Guides

Thailand guides on travel, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle—discover top destinations, hidden gems, visa information, and essential tips. Plan your journey with The Thaiger, your trusted source for expert Thailand guides.

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    How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?

    Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....

  • Phuket student protests and is flunked as “not loyal to the nation”

    Phuket student protests and is flunked as “not loyal to the nation”

    After participating in protests for student’s rights, a Phuket student was barred from graduating 9th grade, moving from middle school to high school, charged with being “not loyal to the nation, institution of the monarchy”. The student had advocated against mandatory uniforms and for student’s liberties. He told reporters that the school started paying attention to his actions last year…

  • Latest guidelines for all non-tourist visitors to Thailand, through Phuket

    Latest guidelines for all non-tourist visitors to Thailand, through Phuket

    Phuket’s provincial government has issued a 48 page order for non-tourists entering Thailand, via Phuket. The order covers everyone from repatriating Thais, foreigners who are permanent residents or on long-term visas, students, workers passing through and consular visits. In real terms, as it says, anyone who isn’t visiting, or travelling through, Phuket as a tourist. If you were looking for…

  • The challenges for the digital nomad in Thailand | VIDEO

    The challenges for the digital nomad in Thailand | VIDEO

    Ah yes, the challenges of being a digital nomad in Thailand. What is a digital nomad? People who can do their job anywhere in the world with just a laptop, tablet and wi fi (preferably free wi fi). Thailand has the scenery, wi fi access, speed and lots and lots of coffee shops (with excellent coffee these days). But there…

  • Thai Airways food landing in 7-Eleven next month

    Thai Airways food landing in 7-Eleven next month

    Warning. Some low-altitude turbulence is coming to a 7-Eleven near you. Thai Airways has cooked up a new money-making scheme during Covid-19 to sell its airline food in 7-Eleven. Set to take off on April 15, the mostly grounded and indebted airline will attempt to offset its losses during the pandemic by selling food in the ubiquitous convenience store and…

  • 60-day “Covid-19” visa extension deadline to apply now May 29

    60-day “Covid-19” visa extension deadline to apply now May 29

    In a typical last minute decision, Thai immigration announced that foreigners stuck in Thailand due to the Covid-19 situation will be able to extend their visas for another 60 days, with the new deadline to apply for the extension set to May 29, allowing a stay in Thailand up until July 27. The initial deadline for the 60 day “Covid-19…

  • Thailand introduces help for LGBT families

    Thailand introduces help for LGBT families

    Thailand is introducing help for those families with LGBT children who suffer from bullying. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights created a manual titled, “This House Has Gender Diversity.” Phoranee Phuprasert, director of the Office of Vulnerable Group Support, says the manual aims to create a better understanding of LGBT issues, especially…

  • Tourists in Thailand can apply for another 60 day extension, allowing a stay until July 27

    Tourists in Thailand can apply for another 60 day extension, allowing a stay until July 27

    Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is allowing visa extensions for tourists who have been in stuck in Thailand since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Royal Thai Immigration Bureau announced the news through an urgent public memo yesterday. The previous order allowed those foreigners to apply for an extension until the end of March, but now they can apply for another extension…

  • Thailand’s first female Education Minister targets bullying in schools

    Thailand’s first female Education Minister targets bullying in schools

    Thailand’s first female education minister is targetting bullying in schools as part of 3 policies she says she will start implementing today. Trinuch Thienthong, an MP from the coalition – core Palang Pracharath Party, says she will promote safety at schools, access to digital resources and knowledge and campaign for vocational education. Trinuch says Thailand’s schools, must be free of…

  • The benefits of traditional Thai massage

    The benefits of traditional Thai massage

    One of Thailand’s most famous cultural delights is that of a Thai massage. And, it can be said that once you have one of these, you won’t go back to your previous methods of healing and relaxation. Thai massages have been around for 2,500 years as the method began originally as a type of healing art in India, influenced by…

  • Thai students want university entrance exams postponed citing fears over their futures

    Thai students want university entrance exams postponed citing fears over their futures

    Thousands of Thai students are wanting their university entrance exams postponed over fears of their futures being impacted by Covid-19. #Courtpetitionsforexampostponement is now trending on Twitter after 6 students submitted a plea to the Central Administrative Court. The Mathayom 6 students received help for their plea from Pheu Thai Party spokeswoman Arunee Kasayanond in lieu of exams scheduled to begin…

