Long Before You Begin To Start Packing That Bag….
We’ve got some packing tips for Thailand that will be sure to make your trip more enjoyable (and safe). Some of the most important necessities you will need for your trip to Thailand won’t actually be in your backpack. Make sure you’ve got this knowledge and these essentials for your trip sorted out. They all need a bit of time to prepare. Before you plan to travel, we suggest you read this and take action a couple of months before you travel.
Let’s Pack For This!
Vaccinations –
Check what injections you need to get or renew at least 8 weeks before you go to Thailand. Usually, they include Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, plus malaria tablets, (although they are usually not required). Speak to your local pharmacist or a travel nurse in your home town to help you navigate the timing of these vaccinations. You may shun the idea of going through the tedious process of malaria pills. Our friend thought so too and he, sadly, as a result, got malaria. You should talk to a travel nurse and find out what they recommend. Check out IAMAT (International Association For Medical Assistance to Travelers) as it is updated daily! https://www.iamat.org/country/thailand
Travel Insurance –
The standards for medical services in Thailand may differ from your home country. Thailand has both public and private healthcare sectors. Private hospitals offer higher quality medical care and are more likely to have English-speaking staff than public facilities. Bangkok is considered to have some of the best medical care in Southeast Asia. Your travels may take you outside the capital where it may not always meet international standards. Check with your Health Insurance company to become accustomed to what is covered and how to contact them in a medical situation. Most often in Thailand, they require upfront payment with either cash or credit card. The good news is their cost for healthcare is A LOT lower than in the USA. You don’t need 10’s of 1000’s to cover medical issues! Click here for a travel insurance option.
Medications –
This packing tips for Thailand could save you time and money. Most medications which require a prescription in North America, happen to be available over the counter and for next to nothing in cost comparatively (no surprise here). We found this out upon Mike having an allergy attack and needing to buy some antihistamines. The pharmacies are everywhere and they are very helpful! The language barrier was a bit daunting because let’s face it… we weren’t ordering Pad Thai… this was a drug he was going to put into his body…and the packaging was all in Thai! Turns out (yay!), these were the BEST antihistamines Mike has ever had, we went back and bought more sleeves to bring home. Furthermore, they will actually open the package and just sell you one or two… and for such a nominal price too! If you must bring in medication, as for ANY country outside your home country, check with Thailand’s embassy, consulate, or Ministry of Health for details on medication allowances and restrictions.
Visa Requirements-
U.S/Canadian. citizen tourists entering Thailand for fewer than 30 days do not require a visa. See this official list for the full rundown of which nationalities do not require a visa to enter Thailand. You will get a tourist Visa stamp at the airport upon arrival. You do not need passport photos or payment. Click on image for a printable form.
Valid Passport-
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand. Look over your passport. Look for damage of any sort. If you see tears or stains in the pages, you need to inquire about validity. Consequently, this could delay your trip. Above all, make sure it is valid!
Emergency Cash-
You should travel with a small stash of emergency cash. By emergency, we don’t mean a late night Pad Thai craving at a food cart that only accepts cash. Certainly, we understand that, and I can see how this might feel like an emergency! Rather, I mean if your wallet gets stolen and you have no way to cover expenses for a couple of days while you sort things out. We traveled to Thailand with $300usd worth of emergency cash…and we came home with $300usd of said cash! Luckily, we never had a situation where we needed to use it. The idea of being in a foreign country with no way to pay for a night’s accommodation if needed is terrifying to me. We roll up 3-100 dollar bills and zip them into our travel belt. You can find these travel belts here.
Back up Power Source –
If you use your phone a lot, you’ll probably want to get a backup power source. There are some excellent cheap power banks to give your phone an energy boost. You should keep this in mind if you plan to use GPS and Google Maps on your phone which burn power quite fast. Similarly, uploading photos to Facebook and Instagram does too. Make sure this is in your carry on and not checked luggage. Your Power bank must only be carried in hand luggage. It is not allowed in checked luggage. You should read reviews and see which one suits your needs best.
Images of Documents –
This is not technically packing tips for Thailand but still important. Take cell phone photos of your passport, driving license and all your credit cards, insurance info and any other important documents and save them as JPEGs to your email account like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. That way if you lose any of your documents, you have copies of them available anywhere with an internet connection – and on your phone too. Also, keep a list of the numbers of your banks, etc that you need to call to cancel your cards in your internet email account. A quick way to do this is to lay out all your cards on a table face down and take a photo with your cellphone. Every card has the emergency contact number written on the back so you now have an instant record of all those numbers. Just make sure your photo is not out of focus!
Let’s Unpack This!
We, at A Suitcase Heart, believe all travelers should be able to see the world without limitation or hesitation. That’s our end game. You can follow these packing tips for Thailand to help you do exactly that! Get on board early and prepare accordingly. Certainly, don’t wait until the last minute if you can help it. I always say part of the sweetest anticipation of a trip is preparing and packing! It will leave you excited to explore your upcoming destination! You have prepared for this trip. That’s half the victory! Check out our 11 Tips Before Your International Trip for more great information.
