Thailand Travel
Thailand travel news, visa updates, flight schedules, hotels, and top attractions—stay informed with essential tips for a seamless journey. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand travel updates.
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A trip to Khao Chi Chan near Pattaya is one that you should not skip
About 20 kilometres south of Pattaya, on a former limestone quarry cliff in Sattahip District, Chon Buri Province, there is a golden Buddha image roughly 109 metres tall. Khao Chi Chan, commonly called Buddha Mountain, is one of the most visually striking religious sites in Thailand, and also one of the most consistently misdescribed. It is one of the more…
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Courtyard Marriott Patong invites guests to dine and unwind by the beach
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket, Patong Beach Resort is inviting guests to discover nine ways to dine and unwind, with restaurants, bars and poolside venues located just steps from Patong Beach. From the first coffee of the morning to cocktails under the stars, the resort’s dining collection is designed to match different moods, travel styles and moments throughout the day. Guests…
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Phuket Marriott Merlin Beach adds new dining venues and family Splash Zone
Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach has launched three new facilities, Kanpai, La Cala and the Splash Zone, to enhance the guest experience for leisure travellers and families staying at the beachfront resort in Phuket. The additions are designed to broaden the resort’s dining and recreational offering, giving guests more options for international cuisine and family activities without leaving…
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34 things to do in Phuket for every type of traveller
Phuket is not one destination. The west coast has resort beaches and nightlife. The south has temples, viewpoints and quieter bays. Old Town has Sino-Portuguese architecture and a food culture UNESCO recognised in 2015. The sea around it connects to some of Southeast Asia’s most dramatic island scenery. Most visitors only find one layer of this in a single trip,…
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Sole Mio Clinic launches wellness programme to help busy professionals unwind in Phuket
As Phuket’s high season approaches, many residents are settling back into demanding schedules, packed diaries and a faster pace of life. That shift often brings rising stress and fatigue, making it harder to unwind, sleep well and stay emotionally balanced. September offers a natural window to pause and reset before the busiest months begin. Looking after both body and mind…
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How much money do you need to enter Thailand? Proof-of-funds rules explained
Travellers arriving in Thailand may be asked to show that they have enough money to support their stay. Depending on how you enter the country, the requirement can be 10,000 or 20,000 baht per person, while visa-exempt travellers should check the rules applying to their nationality before flying. You have your passport, hotel booking and return flight sorted. But could…
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Air India expands pilot drug testing after marijuana result
Air India will test every pilot for psychoactive substances from 13 August, after the captain of a Phuket to Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana following an altitude-loss incident.
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Thailand’s tourism growth has outpaced its sustainability record: PHIST 2026 wants to close the gap
Sustainability in tourism has spent a decade being treated as a cost centre. Solar panels, water recycling, plastic bans, which are all real, all worthwhile, and all too often bundled into a marketing line rather than a business plan. Thailand’s hospitality sector carries that same gap between intention and outcome, and no single conference is going to close it. What…
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9 things I learned while travelling here as a tourist in Thailand
Thailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia with over 30 million visitors per year. Yet, political strife, pollution, petty theft, and road safety concerns tend to make tourists question whether they’ll be safe here. As a tourist who has now spent 7 weeks in Thailand, I can confidently say that I feel much safer…
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Everything you need to decide, and do, before relocating to Thailand in 2026
Among its neighbours in Southeast Asia, Thailand still ranks handsomely among the nations retirees and remote workers look to move to, and it’s easy to see why. Warm weather year-round, a low cost of living, welcoming communities, and healthcare that’s both accessible and affordable have kept people moving here for decades, often staying far longer than they originally planned. The…
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Looking for the best family resort near Phuket Airport? Here’s why Mai Khao should be on your list
For many families, the perfect holiday starts with a simple question: Where should we stay in Phuket that’s close to the airport but still feels like a tropical escape? While areas like Patong, Kata and Karon are well known for their lively atmosphere, travellers looking for a quieter experience are increasingly choosing Mai Khao Beach. Located on Phuket’s northwest coast,…
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American YouTuber leaves Thailand to Vietnam after six years: are his reasons fair?
