What to know before traveling to Thailand

Do you need a visa for Thailand?

Not with a US passport. You can enter as a tourist and stay up to 30 days without applying for a visa. At immigration they check your passport, which must be valid for at least six months.

If you have seen 60 days mentioned somewhere, that was the rule until September 15, 2026. Now it is 30, and for tourism only.

What you do need, since May 2025, is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): an online form you fill out in the three days before you land. It is free on the official site; be wary of sites that charge for it.

Rules change, so check the State Department’s page for Thailand before you go.

Money: the Thai baht

Thailand’s currency is the baht (THB). On October 9, 2026, $1 was worth 33.53 THB. Cards work in hotels, malls and most city restaurants; street food, markets and tuk-tuks are cash only.

Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220 THB (about $6.50) per withdrawal, so it pays to take out more at a time.

Do you tip?

There is no set percentage: people round the bill up, and in a taxi, the fare. Some hotels and pricier restaurants add a service charge; when it is on the bill, nothing more is expected.

When people eat

A little later than at home: lunch runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and dinner from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Street stalls are another matter: you can find food at almost any hour.

Plugs and driving

Thailand has type A, B, C and F sockets. US plugs (A and B) fit, so you don’t need an adapter. The power is 220 V, though, not the 120 V you have at home. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100–240 V are fine; single-voltage appliances, like many hair dryers, are not.

And when you cross the street, look right first: cars drive on the left.