The practical stuff every Aussie needs to know
How to get in and how long you can stay
Thailand is the most visited country in Southeast Asia by Australians, and the visa system reflects that â generous visa-free entry with straightforward extension options. Whether you're here for two weeks or thinking about staying long-term, the options are solid. Here's the full picture.
Australian passport holders get 60 days visa-free on arrival (upgraded from 30 days in 2024). No application, no fee. Your passport needs at least 6 months validity. You may be asked for proof of onward travel and proof of funds (20,000 THB or equivalent) â rarely enforced but technically required. This is the easiest entry in Southeast Asia.
Apply at a Thai embassy or consulate before travel for a single or multiple-entry tourist visa. Costs AUD $50-60. Gives you 60 days per entry, extendable by 30 days at immigration. Multiple-entry version lets you do several 60-day stays within a year. Good option if you want more flexibility than the visa-free stamp.
Visit any Thai Immigration office to extend your visa-free stamp or tourist visa by 30 days. Costs 1,900 THB. Bring your passport, a passport photo, a copy of your passport and departure card, and the TM.30 form (proof of address â your hotel should provide this). The Chaeng Wattana immigration office in Bangkok is massive but efficient. Budget half a day.
When your time is up, pop across to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia or Myanmar and re-enter Thailand for a fresh stamp. The Cambodia border at Poipet/Aranyaprathet is the most popular from Bangkok. Immigration has cracked down on obvious serial border runners â doing it every 60 days is fine, doing it every week will get you denied entry eventually. Don't take the piss.
Thailand's Long-Term Resident visa (introduced 2022) gives you 10 years if you qualify. Categories include wealthy retirees, remote workers earning USD $80,000+, and high-skilled professionals. Annual income or investment requirements apply. Includes work permit privileges and tax benefits. Not for everyone, but if you qualify it's the gold standard for living in Thailand long-term.
For Aussies 50 and over. The O-A visa requires 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account or monthly income of 65,000 THB (about AUD $2,800). Valid for 1 year, renewable. The O-X variant gives you 10 years but requires 3 million THB in deposits. Popular with Aussie retirees. Must have health insurance meeting Thai requirements. The 800,000 THB must stay in the bank for the duration â you can't just deposit it and withdraw it.
If you're married to a Thai citizen, you can get a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage. Requires 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account or combined monthly income of 40,000 THB. Gives you a 1-year stay, renewable annually. You'll need your marriage certificate (translated and certified), your wife's ID and house registration (tabien baan). The Thai bureaucracy for this is real â a good visa agent helps.
Thailand Elite is a paid membership that gives you a long-term visa. Packages range from 600,000 THB (5 years) to 2 million THB (20 years). Includes airport VIP services, dedicated immigration lane, and government concierge. No income or age requirements â just money. Popular with digital nomads and long-term visitors who don't qualify for other visas. Not cheap but hassle-free.
Overstaying in Thailand results in a 500 THB per day fine (max 20,000 THB) and a stamp in your passport. Overstay more than 90 days and you face detention, deportation and a ban: 1 year for under 90 days, 3 years for under 1 year, 5 years for 1-3 years, 10 years for 3-5 years. If caught during a police check (not at departure), the bans are even longer. Thailand is serious about this. Don't risk it.
Thai visa rules change frequently and the bureaucracy can be maddening. A good visa agent (budget 5,000-15,000 THB depending on the service) handles all the paperwork, queues and appointments for you. Ask in expat Facebook groups for recommendations in your area. For retirement and marriage visas especially, an agent saves you hours of frustration and reduces the chance of getting knocked back for a minor paperwork error.
One of the best food countries on the planet
Thai food needs no introduction. You already know pad thai and green curry. But the real Thailand food experience goes way beyond what you get at your local Thai takeaway in Australia. Street food is king, regional cuisines are wildly different, and you can eat spectacularly well for almost nothing. Let's get into it.
Stir-fried rice noodles with prawns or chicken, egg, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and lime. The most famous Thai dish in the world. Street versions cost 40-60 THB, restaurant versions 80-150 THB. Thip Samai on Maha Chai Road in Bangkok is the legendary pad thai spot â the queue is worth it. Good pad thai is a beautiful thing. Bad pad thai (which is most of it) is just sweet noodles.
