Thailand is one of the destinations that are top of mind for travelers around the world, whether it be for its temples, pristine beaches, friendly smiles, cuisine, or nightlife.
It can be a bit challenging to decide what to see or do in Thailand, as it is a country that has so much to offer. For a first trip of 10-15 days, we recommend visiting Bangkok, the northern part of the country, Chiang Mai, and the west coast of the Andaman Sea to have a first impression of the country. You can always come back again; in my case, I have visited Thailand seven eight times since 2013.
This post provides a concise overview of the costs associated with a trip to Thailand, covering flights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and tips for avoiding common mistakes first-time visitors make in the Land of Smiles.
Table of Contents
Planning the Trip to Thailand
In this article, we want to help you avoid making rookie mistakes on your first trip to Thailand and ensure you have a smooth experience without having to spend hours searching for information.
Fortunately, Thailand is quite lenient on visa matters, offering a 60‑day visa‑free stay to nationals of 93 countries, Since last year, travelers are required to complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). It’s free but mandatory upon arrival. We recommend filling it out before boarding your flight. If you’re arriving at Bangkok Airport, free Wi‑Fi is available in case you haven’t done it yet. Here’s the official TDAC website.
When to Travel to Thailand
The most pleasant time to visit Thailand is generally from November to February, when the weather is mostly dry and daytime temperatures are usually around 25–30°C in many popular areas. If those months are not feasible, March and April also tend to be dry but noticeably hotter, with average highs closer to 30–35°C, especially in Bangkok and inland cities. The shoulder months of May and September to October can still be enjoyable, with fewer crowds, occasional heavy showers, and temperatures similar to the hot season. However, from June through August much of the country experiences its rainiest period, so you should be prepared for frequent downpours rather than strictly avoiding these months altogether; some regions and islands, such as parts of the Gulf coast like Koh Samui, can still offer good conditions.
Flights to Thailand
Flights are usually the largest expense when it comes to a trip to Thailand, and where people tend to make mistakes. Depending on the season, airline, and how far in advance you book, travelers from Europe should expect to pay an average of between €600 and €800. However, we have published deals as low as €420 in the last months.
A common mistake is booking a simple round-trip to Bangkok, then adding separate domestic flights to reach the islands or the north and back to Bangkok for the return, which can mean extra flights and unnecessary backtracking. A less stressful and often more efficient option is to book an open-jaw or multi-city itinerary, e.g. flying out to Bangkok and back from Phuket (or the other way round if you prefer to start at the beach).
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Places you Should Visit on Your First Trip to Thailand
Thailand has 76 provinces, but even a year wouldn’t be enough to explore them all. For first-time visitors, a mix of Bangkok’s urban energy, the beaches of Krabi and Phuket on the Andaman Sea, and the temples and cuisine of Chiang Mai in the north offers a great introduction to the country.
Bangkok
The Thai capital is a concrete jungle that can take weeks to discover in-depth, but on a first visit, you can see the main sights without much stress in two or three days.
You can spend the first day visiting the Grand Palace, Wat Pho temple, crossing the river to Wat Arun, and from there taking a longtail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to Chinatown, ending your day at a new viewpoint like Bangkok Reflection or Dusit Central Park.
You can spend your second day exploring the city at your own pace, visiting markets and parks, or going to a Muay Thai fight. If you have more time in Bangkok, we recommend taking a day trip to Ayutthaya or the floating markets. If you’re visiting in 2026, you can experience Songkran (Thai New Year) from April 13 to 15.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the ideal place to spend at least two or three days on your trip through Thailand. It offers more pleasant temperatures than Bangkok and a different pace of life where you can stop and enjoy the moment.
You can spend a day exploring the old city and its hundreds of temples, enjoying northern Thai food, or trying specialty coffee shops. If you want to make the most of your time in the city, there are many activities where you can spend half a day or a whole day, such as a Thai cooking class, visiting an elephant sanctuary, or trekking through the jungle.
