Do I need to carry cash?

Yes. While malls and big hotels take cards, street stalls, markets, and local transport require cash. Keep a stash of 100-baht notes.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?

No. Never drink tap water. Use bottled water or the filtered water dispensers found on many streets.

Planning your first trip to Thailand

Focus your first trip on the 'Golden Triangle' of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and one island group to avoid burnout. Spend at least 14 days to properly balance travel time with relaxation.

Select your route. For a first timer, fly into Bangkok. Spend 3 nights there, take a domestic flight north to Chiang Mai for 4 nights, then fly south to either Phuket/Krabi (Andaman side) or Koh Samui (Gulf side) for 5 nights.
Book internal travel. Use budget airlines like AirAsia or Thai Vietjet for long distances. Book these 4-6 weeks out. Use the 'Grab' app for all local car or motorbike taxi needs to avoid haggling.
Sort your finances. Bring a debit card that refunds ATM fees. Thai ATMs charge a flat 220 THB (approx $6) fee per withdrawal, so withdraw the maximum allowed (usually 20,000 THB) each time to minimize costs.
Prepare your digital connectivity. Don't bother with expensive roaming. Buy an eSim via Airalo before you land or pick up a local SIM (AIS or DTAC) at the airport upon arrival for roughly $15 for 15 days of unlimited data.

Do I need to carry cash?: Yes. While malls and big hotels take cards, street stalls, markets, and local transport require cash. Keep a stash of 100-baht notes.
Is it safe to drink the tap water?: No. Never drink tap water. Use bottled water or the filtered water dispensers found on many streets.