Ben Marriott, the creator behind the YouTube channel The Borderless Office, has left Thailand after living here for six years and relocated to Ho Chi Minh City. His video setting out eight reasons for the move has circulated widely in expat communities, and it is worth engaging with seriously rather than dismissing or cheering uncritically. His central argument is that…
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Why Phuket property management has become essential for overseas owners
Phuket is in the middle of a property boom, and the buyers are no longer mostly local. According to C9 Hotelworks’ 2025 Phuket market update, the island handled around 8.8 million airport arrivals last year. Fresh demand is coming from India, South Korea, and the Middle East as Chinese travel slowly returns. Many of the people buying homes here come…
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Thailand e-visa 2026: full guide to fees, documents, visa types
Every standard visa application for Thailand, from a two-week holiday to a five-year digital nomad visa, now runs through a single system: the Thailand e-visa portal at thaievisa.go.th. The Thailand e-visa replaced the old system of physical stickers and in-person appointments across all 94 Royal Thai embassies and consulates since January 2025. The portal is the same everywhere, but what…
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7th Floor Restaurant hosts Phuket hospitality leaders for B2B showcase dinner
7th Floor Restaurant hosted its exclusive F&B Partners B2B Showcase Dinner on July 25, 2026, bringing together Phuket hospitality professionals for an evening focused on culinary excellence, premium ingredients, and industry collaboration. The invitation-only event took place from 6pm to 10pm and welcomed about 45 hospitality professionals, including general managers, executive chefs, and food and beverage directors from hotels and…
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The Sarasin shift: Thailand’s luxury coastline moves north of Phuket
For decades, the Sarasin Bridge was simply the road out of Phuket, a short concrete span that visitors crossed on the way to the airport and rarely thought about again. That is changing. The bridge is becoming a dividing line in Thailand’s hotel investment map, separating an island that has run out of room from a mainland coast that has…
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Vaccinations for Thailand travel 2026: what you need, what you don’t, and what the law requires
Thailand has no mandatory vaccine entry requirements for most nationalities arriving from Western countries. But that does not mean vaccinations for travel to Thailand are a formality. The country is tropical, the food and water carry real risks, and the gap between what is required and what is genuinely recommended is wide enough to cause problems if you ignore it.…
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The best Phi Phi island tour from Phuket leaves at 6am and here is why
Most Phi Phi island tours from Phuket leave around 8am. They arrive at Maya Bay between 9 and 10am, the same window as the day-trip fleet from Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Phi Phi Don. The beach is crowded before most people have finished their breakfast. That is not a bad tour company. That is just how the schedule works when…
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BEING 2026 returns as global wellness boom transforms Asia’s travel sector
Wellness has become one of the most consequential forces shaping the travel and hospitality industry. Globally, this sector is predicted to be worth US$1.35 trillion by 2028* – more than double its value in 2022. Thailand is at the forefront of this growth, as wellness seekers are lured by a seamless blend of hospitality, wellness innovation and ancient wisdom. Against…
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Korat vs Khon Kaen: which Isaan city is better for long-term expat living?
For a growing number of foreigners, the dream of living in Thailand no longer means Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai. More people are looking inland to Isaan, the northeast, in search of a slower pace, a lower cost of living and a more authentic slice of Thai life, without giving up the comforts of a real city. Two names come…
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More taste, more time, more credit and a new way to experience Phuket
Travel is evolving. Today’s travellers are looking for more than just a room; they want flexibility, meaningful experiences, and greater value throughout their stay. Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort is answering that demand with its new “More Taste, More Time, More Credit” package, designed to help guests enjoy more of what makes a Phuket getaway special. Located on…
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Renting a scooter or car in Thailand: the costs, the rules and the rental scams that catch foreigners out
Renting a set of wheels is one of the best ways to see Thailand on your own terms. Renting a motorbike opens up the beaches and back roads that tour buses never reach, and a hire car turns a long weekend into a proper road trip. Most rentals go smoothly, and the overwhelming majority of operators are honest. Still, the…
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Thailand launches Health Excellence 2026 to strengthen global health and healing tourism
Thailand has officially launched Thailand Health Excellence 2026, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and a network of public and private partners, medical institutions, academic organisations, and wellness providers. The initiative aims to strengthen Thailand’s position as a global health and healing destination as more travellers seek experiences focused on prevention, recovery, longevity, emotional wellbeing, and quality of…
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Why Phuket has become Southeast Asia’s quiet favourite for international families
For decades, Phuket was a place you visited. You came for the beaches, the diving and a week of sun, then flew home. That story has changed. Today, a growing number of international families are not booking a holiday on the island. They are moving here for good, enrolling their children, buying or renting long-term, and building a life. The…
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Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Patong launches all-inclusive package with beach club access
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket, Patong Beach Resort has introduced an All-Inclusive Package with Beach Club Access, offering guests a convenient tropical getaway with dining, drinks, and beachfront experiences included in one daily rate. Designed for comfort, relaxation, and ease, the package brings together accommodation at one of Phuket’s most popular beachfront destinations with access to selected food and beverages across…
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Thailand scraps 60-day visa-free stay: what changes, who is affected, and what to do
On May 19, 2026, Thailand’s Cabinet approved scrapping the 60-day visa-free stay for all 93 countries and territories that had been enjoying it since July 2024. Most nationalities revert to 30 days. The border run as a long-term strategy is effectively over. And the window to act before the change becomes law is still open, but it will not be…
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Why your next Bangkok staycation should be in Phra Nakhon (not Sukhumvit, not Silom)
Most Bangkok locals haven’t been to the old city since a school field trip, and most tourists rush through it in half a day: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, photo, done. Both groups are missing the essence of Phra Nakhon, Bangkok’s historic old town on Rattanakosin Island. Phra Nakhon is a completely different city from the one you know on the…
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One ticket, finally? Why Bangkok’s trains have spent a decade failing to talk to each other
For anyone who has lived in Bangkok long enough, the news that the Cabinet has approved a single-ticket rail system will land somewhere between hopeful and weary. Hopeful, because a flat 17 to 45 baht fare across every line would quietly fix one of the most annoying parts of daily life here. Weary, because we have heard a version of…
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Can ocean waves support wellbeing? Thailand’s surf therapy project explores the potential
Thailand Health Excellence 2026, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), joined Waves for Change from South Africa, Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus, La Vita Sana, Memories Surf House, and Span Global to organise the Thailand Surf Therapy Real Experience & Trust Building Journey in Phang Nga. Held under the theme “The Wave of Healing,” the activity invited…
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Could Hua Hin be Thailand’s next best place to live?
Hua Hin has always had a certain kind of reputation. Royal family. Old money. Bangkok elite with weekend houses and golf memberships. Retirees who found the pace of life agreeable never went back. It was never the loudest city in Thailand, and that was rather the point. That reputation is only the beginning. Something has been shifting in Hua Hin…
