Americans looking to use up their vacation time often look to Thailand for an exotic trip. The cultural differences and barriers to traveling there can be scary at first, but don't let that stop you - it only takes a bit of learning to be fully prepared for the trip.
First you'll need a passport. If you don't already have one, know that you'll probably be waiting six months or more to conduct your trip. In addition to waiting to get the passport you'll need to hold the passport for a certain period of time before being allowed entry into Thailand. Get the passport as soon as you can and check the Thai embassy for official rules.
American electronics will work just fine in Thailand, for the most part. Leave your non-digital electronics (hair dryer, curling iron, and others) at home. Generally these types of devices do not have power converters. Your laptop and phone should be just fine.
Although no vaccines are required at time of writing, this can change and the CDC does have a list of vaccines that are recommended. Malaria, Dengue Fever, and being up to date on your Tetanus shot is very important. Because of the inoculation period it's highly recommended you don't wait to get to Thailand before getting the vaccines.
Don't pack too many clothes. In fact, you'll probably want to pack way less than you are intending on. Packing more than a week of clothes is not recommended! Try to consolidate everything into a single suitcase to make your trip a comfortable one. Laundry services are everywhere, you'll have no trouble making sure your clothes are clean at all times. You'll also want to pack for tropical weather, and a single pair of pants to get into holy areas.
The locals are friendly to foreigners. That's not too crazy since tourism is a big part of the local economy. However, do know that plenty of locals make a living from deceiving travelers into paying more than they should for travel or food. Always ask taxis to use the meter, and ask other travelers what they pay for different services and foods when you get there. You won't be swindled for much considering the exchange rate, so don't worry about this too much. In time you'll start to understand what you should be paying for different things.
You don't need to learn Thai to communicate with locals, so long as you stick to tourist areas. English isn't spoken fluently in many areas, so having a translation app or a tour guide is nice to have around. It's recommended to find a mobile app for getting taxis as well, since many taxi drivers will not know how to communicate with you on an address.
In general Thailand is a very safe place to be for an American. Enjoy areas such as Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, Chang Mai, and others! Try to book your trip for 2 or more weeks to fully enjoy the experience.
First you'll need a passport. If you don't already have one, know that you'll probably be waiting six months or more to conduct your trip. In addition to waiting to get the passport you'll need to hold the passport for a certain period of time before being allowed entry into Thailand. Get the passport as soon as you can and check the Thai embassy for official rules.
American electronics will work just fine in Thailand, for the most part. Leave your non-digital electronics (hair dryer, curling iron, and others) at home. Generally these types of devices do not have power converters. Your laptop and phone should be just fine.
Although no vaccines are required at time of writing, this can change and the CDC does have a list of vaccines that are recommended. Malaria, Dengue Fever, and being up to date on your Tetanus shot is very important. Because of the inoculation period it's highly recommended you don't wait to get to Thailand before getting the vaccines.
Don't pack too many clothes. In fact, you'll probably want to pack way less than you are intending on. Packing more than a week of clothes is not recommended! Try to consolidate everything into a single suitcase to make your trip a comfortable one. Laundry services are everywhere, you'll have no trouble making sure your clothes are clean at all times. You'll also want to pack for tropical weather, and a single pair of pants to get into holy areas.
The locals are friendly to foreigners. That's not too crazy since tourism is a big part of the local economy. However, do know that plenty of locals make a living from deceiving travelers into paying more than they should for travel or food. Always ask taxis to use the meter, and ask other travelers what they pay for different services and foods when you get there. You won't be swindled for much considering the exchange rate, so don't worry about this too much. In time you'll start to understand what you should be paying for different things.
You don't need to learn Thai to communicate with locals, so long as you stick to tourist areas. English isn't spoken fluently in many areas, so having a translation app or a tour guide is nice to have around. It's recommended to find a mobile app for getting taxis as well, since many taxi drivers will not know how to communicate with you on an address.
In general Thailand is a very safe place to be for an American. Enjoy areas such as Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, Chang Mai, and others! Try to book your trip for 2 or more weeks to fully enjoy the experience.
About the Author:
Quite a few Americans find remote work to work from Thailand, traveling during weekends and in off time. Bangkok is one of the top places in the world for remote working.
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