Do I need to carry cash?

Yes. While malls and hotels take cards, street food stalls, markets, and local transport rely entirely on Thai Baht cash.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?

No. Only drink bottled water or use filtered water stations. Most hotels provide free bottled water daily.

How do I get around cities?

In Bangkok, use the BTS/MRT trains. In other cities, use the Grab app or songthaews (shared red trucks) to get around cheaply.

Planning a Two-Week Trip to Thailand

Focus on three distinct regions to minimize travel burnout: four days in Bangkok for culture, four days in Chiang Mai for mountains and temples, and six days in the southern islands for beaches. Fly between these regions to save days of transit time.

Map your flight route. Book a multi-city ticket flying into Bangkok (BKK) and out of Phuket (HKT) or Krabi (KBV). This saves you a domestic flight back to the capital at the end of your trip.
Book domestic flights in advance. Use low-cost carriers like AirAsia or Thai VietJet for internal legs. Booking these 4 weeks out keeps costs under $60 per flight.
Prioritize your island base. Pick one side of the peninsula to avoid changing hotels every day. Choose the Andaman Coast (Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta) for limestone cliffs or the Gulf Coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) for diving and nightlife.
Arrange your transport for arrival. Download the Grab app (the local Uber) immediately upon arrival. Pre-book your airport transfer through your accommodation if arriving after 10:00 PM.

Do I need to carry cash?: Yes. While malls and hotels take cards, street food stalls, markets, and local transport rely entirely on Thai Baht cash.
Is it safe to drink the tap water?: No. Only drink bottled water or use filtered water stations. Most hotels provide free bottled water daily.
How do I get around cities?: In Bangkok, use the BTS/MRT trains. In other cities, use the Grab app or songthaews (shared red trucks) to get around cheaply.