Thailand

Two coasts with opposite weather, which is the thing to understand before booking. The Andaman side — Phuket, Krabi, the Phi Phi and Similan islands — runs on the north-east monsoon and is at its best November to April. The Gulf side, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, is roughly the inverse, driest June to September. Picking the wrong coast for your dates is the single most common mistake here.

The beaches range from limestone-backed bays that look engineered to long flat sweeps of developed sand. It is also the only destination in this set where you can eat well for two dollars and where there is a genuine country to travel through beyond the coast.

Getting there

Bangkok is one of the best-connected airports in Asia, with direct flights from most of Europe, the Gulf and Australia. From there it is a one-hour domestic hop to Phuket, Krabi or Samui, or an overnight train and ferry if you would rather. Domestic flights are frequent and cheap.

Entry

CHANGED 15 SEPTEMBER 2026. The 60-day visa exemption scheme was revoked. The 30-day tourism exemption was revised and expanded to 60 countries and territories, and a new 15-day scheme was introduced for two. Travellers already in Thailand under the old rules keep their permitted stay. Other visa categories are unchanged. All arrivals must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) — the official site charges no fee.