If you want to visit Doi Suthep on your own, you can try your luck at the shared taxi stop north of the wall (near Chang Phuak Gate), but Songthaew drivers may try to overcharge. The last time I was in Chiang Mai, we joined another person and went up to the temple in a Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber), paying about €2 more per person for an air-conditioned ride. To go down, you can take a Songthaew for the experience to the zoo and from there Grab to your final destination. If you’re visiting in 2026, you can experience Loi Krathong (the lantern festival) on November 24-25
If you haven’t booked flights to Chiang Mai and plan to visit Chiang Rai (the other main city in northern Thailand, located 180 km away), consider flying into Chiang Rai from Bangkok and then taking a bus to Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is known for its iconic White Temple. If you’re flying from Krabi or Phuket and heading to Chiang Mai, it might be more convenient to fly directly there and then return from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.
Krabi
If you don’t have many days for your Thailand trip and want to enjoy beaches, Krabi is a great base for excursions and nightlife. Avoid the beginner mistake of staying in Krabi Town. Opt for Ao Nang instead, or you’ll be 30 minutes from the sea. From there, you can do speedboat day trips like Phi Phi or the Seven Islands; I skipped staying in Phi Phi due to its poor quality-price ratio for accommodations.
Phuket
Phuket has a bit of a bad reputation for being too touristy, and I avoided it for years, but I was surprised during my one-day stop on arrival in Thailand last year. It boasts excellent infrastructure, an Old Town reminiscent of Penang, and excursions to James Bond Island or Koh Phi Phi. For partying, stay in Patong Beach; for family vibes, try Kata Beach; for relaxation, choose Karon Beach. If visiting in 2026, catch the Vegetarian Festival from October 10 to 18
Getting Around in Thailand
Thailand offers various transportation options for travelers. Domestic airlines serve major routes throughout the country, while trains are available but can sometimes be unreliable. Buses and taxis also cater to different budgets, providing flexibility for travelers. Here’s what I wish I’d known before my first trip to Thailand.
Domestic Flights
Flying within Thailand is the easiest and safest way to get around the country. The most popular tourist routes have plenty of competition. For instance, between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you can choose low-cost carriers like Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet Air, Thai AirAsia, and Nok Air, or legacy airlines like Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways. On low-cost airlines, you can usually bring a carry-on bag and personal item totaling 7 kg max, but they rarely enforce the weight check.
When booking in advance, it’s common to find flights from Bangkok to the coast or Chiang Mai for around THB 1,000 (~€27). If it’s not peak season, you can usually expect to pay around THB 2,500 (~€68) for a flight to Phuket or Chiang Mai when booking last minute. However, if you plan to travel from Chiang Mai to the coast, we recommend booking in advance, as these flights have fewer frequencies and are in higher demand.
Koh Samui is the only place in Thailand where domestic flights are consistently more expensive, as its private airport is owned by Bangkok Airways. A cheaper option is to fly to Surat Thani and continue by ferry, which adds about 2–4 hours of travel and a bit of extra cost. For example, a one‑way flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani on a low‑cost airline costs around €25–€40 if booked early, while direct flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways start at around €70–€115 one way. In the end, it’s a trade‑off between paying more for convenience or saving money and spending a little more time travelling.
One thing most travellers don’t know is that airlines and agencies offer combined tickets and packages from Bangkok to the islands, which include all necessary legs in one booking. For instance, from Bangkok to Koh Lipe, a package can include the flight to Hat Yai, the minivan transfer to Satun, and the speedboat to Koh Lipe on a single ticket.
Taxi, Buses and Trains
Taxis in Thailand are generally affordable, but as a tourist you might occasionally encounter scams with regular street cabs, such as drivers refusing to use the meter or quoting inflated flat fares. The best way to avoid issues is to use a ride‑hailing app such as Grab or Bolt to book your taxis, since they show upfront pricing, driver details, and allow you to contact support if something goes wrong. With these apps, you can also pay for your rides using a linked credit or debit card, or choose to pay in cash if you prefer.
Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading ride‑hailing platform and is essentially the Uber of the region, operating in most major towns and cities across Thailand. The Grab app also includes GrabFood, which works similarly to Uber Eats and lets you order food delivery directly to your accommodation cashless, and the good news is that the entire interface is available in English, so you don’t need to know Thai to use it
If you have a Bolt account, it also works in Bangkok, and rides to and from the airport are often slightly cheaper than on Grab, since Bolt generally undercuts Grab’s fares by around 15–35% for similar routes. For example, on one of my trips, my ride from Silom to Suvarnabhumi Airport was about THB 300 (~€8) cheaper with Bolt than the price quoted in the Grab app.
