Worst THAILAND Packing Mistakes

Mistake #1: Packing Too Much

One thing you’ll definitely notice here at the airport is people with very large suitcases. And this was probably my single biggest mistake during my first trip to Thailand. I brought too many clothes, too many electronics, too many toiletries, and it simply weighed me down.

If you want to take advantage of all the discount flights here in Asia, you don’t want to pack too heavy, as you’ll pay almost double the fare for every extra large bag that you have to check. When I was traveling the first time, I ended up getting rid of half my stuff so that I could take those cheap flights, and that was expensive because I paid for all that stuff. So if you want to save yourself hassle and money, bring less.

You can buy almost anything here in Thailand. It’s very easy to supplement your wardrobe, your toiletries, your electronics almost anything. The big benefit of waiting and not packing too much is that you can get a feel for what you really wear, what you really use, and add to your wardrobe when you come to Thailand.

If you’re looking for inexpensive clothes, you can stop in at any mall. You’ll find a great selection of brand name products, inexpensive stores like Uniqlo. If you’re coming to the big malls the big luxury middle-class malls everything here will be fully authentic. However, when it comes to brand name products, normally prices are a little bit higher here in Thailand as there are import tariffs.

You can also stop in at the more market-oriented malls like Platinum, where you’ll find very cheap products. The low prices mean that you can easily discard items at any time if you need to free up some space, as this will actually be cheaper than paying for added luggage on the low-cost airlines.

Luggage space is valuable, and you should carefully assess each item that you bring.

Mistake #2: Packing Heavy Garments

The most important thing to remember is that Thailand is very hot for most of the year, so it’s normally a mistake to pack any heavy garments like jeans or sweaters.

But you should always carry a few t-shirts that cover your shoulders and long pants that cover your knees. Thailand is actually a fairly conservative country when it comes to fashion, and it’s actually something of a cultural faux pas to walk around in tank tops all day long, especially in public spaces like malls. You won’t even be allowed to enter sites like temples, palaces, or government offices without a shirt that covers your shoulders and long pants that cover your knees.

Mistake #3: Packing Too Many Toiletries

While it’s a mistake to pack too many clothes, it’s also a mistake to bring too many toiletries. When it comes to general toiletries moisturizers, body wash, face wash you can buy pretty much everything you need here in Thailand.

The 7-Eleven convenience store brand is extremely popular in Thailand, and you’ll find one on almost every street corner, where you can easily stop in and buy generic toiletries for very inexpensive prices. For a greater selection and better discounts, you can check the big chain pharmacy stores Boots and Watsons which you’ll find in almost every mall.

But when you’re buying toiletries in Thailand, you should be cautious if you want to avoid whitening products. These can be very common when it comes to moisturizers, lotions, face, and body wash. But it’s quite easy to avoid them as these products are labeled as “white” or “bright.”

My personal preference for toiletries is to come into a place like Boots, as they often have two-for-one sales on almost everything. I normally just come in and stock up when I see the discounts.

Mistake #4: Not Packing Hard-to-Find Items

There are two products that can be harder to find or significantly more expensive in Thailand.

Probably the single most important item is tampons. Many stores don’t carry them at all, and you’ll find a very limited selection at significantly higher prices.

The second product that you might want to pack is sunscreen, as it can be more expensive in Thailand. But this really comes down to your choice of brand and where you shop. Just make sure to check Boots or Watsons in a big city like Bangkok, as they tend to have pretty consistent two-for-one specials.

Mistake #5: Exchanging Money in Your Home Country

Let’s talk about money. There are a few key mistakes that travelers make when it comes to getting Thai baht that’s the national currency here in Thailand.

If you plan to bring cash, you should avoid exchanging money in your home country. Wait until you arrive in Thailand, and you’ll get the best exchange rates, as the overhead costs here for the exchanges are much lower.

You might be tempted to exchange money as soon as you exit at arrivals, but you’ll be much better off waiting until you go to the basement level next to the Airport Rail Link. You just go to the left, and you’ll find the best exchange rates from three different exchanges: Super Rich, Happy Rich, and Kasikorn Bank. Just make sure to bring your passport with you, as you’ll need this to complete the exchange transaction.

If you plan to bring a lot of money with you, you can bring up to $20,000 US dollars into Thailand without declaring it. That being said, most Western countries require you to declare anything over $10,000 when you’re leaving.

But you don’t need to pack a suitcase full of money. You’ll find plenty of ATMs all over the airport, all over the city, all over the country it’s very easy to access. You’ll pay a 220 baht fee to use an ATM, plus any charges that your home bank may levy on you, so you want to check that out as well.

You can easily save on all these fees by packing an international travel debit or credit card which covers foreign transaction fees. Do a quick Google search on the best travel accounts and cards in your country, and you’ll find great options to compare. These cards will not only cover your ATM fees, but they’ll also allow you to shop at malls and restaurants with automatic currency conversions at the best rates.

