Thailand

Written By Alex Hall

Thailand has been a December habit for me. I went in 2023, 2024 and 2025, covering Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Ao Nang in Krabi and Pattaya. It is cheap, easy and full of places to base a month.

What I did

  • Stayed in a beachfront bungalow on Koh Phi Phi in December 2023, after arriving in Phuket.

  • Spent three separate stays in Bangkok across 2024 and 2025.

  • Spent four days on Koh Samui in a private pool villa near Samrong Beach in December 2024.

  • Spent Christmas 2024 in Ao Nang, Krabi, in a jungle bungalow back from the beach.

  • Spent a few beach days in Pattaya in December 2025.

  • Went to Wonderfruit, the arts and music festival near Pattaya, during that December 2025 trip.

Where to stay

  • Rama 9 and Huai Khwang, Bangkok: newer high-rises and the Jodd Fairs night market, with fewer tourists.

  • Sukhumvit Soi 26, Bangkok: upscale, near Phrom Phong and its malls.

  • Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok: rooftop bars and street food, with easy BTS access. I stayed at Travelodge Sukhumvit 11.

  • Choeng Mon and Samrong, Koh Samui: a quiet corner near the airport, good for villas and calm water.

  • Ao Nang, Krabi: limestone cliffs and long-tail boats to Railay. Staying back from the beach means more jungle and less noise.

  • Koh Phi Phi Don: a car-free island with bars and dive shops.

Where I stayed

Getting there and around

  • Bangkok airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) has the Airport Rail Link into Phaya Thai. Don Mueang (DMK) is the low-cost hub with the SRT Red Line. Leave a big buffer if you connect between them.

  • In Bangkok: the BTS Skytrain and MRT beat traffic. Grab and Bolt cover the rest.

  • Islands: ferries and speedboats link Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi. Koh Samui's airport is small and open-air, and Bangkok Airways dominates, so book early.

  • Between regions: short domestic flights from Bangkok reach Samui, Krabi and Phuket.

  • Phuket: the airport is far north, about 45 to 60 minutes from Patong.

What to eat

  • Pad kra pao, holy basil stir-fry with a fried egg, the best cheap lunch.

  • Tom yum goong and tom kha gai.

  • Som tam with grilled chicken and sticky rice.

  • Massaman and green curry. Southern curries are spicier.

  • Mango sticky rice from a street cart.

  • Grilled seafood on the beach.

What to drink

  • Beer: Chang, Singha and Leo. Ice in the glass is normal, and buckets are a Phi Phi tradition.

  • Cocktails: Bangkok's rooftop bars, including the ones around Sukhumvit Soi 11, are some of the best in Asia for skyline views. Beach bars on the islands serve fruit shakes and mojitos at sunset.

  • Spirits: Thai rum such as SangSom and Mekhong, usually mixed with soda and a splash of cola or energy drink.

  • Wine: Thailand makes wine too. Khao Yai, a few hours from Bangkok, has vineyards and tasting rooms for a day trip.

  • Non-alcoholic: Thai iced tea, fresh coconuts and coconut shakes, which are great in the heat.

Don't miss

  • Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok.

  • The Phi Phi Viewpoint at sunrise, and Maya Bay by early boat.

  • Railay and the 4 Islands tour from Ao Nang.

  • Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island.

  • Jodd Fairs or Chatuchak Weekend Market.

  • Ang Thong National Marine Park from Koh Samui.

Day trips and side trips

  • Ayutthaya or the Maeklong railway market from Bangkok.

  • Phang Nga Bay from Phuket or Krabi.

  • The 4 Islands tour from Ao Nang.

  • Ang Thong National Marine Park from Samui.

  • Koh Larn by ferry from Pattaya.

Festivals and events

  • Songkran: countrywide, mid-April. The Thai New Year water festival, and the biggest street party of the year.

  • Loy Krathong: countrywide, usually in November. Floating lanterns and baskets on rivers and lakes.

  • Yi Peng: Chiang Mai, usually in November. Thousands of sky lanterns.

  • Chinese New Year: Yaowarat in Bangkok, usually in January or February. Street food, lion dances and lights.

  • Vegetarian Festival: Phuket, usually in September or October. Street processions and vegetarian food stalls.

  • Wonderfruit: near Pattaya, usually in December. An arts, music and sustainability festival. I went in December 2025.

  • Full Moon Party: Koh Phangan, monthly on the full moon. The famous beach party.

Music and dance

  • Mor lam and luk thung: folk styles from Isan and the countryside, heard at festivals and local fairs.

  • Thai pop and indie: heard in Bangkok bars and venues around Ari and Thonglor.

  • Electronic: Bangkok and the islands have a big DJ scene, from rooftop house sets to full beach parties.

  • Traditional: classical Thai music and dance shows, at cultural venues in Bangkok.

  • Dance: classical Thai dance, with masks, gold costumes and slow, precise hand movements, is staged at cultural venues in Bangkok. For a night out, the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan and Bangkok's clubs are where people dance.

Photography spots

  • Wat Arun at sunset from the Tha Tien side in Bangkok.

  • Yaowarat Chinatown neon at night.

  • Phi Phi Viewpoint at sunrise for the twin bays.

  • Railay's limestone cliffs at golden hour, and long-tails on Ao Nang beach at sunset.