Shredded green papaya pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime, fish sauce, garlic, tomatoes and peanuts. The Isaan (northeastern) version uses pla ra (fermented fish paste) and is intensely funky. This is the most eaten dish in Thailand, hands down. Specify how many chillies you want â "mai phet" (not spicy) or "phet nit noi" (a little spicy) unless you want your face melted off.
Simple Thai fried rice with egg, onion and your choice of protein â chicken (gai), pork (moo), prawn (goong) or crab (poo). Served with a wedge of lime, sliced cucumber and fish sauce with chillies on the side. Costs 40-80 THB from a street stall. The beauty of Thai fried rice is in its simplicity â wok hei, fish sauce, and a hot pan. You'll eat it several times a week.
Hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilli and lime juice. The most famous Thai soup and one of the most complex flavour profiles in any cuisine. The clear broth version (tom yum nam sai) is lighter; the creamy version (nam khon) with evaporated milk is richer. A bowl at a street stall costs 60-100 THB. In a restaurant, 150-300 THB.
Isaan cuisine from Thailand's northeast is arguably the best regional cuisine in the country. Grilled chicken (gai yang), sticky rice (khao niao), som tum, larb (spicy minced meat salad) and nam tok (waterfall beef salad). Simple, bold flavours. Isaan restaurants are everywhere in Thailand â look for the charcoal grills and sticky rice baskets out front. Eat with your hands using sticky rice as your utensil.
Bangkok is the street food capital of the world. Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) at night is legendary â seafood, noodles, desserts. Ratchawat Market, Victory Monument and the sois around Sukhumvit have incredible food stalls. Jay Fai in the Old City is the only Michelin-starred street food vendor in the world â her crab omelette is legendary (book ahead). Most street meals cost 40-80 THB.
Green curry (gaeng khiao wan) gets all the attention but Thai curry goes much deeper. Massaman (Muslim-influenced, milder with peanuts and potatoes), Penang (thick and rich), red curry (gaeng daeng, versatile), jungle curry (gaeng pa, no coconut milk, very spicy). Yellow curry (gaeng lueang) in the south is different again. Each region has its own specialties. With rice: 50-80 THB at a local shop.
Every Thai city and town has night markets. Bangkok's Jodd Fairs (Rama 9) and Rod Fai Market are huge. Chiang Mai's Sunday Walking Street market stretches for kilometres. Phuket's weekend markets in Old Town are excellent. These are where you'll find the widest variety of food in one place â grilled meats, noodles, seafood, desserts, fresh fruit. Budget 200-400 THB for a full feast.
Thai food can be SERIOUSLY spicy. "Thai spicy" is a different universe from "Australian spicy." If you order "phet" (spicy) at a local restaurant, expect pain. Start with "mai phet" (not spicy) or "phet nit noi" (a little spicy) and work your way up. Don't let your ego write cheques your stomach can't cash. Nobody is impressed when a tourist orders Thai-spicy and then can't eat it. The chilli dipping sauces on the table are also lethal.
Thailand has over 14,000 7-Elevens and they're actually decent for cheap eats. Toasted sandwiches (19-39 THB), rice boxes (39-59 THB), onigiri, and pastries available 24/7. They'll microwave everything for you. At 3am when you're stumbling home from a night out, that ham and cheese toastie is a godsend. Also stock up on water, snacks and Chang-branded beer for the hotel room.
Local brews and drinking culture
Thailand isn't as cheap for beer as Vietnam or Cambodia, thanks to high alcohol taxes. But it's still well under Australian prices and the local beers are solid session lagers perfect for the tropical heat. Drinking is a big part of Thai social culture â just be aware of the surprisingly strict alcohol laws.
The green-labelled elephant beer that every tourist knows. 5% ABV, clean lager, nothing offensive. Used to be 6.4% but they dropped it. Around 40-55 THB at 7-Eleven, 80-150 THB in bars. It's fine â perfectly drinkable but not exciting. The big bottles (640ml) are the go. You'll see the Chang logo on everything from singlets to tuk-tuks. Basically the VB of Thailand.
Thailand's original beer, brewed since 1933. A lager with slightly more body and hop bitterness than Chang. 5% ABV. The lion logo is iconic. Costs slightly more than Chang â 45-60 THB at a shop, 100-180 THB in bars. Singha is positioned as the classier option and is what Thais order when they want to look a bit flash. Also makes a decent soda water (Singha Drinking Water).
