Ask anyone who’s travelled through South-East Asia, and they will almost certainly tell you that Thailand, is, without question, one of the greatest countries to visit in the region. The question then, is not where to go; but how long for? How long should you spend in Thailand while travelling? Is 6-months enough? Or perhaps a little too long? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.
How long is an ideal length of stay when travelling to Thailand?
Ultimately, it all depends on how much time you are looking to spend away from home, how much money you have to support your travels, and what your initial plans were (i.e., which other countries you planned to visit on your travels).
If you are only looking for a brief holiday, we recommend that you visit for a minimum of 2-weeks! If you can get 3-weeks off work, even better, but 2-weeks is the absolute minimum. The fact is, there’s so much to see and do in Thailand and once you arrive you’ll be grateful for extending your holiday that little bit longer.
For those who are taking a year or two off to travel, 6-months is more than enough time to spend in Thailand. You’ll definitely want to allow yourself some time to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, and some of the other neighbouring countries, but allow at least 6-months to explore South-East Asia’s jewel: Thailand.
How the 6-month tourist visa works
Before arriving in Thailand you can apply for a 60-day (2-month) tourist visa. This can then be extended for another 30-days at your local immigration office. This will take you up to 90-days (3-months) in the country.
You will then be able to extend your tourist visa for a final 90-days if you wish to continue your stay, however, you will be required to leave Thailand and return. This can easily be arranged with a Thai visa company and each extension costs approximately 1900 THB (about $50 USD).
What to do about accommodation on a tourist visa?
When on a tourist visa, you can stay in short-term rental properties. For example, if you wanted to spend the majority of your stay in Bangkok, you could find yourself a beautiful and affordable condo rental, such as The Room Sukhumvit 79. Once you have a base of operations, you can take random trips to some of the must-see locations in Thailand, such as Koh Samet, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Koh Pangnan, and Koh Samui (to name a few).
Final words: is 6-months plenty?
In honesty, there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with Thailand and 6-months won’t quite feel enough, but as a minimum duration for stay, this will allow you plenty of time to experience the true Thailand and explore some of its finest locations.
Make sure you brush up on your best travel tips and research Thailand plenty before you set off; you’ll want a solid plan in place so that you can make each and every day count!
