Thailand Travel Guide

Thailand uses the Thai Baht and blends strong digital payments with a real, continuing need for cash. Hotels, malls and larger restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, local transport and some islands often want cash or Thai QR. Entry rules depend on the passport held and are in transition in 2026, and most non-Thai visitors also submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card before arrival. For a mid-range trip, budget around THB 2,500 to 5,500 per person per day, higher for Phuket, Koh Samui, diving and island transfers. Carry a mix of a low-fee card and a Thai Baht cash reserve, and decline home-currency billing at terminals and ATMs.

Understanding the Thai Baht exchange rate

THB exchange rates move constantly and are hard to predict. Compare the final customer rate rather than a headline number, and include card foreign-transaction fees, travel-card loading fees, ATM charges, cash-exchange commission and any delivery cost. Avoid exchanging your whole budget at an airport counter unless convenience matters more than price.

How much Thai Baht to carry

A practical arrival float is about THB 3,000 to 6,000 in smaller notes. Travellers who pay hotels, larger restaurants and tours by card may keep THB 5,000 to 10,000 available across a week, topping up as needed. Carry more for markets, rural routes, islands, drivers, small guesthouses and places without reliable card terminals.

Cards, cash and Thai QR

Cards are widely accepted at hotels, malls and larger restaurants, but a cash-and-card mix works best in Thailand. Carry two independently issued cards where practical and enable international use.

• Dynamic currency conversion: when a terminal or ATM offers THB or your home currency, choose THB. Home-currency billing can carry an unfavourable processor rate.
• ATM fee stacking: a Thai ATM operator fee can be added on top of your own issuer's fee and exchange-rate markup. Review the screen before confirming and make fewer, larger withdrawals where sensible.
• Thai QR: many small vendors accept Thai QR payments, but a Thai Baht cash reserve remains the reliable fallback where cards are not accepted.

The best ATM approach in Thailand

Use ATMs operated by recognised banks, ideally in staffed branches, shopping centres or secure transport hubs. Review the operator fee, withdraw a sensible amount rather than many small ones, and decline any offer to convert the withdrawal into your home currency. Protect the keypad and keep the receipt until the transaction posts correctly.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) replaced the old paper arrival card. It is required for non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea, subject to official exceptions, and was introduced on 1 May 2025.

• Submit it online before arrival through the official Thai Immigration Bureau system, no more than three days before you arrive.
• It is free. Avoid commercial lookalike sites that charge a fee.
• It is not a visa and does not replace one.
• Each new entry requires a fresh submission.

Thailand visa requirements by passport

Thailand entry permission depends on nationality, passport type, travel purpose, intended stay and the rules in force on the arrival date. Some passports qualify for visa exemption, some for Visa on Arrival, and others need a tourist visa or e-Visa before travel. The permitted visa-exempt stay is being revised in 2026 (see the fees panel), so check the current entitlement for your passport rather than relying on a fixed figure. The official Thai e-Visa system includes a passport-based eligibility checker.

Check Thai e-Visa eligibility →

Getting around Thailand

Bangkok combines the BTS Skytrain, MRT metro, buses, river boats, taxis, ride-hailing and the Airport Rail Link. Where a network supports contactless or a stored-value card, use the same method consistently and keep cash for systems that do not. Metered taxis may add expressway tolls separately, and ride-hailing apps are widely used.

Between regions, domestic flights and long-distance buses or trains connect Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and the islands. Island travel relies on ferries and speedboats, where cash is often expected at piers. Recheck ferry schedules and seasonal island closures before booking.

VAT refund for tourists

Thailand applies a 7% VAT, normally included in displayed prices. Eligible foreign tourists can claim a VAT refund on qualifying goods bought from shops showing the VAT Refund for Tourists sign.

• Minimum purchase THB 2,000 (including VAT) per store, per day.
• Minimum total eligible purchases THB 5,000.
• Ask for a P.P.10 or e-P.P.10 form and the original tax invoice on the purchase day.
• Claim at an international airport on departure within the official timing limit, and allow time for customs inspection of higher-value goods.

Exact operational requirements can change, so review the Thai Revenue Department process before shopping.

Cash declaration in Thailand

Thailand's official sources are not fully consistent on the foreign-currency declaration threshold. The Bank of Thailand states that foreign currency exceeding the equivalent of USD 15,000 must be declared. Some other official pages cite USD 20,000, so declaring from USD 15,000 is the safer approach. Travellers carrying large amounts should confirm the current requirement with Thai Customs before departure. Thai baht has separate import and export limits.

National parks and island fees

Thailand has no single national-park price. Entry fees vary by park, nationality, age and activity, and marine parks may add boat, pier, conservation or tour charges. See the current typical foreign-adult range in the fees panel above, and check the specific park and tour operator before booking. Some islands and park zones close seasonally for weather, conservation or safety, and tour prices do not always include park admission, so carry cash unless the park confirms electronic payment.