Explore this comprehensive 10 step guide for planning your perfect DIY trip to Thailand, covering everything from budgeting to itineraries.
Contents
- Introduction to Planning Your Trip to Thailand
- 1. Determine a Budget for Your Trip to Thailand
- 2. Choose the Best Time to Visit Thailand
- 3. Research the Must-See Destinations in Thailand
- 4. Create a Flexible Itinerary and Route for Your Trip to Thailand
- 5. Book Your Flights to Thailand
- 6. Find Accommodation Options in Thailand
- 7. Plan Local Transportation in Thailand
- 8. Check if you need Visas and Vaccinations
- 9. Research Culture, Laws, Safety and Etiquette in Thailand
- 10. Finalise Packing and Essentials for Your Trip to Thailand
- Conclusion: Enjoy Your DIY Trip to Thailand
- Useful Links
Introduction to Planning Your Trip to Thailand
Thailand is the ultimate travel destination. Experience tropical beaches, remote islands, jungles, elephants, inspiring temples, cosmopolitan cities and wonderful cuisine.
Thai people are experts in tourism and have catered for back packers for many years. This means you don’t need to over plan at all.
Whether you are adventuring on a back packing trip or a luxury holiday, planning a DIY trip to Thailand is easy when you know how.
I’ve put this 10 step guide together to give you a helping hand and make it simpler for you to create your dream itinerary.
🔗 Blog to read: 28 Best Travel Apps to Make Your DIY Trips Easier
Some of my content may contain affiliate links for companies I use and love and recommend to awesome readers like yourself. If you take action, (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small amount of pocket money (at no extra cost to you), so I can buy a coffee while creating more helpful content like this.
| Useful Websites / Apps ✈️ Flights: Skyscanner 🚇 Transport: 12go.asia 🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com and Hostel World 🛶 Trips: Viator and Get Your Guide 📱 eSIM: Saily |
📁 Download your Thailand Planning Checklist 👇
👉 Thailand Trip Planning Checklist
1. Determine a Budget for Your Trip to Thailand
Finding a Bench Mark Figure
The easiest way to decide on a budget for your trip to Thailand is to check out travel agent prices. This will give you a good idea of a price to beat.
Look at group travel packages like ‘Gap 360’ for budget trips, ‘TUI’ for midrange and ‘Audley Travel’ for top of the range.
Compromise
Consider whether you want a budget, mid-range or luxury holiday or do you want mix it up so you can save on some aspects and go all out on a luxury stay for part of your trip?
Check Out Flight Prices
✈️ Have a look on flight comparison sites like Skyscanner to see average costs of direct and non-direct flights.
Accommodation
🏨 Look at accommodation comparison sites like Booking.com to see the range of prices for hotels.
Cost of Eating and Drinking
The cost of eating out in Thailand varies considerably but overall costs a lot less than it does in the UK.
🍹 Wine is expensive but cocktails and beers aren’t.
🍜 Street food is very cheap but if you are dining in a roof top luxury restaurant in Bangkok the prices will reflect this. We found there was lots of choice and the food was amazing!
2. Choose the Best Time to Visit Thailand
Thailand has a tropical climate, which means there is a dry season and wet season. However, it depends which area you are visiting.
🌟 This is something to consider when deciding which area of coast you travel to.
Dry season
November to April is dry season with the most comfortable temperatures being January to March. April is very hot!
Wet season
May to October is the wet season but this does not mean that the weather is wet all the time. There will be intervals of rain and sunshine and the temperature will be warm and humid.
The nice thing about later on in wet season is that it is also when Thailand is at its greenest. Thailand is quieter and cheaper during this season too.
Summer Holidays
🌟 If you are looking for a beach stay during the summer holidays then the beaches on the South-East coast are dry during this time.
So for instance, if you travel to Koh Samui in August it is likely to be dry and sunny, whereas there would probably be rain forecasted in Phuket.
3. Research the Must-See Destinations in Thailand
🌟 Get some inspiration by reading blogs and watching vlogs about Thailand.
Pinterest is a fantastic source for blogs and YouTube is best for vlogs. I love Travel Guides and always buy a book about the country I am travelling to.
Thailand is extremely well travelled and you will find lots of information available, whether you want to see the most popular sights or ‘off the beaten path’ gems.
Areas to Consider
⛰️ North Thailand borders Mynanmar and Laos. It is cooler than the south and has mountains covered in forests.
Hill tribes live here and they have their own culture and language. Chiang Mai city has many Buddhist temples and lots of history.
🏖️ The Southern Islands are in the south along the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.
Here you will find tropical beaches and lush forests. You can go island hopping and relax in an exotic paradise.
🌴 Khao Sok National Park is covered by jungle which is the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world.
