Your phone is your map, your wallet, your boarding pass and your way to contact home. On a trip to Thailand you will use it to fill in your arrival card, buy a SIM card, call a car and perhaps pay by QR code, so losing it, or losing control of your accounts, can cause serious problems on your trip. Here is what to set up before you fly, how to stay connected safely, which scams to watch for, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Before You Leave Home
- Update your phone and laptop. Install the latest system and app updates before you leave, while you are on a network you trust.
- Turn on two-factor login for email, banking and social media. Codes sent by text message go to your home phone number, so you will not receive them if you replace your home SIM card with a Thai SIM card. Set up an authenticator app where your accounts allow it.
- Back up your data to cloud storage.
- Turn on the device finder: Find My on an iPhone, Find My Device on Android. Check that you can sign in to it from another device.
- Write down key numbers on paper: your bank's card-loss line, your insurer's 24-hour number and policy number, and your embassy's number from its official website.
- Save Thai emergency numbers in your contacts: 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance and 1155 for the Tourist Police.
- Install the Thailand Tourist Police app. According to the UK government, it works for tourists without a Thai SIM card and gives information on attractions and alerts about natural disasters or safety concerns nearby.
Complete the Arrival Card Online
Since 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals arriving in Thailand by air, land or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival. Because you type passport details into this form, reach it from an official source such as your government's travel advice (for example the UK government's Thailand entry requirements page), not from an advertisement or a stranger's link.
Getting Connected: SIM Cards, Wi-Fi and VPNs
Buying a Tourist SIM
Mobile data is safer than public Wi-Fi, so a local SIM card is a good first step. One example is the Tourist SIM sold by True and dtac, which now sell it together:
| Option | Validity | Approximate price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist SIM | 8 days | about 449 THB | unlimited data |
| Tourist SIM | 15 or 30 days | check with True/dtac | longer stays |
| Data-only SIM | 10 days | check with True/dtac | no calls |
These details were checked in September 2026; confirm prices and packages with the operator before you buy, on the True Tourist SIM page or at the counter. You need your passport to buy the SIM, each person can buy at most 3 SIMs per brand, and some sales channels ask for face verification. Counters at the airports are open 24/7.
If you book an airport pickup with Smile Taxi Service, you can also ask for a free 500 MB Thailand eSIM (ask when booking). It lets you message your driver and open a map straight away.
Public Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and airports is often open or shares one password with everyone. On such networks, someone can set up a fake hotspot with a similar name or try to read unprotected traffic.
- Use mobile data for banking, payments and anything that needs a password.
- Ask staff for the exact network name, and turn off automatic joining of open networks.
- Never save passwords on shared computers, and log out when you finish.
Using a VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN provider, which helps when you must use hotel or cafe Wi-Fi. Install a well-known service before you travel.
Keeping Your Phone Safe Day to Day
- Keep your phone in a front pocket or a zipped bag in markets, on crowded trains and at festivals.
- Use a short screen-lock time and a PIN or biometric lock, so a stolen phone cannot be opened.
- Leave your passport, spare devices and a backup card in the hotel safe. Carry a copy of your passport photo page: police can ask to see your passport, and a copy is usually enough.
- Carry a power bank, so you do not lose your map at night when your battery runs out.
Money, Cards and ATMs
- Turn on instant transaction alerts in your banking app.
- Never share a one-time code with anyone, even a caller who says they are from your bank.
- Prefer ATMs inside banks or malls, cover the keypad, and avoid a machine with a loose card slot or an extra part on the keypad.
- Carry two cards from different banks and keep them in separate places, with your cash split the same way.
Common Digital Scams
Phishing messages. Fake booking confirmations, "problem with your account" emails and prize messages try to make you click a link and type a password or card number. Open the app or type the website address yourself instead.
Payment requests for a booked service. Check any request to pay in advance with the company through a contact you already know. For example, Smile Taxi Service takes no online payment and no deposit on its website: you pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, you message the team and it sends a PayPal payment link, with a 5% fee added.
QR codes. Where you pay by scanning a code, check the name that your banking app shows before you confirm, and look for a sticker placed over the original code.
Job offers. The UK government warns that foreigners recruited for "jobs" have had their passports taken and been forced to run online scams. Treat job offers from social media or messaging apps with great caution.
If you are the victim of a scam, call the Tourist Police on 1155 or the Tourist Assistance Center at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 0 2134 4077 (both 24 hours), and ask for a police report for your insurer.
Social Media, Drones and Location Sharing
Social media. Criticizing the monarchy is a crime in Thailand that carries a long prison sentence, and this includes online posts and shared articles.
Drones. Every drone must be registered with the NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) within 30 days. Flying an unregistered drone can bring a fine of up to 100,000 THB, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
Your location. Posting in real time tells strangers where you are. Share photos after you leave a place, and never post your passport, boarding pass or room number.
If Your Phone or Card Is Stolen
- Sign in to Find My or Find My Device from another device, then lock the phone or erase it.
- Call your bank or card company to block the cards. For a lost or stolen Visa card anywhere in the world, you can call Visa collect on +1 303 967 1096 (hotel and mobile calls may be charged).
- Change your email and banking passwords first.
- Ask your mobile operator to block the SIM, so nobody can receive your login codes.
- Report the theft to the Tourist Police (1155) and ask for a police report for your insurer.
Useful Numbers to Save
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police and general emergency | 191 |
| Fire | 199 |
| Ambulance | 1669 |
| Tourist Police (24 hours, English-speaking operators) | 1155 |
| Tourist Assistance Center, Suvarnabhumi Airport (24 hours) | 0 2134 4077 |
| Visa lost or stolen cards (call collect) | +1 303 967 1096 |
A Calm Arrival With Smile Taxi Service
With Smile Taxi Service, the team sends you the driver's name, car and plate number before the trip, so you can check the car before you get in. At Suvarnabhumi, the driver meets you on Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4. Message on WhatsApp or LINE once you have your bags, and the car arrives in the pickup lane in about 5–10 minutes. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time, and a person checks your flight.
Fares are fixed, per vehicle, one way, with expressway tolls included. From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok:
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 600 THB, up to 3 passengers and 2 bags
- Book an SUV from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 800 THB, up to 5 passengers and 4 bags
- Book a van from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 1100 THB, up to 7 passengers and 5 bags
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). See all routes and fares.
FAQ
Which SIM card should I buy in Thailand? For example the True/dtac Tourist SIM: 8 days with unlimited data for about 449 THB, sold 24/7 at airport counters. Bring your passport.
What do I need to fill in online before arrival? The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), within 3 days before you arrive. Start from an official source, not an advertisement.
Can I get in trouble for social media posts? Yes. Criticizing the monarchy, including sharing articles online, can lead to a long prison sentence.
Does the Tourist Police app need a Thai SIM? No. It works without a Thai SIM card, and the 1155 line answers 24 hours with English-speaking operators.
Is hotel Wi-Fi safe? Use it for browsing, but use mobile data or a VPN for banking, payments and passwords.
For an airport pickup with the driver's details sent in advance, message the team on WhatsApp or LINE.