Thailand is many trips in one: a few days in Bangkok, a night train or a short flight north to Chiang Mai, then ferries to the islands of the Andaman Sea or the Gulf. Your phone carries the plan for all of it, from ride-hailing and ferry tickets to hotel messages and maps. Thailand is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European plans usually charge roaming by the day.
This guide covers where you will need data, where it fades, and the numbers worth saving before you need them.
Key facts for Thailand
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: AIS, TrueMove H, dtac (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 191, ambulance 1669, fire 199; Tourist Police 1155
- Embassies: in Bangkok, with consulates in Chiang Mai and Phuket for some countries
Areas to avoid
The UK advises against all but essential travel to the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, to the districts of Chana, Thepa, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi in southern Songkhla, and to the Hat Yai to Padang Besar railway that runs through them, because of a long-running insurgency. It also advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Cambodia. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui are far from both areas.
Arriving in Bangkok
At Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, use the official taxi queue or a ride-hailing app such as Grab or Bolt, which show the driver and the fare before you get in. In the city, the BTS Skytrain and the MRT are the easiest way around the traffic, and coverage is strong across Bangkok.
Paying: cash, cards and QR codes
Hotels, malls and many restaurants take cards. Markets and street food stalls usually want cash or a Thai QR payment that most foreign cards cannot use, so carry some baht for them.
The islands and the sea
Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Phi Phi are well covered in their towns and main beaches. On remote beaches, on speedboat crossings and at dive sites the signal can disappear. Save your boat ticket and the address of your accommodation before you leave the pier, and agree a meeting point if you travel in a group.
The north and the roads
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are well covered, but mountain roads, such as the loop through Pai and Mae Hong Son, have long stretches with weak signal. Many visitors rent scooters there, and road accidents are one of the most common reasons travellers end up in hospital in Thailand. Wear a helmet, check that your travel insurance covers motorbikes, and download offline maps before setting off.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installs at home with a QR code and starts its validity at the first connection in Thailand, so you can book your ride as soon as you land. It is a data line: your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes while maps and messaging run on the eSIM.
A Thai tourist SIM is sold at airport counters and in shops, and it is registered with your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Thailand
- 191 is the police, 1669 an ambulance and 199 the fire service.
- 1155 is the Tourist Police, available around the clock and in several languages.
- Embassies are in Bangkok, and some countries also have consulates in Chiang Mai or Phuket. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone, and the travel-safety page summarises current advice, including for border areas.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Thailand, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Emergency phrases in Thai are ready to show on screen in the app.
Questions travellers ask about Thailand
Who do I call if I have a problem as a tourist?
The Tourist Police on 1155, or 191 for the police in an emergency.
Will my phone work on the islands?
In towns and on the main beaches, yes. On remote beaches, boats and dive trips the signal can drop.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Thailand?
AIS, TrueMove H or dtac, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
Do I need cash in Thailand?
For markets and street food, usually yes. Hotels, malls and many restaurants accept cards.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, book your first ride from the app, carry some baht, wear a helmet on a scooter, and save 1155 and 1669.
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