Made by the same company as Singha but marketed as the affordable everyday beer. 5% ABV. Smooth, easy-drinking, no pretension. Around 35-50 THB at a shop. Leo is what many working-class Thais actually drink â it's cheaper than Singha and just as drinkable. The leopard logo on a brown label. If Singha is the premium and Chang is the tourist beer, Leo is the local's beer.
Dark gold lager from neighbouring Laos, available in some Thai bars and shops. 5% ABV. Widely considered one of the best mainstream beers in Southeast Asia â more flavourful than any Thai beer. Around 60-80 THB in shops. If you spot it, grab one. Many Aussie expats swear it's the best beer in the region. Limited availability compared to Thai brands.
Thailand's craft beer scene exists but is hampered by laws that make small-scale brewing nearly impossible domestically. Most "Thai craft beers" are actually contract-brewed overseas. Devanom and Chitbeer are local names to look for. Imported craft beers are available in Bangkok's trendier bars â Mikkeller, BrewDog and local brands at places like Hair of the Dog, Craft Bangkok and Let the Boy Die. Expect 180-350 THB per pint.
Thais drink more whisky than beer. Sang Som (rum-like, despite being called whisky), Mekhong and Hong Thong are the local spirits. Typically mixed with soda and ice at a table. A bottle of Sang Som costs 200-350 THB â cheaper than buying multiple beers. Thai drinking culture revolves around sharing a bottle at the table, mixing your own drinks, and eating food alongside. Join in â it's more social than individual beers.
Drinking is communal. Bottles of beer are shared and poured into glasses with ice (yes, ice in the beer â deal with it). The youngest person at the table usually does the pouring. Don't pour your own drink â pour for others and they'll pour for you. Cheers is "chon gaew" but you'll also hear "chai yo!" The pace is steady â nobody rushes, and food is always part of the equation.
7-Eleven and Family Mart have the cheapest beers (buy and drink at your hotel). Local restaurants and street-side food stalls sell beer at shop prices plus a small markup. Rooftop bars in Bangkok (Sky Bar, Above Eleven, Octave) are spectacular but expensive â 250-500 THB per beer. For the best value, eat and drink at local restaurants â big bottles of Chang or Leo with Thai food on the street is hard to beat.
Alcohol sales are restricted to 11am-2pm and 5pm-midnight. 7-Eleven will literally refuse to sell you a beer at 2:30pm â the registers are locked. No alcohol sales on certain Buddhist holidays (Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha) and during elections. Drinking in public parks is technically illegal. Penalties for drunk driving are harsh. These laws are genuinely enforced, even in tourist areas. Plan accordingly.
Buy the big bottles (640ml) â they're much better value per ml than small bottles or cans. At a restaurant, order a big Chang or Leo, ask for a bucket of ice, and you're set. Most Thai restaurants serve the big bottles as standard. If you're buying from 7-Eleven for the hotel, the big bottles are the way to go. Sounds obvious but plenty of tourists buy cans at twice the per-ml price.
Getting from A to B without losing your mind
Thailand has excellent transport infrastructure compared to most of Southeast Asia. Bangkok's BTS and MRT make the city manageable, Grab works everywhere, domestic flights are cheap, and the bus and train networks cover the whole country. Here's the full guide to getting around.
Works in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and most major cities. GrabCar is an air-conditioned private car. GrabBike is a motorbike taxi (called "win" in Thai). Pay by cash or card. Always cheaper and more reliable than street taxis. A GrabCar from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok costs about 300-450 THB. In Chiang Mai, a ride across town is 60-120 THB. Essential app.
Bangkok's elevated Skytrain (BTS) and underground metro (MRT) are excellent â clean, air-conditioned, fast and cheap. Single trips cost 16-59 THB depending on distance. A stored-value Rabbit card (BTS) makes things easier. The BTS runs through the main tourist and business areas (Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom). The MRT connects Hua Lamphong, Chatuchak and the newer suburbs. Combined, they cover most of Bangkok you'd want to visit.
The iconic three-wheeled vehicles. Fun for the experience but almost always more expensive than a Grab. Drivers never use meters â negotiate hard before getting in. A tuk-tuk across central Bangkok should cost 60-100 THB for a short trip. They'll quote you 200-300 THB. The "I know a good shop" scam is classic â they offer you a cheap ride but take you to a gem shop or tailor where they earn commission. Use them once for the photos, then stick to Grab.
AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Thai VietJet and Bangkok Airways fly between all major destinations. Bangkok to Chiang Mai from 800 THB one way. Bangkok to Phuket from 900 THB. Bangkok to Koh Samui is expensive because Bangkok Airways has a monopoly â expect 3,000-6,000 THB. Fly into Surat Thani instead and take a ferry for much less. Book on the airline apps for the best deals. Don Mueang Airport handles budget carriers; Suvarnabhumi handles full-service airlines.
Thailand's train network radiates from Bangkok to the north (Chiang Mai), northeast (Isaan), east (Pattaya) and south (Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Malaysia). The Bangkok-Chiang Mai overnight sleeper is a classic â second-class sleeper berths cost about 800-1,200 THB and are surprisingly comfortable. Trains are slower than buses but more scenic and comfortable. Book at the station or through 12go.asia.
Converted pickup trucks with two bench seats in the back and a roof. Run fixed routes in most towns and cities (especially Chiang Mai, Pattaya and beach towns). Wave one down, hop in the back, press the buzzer when you want to stop. Fixed fare of 20-30 THB in most places. Also available for charter â negotiate the price. Basic but effective and very cheap.
Essential for getting to Thailand's islands. Lomprayah and Seatran run catamarans between the mainland and Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Rassada Pier in Phuket connects to Phi Phi and the Andaman islands. Ferry prices range from 200-700 THB depending on distance and speed. Book combined bus+ferry tickets for convenience. Check conditions during monsoon season (June-October on the Andaman side, November-January on the Gulf side).
Hugely popular in Chiang Mai, Pai, and the islands. A Honda Click 125 costs 200-300 THB per day. You technically need an International Driving Permit with motorbike endorsement. Police checkpoints target tourists without licences â fine is 500-1,000 THB. More importantly, without a valid licence your travel insurance won't cover motorbike accidents. The roads in the north are beautiful but deadly if you're not experienced.
If a taxi driver says "meter no work" or quotes a flat fare, get out and find another taxi. If they ask "where you go?" before you get in (trying to decide if it's worth their time), skip them. Airport taxi touts in the arrivals hall charge 2-3x the meter rate â use the official taxi rank downstairs at Level 1 or pre-book a Grab. Bangkok taxis are metered by law â flag fall is 35 THB. If the meter isn't on, it's a scam.
Bolt (the European ride-hailing app) has launched in Bangkok and is often cheaper than Grab due to promotions. Download both apps and compare prices for each trip. Competition is good for your wallet. InDrive is another option where you name your price and drivers accept or counter. Having multiple ride apps means you're never stuck paying surge pricing on any single platform.
Baht, ATMs and keeping your wallet happy
The Thai Baht (THB/āļŋ) is a stable, well-managed currency. AUD $1 gets you roughly 22-24 THB. Thailand is more expensive than Vietnam or Cambodia but still very affordable by Australian standards. Card payments are increasingly accepted but cash is still essential for markets, street food and small shops.
ATMs are everywhere but Thai banks charge a 220 THB fee per withdrawal for foreign cards â on top of whatever your Australian bank charges. That's about AUD $10 per withdrawal. Withdraw the maximum amount (usually 20,000-30,000 THB) to minimise the per-transaction hit. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank ATMs are reliable. Aeon ATMs (in some malls) don't charge the 220 THB fee â seek them out.
SuperRich (orange and green branches â both are legit) consistently offers the best exchange rates in Thailand. Branches in central Bangkok (Ratchadamri BTS area), at airports and in major malls. Vasu Exchange on Sukhumvit Soi 7 is another excellent option. Airport exchange rates are poor â change just enough to get to your hotel. AUD is easily exchanged at any major money changer.
Get a Wise (formerly TransferWise) multi-currency debit card before you leave Australia. Load it with THB at the real exchange rate (no markup). Use it for card payments and ATM withdrawals â you only pay the 220 THB ATM fee, no additional foreign transaction charges. This saves you hundreds compared to using your regular Australian bank card. Most Aussie expats in Thailand swear by it.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in malls, chain restaurants, hotels and larger shops. PromptPay QR codes are Thailand's national payment system â works with Thai bank accounts. Some places add a 2-3% surcharge for foreign cards. Street food, markets, taxis and small shops are cash only. Always carry at least 2,000-3,000 THB in cash for daily spending.
