Practical Thailand Guides
The nuts and bolts of travelling and living in Thailand — transport, SIM cards, money and banking, safety, healthcare and settling in for a longer stay.
PracticalThe honest 2026 answer: most Thai banks reject DTV visa holders for new accounts. Why it happens, what does not work, and the real alternatives that do.
PracticalHow do tourists pay in Thailand? Compare Wise and home cards, the KBank prepaid Visa card, cash and ATM fees, honestly, with no Thai bank account needed.
PracticalCompare AIS, True and dtac tourist SIMs and eSIMs for Thailand, plus where to buy, the passport registration rule and typical 2026 prices for your trip.
PracticalThe cheapest, fastest ways to send money to Thailand in 2026: Wise vs bank SWIFT wires, real fee ranges, receiving baht, the FET form and visa deposits.
PracticalHow to marry in Thailand as a foreigner in 2026: affirmation of freedom to marry, MFA legalisation, registering at the amphur, plus the documents and costs.
PracticalHow foreigners can legally buy a freehold condo in Thailand in 2026: the 49% foreign quota, the FET form, transfer fees and taxes, and leasehold vs freehold.
PracticalThailand now asks for a birth certificate, and often a certified consent letter, when a Thai child under 18 leaves the country. Here is what to carry.
PracticalWhat expat health insurance in Thailand costs in 2026, local vs international plans compared, which visas require cover, and how to choose the right plan.
PracticalA plain-English Thailand foreign income tax guide for 2026: the 180-day residency test, the remittance rule, rates, double tax agreements and how to file.
PracticalA plain-English 2026 guide to Thailand's 90-day report: who must file, doing it online or in person, the TM.47 and TM30 forms, deadlines and fines.
PracticalOpen a bank account in Thailand in 2026: which visas banks accept, the documents you need, why tourist and DTV holders are refused, and what to do instead.
PracticalCompare the best areas to live in Phuket for expats, nomads and retirees: Rawai, Bang Tao, Patong, Kata, Chalong and Phuket Town, with real 2026 rent bands.
PracticalCost of living in Phuket 2026: real monthly budgets, rent by area, food, utilities and visa costs in Thai baht and USD, from budget to comfortable expat life.
PracticalUK visa for a Thai girlfriend: the visitor, fiance and spouse routes explained, with 2026 costs, the £29,000 income rule and how to apply from Thailand.
PracticalHow much does it cost to retire in Thailand in 2026? The 800,000-baht visa minimum, realistic monthly budgets for Phuket, healthcare and the LTR visa.
PracticalHow to start a business in Thailand in 2026: the Foreign Business Act, company types, the 49% rule and nominee trap, capital, visas, work permits and tax.
PracticalWhat to do if the police ask to search you in Thailand: your rights at a checkpoint, how to stay calm, the contraband to avoid, and who to call for help.
These are the guides that make Thailand easy to navigate: the everyday logistics that turn a stressful arrival into a smooth one and a short trip into a workable long stay. We cover getting from the airport, buying a SIM and getting online, handling money and cards, renting a scooter safely, staying healthy, and the extra steps that come with settling in, from banking to healthcare and insurance.
What these guides cover
Practical questions rarely have glamorous answers, but getting them right saves real time and money. Here you will find clear walk-throughs of arriving and transferring to your accommodation, choosing between rental scooters, cars, taxis and ride-hailing apps, and understanding local driving and safety realities. We explain how to buy a tourist SIM or eSIM, how ATMs and card fees work, how to pay for things day to day, and how to budget sensibly across different parts of the country.
Planning a longer stay
If you are moving to Thailand or staying for a season rather than a fortnight, the stakes go up. We cover opening or accessing a bank account, arranging health cover and knowing where to get treatment, finding longer-term accommodation, and the reporting obligations that come with certain visas, such as 90-day reporting. Visas are their own big topic; for the full breakdown of the DTV, retirement, LTR and other routes, see our dedicated Thailand visa guides.
How to use this section
Start with whatever is most pressing: most people need transport, connectivity and money sorted on day one, then work through the rest as their stay lengthens. For the complete library across every topic, browse the main guides index, and for island-specific practicalities on the Andaman coast, our Phuket section goes into local detail on scooters, transfers and getting around.
Wherever a detail is prone to change, such as fees, rules or operator services, we say so and point you to the current source rather than leaving you with a figure that may already be out of date. The goal is straightforward: fewer nasty surprises, less wasted money, and enough grounded, up-to-date information to travel or live in Thailand smartly and safely, whether you are here for a fortnight or settling in for good.