerary to have the freedom of movement they need without having a hotel and therefore a predefined place to stay.

Typical Chiang Mai guesthouse.

However, depending on the location, and especially the period, it is sometimes better to book in advance. I am thinking in particular around the New Year, whether it is the international (around the end of December/beginning of January), Songkran (the Thai New Year in April), or even the Chinese New Year (around the end of January/beginning of February).

This is also true for long weekends and school holiday periods (March-April and October), when Thais like to move around the country to see their families and hotels can sometimes be stormed (see public holidays here)

For booking, I am more of a fan of Agoda, which I find pleasant to navigate, even if sometimes the choices are limited on certain destinations (for those who prefer Booking, note that it is part of the same group...)

In addition to sincere personal use, I offer it here because I am an affiliate. That is to say, I receive a commission if you book via the search tool (below). This gives me a boost and does not change anything in terms of the price for you 😉

If you like the principle of AirBnB, it remains entirely possible in Thailand, however as such, sleeping at a local's house is not really done, AirBnbs are just apartments or houses sublet by the night so don't necessarily expect to have a great time with your host who will often be absent.

If you are a fan of camping, it is possible but limited to national parks, which have sites for tents, or even rent them themselves. But outside the dry season, it is generally not possible or recommended.

Do I need travel insurance?

The answer is yes ! Travel insurance is mandatory to travel to Thailand and may be requested when you enter the country. This is due to the large number of travelers injured, sometimes seriously, following a rental of two-wheelers, but not insured (because often not in order either).

So, good travel insurance can be a game changer in the outcome of an unexpected mishap during a trip abroad. And especially if you are going on a trip of several months in Asia, good insurance can be more than welcome, because credit card insurance is limited.

The maximum amount for healthcare costs covered by traditional credit cards may be insufficient (around €10 compared to €000 for dedicated travel insurance) and does not cover civil liability. Note that a day of intensive care in Thailand costs around €200.

A good insurance policy will not only cover your medical expenses if needed, but will reimburse you for any repatriation if necessary. Remember to check that so-called "high-risk" sports such as diving or climbing are not excluded from the contract (yes, yes, read the fine print at the bottom of the contract!).

Finally, this basic coverage is also limited in duration, often not exceeding 3 months of coverage.

To help you make your choice, my recommendation is: Globe Partner solution from ACS Solutions. In addition to having a good reputation, it is the most economical covering cases of serious problems (which I do not wish you to experience of course!).

I would like to point out that if you subscribe to the insurance via the link, I will receive a small commission. This is a simple way to help keep the site running, because insurance is preferable anyway and it will therefore be beneficial for both you and me.

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

There is a fairly large disparity between cities and the countryside. In cities, you will find an efficient health system, modern equipment, etc. In the countryside and more remote areas, the level of care will be more basic, because it is managed by clinics that are not sufficiently equipped in the event of a serious accident.

Generally speaking, don't look for a doctor's office like we do here. While you can find small clinics scattered around Bangkok and cities in general, it is simpler and easier to get treatment at the hospital directly, even for minor illnesses.

One of the very good private hospitals in Bangkok.

If you are on a specific treatment, take the medication with you and the prescription that goes with it. If you buy medication on site, pharmacists explain well how to use the medication and give a bag containing the medication with the instructions on it.

In general, avoid any contact with wild animals. In addition to the presence of rabies in Thailand, the country had been affected by bird flu (although the last cases date back a few years).

Even though it is the rule everywhere that if you have sex, go out covered up, AIDS still exists and even though Thailand has made a lot of progress in stopping the spread of the disease, it is still wreaking havoc.

As a reminder, tap water is not for drinking but The ice cubes are made from treated water and are therefore safe for consumption..

Recommended Vaccines

Check that your vaccinations are up to date (mainly diphtheria-tetanus-polio), at least 6 weeks before departure.

Some are highly recommended: hepatitis A, hepatitis B and C (if you are not already immunized), rabies and Japanese encephalitis if you are going to stay in rural areas for at least a month.

Malaria (also known as malaria) is still present in Thailand, although today it only affects the areas bordering Laos and Burma.

Although travel doctors tend to recommend preventive treatment (malarone for example), you should know that side effects are common, for protection that is not 100% effective anyway.

In short, it is not really necessary to take a treatment if you are staying in a classic seaside type stay pattern or even if you are staying a few days in the north. The treatment will be necessary if you plan to engage in the border regions for an extended period, and plan to go deep into the mountains for long treks.

Rabies vaccination is recommended. It is transmitted by bites, scratches or if you receive saliva on an open wound from infected animals such as stray dogs, but also from monkeys or squirrels.

