Seven top tech tips for getting around Thailand

Travelling to anywhere new and in a different part of the world will often require you to adapt to local ways of doing things. Whilst readers in or familiar to South East Asia may prefer to skip this article, for newbies to Thailand read on for tips on how to get around the nation easier.

Thailand Pass

I may keep repeating this but in addition to a passport, visa and Covid vaccination - this is as important to prove you are safe to enter. I talk more about it in this article and in the video below but this truly is your pass and gateway to get into the country.

Get a SIM Card on arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi

Most people visiting Thailand will not having inclusive roaming whilst visiting, unless you are from neighbouring ASEAN country. The quickest and easiest way to get connected is visiting one of the mobile network booths at Suvarnabhumi baggage reclaim. I am sure it is not the cheapest way of obtaining connectivity but it is simple and if you have any problems the shop assistant will help (such as my data connection not working, which they resolved). On both times, I've used Telenor-owned DTAC - not for any preference but they generally provide a decent 4G connection but I am sure True and AIS are also decent options. Prices are usually around £10 for a SIM card as well as data allowance for 7 days (with other options). The pricing can be confusing but on mine it was 15GB of high speed data then unlimited data at a reduced speed.

Line app

Line in Thailand is as ubiquitous as WhatsApp in Europe, India and other parts of Asia or Messenger in the US, Canada and The Philippines. This is the chat app of choice in Thailand. Although most businesses will offer a telephone number to contact them, almost all with have a Line ID you can message them on. This is far more convenient and easy particularly if you need to get over a language barrier or have proof of a confirmation of restaurant reservation for example. I recommend registering and downloading the app before arriving just to make things easier. Line is also popular in Taiwan and Japan - so be sure to load it up when you visit there too!

Rabbit Line Pay

Although part of the Line app, Rabbit Line Pay (RLP) is a distinct feature I felt would be useful to call out on its own. Similar to Alipay, RLP allows you to scan a QR code at a point of sale in specific shops or send money to others. It's not as ubiquitous as QR payment is in China but I note this feature specifically because of the usefulness on Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and Metro System. Generally you will need to have coins to get a ticket however if you go to a RLP-enabled machine you can skip the queues select your destination and scan the QR code to pay. You just need to link your credit card to the app and it should work. It's quite simple and does speed up the process that little bit more.  

Grab - South East Asia's Super App

Whether you're visiting Thailand or other countries in South East Asia, your go to Uber-alternative will be Grab. The app has spawned from just being a ride-hailing service to offering a variety of services from food and parcel delivery through to payments with Grab Pay. The latter can be pretty good when you need to make payment to other people but is not as popular as the previously mentioned Rabbit Line Pay. Prices are extremely reasonable and payments can be made from your credit card so you don't have to worry about paying expensive prices using cash.

Bolt

Although Grab is far more popular, Bolt ride-hailing operates in some cities including Bangkok. It may be worth installing just as an alternative option if you're struggling to get a driver.

Download offline maps

Although we have connectivity via SIM card, sometimes in rural areas or parts of Samui connectivity can be patchy. I recommend downloading an app such as Here WeGo for offline maps when you have no data connectivity - this just acts a final resort in case you do not have cellular data. 

Have I missed anything? Probably. But these are my top suggestions for what you need to get around Thailand easily and freely - be sure to let me know in the comments anything I have missed.