17 things I wish I knew before I travelled to Thailand, these are some must-know tips for Thailand to help you not make any mistakes and to feel comfortable travelling the country.
Travel Insurance – https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=joel&utm_source=joel&utm_medium=Ambassador
Elephant Sanctuary Tour – https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/chiang-mai-l271/chang-mai-elephant-care-program-at-elephant-retirement-park-t154758/?partner_id=CDNOMEC&cmp=ElephantTour
Universal Travel Adapter – https://amzn.to/3qHOVXc
Joel’s Socials
Instagram: @joelfriendy (www.instagram/joelfriendy)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/joelfriendtravel
TikTok: @joelfriendy (www.tiktok.com/@joelfriendy?lang=en)
Twitter: @joelfriendy
Website: www.joelfriendy.com
Emilia’s Socials
Instagram: @emiliabeattie (www.instagram/emiliabeattie)
TikTok: @emiliabeattie (https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliabeattie)
YouTube – @Emilia Beattie
Best Travel card – https://revolut.com/referral/joelg5nz
SUPPORT US! 💸
Paypal – https://www.paypal.me/joelfriendy?locale.x=en_GB
My Travel Insurance – https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=joel&utm_source=joel&utm_medium=Ambassador
Worldpackers – https://www.worldpackers.com/promo/JOEL?utm_campaign=JOEL&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=affiliate (DISCOUNT CODE = JOEL)
All the Products I use – https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/joelfriendy
10% OFF Scuba Diving Course (Koh Tao) – https://blog5.groovesell.com/a/pPHeEYue354l –
KIT LIST
Filtered Water Bottle – https://amzn.to/33XnbWX
My map on my wall – https://amzn.to/3nI67uB
My Backpack – https://amzn.to/33BAoUV *THIS IS THE BEST
My Drone – https://amzn.to/3D2aJEe
My camera – https://amzn.to/3FKm8GH
My Wide Angle lens – https://amzn.to/3GJTnez
My all-around lens – https://amzn.to/3AmjRQL
My super-long lens – https://amzn.to/3FKxMkP
My Vlogging Camera – https://amzn.to/3Bdy6t3
My microphone – https://amzn.to/3tHwLHH
My phone stabiliser – https://amzn.to/3tGes5K
My 360 Camera – https://amzn.to/33M6woG
My waterproof bag – https://amzn.to/3tE9WVq
My Music – https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/b6mplx
The links above are affiliate links and may give me a small amount of money if you decide to purchase anything after clicking these links.
0:00 – The beautiful country of Thailand
0:27 – Visa & Visa extension
1:00 – Thai food!
1:21 – Renting Scooters
1:51 – Finding accommodation
2:02 – Full Moon Party
2:45 – When to go?
3:27 – Scams
4:02 – SIM card
4:20 – Thailand Itinerary
6:03 – Budget for Thailand
7:10 – How to get around?
7:43 – Thailand’s HIDDEN GEM!
8:46 – QUICK FIRE FACTS
9:18 – Where to see Elephants?
9:53 – Bangkok Belly
45 Comments
Clueless
I'm booked for this April 30th are the people as friendly as mentioned? Like would my host and such be able to help me coordinate my next moves? I booked an air BNB for my first couple nights in Bangkok but my bigger plan is to go to phiphi islands
You were very informative thank you young Sir.
Creepy man with Camera
Actually, I don’t recommend riding a moped, as the Thais drive extremely recklessly. A lot of people dont obey traffic law. Full Moon is such a tourist trap and actually very dangerous. Thailand also actually have winter. Where I live it went down to 10 degrees Celsius the past winter, in the North East NOT the North (a completely different region). Chiang Mai usually have the shitest air and the worst pollution. Traffic is also usually awful.
PS. Thai people are actually not nice, and yes, they are after your money. Behind the smile, they’re thinking about how to bag some cash from you. I genuinely can’t think of that many good qualities of the Thais. You guys have NO BLOODY IDEA.
But nice of you to do this vid nonetheless mate.
Will you be my Friend? ❤❤
Keep it up mate.
can i use grab from airport to Kata?
Thank you so much for your this video ❤
good video thanks. What was the name of the SIM card you said you bought, that gave you unlimited data for about GBP14? Thanks
157208
Thank you for recommending 👍
Awesome! Thanks!
How to get local driving license without international driving license?
Thank you
The 30 days is not a visa, it is just a stamp that allows you to stay 30 days in the country.
Visa on arrival is 15 days, and only 17 countries can apply.
If you wear a helmet and carry an IPD, you won't get any fines.
Never rent a bike if you don't have a motorbike license. Your insurance won't cover any accidents and it's getting boring to watch all the retards creating GoFundMe pages to pay their hospital bills.
Where do I get the visa?
i dont know for the last 10 years im visiting thailand and i need only travel insurance and usd.
18. leave your wife at home 😏
we just booked our one month trip with our 10 year old…and i cant wait!!!
Am going to Phuket soon so searching for all the advice I can get! I'd love to hire a scooter while there but heard from others that you need a motorcycle licence not just car. Anyone know where I can confirm this?