To get around Bangkok, we recommend combining the BTS SkyTrain and MRT for fast, air‑conditioned travel, especially during rush hour. If you want to go from one point to another in the city and the BTS or MRT does not reach your destination, you can compare Grab or Bolt with public buses and regular taxis to see which option is cheaper and more convenient. For very short distances and to avoid getting stuck in traffic, you can use motorcycle taxis, but prices are not fixed, so you may need to agree on the fare with the driver before the ride or use GrabBike to avoid that.
Chiang Mai’s public transportation relies heavily on songthaews (red trucks), which offer a local and sometimes fun experience but are not always the most efficient or predictable in terms of routing and timing. For greater convenience and flexibilit, especially if you do not speak Thai, consider using Grab or Bolt for your transportation needs in Chiang Mai.
To travel between cities by land, you can choose long‑distance buses or trains. Long‑distance “VIP” or “luxury” buses typically have a 2‑2 seat configuration, while some higher‑end services offer a 2‑1 layout with wider seats and more legroom. Trains are a classic option, but you should not expect a European‑style high‑speed experience; journeys are slower, and comfort depends heavily on the class you choose. Many people still take the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, either for the adventure or to combine transport and accommodation, but the experience may be less comfortable than expected, and the cost savings compared with flying or using a good bus are not always significant. On one of my trips (back in 2013), I took the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and ended up catching a cold from the air conditioner positioned directly above my bed.
For ferry travel, we recommend booking in advance if you are travelling during peak season or public holidays, as popular routes can sell out. If you are buying a ticket on the same day, it is a good idea to check the price online first and then compare it with what the street stalls or local agencies are asking. In my case, for a trip from Krabi to Koh Lipe, a street stall quoted me about THB 600 (~€16) more than the price I found online
If you want to get around on your own, the favourite option on TikTok and social media is to rent a motorcycle, but keep in mind that if you have an accident and do not have a valid motorcycle licence (and, for most travellers, an International Driving Permit), your travel or health insurance may not cover you. Even if nothing happens, some less honest police officers may try to fine you for riding without the correct licence or proper documents.
Personally, to get around in the north of the country, I would recommend renting a car from about THB 1,600 (~€44) per day with basic insurance, as long as you bring your International Driving Permit and are comfortable driving on the left.
Daily Budget
Flights to Thailand can take a big chunk of your budget, but day‑to‑day costs in the country are still relatively low compared with Western Europe. In many destinations, you can get a boutique or very decent mid‑range hotel for roughly what a basic hostel bunk might cost in cities like Paris or Rome, or enjoy a sit‑down restaurant meal for about what you would pay for fast food back in Europe.
Accommodation
Thailand has options for all budgets, and you can spend as much as you want on accommodation, but if you are able to spend a little more, you generally get better value for your money in terms of comfort and location. A hostel dorm bed typically costs around €6–€15 per night, depending on the city, number of beds, and amenities, while simple private rooms in hostels or guesthouses often start from about €15–€25. A good standard hotel in a double room usually costs between €30 and €60 per night in major destinations such as Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and boutique or luxury hotels cost more, though still less than in most Western cities for a similar standard. On my last trip in December 2025, I paid an average of about €40 per night for a double room with a private bathroom in Bangkok; I could have spent €10–15 less per night on average, but I preferred a slightly better quality of life and chose to stay in the Silom area.
Food
The days of Pad Thai for one euro are largely gone, as prices have increased across the country, especially in touristy areas. However, in Chiang Mai and other cities with strong local food scenes, you can still find simple lunches at local places for around €1.50–€3 if you eat where locals eat and avoid the most tourist‑oriented spots. That said, if you are travelling all the way to Thailand, it is worth taking advantage of the opportunity to eat very well for about €5–€15 per meal at good restaurants, the kind of meal that might easily cost €30–€50 in many European cities. If you are on a tight budget, you can still eat cheaply and eat well, but in my case, I would rather save on accommodation and spend more on food.
