Thailand for the First Time: What You Need to Know From an Expat
Please note: this Asia travel blog uses affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase or a booking I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see my ethical publishing statement and my full affiliate disclosure.
What to expect when visiting Thailand for the first time! It can be like a gut punch. I remember, landing in Bangkok, exhausted, sweaty, jetlagged in the middle of the hottest month (April – don’t do it!). I was only 22, staying in a crap hostel in Chinatown somewhere and was so overwhelmed by the heat, the traffic, the smells. Fast forward a year later, I moved to this crazy city and have been living here for 8 years now and loving it!
Below are all the important things I think first time visitors to Thailand need to know. I share these with friends and family before they visited and they help keep you calm and get you prepared for an amazing trip that may involve some culture shock and things feeling very different from home!
1. Have Patience: Things Move Differently in Thailand
The most important tip for first time travel to Thailand is to be patient. Many things in Thailand happen slowly, trains are delayed, minivans stop and start to pick people up, service in restaurants is slow. Patience is a must and to understand that things happen very differently here to your country. If you have an open mind and see things with a sense of humour then it goes a long way to making the most of your first trip to Thailand.

2. Thai Food, Street Food & What’s Safe to Eat
For many visitors, eating is one of the best things about visiting Thailand. From street food to sky bars to beach restaurants, Thailand offers an amazing array of local and international food.
However, some people visiting Thailand for the first time are concerned about getting sick from food that they don’t normally eat. Much of the street food in Thailand is cooked fresh straight in front of you and it is rare to get sick from street food.
Ice cubes in drinks can be a source that visitors might get sick from, so avoid ice in your drink if you have a sensitive stomach. Ice from restaurants and hotels will be fine to drink.
If you are prone to getting sick from food then avoid any buffet style food where food sits out for a long time and only eat freshly cooked food. There are many vegan and vegetarian options in Thailand nowadays and always say ‘mai sai nam plaa’ to ask for your dish without fish sauce which is everywhere usually. I’m vegetarian and wrote this whole post here about being veggie in Thailand!
3. Drinking Water in Thailand: What’s Safe and What’s Not
Very few people in Thailand drink the tap water so avoid doing so. It is fine to brush your teeth or wash your face with it but do not drink it. Instead refill your bottle where possible and use the machines on the street to fill up reusable bottles.
Increasingly, hotels and hostels are now offering refills for their guests. Unfortunately Thailand still uses a lot of plastic but there are things we can do as visitors to avoid plastic usage as much as possible.
4. Healthcare & Travel Insurance in Thailand
Thailand has fantastic private medical care. The hospitals in Bangkok are excellent, customer orientated and many visitors come to Bangkok for medical tourism purposes. Make sure you have travel insurance to cover you as the private hospitals are not cheap. I have healthcare with my job (I’m a teacher here in Bangkok) but my American partner always uses and recommends Safetywing.
5. Wildlife in Thailand: What to Expect (and Avoid)
From mosquitos to street dogs to the jungles, Thailand is home to a lot of wildlife, much that you may not be used to in your home country. In terms of pests, you can expect to deal with mosquitos, cockroaches and the occasional leech when visiting the jungle.
Use mosquito repellent and cover up in the evenings or when jungle trekking. Street dogs in Thailand are not known for being aggressive and it is highly unusual for any attacks to happen. Many simply hang out in the street, waiting for someone to feed them (consider buying them a treat from 711!).
In the jungles and underwater, Thailand has so many wonderful creatures from monkeys and gibbons and wild elephants, to whale sharks, turtles and healthy coral.
Here is more about the amazing wildlife in Thailand that you can experience while here, from pink dolphins to whale watching boat trips in Thailand. People traveling to Thailand for the first time are often concerned with monkeys and if they are aggressive.
While it is very rare for monkeys in national parks to come close, some macaques that are used to humans and being fed by them can become more curious. Make sure you have sealed bags and remove sunglasses and caps from the top of your head when approaching them.
It is best to avoid feeding any wildlife in Thailand. Be wary of any experiences where you can touch tigers, ride elephants or have a photo with a baby gibbon or monkey – all of the above is animal abuse so avoid. Here are more things to avoid doing in Thailand.

6. Understanding Thailand’s Weather
Thailand has two seasons, dry and rainy. Dry season is from November-March, rainy season from May-October and April is the hottest month in Thailand. That said, it can occasionally rain during dry season and in recent years the seasons have become more intertwined and difficult to predict.
7. Tipping in Thailand: What’s Normal?
Visitors to Thailand for the first time often have questions regarding tipping and service. In Thai culture it is not common to leave a tip. However, as much of the tourist industry has been heavily affected by the pandemic tipping is always welcome. I always tip for taxis and restaurants.
It is also important to note that salaries can be very low in Thailand with minimum wage at just 300 baht a day so a tip goes a long way. Usually 20-50 baht for short taxi journeys or in restaurants and around 100-200 in massage parlours but of course this depends on the individual.
8. Vaping, Smoking & Cannabis Laws in Thailand
There are many questions nowadays about smoking and vaping in Thailand. As of the time of writing, smoking cannabis is legal and you can find it everywhere in the streets and on the islands.
Vaping, however, is illegal and you can be fined. Many people do vape and you can buy it here but please note it is illegal to do so.
9. What to Wear in Thailand (Temples, Bars & Beaches)
Thailand is a hot, humid and tropical country with two seasons, wet and dry. Bring lightweight clothes. You can wear what you want most places. For visiting Buddhist temples, both men and women must cover their shoulders and usually shorts/skirts that go down to the knees.
Some temples will lend sarongs and scarves. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is the strictest on clothing. If you wish to visit a fancy sky bar in Bangkok (and you should for the views!) then flipflops and shoes without backs are usually not permitted. Aim for sandals with backs that go around the ankles. Shorts are usually accepted but check beforehand for the dress code of the individual rooftop bar or restaurant. Here’s more information on what to pack for Thailand.
10. Renting a Motorbike in Thailand: What You Need to Know
Please note renting and driving a motorbike, while many visitors do this, is only legal with an international driving license. A driving license only from your home country is not accepted by the Thai police and if they decide to stop you then are likely to receive a fine.
Final Thoughts from an Expat
Keep your expectations and curiosity high and you’re going to have an amazing time. I’ve been helping visitors explore Thailand for many years now and have so many free resources for you! First time visitors should also check out planning a Thailand trip for beginners and Thailand FAQS as well as the below posts.
Want more Thailand travel resources?
- Help planning your trip to Thailand
- What to pack for Thailand
- Thailand Travel FAQs
- Thailand Itineraries – 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month
- Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries – The BEST one I go back to again and again
- Thailand Island Reviews: How to Pick a Thai Island
- Thailand for First Timers
- Thailand Hotel Reviews – My favourite ones shared with you
- Thailand dos and donts – how to be ethical and culturally aware in Thailand
- Best apps to download for Thailand
- Beginners Guide to Planning Your Thailand Trip
- All Thailand blog posts here