Essential information

Family holidays take a lot of planning, especially when you’re travelling outside of Europe, and while booking with Rickshaw takes the stress out of booking a great family itinerary, you’ll still want to be prepared for all those little differences and details a new country will throw your way.

Read on for our advice on what to expect in Thailand, as well as practical tips to make sure you’re ready for your big family holiday.

Time zone: GMT+7

Language: Thai (official language) plus other local languages

Capital city: Bangkok

Population: 71.6 million (2021 estimate)

Main religion: Buddhism (92%)

Currency: Thai Baht (THB)

International dialling code: +66

Side of the road: Left

For most travellers, a Thailand holiday starts with a flight into the country’s main international airport, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). For UK families, direct flights operate from London airports most days with British Airways, EVA Air and Thai Airways. TUI also run scheduled flights to Phuket in the south from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester, but not daily.

Alternative routes will go via a hub airport in Europe (e.g. Paris or Amsterdam), the Middle East (e.g. Dubai or Qatar) or elsewhere in Asia (e.g. Singapore or Kuala Lumpur). These routes can sometimes save you money, and you can also choose to make use of the stopover to experience a new city for a night or two.

Unless you already have flights booked, your Rickshaw travel specialist will be happy to arrange your flight tickets on your behalf. Read more about the advantages of booking flights with Rickshaw here.

In keeping with its welcoming reputation, entry to Thailand is very straightforward for most nationalities, including UK citizens.

UK passport holders can enter Thailand without applying for a visa in advance, and you’ll be allowed to stay for up to 30 days. On arrival, each member of your family will need to present a valid passport with at least one blank page, as well as evidence of onward travel (e.g. your return flight ticket). The expiry date of your passport must be at least 6 months after your arrival.

You can always check the latest UK travel conditions on the FCO website. If you own a passport issued by another country, please check with your relevant embassy before travel.

The official currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). You will be able to pay for many things using a debit or credit card but you’ll also need cash for day-to-day expenses, tips etc.. You can exchange most major currencies at the airport and various other outlets. ATMs will also work fine for most international credit or debit cards, although fees may apply.

For more detail on money and costs, check our Thailand money guide.

A vital part of any family holiday is ensuring that everyone stays safe and avoids illness if possible – it can be a real downer if you have to miss out on fun stuff because you’re sat in a doctor’s office.

The good news is that health & safety standards are generally very good in Thailand tourism. That’s not to say there aren’t cowboy operators, and if you’re booking locally then it’s best to be a little wary. Look out for substandard equipment and check out the operator’s online reviews if possible. All of our tours and activities are rigorously checked and certified, with fully-trained guides and well-maintained equipment throughout.

Thailand is generally a safe country to travel in, especially for families. Crime involving tourists is, for the most part, limited to petty theft and scams. Never hand over your passport to non-officials (we suggest carrying a photocopy instead) and try to stick to ATMs located inside of banks. More violent crimes do happen but these often occur around busy bars or full moon parties, where drink spiking is an issue to be aware of.

Driving is Thailand is a very different experience to what you’re probably used to, and we don’t recommend or offer car or bike rental. It’s best to get around using official taxis wherever possible.

In terms of health, the medical services in Thailand are of a good standard and most common medicines are available from pharmacies. Of course, it’s always a good idea to take any specialist medicine you or your children need along with you (clearly labelled in case of airport checks).  Also, be aware that the sun can be strong here and there are bugs about too, so take some good sunscreen and repellent. We’d also recommend sticking to bottled drinking water and regularly washing hands.

Vaccination advice should only be taken from a doctor or travel nurse but Thailand is not considered high-risk for diseases. It is sensible to consult your doctor before travel, and the NHS Fit For Travel website has lots of useful information you can refer to. You may require a yellow fever certificate if you have recently travelled to certain destinations in Latin America and Africa.

In case of emergency, you’ll have a 24/7 telephone number for our local partners who can help and advise in almost any situation. In more extreme cases, 191 is the national emergency services number and you can speak to the dedicated Tourist Police on 1155 or (+66) 2308-0333. You can also reach the British Embassy on (+66) 2305-8333. Make sure you have good family travel insurance to cover any costs that arise.

P.S. We’d recommend making a couple of copies of your passport photo page before travelling – this will make things much easier if something happens to your actual passport.

Thai food is famous the world over and it’s one of our favourite things about travelling in Thailand. Even the most unassuming little eateries will serve dishes you’d pay a fortune for in the UK.

Your kids may well have sampled some Thai dishes at home, and most children will be perfectly happy with the local favourites like spring rolls, pad thai, curries and rice. If they’re going through a particularly fussy phase then more western options will be available on many menus, and in the main tourist areas you’ll find the usual KFCs, McDonalds etc..

If any of the family have allergies, we recommend creating a little card with the allergies translated into Thai. This way you can be clear and avoid any confusion at restaurants.

In terms of snacks for the kids, you’ll find the shops and supermarkets well stocked with many of the same brands you see at home, alongside some local favourites. There are also some great street food options if you’re feeling more adventurous. Fresh fruit is also widely available and absolutely delicious, just make sure you wash thoroughly or buy something with a peel.

Vegetarians and vegans will find Thailand to be a little slice of heaven pretty much any dish available meat-free. However, different countries have different understandings of what vegetarian/vegan means so be aware that ingredients like fish sauce are widely used. If you want to be sure, we recommend the Happy Cow app which lists many vegan restaurants across the world, including plenty in Thailand.

Thailand operates on a 220V voltage, which is similar to the UK’s 230V so you’re unlikely to need a voltage converter for most devices.

You will need a plug adaptor though, and we recommend taking one of the universal ones with multiple settings. Although you’ll mostly find the 2-flat-pin plug type A (same as the US) as well as plug type B, you’ll also come across European-style round-pin sockets (type C, F, O) so flexibility is key.

Internet is widely available and of a decent standard, although it may be slower in more rural areas. Almost everywhere you go will offer Wifi and be happy for you to log on.

Data roaming charges differ so you’ll need to check this with your phone provider. If needed, local SIM cards can be easily purchased at the airport and in most towns.

Thai is Thailand’s national language and its most widely spoken. Knowing a few words can be helpful and endear you to the locals, so we’d recommend getting phrasebook or using Google Translate. Having said that, many Thai people speak a very good level of English, especially the younger generations and those in popular tourist destinations, so you’ll get by fine even if you’re not much of a linguist.

Thailand is a majority Buddhist country and this has had a major influence on Thai culture and history. Other religions are widely accepted and also practice peacefully.

You’ll find most Thai people to be very welcoming and friendly – it’s called the “Land of Smiles” for a reason! A common greeting is the “wai”, which is bowing your head with hands together. If somebody greets you this way then it’s polite to reciprocate. Thai culture revolves largely around food, family and a healthy respect for your elders. You don’t need to worry too much about causing offence, but if you’ve got beef with the Thai Royal Family then it’d be best to keep that to yourself – you can get sent to jail for insulting them in public! Touching people on the head is also a big no-no, and public displays of affection are frowned upon whatever your orientation.