Thailand

Staying connected in Thailand

Thailand is one of the region's most visited destinations: Bangkok and Pattaya for a first trip, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for mountains and temples, and Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui or the Phi Phi Islands for the beach. The best months are November to February, when it is drier and cooler; the Songkran water festival in mid-April is great fun but also the busiest time.

Data is most useful for booking rides in Bangkok rather than haggling with taxis, reserving boats to the islands and scanning QR codes at night markets. On the islands you will spend a fair amount of time on boats between beaches, so keep tickets and confirmations saved on your phone.

Coverage and networks

There are 2 eSIM options for Thailand. Each network belongs to the option it is listed with, so compare them before choosing.

Combining Thailand with Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia? See the Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Indonesia plans.

Signal and speed depend on where you are, your device and network conditions, and can differ between plans.

Choosing a data allowance

eSIM plans for Thailand currently last 1 to 30 days and come in these types:

• Daily data (500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 3GB per day): suits a steady routine. Check when the daily allowance resets and what happens once it is used.
• Total data (3GB to 35GB): one allowance for the whole trip, handy when some days are heavier than others.
• Unlimited: always read the fair-use policy; after a set amount, speed may be reduced.

Suggestions for this trip

• A 4–5 day Bangkok and Pattaya trip: 1GB of daily data is about right for rides, maps and social media; on a guided tour with little independent travel, 500MB a day can do.
• Beach holidays with plenty of diving clips and sunset videos: choose 2GB or 3GB a day, or relax with an unlimited plan (fair-use policy applies).
• Ten to fifteen days covering both north and south: 20GB or 30GB of total data; for stays of up to a month there is also a 35GB option.

Count your arrival and departure days. Before paying, check the exact plan for when validity starts, how days are counted, and whether hotspot, calls or SMS are included; these differ between plans.

Before you go

• Ride-hailing: Grab and Bolt are common in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, and in Bangkok you can also book taxis through LINE MAN.
• Getting around Bangkok: The BTS Skytrain and MRT beat rush-hour traffic, and Google Maps covers the routes well.
• Messaging: LINE is Thailand's main messaging app, and many hotels and small tour operators use it to talk to guests.
• Payments: Markets and small eateries take cash or PromptPay QR codes; some foreign banking apps can scan Thai QR codes, so check yours.
• Wi-Fi: Malls, cafés and hotels nearly all offer free Wi-Fi, but there is little to none on island boats or beaches.
• Local SIM: Sold at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and convenience stores; you must register with your passport.
• eSIM setup: Before buying, make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. Install the eSIM before you fly, on a stable Wi-Fi connection, following the instructions sent with your plan.
• On arrival: Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and follow its roaming instructions. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid unexpected charges.