Two coasts with opposite seasons, a capital, the mountains of the north. Compare the destinations honestly, then book the stay, the airport transfer and the experiences that fit your dates.
November to April: the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta). May to October: usually the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao). Hua Hin works all year.
Who each destination suits, how it feels and how you get around. Every page compares the areas and lists places to book.
More destinations: Koh Phangan · Koh Tao · Koh Lanta · Hua Hin · Ayutthaya · Compare all 11 destinations
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What to decide, what to book and what to have ready, with the entry rules in force since 15 September 2026.
Sources: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT News), Thailand Digital Arrival Card (official site), SRT Red Line, UK government travel advice, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Buttons with an arrow are booking links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Paradise is a real place. It just needs a good map.
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Temples, canals, food and day trips that start from the capital.
Browse experiencesA car from the airport into Bangkok, useful for a night arrival or a family.
Book a transferThe island has no train and the beaches are far from the terminal.
Book a transferTemples, islands, markets and mountains: what deserves your time and what to skip.
Read the guideLocal places we like, from a Muay Thai camp to a beach club: see the list.
Built from the same research as this site. Every legal and climate figure carries its official source.
As of 16 September 2026, travellers from 60 countries and territories, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany, can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism and stay up to 30 days. This 30-day exemption replaced the former 60-day one on 15 September 2026. You still need a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), and for a longer stay you should apply for a visa on the official e-Visa portal before flying.
Yes: every non-Thai national entering Thailand by air, land or sea must submit a TDAC on the Immigration Bureau's site, tdac.immigration.go.th, whatever their visa or exemption. It can be filed within the three days before arrival, including the arrival date, takes about three to five minutes, and a new card is needed for every entry. A June 2026 TAT notice says the pilot THIM immigration app does not replace the TDAC.
In December, pick the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak), which is at its best from roughly November to April while the Gulf islands take their main rain. In July, the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) are usually the safer bet, because the Andaman side is in its southwest monsoon from May to October, with rough seas and red-flag beaches. Hua Hin, drivable from Bangkok, works year-round.
It is best not to drink tap water in Thailand: Spain's foreign ministry recommends bottled, filtered or otherwise treated water, and advises washing produce with water and a disinfectant or peeling it. Sealed bottled water is sold widely, including in convenience stores. If you have a sensitive stomach, also use bottled water to brush your teeth during the first days of the trip.
All 59 answers, with their official sources
Researched and drafted with the help of AI tools, then checked and edited by the Thailand Compass editorial team. Publication director: the legal representative of Avrankou OÜ.
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11 destinations compared honestly, then the stays, transfers and experiences that fit each one.
Bangkok · Chiang Mai · Phuket · Krabi · Koh Samui
