G’day. Captain Mark here. I came to Thailand for the first time over 20 years ago and I’ve been based in Phuket for all of them.
This is the briefing I’d give you if you asked me over a coffee before your first trip. Not the stuff that’s on the tourism board website. The things that actually make the difference.
Most visitors to Thailand from Western countries no longer need to sort a visa in advance. As of 2025, the visa exemption scheme covers travellers from over 90 countries, allowing stays of up to 60 days. Check whether your passport is on the list before you travel — the Thai immigration website has the current, authoritative answer and it’s worth verifying because the rules have changed several times in recent years.
If you’re planning to stay longer than 60 days or you want certainty before you travel, a tourist e-visa applied for in advance is straightforward and cheap.
Thai Baht. As of writing, the exchange rate sits roughly around 23 Baht to the Australian dollar, 31 to the US dollar, 44 to the British pound — but check current rates before you travel, these move around. Cash is still king in many parts of Thailand, particularly at markets, street food stalls, and smaller local businesses. ATMs are widely available but charge a flat fee per withdrawal (typically 200–250 Baht regardless of how much you take out), so take out larger amounts less frequently rather than small amounts constantly.
Card payments are widely accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and tourist-oriented businesses. Don’t rely on card only.
Within Phuket, Grab (the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber) works well and is significantly more reliable and honest about pricing than tuk tuks in the main tourist areas. Tuk tuks are fine for short hops but always agree on a price before you get in. Scooter rental is available everywhere and gives you real freedom — with the caveats about road safety I’ve mentioned elsewhere.
Between destinations — Phuket to Bangkok, Phuket to Chiang Mai — internal flights are cheap and frequent. Budget airlines like AirAsia and Thai Lion Air operate extensive domestic networks. A flight from Phuket to Bangkok takes about 90 minutes and costs less than a nice meal if you book in advance.
Thailand is hot. Obviously — you knew this. But the combination of heat and humidity in southern Thailand takes most first-timers slightly by surprise until they adjust. The practical effects: you’ll sweat more than you expect, you’ll drink more water than you think you need, and anything involving direct sun in the middle of the day is significantly more tiring than it looks. Schedule your more physically demanding activities for early morning or late afternoon. The magic hours in Thailand — the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset — are the best times to be outdoors in terms of both temperature and light.
Thai food in Thailand is better than Thai food anywhere else by a margin that will immediately become obvious. Street food is exceptional and inexpensive — a bowl of noodle soup at a market stall costs 50–80 Baht and is likely the best thing you’ll eat all day. The variety is extraordinary: curries, noodle dishes, grilled meats, fried rice, papaya salad, seafood, soups, dumplings, tropical fruit. Don’t limit yourself to tourist restaurants. The real food is at the markets and the local canteens.
Spice levels: Thai food at full local strength is genuinely spicy. Most places will tone it down for tourists if you ask — “mai pet” means “not spicy” and is worth knowing. If you want to try it properly, ask for “pet pet” and see what happens. You’ll probably survive.
Thailand is a deeply Buddhist country and this shapes daily life in ways that are visible everywhere — from the roadside spirit houses to the monks in orange robes at dawn to the reverence with which the monarchy is treated. First-timers sometimes underestimate how seriously cultural norms are taken.
Remove your shoes before entering a temple or someone’s home. Dress modestly at temples — shoulders and knees covered. Don’t touch anyone on the head (considered the most sacred part of the body in Thai culture). Don’t point your feet at people or sacred objects. Don’t raise your voice or make a scene in public — losing your temper is genuinely counter-productive in Thailand and marks you as someone who doesn’t understand where they are.
The Thai smile is real. The warmth and hospitality of Thai people, at its genuine best, is something most first-timers find disarming. Treat it with the same authenticity it’s offered with.
Traffic in Thailand, particularly in tourist areas, follows conventions that take some adjustment. The general principle seems to be that the road belongs to whoever is largest and most committed. Pedestrians do not have automatic right of way. Crossing a busy road requires patience, eye contact, and a willingness to move slowly and steadily rather than sprinting. Don’t be alarmed — it’s usually fine. Just don’t expect Thai traffic to behave like Australian or European traffic.
If Phuket is your base — and it’s a very good base for a first Thailand trip — a few things to know.
Get out on the water at least once. Preferably twice. The boat trips to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay are genuinely among the finest natural experiences in the region and they’re extremely accessible from Phuket. Don’t spend your whole trip on the beach and fly home without having seen the Andaman Sea properly.
Spend proper time in Old Town. Most visitors drive through it on the way somewhere else. This is a mistake. The Sino-Portuguese architecture, the food scene, the street art, the general character of the place — it deserves a half-day wander, ideally early morning.
Don’t try to see too much. Thailand is large, the country is endlessly interesting, and the FOMO is real. For a first trip of two weeks, pick two or three areas and do them properly. Phuket and Krabi for the south. Add Bangkok for the city experience if you want it. Chiang Mai for the north. Trying to cover all of Thailand in a single trip means covering none of it well.
For a more detailed guide to first-time Phuket specifically, our guide for first-time visitors to Phuket has you covered. And if you’re choosing between Phuket and Krabi, the Phuket vs Krabi comparison post lays it out honestly.
Welcome to Thailand. You’re going to love it.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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