Visiting Thailand – Everything You Need to Know
Visiting Thailand – Everything You Need to Know
Thailand is an excellent destination for medical tourism, with so much to see and do following your trip. To help you plan your upcoming visit to Thailand, keep reading to discover everything you need to know about travelling to this country in South-East Asia.
Visa Procedures for Thailand
Always check the visa procedures based on your personal situation and where you are travelling from. For the majority of visitors to Thailand, you’ll use a Thailand tourist visa or a visa exemption to enter the country. For many visitors, you’ll enjoy the visa exemption benefit, which means you simply receive a stamp in your passport upon entry to Thailand. You don’t need to go to the Thai Embassy before your trip unless you are a citizen of another country that doesn’t have this option. You can stay up to 30 days at a time, but this can be extended by doing a visa run if necessary over the border. Before travelling, always check that you are able to use the visa exemption so you leave plenty of time to acquire a visa if needed.
Top 10 Must-Try Foods in Thailand
If you are visiting Thailand, you won’t want to miss out on some of the delicious cuisine on offer. These are a few of the foods you need to try during your next trip:
- Mango Sticky Rice
- Kway Teow – Noodle Soup
- Pad Woon Sen – Stir-Fried Glass Noodles
- Yum Nua – Beef Salad
- Tom Yum Goong – Spicy Shrimp Soup
- Som Tam – Spicy Green Papaya Salad
- Pad Thai
- Khao Pad – Fried Rice
- Panang Curry
- Kai Jeow – Thai Omelette
Top Places to Visit
Thailand is a diverse country to visit, with various cities and regions that offer beaches, mountains, and city centres to explore. These are a few of the destinations that are most popular with tourists, which you can receive medical treatment in or visit after.
- Bangkok – As one of the best cities for medical tourism in Thailand, Bangkok is a great place to start or end your trip. The majority of international flights enter here, and you’ll find great dining, sightseeing, and shopping in the city.
- Chiang Mai – Escape into the mountains of Thailand when you visit Chiang Mai in the north of the country. You can easily catch the train from Bangkok to here, and it’s a great place to stay for an extended visit.
- Phuket – If beaches are more your scene, Phuket is one of the best places to visit in Thailand. You’ll be blown away by the clear waters and luxurious resorts on offer.
- Koh Samui – The island of Koh Samui would be a great option to rest and recuperate following an operation. It’s home to some of the best resorts in the country, where you can enjoy sunbathing and swimming all day long.
Top Things to Do in Thailand
No matter where you visit in Thailand, you’ll find there’s no shortage of things to do here. These are a few of our favourite activities that anyone can enjoy on a trip to Thailand.
- Visiting Temples – You can’t leave Thailand without visiting at least one temple. In almost every city, you’ll find multiple locations to visit, all of which have ornate decorations. It’s one of the best ways to observe the local life and will give you a glimpse into the Thai culture and heritage.
- Scuba Diving – Depending on what type of medical treatment you are receiving, you might want to consider scuba diving in Thailand. Koh Tao is a great location to learn to dive, and you could complete your Open Water qualification in just a few days here. The waters are crystal clear in this region, so keep your eyes peeled for exotic creatures under the water.
- Cooking Classes – If you’ve enjoyed the Thai cuisine during your trip, why not consider learning to cook for yourself. In Chiang Mai and Bangkok there are plenty of cooking schools, which offer one-day courses to teach you about Thai cooking. You’ll impress all of your friends and family back home with the new skills you’ve picked up on your trip.
- Markets and Shopping – Shopping in Thailand is very affordable when compared to the UK. Enjoy visiting one of the famous night markets, where you’ll find some great souvenirs to take to everyone back home. There are also some fantastic malls in Bangkok, where you can find everything you could imagine under one roof.
When to Visit Thailand
Thailand is a great year-round destination as far as the high temperatures it experiences. One thing to keep in mind is that the climate varies in different destinations. If you are stuck with visiting in a specific month, we recommend researching where it would be best to spend your time during that season. November to early April is the all-around best time to visit, as it’s the cool and dry season. Temperatures can reach up to 97°F during this time of the year, so make sure you are prepared for this. The rest of the year sees higher rainfall, but that will depend on where you are visiting.
While we love Chiang Mai as a destination, we recommend avoiding here between mid-February and early April. This is called the burning season, and the air quality is much lower than usual at this time. Also, Similan Island’s National Marine Park is closed from November to March, so keep this in mind if this is somewhere you want to visit. Thailand is a great country to visit multiple cities or resorts in one stay, so try to find a month where you can enjoy all of your must-do activities in one go.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Thailand. You’ll certainly never be bored on a trip here, and it’s a great place to relax before and after your treatment. We highly recommend seeing a few different spots in one trip, as you can enjoy cities, beaches, and mountains within just a couple of weeks. Most visitors will start or end their trip in Bangkok, and it’s a great spot for medical tourism. Wherever you visit, you’ll be blown away by the Thai hospitality and culture, and you’ll no doubt be excited to return again in the future to explore more of this vast country.
