The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to propose a 15-day visa exemption for travellers from Colombia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan, aiming to resolve severe processing delays and boost long-haul arrivals, officials announced on Monday (October 27).

The initiative comes in response to mounting logistical hurdles faced by international carriers. Emirates airline recently lodged an official complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) after experiencing 20 to 30 passenger no-shows per flight from Mexico because travellers failed to receive their Thai visas in time for departure.

This sub often talks about men finding a Thai woman which is understandable --you're in Thailand.

But I'm curious if there are many success stories of western expats finding love with other expats. I suppose if you hang out with mostly an expat crowd, the chances are greater.

What's been your experience? Have you dated mostly or even exclusively Thai, or also expats.

Hi there, I’m staying in Thailand for 22 days, arriving in Phuket and heading straight to Krabi.

My plan was to start in Ao Nang.

Then head to Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and then up to Chiang Mai.

Catch a sleeper train to Bangkok and then back to Phuket for my flight home.

I’m just wondering if I’m realistically going to be able to do this without wasting too much of my time getting from A to B and whether I’ll just find myself consistently exhausted from traveling?

Thank you 🙏

For context - this is my first time solo traveling, I’m 28m and I’ll be there early November.

As my wife and I are finishing up our last day here in bangkok, (we leave tomorrow) it really has shown me a lot of things I never really thought of before.

We spent 10 days here and had a blast. We ate a lot of good food, visited many temples, taken tuktuks, bought some Thai gold, spent a LOT of time walking/shopping the local shops etc, and it has been wonderful.

We spent 5 days down in Phuket and albeit more expensive it was also such a good time. Went and spent some time at Phi Phi Islands, etc.

As we head back to the US tomorrow, I’m taking back quite a few thoughts with me.

First off, it is crazy how insanely nice and welcoming Thai people are, it is SO refreshing from what we deal with in the US.

Seeing the way this country functions truly is beautiful in its own regard however it shows me that I have way more to be grateful for at home, and that maybe I don’t have it as bad as I think I do.

It was an absolute honor to spend 10 days here with the wifey, and I cannot wait to come back. What a beautiful beautiful country this is. Blessed to have the opportunity to come here for vacation. I hope tipping taxi/grab drivers helped out. I am happy to throw them some extra baht I have since my trip is ending.

I see why everyone loves it so much now. Will definitely make it a goal to come back in the future.

Hey everyone, I'm visiting Thailand for the first time in late November, starting in Krabi / Ao Nang. I've booked a hotel for the first five nights, and after that I'm leaving things open: either extend the stay if I love it or move somewhere else.

If you've spent time there, what was the experience that made you think ‘this is why I came to Thailand’? And was it actually in Ao Nang, or somewhere you went afterwards?

I'm hoping for a mix of beach time and exploring, but I'd love suggestions beyond the standard island-tour checklist. A small place to eat you kept going back to, a quiet stretch of coast, an interesting village, a walk, a kayaking spot, or a day out you stumbled into and still think about. It doesn't need to be some completely undiscovered secret—just something you personally found special.

Also happy to hear the opposite: what gets hyped up but wasn't worth your time, and what would you do differently on a first visit? Anything easy for a newcomer to get wrong, whether that's getting around, booking boat trips, local etiquette, or planning around the weather in late November?

The big decision for me is day six: would you keep Ao Nang as a base and explore from there, or move on? If you'd leave, where would you go next, and why?

If you could recommend just ONE experience around Krabi, I'd love to hear what it is and the story behind it. Practical details like how you got there or the best time to go would be amazing too. Thanks!

At my resort dogs left me alone until last day when I did something unusual, I approached staff members to ask about my checkout and their yards dogs instantly attacked my leg.

Small but bloody wounds and hospital bill of 7884 THB.

Got the cocktail of shots and antibiotics. I need to continue booster injections back at home.

Well, I suppose better than risking rabies. I hope your last holidays days are better.

If you are looking to escape the noise and the traffic of Bangkok.
Go there and book an hotel by the river.

Tips for data problems (getting used up too fast)… I’m not a techie per say

First time in Thailand! We're a family of 9 (6 adults, kids aged 2.5, 2, and a baby) staying 5 nights on the riverside near Charoen Krung (possibly), January 2027. Would love feedback on our itinerary!

Tue, Jan 12: Arrive about 6:45 PM, easy dinner near the hotel.

Wed, Jan 13: Grand Palace at opening, Wat Pho, lunch near Tha Tien, back for pool and naps, then Wat Arun around 4 PM and Asiatique in the evening.

Thu, Jan 14: 6am Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, back by early afternoon for naps, Lumpini Park around 4 PM.

Fri, Jan 15: ICONSIAM and Sook Siam for lunch, midday rest, longtail canal tour around 3 PM, Chinatown street food in the evening.

Sat, Jan 16: Chatuchak fish section in the morning, naps, Sea Life Bangkok, then a nice dinner somewhere (suggestions?)

Sun, Jan 17: Morning flight

Is this too much with toddlers? Is the floating market worth the early start? Any must-dos we're missing? We are mainly only going to be in Bangkok.

Appreciate the feedback!

It's true what they say, the sky turns magical a bit AFTER sunset (don't have pictures of that)

We visited Thailand in November last year, and damn, I still miss that place so much. I don't think I've ever visited somewhere that left me with this much positivity even after a whole year.

The people, the vibe, the cities, the food, the overall atmosphere… everything was just amazing. One of my favorite memories is our stay at Phi Phi Island. Such a beautiful, peaceful place with crystal-clear blue water views. Just being there, surrounded by that scenery, felt unreal.

