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Please be advised that the Embassy of Ireland, Thailand website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Embassy website is now available at Ireland.ie/bangkok.

Top Ten Tips

If you are lucky enough to be coming out to Thailand this summer, whether on a family holiday or a quick visit as you backpack around South East Asia, there are a few ways that you can make your visit easier and more comfortable. Follow our Thailand Top Ten Tips below! See our more detailed travel advice for Thailand.

Top Ten Tips

  • Download TravelWise
    • Get up to date travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs through our smartphone app TravelWise. You can register your details, set special alerts, find contact details for our global network of Embassies, and use the checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything!  
  • Insure Yourself
    • Medical care in Thailand can be extremely expensive. If anything goes wrong you (or your family) could end up paying a fortune. You might think that it is unlikely anything will happen to you but here at the Embassy we deal with a significant amount of cases where Irish tourists have found themselves in accidents or needing medical attention for a variety of reasons. Don't take the chance!
  • Keep Copies
    • Keep copies of important documents in your luggage at all times such as your passport, drivers licence and insurance documents. It is not unusual for people to misplace documents or have them stolen while traveling. The best way is to photocopy your documents and keep a hard copy in your luggage but also to scan and email copies to yourself and your family/friends at home - just to be safe!
  • Know what you need
    • You must have at least 6 months validity on your passport to get into Thailand. Irish citizens do not need a visa for Thailand if your visit is for less than 30 days. For more visa information please visit the website of the Royal Thai Consulate in Dublin.
  • Register your details
    • Thailand is generally a safe country for tourists. However, in the case of an emergency such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack, registering with the Embassy will allow us to contact you and make sure you are safe. You can register through TravelWise on our website.
  • Be respectful
    • Thailand is a Buddhist country with over 90% of its population practising this peaceful religion. Thai people take religion seriously. In order to avoid being disrespectful, inform yourself about how to behave appropriately when in temples and other sacred places in Thailand. It is also a good idea to read up on Thai culture and people generally. For example, Thai people are quiet, calm and non-confrontational. They are rarely loud and do not tend to make large physical gestures as these are considered rude and aggressive. You should keep things like this in mind when coming to Thailand.
  • Beware of scams
    • As with any country that has a large tourist industry, you will find some tourist scams operating in Thailand. There are scams which involve buying fake precious stones or gems; scams which involve tuk-tuk drivers overcharging or bringing tourists to the wrong places; scams where damaged rental vehicles are hired out with the damage hidden and when it is revealed at a later stage, the tourist is blamed. Our advice is never give your passport to anyone as security or a guarantee, keep your wits about you and use your common sense! If you do fall victim to a scam, report it to the nearest police station.
  • Stay safe on the roads
    • Sadly, Thailand has a large amount of road accident deaths every year. Motorcycle accidents are especially high in this country and we strongly advise that you think twice before renting a scooter/motorcycle. If you do, you must wear a helmet - it is illegal not to.  
  • Keep out of trouble
    • Thailand is a wonderful place with great weather, great food, lovely people and beautiful beaches. However, please be aware that there are very severe penalties here if you are caught using, possessing or selling drugs. It is not unusual for tourists to go to prison for long periods for drug-related incidents. Incidents of violence are also taken very seriously and should be avoided.
  • Have fun!
    • Check out websites such as BK to find out what's on in Bangkok or Thaizer to check festivals and special events around Thailand.

Top Ten Tips