Aid kit

Basic medicines, first aid, aspirin etc. can be found everywhere without difficulty (in this case in almost all the many 7/11s in the country for example). Overall here is what you might need: mosquito repellent (dengue fever is rife during the rainy season), disinfectant, bandages, paracetamol, analgesic, sunscreen, anti-diarrheal and possibly antihistamine (for colds and allergies).

Medical services

Most doctors speak English, especially in the big hospitals. Expect to pay 300 to 400 baht (7 to 9 euros) for a consultation. Pharmacies prescribe medications from international laboratories. The hospitals are of a very good standard, you will be in good hands.

Safety

As everywhere in general, avoid openly displaying your valuables, this is especially true for particularly touristy places and thieves are not always those you think they are... Always keep your identity papers and personal belongings with you. If you are in a hotel and have a safe, use it wisely.

Overall, Thailand is still a pretty safe country, even for a woman traveling alone. Just avoid showing any aggression towards an angry/drunk Thai or group, keep a low profile and smile!

If you plan to drive, even in a car, be particularly careful, on the one hand, here, we drive on the left, but on the other, the traffic rules are often poorly understood and/or not respected. I would like to remind you that Thailand is often in the top 1 of countries with the most deaths on the roads.

If you plan to rent a 2-wheeler, vigilance is even more important, because you will be more exposed to accidents, 75% of fatal accidents in Thailand involve a 2-wheeler!

Do not leave your passport as a deposit (either use a photocopy or cash). For all the information on the driving in Thailand, refer to my dedicated article.

Practical information

– Emergency numbers –
Police for tourists: 11 55
Fire brigade: 199
Hospital: 02 252 81 11

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on health in Thailand
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on security in Thailand

Hotel – Thailand is renowned for its wide range of hotels of all kinds, from small guesthouses with shared rooms to large luxury hotels, there is something for every budget. If we have to summarize, knowing that there will be disparities between tourist areas and not, here is a rough range of prices:

• For dormitory guesthouses, expect to pay around 300-400 ฿
• For guesthouses in rooms and “simple” hotels, 500-800 ฿
• For mid-range hotels, expect to pay around 800-1200 ฿
• For the high end I would say from 1600-2000฿

Meals – food – You probably already know this, but the food in Thailand is varied and above all excellent. Here too, you will find various types of catering for various occasions and desires. For the least expensive, it is obviously in the street and the small local eateries, for a little more comfort, you will find many restaurants with air conditioning, others even targeting foreigners with menus in English and European dishes.

Here again, to summarize, we can find these price ranges:

• Street food and restaurants: 30-50 ฿
• Basic restaurant: 40-70 ฿
• Cleaner restaurant: 80-120 ฿
• Restaurant with air conditioning: 120-150 ฿
• More upscale restaurant – European: 150-300++ ฿

As for drinks, bottles of water are 10 Baht on the street, 7 in 7/11 (local convenience stores found on every street corner). For beer, it varies greatly depending on the type of restaurant, bar, or if you buy directly from the convenience store. Basically, it's often around 80-120 ฿.

• Local beer 330 ml = 60-100 ฿
• Imported beer 330ml = 90-170 ฿
• Local beer 500 ml = 90-120 ฿

If you are a wine lover, finding good French wine will not be easy and in any case very expensive, generally expect to pay 150-250 ฿ and 1200 ฿ for a bottle.

Transport – This is one of the advantages of Thailand, its wide variety of types of transport. Whether for short local trips or long journeys, you will have plenty of choices, from motorbike taxi, classic car taxi, tuk-tuk, songthaew (pick-up truck with seats), bus, you name it.

In Bangkok, expect to pay around 40 ฿ per trip with the BTS (skytrain or aerial train), 100 ฿ for a 15 km taxi ride (yes yes! with a meter! To see official rates, look here)

Generally around 10 ฿ per kilometer by motorbike taxi, 40 ฿ for the tuk tuk (fun but ultimately more expensive than the classic taxi).

Elsewhere, the songthaew will often be your preferred transport for distances in and around a city. If you normally take it as a shared service, expect to pay around 30 ฿/person per trip. You can also privatize, then expect to pay around 200-300 ฿ (depending on the distance, of course, this rate would be for a 4-5 km trip)

For intercity buses, expect to pay an average of 500 ฿. Local flights with low-cost airlines are good cost/time alternatives. On average and depending on the season, you will have flights from 15 € (except for exceptions such as landing at Ko Samui, which is a private airport and only Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on it).

Any opinions, suggestions? Leave me a comment!