Street food meal: 40-80 THB. Restaurant meal: 150-400 THB. Beer at 7-Eleven: 40-60 THB. Beer at a bar: 100-250 THB. Grab across Bangkok: 80-200 THB. Hotel room (mid-range): 800-2,000 THB. Monthly rent for a furnished condo in Bangkok: 12,000-25,000 THB. Thailand is roughly 30-40% more expensive than Vietnam but still about a third of Australian prices.
Wise gives the best exchange rates for transfers to Thai bank accounts. DeeMoney is a Thai-based option that also offers competitive rates. Western Union and MoneyGram are available but expensive. If your partner has a Thai bank account (Kasikorn, Bangkok Bank, SCB), Wise transfers arrive within a day. For regular transfers, set up a recurring Wise payment â set and forget.
Tourists can open a bank account at Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank with just a passport and a Thai phone number. Some branches are more foreigner-friendly than others â the Silom and Asoke branches of Bangkok Bank are well-known for helping foreigners. A Thai bank account lets you use PromptPay, makes transfers cheaper and gives you access to mobile banking. Minimum deposit is usually 500-1,000 THB.
Not traditionally part of Thai culture but increasingly expected in tourist areas. Leave the coins from your change at restaurants. 20-50 THB for a good massage. 10-20% at upscale restaurants if service charge isn't included. Round up for Grab drivers. Hotel porters: 20-50 THB. No one will chase you down, but it's appreciated. Don't tip at 7-Eleven or street food stalls â that'd be weird.
In Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui, jet ski and motorbike rental operators may claim you caused "damage" that already existed and demand thousands of baht in compensation. ALWAYS photograph the vehicle from every angle before renting, with the operator present. Keep the photos timestamped. If they try to scam you, threaten to call the Tourist Police (1155). This scam is well-known and still thriving.
Some 7-Elevens have ATM machines inside or adjacent that belong to different banks. Aeon (blue machines) don't charge the 220 THB foreign card fee. They're not everywhere but worth looking for, especially in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The Citibank ATMs (rare but they exist) also skip the fee. Over a month-long trip, avoiding that fee on 5-6 withdrawals saves you over 1,000 THB.
How to stay out of trouble in the Land of Smiles
Thailand is generally very safe for tourists. Violent crime against foreigners is uncommon. The bigger risks are scams, traffic accidents, motorbike injuries and the occasional dodgy situation in nightlife areas. Millions of Australians visit every year without incident. Use common sense and you'll be fine.
The gem scam (friendly local takes you to a "special" gem shop â the gems are worthless). The tuk-tuk detour (cheap ride but mandatory stops at shops). The Grand Palace is "closed today" (it's not â they want to take you somewhere else). Jet ski damage scams. Ping pong show overcharging. These are well-documented and still catch tourists daily. If it sounds too good to be true or involves a stranger being unusually helpful, it's a scam.
More Australians die or are seriously injured on Thai motorbikes than from any other cause. Inexperienced riders, no licence, flimsy helmets, left-hand drive, unfamiliar roads â it's a recipe for disaster. If you rent a motorbike, wear a proper helmet (buy your own for 500-800 THB), don't ride drunk, and don't ride at night on unfamiliar roads. Check that your travel insurance covers motorbike riding with a valid licence.
Thailand has strict drug laws. Possession of Category 1 drugs (heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy) carries penalties up to life imprisonment or death. Cannabis was briefly legalised for medical use in 2022 but regulations are tightening again â check current laws before assuming it's legal. Don't buy, carry or use drugs. Full moon parties on Koh Phangan have undercover police. Foreigners are regularly arrested.
Insulting, defaming or threatening the Thai Royal Family is a criminal offence carrying up to 15 years in prison per count. This extends to social media posts and casual conversation. Do NOT make jokes about the King, Queen or royal family. Don't deface currency (it has the King's image). Stand for the royal anthem before movies. This law is strictly enforced and foreigners are not exempt. Take it seriously.
Drink spiking occurs in nightlife areas, particularly on Khao San Road, Patong Beach and Walking Street in Pattaya. Never leave your drink unattended. Watch your drink being poured. If you feel suddenly very drunk or disoriented after one or two drinks, get to a safe place immediately and call for help. This targets both men and women. Stick with mates and watch out for each other.
Rip currents on the west coast beaches (Phuket, Krabi) during monsoon season (June-October) are deadly. Red flags mean NO swimming â this is non-negotiable. Several tourists drown every year ignoring the warnings. Jellyfish (including box jellyfish) are a risk from June to October. Wear a rash vest for extended snorkelling. Thailand's beaches are beautiful but they demand respect.
