Tips

10 Things Israelis Notice in Thailand in the First 24 Hours

3 min readFrom the THAI TROPIC blog

Heat and humidity: the first thing that hits you

The terminal doors slide open and something heavy and damp lands on you. It is not the dry heat you know from an Israeli August. It is humidity you can feel on your skin before you even reach the taxi. It is usually strongest around midday, and easier early in the morning and in the evening.

Most travelers adjust within a day or two, but on day one it pays to keep things light: drink plenty, wear breathable fabrics and do not pack attractions into the afternoon. In the rainy season you also get sudden, short downpours, and our guide to the seasons explains what to expect in your month.

7-Eleven and the air conditioning that freezes

Within an hour you will discover that Thailand has two climates: outside and inside. Malls, taxis, buses and especially convenience stores are cooled hard, and anyone walking in sweaty in a tank top may start shivering. Keep a thin long-sleeve shirt or a scarf in your bag.

And 7-Eleven is a story of its own: branches on nearly every corner, and not only for a cold bottle of water. You can also find hot ready meals and local snacks you will not see back home. We wrote a separate guide to 7-Eleven in Thailand.

Smiles, the wai and shoes at the door

You will quickly notice the smiles, and the greeting where palms press together in front of the chest, called a wai. Nobody expects tourists to master it. A smile and a slight nod are enough, and you will usually get a smile back.

The shoe rule is less obvious if you do not know it: in homes, temples, some small shops and many guesthouses and massage places, shoes come off at the entrance. A row of footwear by the door is your signal. More on behavior in our etiquette guide.

Left-side traffic, queues, and noise versus calm

Traffic drives on the left, and motorbikes fill every gap. When crossing, look both ways, prefer a crosswalk or a pedestrian bridge, and do not assume a driver will stop just because there are white stripes on the road.

In queues, such as at an elevator, a train platform or a popular food stall, people generally wait patiently and quietly. If you are used to a more flexible queue, you will notice the difference right away. The noise surprises too: in a market or at a busy intersection it is intense, and then suddenly, in a temple or a side alley, there is near silence. That sharp switch is part of the experience.

Food everywhere, time difference and tipping

Almost every street has a stall or a small restaurant, and you can eat at any hour, even in the middle of the night. If you are unsure where to start, read about street food in Thailand. The time difference from Israel is four hours in summer and five in winter, depending on daylight saving, and your body will react: wide awake at 3 a.m., drowsy at noon. Get outside in daylight and do not nap long on day one.

And tipping? It is not mandatory in Thailand, but it is appreciated. A few coins or rounding up makes people happy, and it is worth checking the bill for a service charge. The details are in our tipping guide.

Your first day, in short

The simple recipe: easy rest, water, a thin shirt in your bag, a first meal from a place that looks busy with locals, and a fairly early night. If you land in Bangkok and want a comfortable neighborhood for the first night, start with where to stay in Bangkok, and if you continue to an island, jump to the Phuket destination page.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Bangkok before moving on, here are a few hotels to consider.