The only regret is that we didn't have enough time. We were rushing around and couldn't experience Thailand the way I wish we had.

Honestly, I feel like everyone should visit Thailand at least once in their life and spend at least two weeks there, taking things slow instead of rushing from one tourist spot to another. Explore the cities, stay by the beach, enjoy the food, watch the sunsets, and just soak in the atmosphere.

Sometimes you need a place like that to disconnect from your usual routine and reset your mind.

It's crazy how a trip can stay with you for so long. I really hope we get to go back someday and experience more of Thailand at a slower pace. ❤️

Anyone else feel this way about Thailand even long after coming back?

I'm an US passport holder, been visiting Thailand for a close to 3 months and I'm going to Vietnam next. I booked a flight for November 10th and completely forgot that my permitted stay is only until November 8th, which is leading me to overstaying for 2 days. I tried to change the flight date but was unsuccessful.

I looked up a few immigration offices and based on their reviews, some offices only handle certain nationals like Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia... I tried calling them up but they each gave me a different answer. I also have seen some people say that they just prepare cash to pay the fine at airport customs, which sounds less serious than what I'm thinking. Would this leave a black mark on my passport when I want to return to Thailand in the future?

So my flight to BKK Is Dec 2nd -Jan28th but I just want to extend the visa after the 30 days instead of do it before I leave (Cheaper and Easier process). Some people recommend just buy a refundable ticket from bkk to Malaysia then cancel once I get in how good is that idea under the new rules?

Spotted in Kaeng Krachan National Park – here's more from the photographer and the national park:

Wild, Diverse, Authentic: Kaeng Krachan, Where Leopards Share the Road

Hey everyone,

I am heading to Thailand for the first time from December 7th to January 3rd. I am 33, currently in the middle of a career pivot, and will be working on my laptop while I am out there. I am traveling light, just taking my laptop and a single 10kg suitcase as I’m travelling multiple countries, so packing up to move around is not a massive hassle, but I still like the idea of having a solid base. In terms of the laptop I will not be working but studying so presume this is okay on a tourist visa?

My initial thought was to stay in Bangkok for the full four weeks so I could settle in without overcomplicating things. But after reading through a few threads, I am starting to wonder if a whole month in Bangkok might be a bit much for a first visit.

I would really appreciate some thoughts from anyone who has done something similar:

Is spending the full month in Bangkok too long, or is it fine if you treat it as a home base and take short trips? Would it make more sense to split the time with somewhere up north like Chiang Mai, or head down to an island for a bit?

If I do stick to Bangkok for a chunk of it, where is a good area to stay? I want a decent balance, somewhere with great coffee shops to work and socialise from, good places to eat, and easy transit access. I do not mind chatting with other travelers or backpackers, but I definitely do not want a 24/7 party vibe right on my doorstep.

I am planning to check out the main sights, spend time working in cafes, and maybe head out for a proper night out or party once or twice a week. I am completely fine doing my own thing, so making friends is not an absolute requirement, but having a social option around is always a plus.

Any advice on good neighborhoods, how to split up the month, or general first-timer tips would be amazing. Thanks!

Hey all,

I’m visiting Bangkok from December 5th till the 10th and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Jazz bars/clubs.

I’m not so much interested in light listening loungy jazz. I’m more looking for 50s/60s jazz - hard bop/modal.

Bonus: If you have any recommendations for Jazz spots in Chiang Mai as well that would be very welcome 😁

TIA!

Hi! My sister and I are visiting our dad in Bangkok in December this year for about 3 weeks. After a week in Bangkok we were planning on flying to Vietnam for a week, then flying back and spending the last week here before flying back home to Finland.

Only problem is that we were already in Thailand in January this year and did the same thing last time, flew in from Finland and then flew to Vietnam and then flew in to Thailand again before flying back home.

Since the change in the visa exception scheme, we are limited to two entries per year which we have already used. Only thing I don't really understand is that some sources say the two entries per calendar year for visa exception is only for when arriving to Thailand by other means than air. Other sources say two entries is max for all means of entry. For example, UK gov site says flying is "generally exempt" from this two entries per calendar year limit. Thai embassy in Finland says its limited to two entries maximum for all transport. Of course I'm trusting the embassy site more but why is the UK gov site different? Entry requirements are the same for Finland and UK citizens as far as I know.

Also, if we are required to get a tourist visa, I wonder if we are allowed to leave the country for a week and come back. The multiple entry tourist visa is more expensive and the Thai embassy site says 6,000 euros are required to show proof of sufficient funds but we are just two students staying at our dad's house. The 10,000 or 20,000 baht for the normal entry is fine but 6k euros is pretty hard to come by.

Sorry if the answer to my question is obvious (go for the tourist visa and don't leave the country before your flight back home) but I just want to make sure since we really liked Vietnam the last time :)

Thanks in advance if you are able to help! Would love to hear your experiences with multiple entries to Thailand within a calendar year, did they care at the border or what happened?

TLDR Didn't realise the two entries per calendar year limit for visa exception scheme and booked flights for the same year we already visited "twice" in. Not sure if we need to get a Tourist visa or not? Finnish passport. Thanks for any help!

Hi all!
First time travelling to BK and looking for a cute neighbourhood where to stay. Somewhere convenient and not too touristy. I’d love to hear your thoughts on both neighbourhoods ;)

In December im visiting Thailand, and was thinking maybe I should choose between Phuket and Krabi instead of going to both. Thoughts?