  • Thai-language teacher suspended for throwing books at her students

    Thai-language teacher suspended for throwing books at her students

    A Thai-language teacher was suspended after she was caught on video throwing textbooks at her students and even hitting a teenage student in the head with a book. Khun Sudawan, a teacher at the Manchasuksa State Secondary School in the Isaan province Khon Kaen, had been checking over class assignments and noticed many students had not finished. As Sudawan started…

  • Thailand is re-opening. When can I travel there? | VIDEO

    Thailand is re-opening. When can I travel there? | VIDEO

    There are many moving parts in the Thailand travel situation right now – new visa options, changes to the quarantine, ASQs, area quarantines, golf quarantines. The road back to a healthy tourist industry in Thailand, even ANY tourism industry, will be a long slog. But Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com is optimistic that we’ve turned the corner and Thailand is now…

  • Bring on the heat… here’s our list of the spiciest Thai food

    Bring on the heat… here’s our list of the spiciest Thai food

    Thai food is raved about as one the best cuisines in the world… and the spiciest. The small red and green Thai chillies are typically what gives the dishes that extra kick, while dried chilli flakes and chilli paste, known as nam prik pao, are often served on the side to make the dishes even spicier. While some foreigners come…

  • Phuket Thai food treats you need to try | VIDEO

    Phuket Thai food treats you need to try | VIDEO

    Nimz, our new Thaiger Vlogger takes you on a tour of some uniquely Phuket foods, although you may find them in other provinces these days as well. A lot of southern Thai food can be very spicy and features a lot of seafood, but Nimz went for the ‘less’ spicy (mai phet) options. Tell us about your favourite Thai treats…

  • In search of Cat & Dog Cafés in Phuket Town | VIDEO

    In search of Cat & Dog Cafés in Phuket Town | VIDEO

    Nimz, our Thaiger Vlogger takes you on a weekend tour of Phuket Town, in search of cat and dog cafés. Stroke the cats, tickle the cat’s tummy, pat the cats, take selfies with the cats. Whilst Phuket has a number of registered cat and dog cafés, only one appeared to open during Nimz’s search through the streets of Phuket Town,…

  • Flying high and fine dining in a re-purposed old jet in Bangkok | VIDEO

    Flying high and fine dining in a re-purposed old jet in Bangkok | VIDEO

    This could actually be the only time you enjoy dining on a plane. Na-Oh Bangkok re-purposed a decommissioned L-1011 Lockheed aircraft, turning the old jet into a fine dining restaurant located within the ChangChui Project, just a few minutes away from downtown Bangkok. With it’s eclectic interiors and their signature Thai-fusion courses, the restaurant offers quite a memorable experience. Chris,…

  • DUMBO the rooftop bar in Bangkok, a hidden gem | VIDEO

    DUMBO the rooftop bar in Bangkok, a hidden gem | VIDEO

    Located in the heart of Bangkok City, Thailand. Just a few metres away from the Saphan Khwai BTS station, ‘DUMBO BKK’ offers a fine mixture of jazz, great food and original cocktails. Bringing you back to the urban tenors of the late 1940s – early 1950s, New York. Som, one of our new Thaiger Vloggers sneaks in, and brings us…

  • Great Thai Food Convenience Store Challenge l Chef Cyril Mougin | VIDEO

    Great Thai Food Convenience Store Challenge l Chef Cyril Mougin | VIDEO

    Another chef to the challenge. What can a great chef create with ingredients ONLY from a 7/11? The Thaiger caught up with some amazing local chefs to see what they could put together after 5 minutes in a convenient store with 1,000 baht budget. Not only did they come up with some surprising ideas, they tasted DELICIOUS! Join Tim Newton…

  • Another Thai teacher accused of abusing young student

    Another Thai teacher accused of abusing young student

    Another teacher is under harsh criticism after a student’s mother accused the educator of slapping her 5 year old child so hard that his lips cracked open causing him to be unable to each lunch. The alleged incident happened when the 5 year old kindergartner swore at his friend, admittedly saying the words, “You ass!” for stealing his pencil box,…

  • What can you cook up from a 7-11? l Chef Kai Kauder | VIDEO

    What can you cook up from a 7-11? l Chef Kai Kauder | VIDEO

    What can a great chef create with ingredients ONLY from a 7/11? The Thaiger caught up with some amazing local chefs to see what they could put together after 5 minutes in a convenient store with 1,000 baht budget. Not only did they come up with some surprising ideas, they tasted DELICIOUS! Join Tim Newton as he learns more about…

