Thailand Arrival Checklist: TDAC, Transfers, Money & First-Day Tips
A first-timer checklist for landing in Thailand — TDAC, airport transfer, SIM/money basics, and how digital tour vouchers work.
How to use this checklist
This is the list we would hand a friend flying into Thailand for the first time. It is split by timing: a week out, the three days before, the airport itself, and the first 24 hours. Each step links to a longer guide if you want the detail.
One week before you fly
Confirm your entry status
Check whether your passport gets visa-free entry, needs an e-Visa, or qualifies for visa on arrival. Rules vary by nationality and change from time to time. Our visa overview lists the main routes and the official sites to check.
Check passport validity
Six months from your arrival date is the safe rule. Airlines check this at boarding.
Decide your first ride
Arriving tired with bags and no plan is how people end up overpaying. Choose now:
- Pre-booked private transfer, waiting with your name
- Public taxi queue (metered, with a surcharge from the airport)
- Ride-hail app
- Airport Rail Link or bus, if you are travelling light
If you are landing late at night, with children, or heading out of the city, a transfer is usually the least hassle. Examples on our site: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Bangkok hotel, Don Mueang (DMK) to Bangkok hotel, BKK to Pattaya, Phuket Airport to Kata, and Koh Samui Airport to Chaweng. Add your flight number so the driver follows delays. Our comparison of private transfers versus taxis and ride-hail goes through the trade-offs.
Plan your data
Decide between an eSIM installed before you fly and a physical tourist SIM bought at the airport. Check your phone is unlocked. The Thailand SIM and eSIM guide covers both.
Tell your bank
Some cards still get blocked on the first foreign transaction. A quick travel notice or app setting avoids that.
Three days before arrival
Submit the TDAC
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card opens three days before your arrival date. Submit it only on the official immigration website. It is free. Our TDAC guide explains the fields and the fake sites to avoid.
Save documents offline
Put these in one folder on your phone, and keep a paper copy of the passport page:
- Passport photo page
- Visa approval if any
- TDAC confirmation
- Hotel booking with the address in English, ideally in Thai too
- Transfer and tour vouchers
- Travel insurance policy
Airport Wi-Fi works, but it can be slow when a few hundred people land at once.
Note your booking IDs
Write your Booking ID for each transfer and tour into your phone notes, along with the support contact on your voucher. If you cannot find your driver, that is the first thing support will ask for.
At the airport
- Follow the signs to immigration. Have passport and TDAC ready.
- Join the right queue. Foreign passport lanes are signed.
- Collect bags. Check the belt number on the screens.
- Pass customs. Most visitors walk through the green channel.
- Head to arrivals and follow the meeting instructions on your voucher.
Ignore people who approach you inside the terminal offering taxis, hotels or "official" help with paperwork. Official staff wear uniforms and stay at counters.
Money
ATMs are in the arrivals hall at all major airports. Thai ATMs charge a fixed fee per withdrawal for foreign cards, on top of whatever your bank charges, so take out a reasonable amount once rather than small amounts often. Exchange counters at the airport are convenient but rates are often better in the city.
Cards work in hotels, malls, chain restaurants and most attractions. Markets, street food, small shops, tuk-tuks and many massage places want cash. Keep small notes; a 1,000 baht note for a 60 baht noodle soup is not welcome.
First 24 hours
Keep the day light
Long flights catch up with people around mid-afternoon. Eat, shower, walk near the hotel. Book the big day trips for day two or later.
Check times in Thailand time
Thailand runs on ICT (UTC+7) all year. Pickup times on your vouchers are local. Free cancellation windows are also counted in local time, not your home time zone.
Confirm tomorrow's pickup
If you have a tour the next morning, check the pickup time and location on the voucher, and whether you need to wait in the hotel lobby or at a meeting point.
Easy first evening ideas
In Bangkok, a river trip is low effort after a flight. A Chao Phraya Princess dinner cruise or the Meridian buffet dinner cruise means sitting down, eating and watching the temples light up. In Phuket, a beach sunset near your hotel is enough. Save shows like Phuket FantaSea for a night when you are rested.
What people forget
- A light layer for over-cooled malls, buses and planes
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for temples (see temple etiquette)
- A power bank, because maps and ride apps drain batteries
- Reef-safe sunscreen for boat trips
- The hotel address in Thai script, for drivers who do not read English
FAQ
How long does immigration take at Suvarnabhumi?
It varies with the time of day and season. Allow for a wait, especially for evening arrivals in high season, and do not book anything time-critical for the hour after landing.
Should I exchange money before I travel?
A small amount is handy but not necessary. Airport ATMs work fine.
Can I use a ride-hail app from the airport?
Yes, at the main airports. Pickup points are on specific floors, and prices change with demand.
What if my driver is not there?
Check the meeting point on the voucher, then contact support with your Booking ID. Do not go off with someone who just says your name; drivers will show the booking details.
Next steps
Once you have landed, the first day in Bangkok and first day in Phuket guides pick up from the hotel lobby. For things to do, browse Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Krabi.