  • Drones: register with CAAT and NBTC first, and many parks and temples ban them.

My experience

Thailand is easy to love. The islands are beautiful, Bangkok is huge and fun, and everything is simple to book on the fly. I liked the pool villa on Samui and the quiet jungle bungalow in Ao Nang best, and Wonderfruit near Pattaya was a highlight of December 2025. I would recommend it to anyone, especially first-time visitors to Asia.

Cost of living

  • Overall: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket: $ to $$, about 65% cheaper than New York. Koh Samui and Phuket resort areas run higher.

  • Coffee: about $2.50

  • Local lunch: about $3 to $5

  • Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $40

  • Beer or cocktail: about $2 / $6

  • Ride across town: about $4

  • Mid-range hotel: about $55 a night

  • Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $700 a month in Bangkok's Ari or Thonglor, $450 in Chiang Mai's Nimman, $800 in Phuket's Rawai

  • Daily budget: about $40 budget, $100 comfortable, $250+ luxury in Bangkok; Chiang Mai is about 20% less

Thailand is one of the best value places in the world for a long stay. Street food and massages cost very little, while island resorts and imported goods cost more. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.

Working remotely

  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is generally reliable, often 100 Mbps or more in Bangkok condos and cafes. Island speeds vary and storms can cause short outages.

  • Coworking and cafes: Bangkok is my base, with The Hive, True Digital Park and Glowfish. Chiang Mai is the classic nomad hub with the biggest community, cafes in Nimman and coworking such as CAMP and Punspace. Phuket suits beach life with smaller hubs in Rawai and Chalong.

  • Time zone: UTC+7, 11 hours ahead of US Eastern (12 hours when the US is on standard time).

  • Visa for longer stays: US citizens usually get 60 days visa-free, extendable once. Thailand offers the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers and a long stay option. Check current rules.

  • Nomad rating: 5 out of 5, cheap, easy, great food and a huge community, which is why I keep returning to Bangkok.

Good to know

  • Language: Thai. English is common in tourist areas, less so elsewhere.

  • Currency: Thai baht. ATMs charge a flat fee per foreign withdrawal, so take out larger amounts.

  • Plugs: mixed sockets that take Type A, B, C and O, 220V. Most US plugs fit.

  • Entry for US citizens: visa-free for tourist stays, plus the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before you land. Check current rules before you fly.

  • Best time to visit: November to February is cool and dry in Bangkok and on the Andaman side. Koh Samui gets its rain later in the year.

  • Getting around: Grab and Bolt, the BTS and MRT in Bangkok, and domestic flights.

  • Tipping: not expected but appreciated. Round up, and many restaurants add a service charge.

  • SIM/eSIM: AIS, TrueMove H and DTAC sell tourist SIMs at the airport, or use an eSIM.

  • Apps: Grab and Bolt for rides, and LINE MAN and GrabFood for delivery.

  • Water: drink bottled water, not tap.

Useful phrases

  • Hello: Sawasdee krap (said by men) or sawasdee ka (said by women)

  • Thank you: Khop khun krap or ka

  • Please: Karuna

  • How much?: Tao rai?

  • The check please: Check bin

Nightlife

Thailand has some of the most famous nightlife in the world, from rooftop bars in Bangkok to beach parties on the islands. It is loud, cheap and social, and far more freewheeling than an American night out.

  • When people go out: Bars start around 8 and clubs peak after midnight. Most areas officially close around 2, though some places run later. Friday and Saturday are the biggest nights, and beach parties follow their own schedule.

  • Where the action is: In Bangkok, Thonglor and Ekkamai have the best bars and clubs, RCA is the club strip and Khao San Road is the backpacker street. In Phuket, Patong's Bangla Road is the loud strip, while Kata and Old Town are calmer. Chaweng on Koh Samui has beach clubs, and Koh Phi Phi has beach fire shows.

  • The music: EDM, house and hip hop in the clubs, Thai pop and live covers in the bars, and chilled sets at the rooftops.

  • Must-visit: A Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan is the iconic beach night, so plan your island dates around the lunar calendar. Sky Bar at Lebua is the classic Bangkok skyline stop.

  • Good to know: Bars rarely charge a cover and beer is cheap, while rooftop cocktails cost far more. Rooftop bars enforce a dress code, usually no flip-flops, shorts or sleeveless tops. Use the meter or Grab and Bolt for rides, avoid anyone steering you into a bar for a show, and watch your drink.

Meeting people

  • Social scene: Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket all have easy social scenes. Coworking spaces, Muay Thai gyms, beach bars and dive shops are where people get talking. Hostels on the islands are the easiest way to join a group.

  • Apps: Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are widely used. Facebook groups, Meetup and WhatsApp or LINE nomad groups cover most social plans.

  • Etiquette: The wai, a small bow with palms together, is the polite greeting, and a smile goes a long way. Be punctual for business, a little flexible socially. Plans are often made on LINE or WhatsApp. Bill splitting is common.

  • Stay smart: Meet in public, watch your drink and be wary of bar scams in tourist areas of Bangkok, such as inflated tabs and strangers who steer you to a venue.

Staying safe

  • Generally safe. Watch for the Grand Palace is closed scam, gem scams and jet ski damage scams on beaches.

  • Boat safety varies, so wear the life jacket.

  • Do not insult the monarchy. It is a serious crime.

Alex Hall
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