  • The Great Convenience Store Gourmet Challenge l Chef Belinda Tuckwell

    The Great Convenience Store Gourmet Challenge l Chef Belinda Tuckwell

    The Thaiger caught up with some great local chefs to see what they could put together after 5 minutes in a convenient store with 1,000 baht budget. Not only did they come up with some surprising ideas, they tasted DELICIOUS! Join Tim Newton as he learns more about the chefs, their inspirations and how they ended up in Thailand. Our…

  • Global medical tourism in 2020 and the impact of Covid-19

    Global medical tourism in 2020 and the impact of Covid-19

    2020 was a tough year for business, unless you’re Amazon or Zoom! But certain industries were hit harder by the impact of Covid-19 than others, with the Tourism Industry taking one of the heaviest blows of them all. Hospitality and airlines are the industries we mostly hear about, with the niche tourism sectors not getting much of a mention. One…

  • Starbucks Thailand to make drinking and shopping a “thing”

    Starbucks Thailand to make drinking and shopping a “thing”

    Thanks to Starbucks, it may now be possible to drink and shop at Bangkok’s Iconsiam mall, as long as the government grants its approval. The US company has introduced its first store in Thailand to offer an alcoholic beverage menu, one that surely will help visitors to the mall relax a bit. The managing director of Starbucks Coffee Thailand, Nednapa…

  • Visa extensions in Thailand for stranded tourists, February 2021 | VIDEO

    Visa extensions in Thailand for stranded tourists, February 2021 | VIDEO

    Stranded foreign tourists, either genuinely stuck in Thailand since April 2020, or stuck here by choice, are able to stay in Thailand until May 30. The order from the immigration department empowers local officers to grant a 60 day visa extensions from January 29 up to May 30. The order coincides with the world’s Covid-19 situation getting worse and more…

  • Visa Emergency Extension extended to May 30 this year for stranded tourists

    Visa Emergency Extension extended to May 30 this year for stranded tourists

    Stranded foreign tourists, either genuinely stuck in Thailand since April 2020, or stuck here by choice, are able to stay in Thailand until May 30, according to an order signed by the Immigration Bureau last week. The order empowers local officers to grant a 60 day visa extensions from January 29 up to May 30. The order coincides with the…

  • Koh Pha Ngan partygoers and organiser get a fine and suspended sentences

    Koh Pha Ngan partygoers and organiser get a fine and suspended sentences

    109 partygoers who attended a party at cliff-top bar on Koh Pha Ngan, including 89 foreigners and 22 Thais, have received suspended jail terms and fines for breaking Thailand’s emergency decree and Covid-19 restrictions. A judge sentenced each of the attendees to 1 month in jail, suspended if they have a good behaviour record for a year. He also fined…

  • The Koh Pha Ngan party kept rolling at the local police station

    The Koh Pha Ngan party kept rolling at the local police station

    Police have arrested 89 foreigners on the Gulf island of Koh Pha Ngan, breaking any number of laws related to the emergency decree about crowds, mask wearing and current restrictions. They raided a party at the ThreeSixtyBar. 22 Thais were also detained in the raid on Tuesday night after the well-publicised event attracted plenty of local party-goers. Koh Pha Ngan is…

  • Thai herb studied for alternative Covid-19 treatment

    Thai herb studied for alternative Covid-19 treatment

    A study on the efficacy of a Thai herb for treating Covid-19 will move forward after a trial which alternative medicine officials say had promising results. Although, the trial was basic and only involved 6 people. Initial results show that the herb “andrographis paniculata,” or “fah talai jone” in Thai, can improve patients’ conditions and relieve symptoms without major side…

  • Thailand Retirement and Digital Nomads – Missed visa opportunities | VIDEO

    Thailand Retirement and Digital Nomads – Missed visa opportunities | VIDEO

    Two visas Thailand should be promoting right now! If there were two more groups, more perfect suited for the Thai lifestyle, I don’t know what they are. Thailand’s immigration laws for long-stays have always been a challenge, retirement is just one of those categories. It would seem like a perfect win win situation to invite people to come and live…

  • Make an appointment online for tourist visa extensions – Thai Immigration

    Make an appointment online for tourist visa extensions – Thai Immigration

    For those who need to extend their tourist visa, the Thai Immigration Bureau asks that applicants make an appointment online to reserve their spot in line. The bureau says the online appointments are aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 by reducing overcrowding and making sure people abide by social distancing practices. Applicants who need to extend a tourist visa,…