Huge mountains peek out from the canopy. There is a large emerald green reservoir called Cheow Larn Lake. Here you can go jungle trekking and do lake activities.
🌆 Bangkok city is large, bustling and vibrant with excellent shopping, restaurants, bars and nightlife. There are magnificent temples, palaces, markets, parks, towers (popular with free climbers)and sky-lounge cocktail bars.
🌟 As well as reading blogs, look at travel companies and see their itineraries for ideas.
🔗 Blog to read: See My Thailand Family Holiday Guide, which includes Koh Samui, Khao Sok and Bangkok:
4. Create a Flexible Itinerary and Route for Your Trip to Thailand
Length of Stay
If you want to explore more than one area, I would suggest at least a 2 week stay but preferably more. We only had 2 weeks, which meant 2 days travel so effectively 12 days.
🗺️ Find Recommended Routes
I look at recommendations from travel guides to get a good idea of routes to take.
Depending on how long you plan to stay, most itineraries include Bangkok, islands like Phuket and Koh Samui, jungle stays like Khao Sok and North Thailand cities like Chiang Mai.
Typical routes you might want to consider:
- ️Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Islands – Bangkok
- ️Bangkok – Islands – Khao Sok – Bangkok
🌟 Tip: I would leave your long stay in Bangkok until the end of your trip so that you have adjusted to the culture and time difference.
🗺️ Plan Your Route
Take a look at the map of Thailand and consider which route you would prefer.
⚠️ Bear in mind it takes a long time to travel from North to South and you will spend whole days travelling.
A flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is only 1 hour but to drive takes 10 hours, or train 14 hours. You might not have time to fit everything in so prioritise what is of most interest to you.
Decide on how you will travel, you can take internal flights if you are time limited and there are trains, ferries and bus routes.
Trips and Days Out
Look at trips on Klook, Get Your Guide and Viator to get a good idea of things you would like to do. However, bear in mind it is easy to book days out while you are there and often cheaper too.
Days out you might want to add to your itinerary:
- Visit an elephant sanctuary
- Boat trips to islands like Ang Thong
- Jungle trekking
- Visiting temples
- Shopping at markets
- Meeting tribal people in the North
🍽️ Dining in Thailand
You will find dining out a delight for the senses: the smell, sizzle, colours and tastes are intoxicating. Thai food is flavoursome and adventurous.
From street food to fine dining. You will have no problems finding delicious Thai food wherever you go.
5. Book Your Flights to Thailand
✈️ Your flight is likely to be your largest expense for your trip to Thailand. Keep your eye on flight prices.
Once you are sure when and how long you are going to stay in Thailand, search on flight comparison sites to find the cheapest flights.
🌟 Tip: We use Skyscanner and then track the flight prices to see when the price falls.
From the UK you can expect to pay £500-£600 return. Under £400 is a bargain. Over £700 is too much.
⚠️ If you are taking internal flights, don’t delay these can book up quickly.
⚠️ Be aware that there are 2 airports in Bangkok. If you are taking internal flights, make sure you have enough time to get to the other airport if you are connecting with an international flight.
6. Find Accommodation Options in Thailand
🏩 There are many accommodation options for your trip to Thailand from hostels to luxury hotels.
Prices vary greatly and you can find some really wonderful places for very reasonable prices. we found all of our accommodation on Booking.com.
Budget Accommodation
Hostels tend to be good quality, clean and have great facilities. You will get value for money. A great app to use is Hostelworld.
Midrange
Midrange hotels are often 4 or 5 star hotels that are perfectly lovely but in need of a refurbish. We stayed in midrange hotels and found them all to be fabulous.
Luxury
Luxury hotels will have the price tag to match but will provide the ultimate in deluxe comfort and service.
Check the Details
⚠️ Be sure to read the details carefully, especially if booking for a family. We found hotels were saying that accommodation was suitable for a family of 5 but on further inspection, I noticed there weren’t enough beds to accommodate all of us.
Read the Reviews
It’s best to read the mid range reviews to get a true picture of a property. 1 star and 5 star reviews are often exaggerated and not a true representation of the facts.
7. Plan Local Transportation in Thailand
Travelling around Thailand is very easy. There are internal flights, ferries, trains. buses, taxis, private transfers, and tuk-tuks. Of course, you can rent cars and mopeds too.
✈️ Air
Internal flights are available throughout Thailand. Be sure to check the luggage allowance because it will differ from your external flight.
If you are a cautious flier like myself, look at AirlineRatings.com to check the Airline’s safety rating. 7 star is the highest rating.
Bangkok Airways is a boutique airline that flies to Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai. It is more expensive than the other airlines but you get a meal and luggage allowance and they have a 7 star safety rating.