If you're a drunk woke college kid go to the Full Moon party. If you traveled all the way to the other side of the planet to get from away these snotty snowflakes skip it.
How do you find the travel agencies in Thailand?
Re scooter.. you can rent with a driver's licence but if you are not a licensed motorbike rider and you have an accident your travel insurance is not valid.
Thai people are not that fickle.
Anthony Bourdain said Thai food was overall the best in his travels.
Thailand has 2 seasons:
1) Hot
2) Super hot with rain
what exactly is a scam about police fining u if u dont wear a helmet or drive without a license ?!🙄
Such a helpful breakdown for a first time visitor planning my trip in a few months
I thought uk citizens don't need a visa?
I've never had any problem with food poisoning in Thailand, especially with cucumbe and stuff like that. By the way, tap water in Thailand is 100 % safe to clean stuff.
Dont drink the buckets.
All touristic destinations have similar drinks.
Basically they mix the cheapest alcohol they can get and charge you 10 times the price, which is still cheap, but the things you're drinking is not even qualified as "drink" in my opinion…
Yes it's alcohol and yes it will get you drunk for basically nothing but it gives you the most terrible hangovers and the effects on your health are not worth it, especially in a cheap country like Thailand…
Just get a whiskey or something..
The police pulling you over for not having a helmet or license is not a scam, it's the law. Abide by the law and you will be fine
Bad advice to ride motorcycle in Thailand. #1 most dangerous roads in the world. #1 cause of death on Thailand roads is riding motorcycles. Don't do it. Don't even think about it. The money you save isn't worth your life or having a major accident and then being taken to a PRIVATE (expensive) hospital when you're unconcious and then waking up to a $3000 USD hospital bill which YOU MUST PAY before you leave the hospital or they will call the police. Don't ride motorcycles. Not as a driver, not as a passenger. Period.
Can you tell me the name of the SIM card you bought with unlimited data?
Great tips 🎉
One thing I would also mention for new travelers is: Bring cash with you. The ATMs will charge you extra fees and just bringing cash and converting your cash at their change offices (believe me, there are plenty available, almost similar to 7 elevens) will be a very cheap way for you to obtain their local currency Baht. I wish I knew this before traveling there and I almost got stuck there without any money as my creditcard got blocked due to a minor technical issue (which I was later able to fix).
Koh phi phi , bamboo island is stunning
Do you need a motorcycle driver‘s license to rent a scooter? Or just the normal one (+international)? 😊
I live in Phuket and the cops stopping you for not wearing helmets is not a scam, Under Thai traffic law you must have a Thai riding license and the cops can refuse to accept international ones, We have so many young tourists the same as yourself and your girlfriends that are seriously injured or killed because they have either never ridden or have very little experience on motorbikes before they come here, Good Helmets protective clothing and 1st class riding Insurance are essential if Biking in Thailand and the only way you can become insured here is with a full Thai Riding licence and if you do have an accident here on a rental scooter and your fault you could suffer massive compensation claims……..My advice to all you guys is keep well of of Scooters when you visit unless you have a Thai riding license comprehensive Thai insurance and fully understand the rules of the road here,ps I worked for the Thai Tourist Police here involved with sorting out foreigners involved here on Scooter. accidents……..Hoping you will amend your comments accordingly and educate the dangers of novice riders coming here and renting bikes.
Re food poisoning.
I've the constitution of a bear and can eat pretty much anything without issue but even I have been struck down with food poisoning two or three times (in just over two decades – so not bad).
Each time, I had no forewarning at all – it just hit me like a hammer to the head (or a knife to the guts, to be accurate). Once whilst in a bar and once when just walking around town (no problems as there were toilets close to hand) but once while on the Bangkok Skytrain (and around 6 stops away from my destination).
Luckily, I ALWAYS carry half a dozen "Imodium" tablets with me and every day I also make sure I have a good wad of toilet tissue in one of my pockets (so often you'll find there's no loo roll in a Thai toilet as you're expected to use a bucket of water).
Ignore the Imodium instructions and just take two as soon as you know you've been hit and another around half an hour later. That has the effect of sending in Mike Tyson to sort out the nasties causing you so much grief.
1) Imodium
2) Loo roll
Go NOWHERE without them (especially the Imodium cuz, if push comes to shove, you can always use a bucket of water but you can't always find Imodium at 2am).
Good to go.
Riding elephants hurts you but eating slaughtered animals don’t, just think about it
Very helpful. Where can i get a sim card?
Hey! Do you know if I could find a certified private tour guide around Bangkok?
Just to let you know about the visa extensions after the 45/30 day visa exemption.
Immigration offices have different rules.
I have never had to show onward travel, but had to show TM30 ( proof of residence address )
So just make sure your viewers take more than needed so they are not rejected in any way 🙂
You know if you crash (or damage) the scooter and you don’t have an IPD then the people insurance you rented from won’t cover them because that’s a requirement and obviously the insurance won’t wanna pay out in anyway they can