Internet
You can buy a physical SIM card on arrival or get an eSIM in advance if your phone supports it, and you should not have any trouble finding options at the airport, in shopping malls, or at 7‑Eleven convenience stores. Major operators such as True and dtac offer tourist SIMs and eSIMs with generous or even unlimited data for 8–15 days or longer, and prices are generally very reasonable compared with Europe.
(Bangkok, Phuket…), e.g. 500 MB for Free!Money
Card payment in Thailand is now common in malls, chain cafés, hotels, and big restaurants, but you will still need cash for markets, small eateries, street food, and local transport. ATMs usually charge a flat 220–250 THB fee per withdrawal for foreign cards, so it is cheaper to withdraw larger amounts less often or use a low‑fee travel card, and some travellers prefer to bring cash and exchange it locally instead of relying only on ATMs.
As in China, most locals now use QR payments for everyday purchases; Thailand’s PromptPay QR system is widely accepted, and KBank offers the PAY & TOUR prepaid card that you can link to an e‑wallet and use to scan Thai QR codes like a local, although I have not tried it personally yet.
At Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, skip the first exchange counters in the arrivals hall and head down to level B1 near the Airport Rail Link, SuperRich typically offer much better rates. Compare a few before you exchange. If you bring US dollars, larger bills (50 or 100 USD) usually get a slightly better rate than small ones, while euro notes generally get the same rate regardless of denomination, and major Asian currencies like HKD or SGD are also easy to exchange.
One thing I do to reduce how much cash I need is to book my accommodation as prepaid on platforms like Agoda or Trip.com, which lets me pay online and avoid extra card‑payment surcharges at the hotel. In the case of Agoda, I recommend switching the display currency to Thai baht and paying in THB rather than booking in your home currency, because Agoda often uses its own exchange rate and may add a margin when charging in foreign currencies, whereas paying directly in THB usually lets your bank or card provider handle the conversion at a better rate.
Activities
Normally, you won’t spend more than €30–40 per day on activities. Here are some examples of the most popular activities in Thailand’s main destinations to give you an idea
Phuket:
- Phi Phi, Maya Area, Khai & Bamboo island day tour at €45.55
- ATV adventure and zipline experience in Phuket at €21.79
- James Bond and Phang Nga Bay tour from Phuket at €48.99
Krabi:
- 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi at €24.55
- Tiger Cave & Emerald Pool Jungle Tour at €29.70
- Phi Phi, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island Snorkeling Day Tour from Krabi at €36.69
Bangkok:
- Mahanakhon SkyWalk ticket in Bangkok at €21.80
- Chao Phraya Princess dinner cruise in Bangkok at €23.05
- Damnoen Saduak floating market, Maeklong Railway & Amphawa day tour at €27.29
Chiang Mai:
- Thai Cooking Classes by Grandma’s Home Cooking School at €32.45
- Chiang Rai Iconic White, Blue Temple, Black House Museum and Hot Spring Visit Day Tour at €39.35
- Doi Inthanon National Park Day Tour at €32.89
Local Culture and Customs
Thailand remains welcoming to foreigners while preserving its traditional customs. For example, temple visits require covering knees and shoulders, bargaining is expected for prices, and dual pricing persists for locals versus foreigners, both in official national park tickets and service negotiations. Like it or not, visitors here are often viewed as walking wallets.
Conclusion
For a week in Thailand traveling as a couple, you should budget approximately:
- €250–400 when staying in budget hotels, renting a motorcycle, or taking domestic trains.
- €500–600 when staying in nice hotels, renting a car, and using domestic flights.
- €700 when staying in boutique hotels, renting a car, flying domestically, and planning one activity per day.
Thailand, the Land of Smiles, is one of my favorite countries, and I never get tired of traveling there. For a first‑time traveler, it is a fairly easy country to navigate, whether you want to enjoy a metropolis that rivals any big Western city, relax on pristine beaches, or explore the countryside. Thailand truly has something for everyone, so try not to rush; give yourself time to enjoy it. As my father would say, “Thailand isn’t going anywhere, and you can always come back.” In fact, I am already planning my eighth trip for May this year. If a good deal to Thailand pops up earlier, I might be back even sooner.