Thai police are generally not aggressive toward tourists but corruption exists. If stopped at a checkpoint (common at night), be polite and cooperative. If asked for a spot fine (bribe), you can insist on going to the station â the "problem" often disappears. Tourist Police (1155) are a separate force specifically for tourist issues and are generally helpful and English-speaking. Save that number.
Generally less of an issue than in Vietnam or Cambodia but it exists. Keep valuables in your hotel safe. Don't flash expensive watches or jewellery in crowded areas. Pickpocketing on crowded BTS trains and at Chatuchak Market is reported. Phone snatching from motorbikes happens occasionally. Standard precautions apply â front pockets, crossbody bag, awareness of your surroundings.
The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan attracts 10,000-30,000 people and is wild. Injuries from fire shows, broken glass on the beach, drink spiking, theft and drug arrests are all common. Wear shoes (not thongs), keep your valuables at the hotel, don't accept drinks from strangers, and don't buy drugs â undercover police are everywhere. The hospital on Koh Phangan gets very busy on Full Moon nights. Have fun but keep your wits.
Get comprehensive travel insurance that covers motorbike accidents (with a valid IDP), medical evacuation, hospital stays and repatriation. Thai private hospitals are excellent but expensive â a night in Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok costs more than many Australian hospitals. Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad and Samitivej are world-class. Smartraveller registration is also a must. Do it before you leave.
Getting connected on arrival
Thailand has excellent mobile coverage and cheap data plans. Getting a SIM at the airport takes 10 minutes and is the first thing you should do after clearing immigration. You need it for Grab, Google Maps, LINE messaging and staying in touch with your partner. Don't leave the airport without one.
Thailand's biggest carrier with the best 4G/5G coverage nationwide, including islands and rural areas. Tourist SIM packages start from 299 THB for 8 days with 15GB of data, up to 599 THB for 30 days with 30GB+. Counters at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. AIS is the safest choice for coverage everywhere in Thailand. Their call centre has English-speaking staff.
The second-largest carrier, part of the True Corporation group. Strong coverage in urban areas and tourist destinations. Competitive tourist SIM packages. TrueMove's partnership with True WiFi gives you free hotspot access at thousands of locations. Tourist SIM with 30 days and 30GB costs about 599 THB. Good choice if you're staying mainly in Bangkok and major tourist areas.
DTAC and True merged in 2023. DTAC SIMs still work and their Happy Tourist SIM is popular at airports. 8-day packages from 299 THB, 30-day from 599 THB. Coverage is being consolidated with TrueMove. If you see DTAC counters at the airport, their tourist SIMs are fine. The merged network means coverage should only improve.
Airport arrivals halls at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket all have SIM card counters. Staff will install the SIM, register it with your passport and activate your chosen package. Takes about 10 minutes. Also available at any 7-Eleven, but airport counters are easier as staff speak English and handle everything. Some hotels also sell SIMs at the front desk.
Top up at 7-Eleven (just show your phone number), online through the carrier's app, or using top-up cards from shops. Data packages can be changed through the carrier's app or by dialling USSD codes. Most tourist SIMs come with enough data for your entire stay. If you run out, add-on packages are cheap â 1GB for 10-20 THB, or unlimited social media packages for 29-59 THB/week.
All Thai SIM cards must be registered with biometric data (fingerprint or facial recognition) under 2023 regulations. At airport counters, they'll scan your passport and take a photo â done in 2 minutes. Unregistered SIMs will be deactivated. If buying from 7-Eleven, make sure the registration is completed properly at the time of purchase. Keep your receipt.
Free WiFi is common in malls, cafes, hotels and restaurants. True WiFi and AIS WiFi hotspots are widespread. Bangkok's BTS stations have free WiFi (spotty but usable). Most accommodation, from hostels to 5-star hotels, has free WiFi. Speeds in Thailand are generally good â the country has excellent internet infrastructure. Still, don't rely on WiFi for navigation or Grab â always have mobile data.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy a Thailand eSIM before you leave. Airalo, Nomad and Holafly offer Thai data eSIMs from AUD $5-15. Activate before you board and have data the moment you land. Perfect as a backup while you sort a physical SIM. AIS also sells eSIMs directly through their website for tourist packages. No physical card swapping needed.
