Things You Need to Travel in Thailand

You knew what to prepare and what to pack for Thailand. Now that you’ve arrived in the Land of Smiles, you wonder what you need while exploring the country. Whether you’re roaming the big cities, heading south for a tropical escape, or backpacking across the kingdom – phrase books, travel apps, and gadgets are the things you’ll want to have when you travel in Thailand. Jump in and learn more about the essentials for a smooth ride, flight, sea crossing, or ramble through the woods.

Thai Phrase Books

Bringing a Thai phrasebook with you is an excellent idea. It’ll help you understand the local lingo, communicate with Thai people, and get the best deals at a market. You’ll get useful information on Thailand’s fascinating culture and history and might stumble across something you want to do while gallivanting around the country. You can buy Thai phrase books at book shops like Asia Books, which has branches in Phuket and Bangkok, such as Suvarnabhumi Airport. There’s no need to bring a copy in hardback; a pocket-size phrase book will do.

 

Gadgets

Electronics and gadgets are life savers on your travels. Imagine your cell phone running out of battery when you want to show your boarding pass to the airport security officer. That won’t happen with a portable power bank, which you can get at Bangkok’s numerous shopping malls, such as MBK.

No less important is a universal travel adaptor. Thailand’s standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50HZ. To keep your phone, camera, and power bank charged on your travels, be sure to bring a universal travel plug. 

A mirrorless camera is great for shooting photographs. It’s not as heavy as a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR), yet the images are of excellent quality. Remember to bring an SD card, too. Want to know what to see in Thailand and find the best Insta-playgrounds? You’ll find the inspiration you need on TAGTHAi’s Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai blogs.

A drone or adventure camera is a must if you want to document thrilling experiences or the latest trends in Thailand. A DJI mini drone or Go Pro will work wonders to do just that.

Thailand is a fantastic place to get some much-needed rest and relaxation. Download your favorite books to an e-reader like Kindle if you’re a bookworm.

Bring a portable wifi device or buy a local sim card to surf the web on your travels. You can grab a local sim at most 7ELEVEN minimarts in Thailand. It’s pretty affordable. The Land of Smiles offers limitless internet access for a few dollars.

Instead of bulky headphones, bring a pair of noise-canceling Apple AirPods when you travel in Thailand. These wireless Bluetooth earbuds offer great sound quality and portability!  

You’ll also need a tripod with a wireless remote if you’re traveling alone in Thailand. That way, you’ll never have to worry about missing your favorite moments.

A Backpack OR a Suitcase

Many travelers swear by a backpack, but they’re a bit overvalued. Both a backpack and a suitcase are easy to travel in Thailand. And let’s face it: you’ll hail cabs, hop on coaches and boats, ride trains, and stay in hotels and hostels. But is it really that comfortable to carry all your stuff on your back all the time?

Backpacks are useful when you look for a place to crash in person rather than making a reservation online. Or if you arrive on a longtail boat and then have to carry a 25kg-weighing suitcase along the beach, a backpack would come in handy. 

Other than in those situations, a suitcase you can roll will do. Hostels and hotels usually offer free luggage storage, and you will never bring your entire belongings on longer hikes, only a daypack. Whether you’re into backpacks or suitcases, what you need either way is a travel app. This can save you the Google research on what to do in Thailand, and much, much more.

Travel Apps

A travel app that you must have when traveling in Thailand is TAGTHAi. With this app, you get Thailand’s relatively new City Pass, which gives you access to top attractions and restaurants in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket for a flat fee.

The City Pass is a new way to discover Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Taro, the head of TAGTHAi, says, “All big cities have their pass. But in Thailand, it’s a novelty.”

Feeling that he had to do something about it, he launched TAGTHAi earlier this year in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, other government-owned organizations, and private companies like Dusit, KBank, AIS, airlines, and more. The app is designed to provide a seamless travel experience, giving you access to attractions like Bangkok’s Mahanakhon SkyWalk, Chiang Mai’s Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary, or Koh Hey, aka Coral Island near Phuket.

“You get a bit of everything in Thailand,” says Taro. The City Pass starts at $55 and includes over 100 benefits redeemable for attractions and restaurants. The One-Day Chiang Mai Massage Pass, which offers a total value of $158, costs a paltry $8.44. You can pamper yourself all day after a long flight should your back and feet hurt.

While the One-, Three-, Five-, and Seven-Day Passes are currently available for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, more partners, cities (Ayutthaya and Pattaya will be next), and attractions are in the pipeline. TAGTHAi comes with a freebie for users who have downloaded the app and signed up: the Essential Pass, which includes a tourist sim card and exclusive exchange rates at Kasikorn Bank. Also, TAGTHAi launched a VAT refund in-app feature last month.

For more benefits, check out TAGTHAi. Thailand opened up for tourism earlier this year, with registration-free entry to the kingdom and unmasking outdoors. Are you ready to travel in Thailand?