Phuket

Thailand — the guide for Indian travellers

Visa & entryThailand

Type
Visa-free entry
Fee
₹0
Validity days
60
Processing days
0 (on arrival)
Documents
  • Passport (6 months validity)
  • Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) — fill online within 72h before arrival
  • Confirmed return/onward ticket within 60 days
  • Proof of funds ~THB 20,000 per person (rarely checked, keep a statement)
  • First night's hotel booking
Steps
  • No visa application needed — Indians get a free 60-day visa-exempt stamp
  • Complete the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th before flying (replaces the paper TM6)
  • Carry printed return ticket + hotel booking for immigration
Alternatives
  • Tourist e-Visa (60 days, extendable) — ₹3,500 · Only worth it if the visa-free window shrinks or you plan 60+ days

MoneyThailand

Currency
THB (Thai Baht)
Forex cards
  • Niyo Global — Zero forex markup; wide ATM support (ATMs charge ~THB 220/withdrawal)
  • Scapia — No forex markup; good for card payments at malls
  • BookMyForex card — Load THB directly to dodge dynamic conversion
Upi supported
Yes
Upi note
UPI works at many tourist merchants via PromptPay QR interoperability (NIPL tie-up) — but coverage is patchy; treat it as a bonus, not a plan.
Cash vs card
Thailand runs on cash outside malls. Street food, tuk-tuks, markets = THB cash. Withdraw larger amounts to amortise the flat ATM fee.

CustomsThailand

Into india
  • Duty-free allowance ₹50,000 (returning resident)
  • 1L alcohol duty-free; Thai fruit like durian is banned on most airlines
  • Buddha images/antiques need an export permit from Thailand — don't buy without one
Into destination
  • 1L alcohol + 200 cigarettes per adult; heavy fines for excess cigarettes
  • E-cigarettes/vapes are ILLEGAL in Thailand — fines and confiscation, do not carry
  • Drones must be registered with NBTC before flying

LanguageThailand

Official
  • Thai
English prevalence
Good in Bangkok/Phuket tourist areas; thin elsewhere. Menus in tourist zones have English.
Key phrases
  • Sawasdee khrap/kha — Hello (male/female speaker)
  • Khop khun khrap/kha — Thank you
  • Mai phet — Not spicy
  • Mangsawirat — Vegetarian
  • Tao rai? — How much?

Staying connected

Recommended
Type
eSIM
Partner
Airalo
Plan
Thailand 15GB / 15 days
Price
₹450
Alternatives
  • AIS Traveller SIM — Local SIM · THB 299 · HKT arrivals
  • TrueMove Tourist — Local SIM · THB 299 · Airport & 7-Eleven
Whatsapp text
Works normally
Whatsapp calls
Works normally
Free wifi
  • Hotels & beach cafés
  • Central Phuket mall

Airport to city

Options
  • Shared minibus — ₹450 · 60 · THB 180–200 to Patong; waits to fill up
  • Metered taxi / Grab — ₹2,000 · 45 · THB 700–900 to Patong — distances are real here · Skip 'limousine' counters quoting THB 1,200+
  • Smart Bus (airport→Rawai) — ₹250 · 90 · THB 100 flat along the west beaches; hourly

Getting around

System
No metro — Grab, scooter rentals, and pricey tuk-tuks
Card
Name
None
Note
Tuk-tuks are fixed-price cartel (THB 300+ between beaches) — agree before boarding
Ride hailing
  • Grab
  • Bolt
Daily budget
₹1,200

Weather & packing

Best months
  • December
  • January
  • February
  • March
Monthly
  • Nov–Mar — Dry season — calm Andaman seas, all islands accessible
  • Apr — Hot; Songkran water fights April 13–15
  • May–Oct — Monsoon — red-flag swimming days, Phi Phi trips often cancelled; big hotel discounts
What to pack
  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • Waterproof phone pouch
  • Motion-sickness tablets for speedboats
  • Sandals + one pair of walking shoes

Food

Veg friendly
  • 'Jay' (เจ) yellow-flag stalls are strictly vegan
  • Roti pancake stalls
  • Indian restaurants dense in Patong
Indian restaurants
  • Tandoori Flames — Patong · North Indian, Jain-friendly on request
  • Shri Ganesh — Patong · Budget pure veg thalis
  • Royal Tandoor — Karon · Family-run, good dal
Typical meal cost
₹350

Safety

Scams
  • Jet-ski 'damage' claims — video the machine before renting, or skip
  • Scooter rental passport-hostage disputes — never leave your passport as deposit
  • Tuk-tuk overcharging — agree price first
  • Rip currents May–Oct: red flag = do not swim, drownings are real
Areas to avoid
  • Bangla Road late-night touts (fine to walk, just firm 'no')
Emergency numbers
  • Tourist Police — 1155
  • Emergency — 191
  • Marine rescue — 1196

Culture & etiquette

Dress
Beachwear on the beach only; cover up in temples and Old Town. Topless sunbathing is illegal.
Tipping
Round up; THB 50 for tour guides/drivers appreciated.
Dos
  • Respect red flags on beaches
  • Wear helmets on scooters (police fine tourists)
  • Carry an IDP if riding
Donts
  • Don't touch corals or feed fish on island trips
  • No beach parties with glass bottles
  • Don't ride without a licence — insurance won't cover you

Top experiences

  • Phi Phi Islands Day Trip — phi-phi.jpg · Maya Bay, lagoons and snorkel stops by speedboat · ₹2,800 · 9 · Klook · phi-phi-islands
  • Big Buddha — big-buddha.jpg · 45m marble Buddha with island-wide views — free · ₹0 · 2 · big-buddha-phuket
  • Old Phuket Town — old-town.jpg · Sino-Portuguese streets, Sunday walking market · ₹0 · 3 · old-phuket-town