Thai Airways is an international carrier and it also has a small network of domestic flights within Thailand.
Thai Air Asia is the largest low-cost airline in Thailand and has a large network of domestic flights too. We booked our flights with them because they have a 7 star safety rating.
🚢 Ferries
To get around the islands you can take a ferry. Find ferry routes and prices on Thai Ferry Tickets.com
🚆Train
There are train services across mainland Thailand. You can take a train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok for instance. See details of the train network and ticket prices on Thailand Trains.
🚍 Bus
Travelling by bus is the cheapest way to travel around Thailand and there is a fantastic bus network.
👉 See 12goasia
Private Transfers
It is very easy to book private transfers. Your hotel accommodation will happily book your private transfer on your behalf.
🚖 Taxis
Thailand does not have Uber, instead they have similar services called Grab and Bolt.
🚗 Car hire
Driving in Thailand requires an International Driving Permit. Driving is very different there than in the UK.
⚠️ There are mopeds weaving in and out of traffic, and unfortunately, there is a tendency to blame the tourist for accidents.
We didn’t have any problems but I have read a lot of negative experiences.
🔗 Blog to read: See my Guide to Hiring a Car Abroad for details to consider.
8. Check if you need Visas and Vaccinations
Depending on how long you are staying, where you are staying and the country you are travelling from – you may require a Visa and Vaccinations. You will need to check this on your official government website.
Travelling from the UK for 2 weeks, we didn’t require any vaccinations or visas.
9. Research Culture, Laws, Safety and Etiquette in Thailand
🗣️ Language and Religion
Although Thai is largely spoken, it is only first language to just over half of the population.
The predominant religion is Buddhism.
🍺 Alcohol and Cannabis
•The legal drinking age is 20 and cannabis has been legalised.
🚽 Drinking Water and Toilets
•You cannot drink tap water while you are in Thailand. Be cautious with food and drink that may have been washed or contain tap water.
•Do not put toilet tissue or sanitary products down the toilets.
🙏 Etiquette
•You must cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples.
•Thai people regard showing the soles of your feet as rude. Shoes must be removed in some areas like temples, spas and even some shops.
•Thai people put their hands together and bow their heads to show respect and say ‘thank you’.
•The King of Thailand is deeply regarded and it is important to show respect. It is illegal to defame, insult or threaten the monarch.
10. Finalise Packing and Essentials for Your Trip to Thailand
Travel Insurance
As with all travel, I strongly recommend you take out travel insurance in case of medical emergencies or unexpected problems. See my Guide to Protecting Your DIY Trip.
💸 Currency
The currency is BAHT. The exchange rate is better in Thailand. It is best to take a small amount with you and buy currency there.
Sim Cards
It is a good idea to buy a SIM card for your phone while you are there. Or you can purchase an eSIM before you go.
📱 Best Option: Saily eSIM – instant mobile data without swapping SIM cards.
✈️ Why We Love It: Easy set up, reliable coverage, and cheaper than roaming.
👉 Get Yours Here!
🧳 Packing List
Depending what your plans are for your trip to Thailand you may need special clothes for the jungle and suitable temple clothes. You will definitely want to take a strong insect repellent, sunscreen and light weight clothing.
🔗 Blog to read: See my Thailand Packing List for a comprehensive guide:
📃 Itinerary
Even if you plan to be flexible during your Thailand travels, it is a good idea to have a rough itinerary, highlighting your options and detailing essential telephone numbers, reference numbers and addresses.
🔗 Blog to read: See my Itinerary Planning blog here:
⚠️ And lastly, make sure your passports are in date! With 6 months left from the date your trip ends.
🌟Remember: Download your Thailand Planning Checklist👇
👉 Thailand Trip Planning Checklist
Conclusion: Enjoy Your DIY Trip to Thailand
Thailand has it all – tropical beaches, wonderful cuisine, jungles, elephants, beautiful temples and a fascinating culture.
Language barriers make planning things slightly difficult at times, however, there is loads of information available online. I would say that if you plan to move around in Thailand you kind of need to trust the process.
Thailand is on the whole a safe country for tourists. We found the people to be welcoming, kind and helpful. The Thai people are fantastic hosts and there is a reason it is called ‘the land of smiles’. They want you to have a wonderful experience so that you will come back again.
💗 There is loads of advice and travel tips available in books and online. It is an extremely well-travelled country so if you are thinking about planning a DIY trip to Thailand, feel reassured that it is going to be fine and that you should go for it!
Useful Links
Tourism Authority of Thailand:
Thai Embassy:
www.thaiembassy.com/thai-embassies/thai-embassy-and-consulates-in-united-kingdom
Leave a Reply