Coming to Thailand for the first time ever? If you or someone you know is not very experienced when it comes to travelling internationally, have no fear! This is a very thorough, step-by-step guide for anyone landing in Bangkok with the intention of travelling to, or relocating in Thailand.
Chances are that you will land at Suvarnabhumi airport, just outside of Bangkok. As flying to a new country can be intimidating, here’s exactly what to do and what to know about getting safely from your home country to your hotel in Thailand:
Step 1) Before Your Flight: Book a hotel, or at least pick a place to go when you land 
In Thailand, hotels and hostels almost always have vacancies and are generally very affordable. This makes it very simple to travel around Thailand spontaneously, without itinerary or a plan. It’s not even necessary to have a hotel booked when you arrive, however you should definitely know what area of Bangkok you want to head to.
The main areas that visitors come to first include:
- Sukhumvit – Located along the longest and busiest road in Bangkok are many budget, medium to high-end hotels. This is the central area for those who like to be in the heart of everything.
- Silom/Sathorn – Two adjacent areas that are a bit less tourist-oriented than other options. Many hotels located along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River offer tourists who have a bit more spending money a more relaxed atmosphere and more sophisticated accommodation, dining and night-life options.
- Khao San Road — Where backpackers go who are on a budget, want to meet other travellers, and/or party. Many inexpensive hostels are located here.
Remember that you don’t need to stay in the area you get your first hotel. Many choose to wander down Khao San Road to find accommodation on their first night and then will move on to another area of the city the following day. Taking a taxi to Khao San Road is very straightforward. Taxis will also know where the other areas are and will take you exactly where you need to go, so long as you have an address.
Step 2) Exiting the Airport Through Customs 
The flight attendant will pass a blank form out while you are on the plane that you will have to hand over to customs when you get off the plane. The form will require your passport information, the reason you are visiting Thailand and the address of where you will stay. Fill it out completely right away to get through the whole process faster.
Just follow the crowds going toward the exit signs and get in (the usually very long) line. Make sure to get in the correct line (either the line for Thai people, or the line for everyone else). This entire process, depending on how many people were on the plane, how quickly you exit the flight, and how busy the airport is at that time will take you anywhere between 15 minutes and two hours.
Step 3) Optional: Pick Up Your Luggage and Take Out Cash
If you haven’t checked any luggage and already have some Thai baht in hand, go ahead and skip to Step 4.
Checked luggage takes time to come out of the carousel. Here’s a tip: put a “Fragile” label on your suitcase so it rests on top of the other luggage and thus comes out first.
The first thing you should do when you land, before you leave the airport is to get some money. Because Thailand is very much a cash economy and you’ll need money to get to your hotel, withdraw some cash out of an ATM before you do anything else. We recommend taking out at least 5,000 THB, as foreign bank accounts usually charge hefty fees for withdrawal and exchange rates. You can take out more than 5,000, of course, but take out at least that so that the fees are worthwhile.
Step 4) Pick Up a SIM Card for Your Phone
Many people say that when they travel, they like to be cut off from the world. That’s great if you’re one of those people.
For everyone else who is used to (or just likes the comfort of) having the ability to call, text or even surf the web, you can find a local SIM card for sale at one of the airport’s several convenience stores. If you don’t see one right away, you can ask for 7-Eleven and someone will point you in the right direction.
Simply go to the counter and say to the person working, “Sim card, ka?” and point to your phone (pro tip: If you want to be polite, after every sentence say the word “ka” if you are female, or “krub” if you are male). A company called True Move usually sells one that’s labelled as a “tourist” card and will cost you 300 baht/$10. This will give you unlimited data, internet and calling for a week, which is plenty of time to figure out if you want to switch to another plan or continue “topping up” the SIM card with more credit. The card will come as a little booklet wrapped in plastic, and you just pop the SIM card out of the plastic and put it into your smart phone (turned off). Then when you turn it back on you should be able to start using cellular data, so make sure you have that turned on. Don’t lose the package, as it will have a couple of stickers with your new Thai phone number on it.
Step 5) Get To Your Hotel via Private or Public Transportation
When you’re all done with the airport, you can either take private or public transportation to your hotel.
If you want to take a taxi to the major areas mentioned in Step 1, you will most likely end up spending 300-600 baht ($10-$20). Just go to the taxi stand and tell the attendant your address. This is a regulated system so the driver will (almost) always turn on his meter. Check that it’s on once you get in the taxi, just to make sure.
If you want to take public transportation, you can do so for less than 100 baht ($3): much cheaper than a taxi (but only if it is before midnight. If it is past midnight, the skytrain systems will be closed). To take the skytrain, find the signs that point to the Airport Link/Skytrain and follow them until you get to the train system. Go to the attendant at the window and say what area you are going to in the city, and hand him or her one of your fresh bills you just got from the ATM. They will give you a token to get through the turnstiles as well as your change.
You should then take the Airport Link to the last stop called Phaya Thai (or get off earlier if you are staying along the Airport line), where you can make a transfer to Bangkok’s primary public transportation system, the BTS SkyTrain. Again, remember the train closes at midnight so if you don’t make the transfer, you’ll have to take a taxi.
If you do have to take a taxi, make 100% sure you only take a taxi with the meter turned on. Many foreigners get severely ripped off when the driver can sense you’re fresh meat without your bearings!
Step 6) Bonus Step: Start Looking Online for a House or Condo in Thailand!
Once you’ve made it to your hotel, take advantage of the abundant free Wi-Fi and start searching for the house or condo you will eventually move into. Many, many people come to Thailand on holiday and love it so much they end up never leaving! You might as well save yourself some time by planning ahead and checking out the amazing properties in Thailand for sale and rent, available on Thailand-Property.com.