LINE is Thailand's dominant messaging app â not WhatsApp, not Telegram, not iMessage. Everyone uses it: your girlfriend, taxi drivers, restaurants for bookings, even government services. Download it and register with your Thai number. LINE stickers are a cultural phenomenon â Thais express emotions through stickers more than words. If your partner is Thai, you're going to spend a LOT of time on LINE. Get used to it.
International calls through your SIM are expensive. Use LINE, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger for voice and video calls over data â it's free. If you need to call an Australian landline (banks, government), Skype credit is the cheapest option. WiFi calling through your Australian carrier may also work if your plan supports it. Check with your Aussie telco before you leave.
Where to find a cold beer, some footy, and fellow Aussies
Thailand has the largest Australian expat community in Southeast Asia. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya all have well-established Aussie scenes with pubs showing the footy, clubs running social events, and places where you can get a meat pie and a flat white. Here's where to find your people.
Located on Sukhumvit Soi 11, this is the most famous Aussie pub in Bangkok. AFL, NRL, cricket and rugby on multiple screens. Australian beers and pub grub. Meat pies, fish and chips, and proper coffee. Regular events for State of Origin, AFL Grand Final and Ashes. The go-to spot for homesick Aussies in Bangkok. Open late, air-conditioned, and staffed by people who know what "schooner" means.
Despite the name, it's packed with Australians. Located near Asoke BTS. Every sport you can think of on screens everywhere. Good pub food and competitive beer prices. The vibe is casual and welcoming â walk in alone and you'll be chatting to someone within 10 minutes. Regular quiz nights and social events. One of the best sports-watching venues in Bangkok.
Chiang Mai has a huge expat community, including plenty of Aussies, especially retirees and digital nomads. The Night Bazaar area and Nimman (Nimmanhaemin Road) are the main hangout zones. UN Irish Pub and several sports bars show Australian sport. The Chiang Mai Expats Club organises regular meetups, breakfasts and social events. Chiang Mai's lower cost of living and cooler climate make it popular with long-termers.
Pattaya has a massive Aussie expat community, particularly older men. The area around Soi Buakhao and Soi Lengkee has Aussie-run bars, restaurants and social clubs. Aussie-themed bars with meat pies, Bundaberg Rum and NRL on the screens. The Australian-New Zealand Social Association (ANZA) runs regular events. Pattaya is polarising â some love it, some hate it â but the Aussie community is undeniable.
Patong has several Aussie-friendly sports bars along the main beach road and Bangla Road area. Kangaroo Bar is self-explanatory. The Phuket Gazette and expat forums list events. Outside Patong, Rawai and Chalong have quieter Aussie-run restaurants and bars popular with long-term residents. Sunday sessions by the pool with cold beers are a thing here. The Phuket expat community skews slightly older and more settled.
Samui has a smaller but loyal Aussie expat community. Chaweng and Bophut (Fisherman's Village) have expat bars showing sport. The island's more relaxed pace appeals to those who find Bangkok too hectic. Several Aussie-run businesses â cafes, dive shops, fitness centres. The Samui expat groups on Facebook are active and welcoming. It's a smaller pond but that means you get to know people quickly.
A beach town 3 hours south of Bangkok, popular with retirees (both Thai and foreign). The Australian presence is growing. Several Western restaurants and bars along the main road and beach area. Quieter and more family-oriented than Pattaya. The Hua Hin Expat Group organises golf days, social lunches and community events. If you want the beach lifestyle without the Pattaya chaos, Hua Hin is your spot.
The Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) is the main business networking organisation. Regular events, seminars and social gatherings. Primarily aimed at professionals and business owners but open to anyone. Great for making connections if you're thinking about doing business in Thailand. Anzac Day events organised through the Australian Embassy are the biggest annual community gathering.
Golf is massive among Aussie expats in Thailand. Green fees are a fraction of Australian prices â 800-2,000 THB at decent courses, less than half of what you'd pay back home. Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin all have excellent courses. Social golf groups are one of the best ways to meet other Aussies. If you play, join a local golf group â you'll make mates for life over 18 holes.
Facebook groups are the hub: "Australians in Thailand," "Bangkok Expats," "Chiang Mai Expats," "Pattaya Expats" â there's a group for every city and interest. Reddit's r/Thailand is active. Thai Visa Forum (now Aseannow.com) has been the go-to expat forum for 20+ years. And naturally, Passport Mates is built for exactly this â connecting Aussie blokes who are navigating life in Asia.