Traveling to Thailand for the first time is exciting, but a lot of people arrive unprepared because they listened to the wrong sources or bought into exaggerated online stories.

After living in Thailand for years, I’ve watched countless newcomers stumble into avoidable problems just because they didn’t know how things actually work here. So instead of sugarcoating anything, here’s a direct breakdown of what you should know before you show up in the Kingdom. No fluff, no romanticizing – just the truth you’ll wish someone told you sooner.

One of the first surprises people run into is the cost of withdrawing money. Every ATM in Thailand charges a non-negotiable fee, and it’s not small. You pay 220 baht every single time you take out cash. If you pull money often, this adds up fast, and it’s a rude shock to anyone used to free withdrawals at home.

The simple fix is to open a bank account back home that refunds international ATM fees. Many people don’t realize how much they’re losing until they check their statements weeks later. If you can get those fees reimbursed, do it – you’ll thank yourself later.

Transportation in Thailand revolves around a few apps, and pretending you can get by without them will only make your life harder. Grab is the most popular because it handles both taxi rides and food delivery. It’s the app nearly everyone uses, and it’s available at all hours.

But you shouldn’t rely on it blindly. Early morning scheduled rides can fall through, especially if you’re far from the city center. That’s where Bolt comes in. Bolt usually offers cheaper rides, and sometimes drastically cheaper ones, especially for longer distances.

Plenty of locals switch between the two apps based on price, and you should too. If you’re trying to save money or you just want options, comparing both apps before booking becomes second nature pretty quickly.

Now let’s address one of the biggest misconceptions floating around online: the international driver’s license myth. Many travel vloggers make it sound like this document is your golden ticket to riding a motorbike legally in Thailand. It isn’t. Thailand doesn’t recognize these pieces of paper.

If you pull one out during a police stop, the officer may smile, laugh, or wave it away because it means absolutely nothing here. If you’re stopped, the best thing you can do is stay calm, speak as little as possible, and pay the fine.

Trying to argue about your international document will only escalate things. If you plan on driving anything here, your best protection is travel insurance that covers accidents – not a license that no one acknowledges.

Speaking of communication, let’s talk about language. Many visitors are told to learn a few phrases in Thai before arriving, supposedly to impress locals or make interactions smoother. In reality, starting a conversation in Thai can backfire.

If you greet someone behind a counter in Thai, they may assume you understand more than you do and immediately start speaking so fast you won’t catch a single word. Then you’ll both end up confused.

The simpler and more effective approach is to use English from the start. You’re a foreigner – they can see that. Start with English, and then use a Thai “thank you” if you want to add a polite touch. That small gesture is appreciated without creating unrealistic expectations about your language skills.

One of the best things about Thailand is how easy it is to travel within the country. Domestic flights are cheap, buses are dirt cheap, and trains are affordable. You shouldn’t trap yourself in one city for your entire trip. Book your first few nights in Bangkok, get your bearings, and then go explore.

There are ferries to islands, low-cost airlines that practically give away seats at certain times of year, and long-distance buses that cost less than a coffee in some Western countries. Thailand is built for exploration, and hopping from one place to another is often easier here than in your home country.

While traveling around, you’ll almost certainly visit temples. Thailand’s temples are stunning, but they’re not tourist attractions in the casual sense – they’re active spiritual sites. That means dressing respectfully matters.

No tank tops, no bare shoulders, and don’t walk in wearing short shorts like you’re going to the beach. You’ll be expected to take your shoes off before entering sacred areas. As long as you use common sense and dress like you care even a little, no one will bother you.

Another thing many new visitors don’t consider is how online behavior translates culturally and legally. Thailand has serious defamation laws, and they’re enforced. Posting a rant on social media about a bad experience at a restaurant or complaining publicly about someone can land you in real trouble – even if everything you said is true.

The safest approach is simple: keep your online posts positive. Venting online might feel normal where you come from, but here it can create problems you absolutely don’t want on your vacation.

Patience is something you’ll need every single day. Thailand moves at its own pace, and communication can feel chaotic. In shops and convenience stores, employees may not speak much English, and they might consult each other or disappear briefly while trying to understand what you want.

This isn’t rudeness; it’s how things work. If you stay calm and wait, someone will eventually figure out what you need and help you. If you lose your temper or act irritated, the entire staff may simply walk away and leave you standing there until you give up. Softness and patience get you further here than force.

Scams are an overblown topic online. Are there a few? Of course, but they’re nowhere near as common as dramatic travel videos suggest. The classic tuk-tuk scam near temples still happens occasionally, where someone tells you a site is “closed” and tries to redirect you into a shopping tour.

But these situations are easy to spot and easy to avoid. The most common misunderstanding tourists encounter is actually with taxis refusing to use the meter. Instead of assuming you’re being “scammed,” understand that negotiating a price upfront is normal here. Locals do it too.

If the driver won’t turn on the meter, agree on a price before you get in the car. Establish the amount clearly and politely, and stick to it. As long as you stay calm, these interactions are straightforward.

The same goes for tuk-tuks. They might quote you a price twice as high as you expect if you don’t ask for clarity. Just confirm the price before the ride. Some tuk-tuk drivers carry themselves with a bit of swagger, and some may even be drinking, so arguing isn’t worth it. Staying firm and polite is all you need. Almost every “scam” people complain about online is simply the result of not clarifying the price beforehand.

Thailand rewards travelers who approach it with respect and a relaxed attitude. If you smile, stay patient, and avoid battling with people, almost every situation unfolds smoothly. Whether you’re dealing with police, store employees, taxi drivers, or hotel staff, keeping things light prevents misunderstandings and keeps your trip enjoyable.

Above all, remember: Thailand isn’t out to get you. It’s one of the easiest and safest places in the world to travel. The problems people run into almost always come from not knowing how things work here. With realistic expectations, a little flexibility, and a willingness to adapt, your experience in Thailand will be far better than anything a rushed travel video can prepare you for.