The exchange rates you’ll get at the ATM are excellent they’re the mid-market rate. But you may be asked if you want to accept the charge in your home currency. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and you should always say no. Always select the local currency the Thai baht exchange rate. That’s the best rate.

And this brings me to the final mistake and it’s a big one. ATMs in Thailand return your card after you receive the money. This is different from most Western countries, where the card is returned before you receive the money. Many travelers lose their cards in the ATMs for this reason. You should always pack at least two cards, and make sure to inform your bank about your travel plans prior to leaving in order to avoid having your account frozen, as many banks will view the sudden withdrawals and spending in a foreign country as suspicious.

Mistake #6: Coming with a Locked Phone

You’ll probably want to use the internet, maybe make some phone calls on your mobile device when you’re in Thailand. There are a few key mistakes that travelers make when it comes to phones and internet.

The single biggest mistake that travelers make is coming to Thailand with a locked phone. If your phone’s locked, you’ll only be able to access expensive roaming and international services from your home country provider. Make sure you have an unlocked phone.

Then you’ll have a few options when it comes to accessing data and the internet. Your main choice is going to come down to whether or not you want the tourist SIM card, an eSIM, or a proper prepaid SIM which is definitely the cheapest option.

When it comes to SIM cards, there are three major service providers here in Thailand: you have AIS, True, and Dtac. They all offer great tourist SIM card packages. They’re pretty much the same, so you can pick and choose between all three providers.

Your second option is to use an eSIM. The most popular option is Airalo, which is reasonably priced with good coverage and overall great reviews.

Finally, you can get a much better deal by holding off and going to a mall. All three service providers have shops in absolutely every mall here in Thailand. You simply walk into the shop, bring your passport, go to customer service, and they’ll set you up with a much cheaper pay-as-you-go plan with a SIM card that costs around $1.50. It’s a little bit less convenient, but you’ll get some great long-term savings if you have a long-term travel plan.

Mistake #7: Bringing Too Many Electronics

The next common mistake is bringing too many electronics with you in your bag. This is a country where you can buy almost anything very inexpensively.

However, if you’re coming from the UK or Australia, you’ll need a plug adapter. You can definitely buy adapters here in Thailand, but this is something that you should probably pack, as it takes up minimal space in your bag, and you’ll want to be able to charge devices like a phone or laptop immediately upon arrival.

The second common mistake that travelers make is planning to purchase electronics here in Thailand phones, laptops, and other expensive devices. Much like clothes, these tend to be more expensive in Thailand, and it normally makes a lot more sense to buy expensive brand name electronics in your home country and bring them with you.

Keep in mind: if you’re boarding an airplane, you’ll need to bring your power bank in your carry-on baggage. You cannot check them.

Mistake #8: Not Understanding Pharmaceutical Regulations

Let’s talk about pharmaceutical medications, as this is an area where making mistakes can be particularly risky.

For most prescription medications, you shouldn’t have any difficulty buying them here in Thailand. However, there are classes of drugs which are strictly controlled in Thailand and can be very difficult to obtain.

The first are opioids and opioid derivatives. This includes strong pain medications like oxycodone, as well as much weaker variations like common codeine. Buying these drugs will require a prescription from a hospital. For this reason, it’s best to bring your own supply of opioid medications with you, but this includes filling out an online form to get permission from the Thai FDA in advance.

If you take any prescription medications, I strongly recommend that you watch my full video on pharmaceutical drugs for guidance.

Mistake #9: Packing Illegal Items

And of course, it’s very important not to pack any illegal items. This includes any illegal drugs Thailand has a very harsh sentencing for drug import offenses. But you’re also prohibited from bringing in fresh food items like fruit and vegetables.

Here in Thailand, you’re also prohibited from bringing in e-cigarettes, vapes, or hookahs. These will be confiscated if they’re discovered, and you can face a fine.

Mistake #10: Not Bringing Proper Documentation

Let’s discuss documents.

The most important mistake that most travelers make when it comes to documents is not obtaining an international driver’s license before they come to Thailand. In order to legally drive here, you need an international or Thai driver’s license. Your national license will not be valid, and this includes cars and motorbikes.

Motorbike shops will normally rent scooters without either of these documents, but it’s common for tourists to get stopped and fined by the police for lacking a proper license. Perhaps more importantly, insurance providers will also refuse coverage in case of an accident if you lack a valid license in the country.

The second common document mistake occurs with people who plan to work in Thailand. If you plan to work or think you might want to work, you should obtain and bring a background check or police clearance from your home country. If those documents aren’t in English, you’ll also need official translations. In addition, you should bring copies of your degrees and transcripts.