Are you planning a trip to Thailand and wondering how to stay connected to the internet during your travels? This blog post will cover all the options you can use to get internet in Thailand.
We will also be covering the prices of various data packages to help you find the best option that fits your budget.
Buying eSIM For Thailand
If you have purchased your smartphone in the past two years, it likely supports the eSIM technology, which enables you to scan a QR code and activate an eSIM to use data when traveling to Thailand.
eSIMs are digital SIM cards that can be turned on and off in your phone’s settings.
You can purchase eSIMs from various eSIM providers. Websites such as simpackers.com will help you to find the best eSIM for Thailand.
According to SIMPACKERS, the prices for eSIMs in Thailand range from $3.90 to $125. It all comes down to the amount of data you need and the duration of your trip.
Buying and activating an eSIM for Thailand takes less than 10 minutes, meaning it’s one of the most affordable and convenient options to get internet in Thailand.
Buying a Physical SIM Card
If you have an older smartphone, which still relies on physical SIM cards, you might be looking to purchase one at the airport or in one of the many local shops that sell SIM cards to tourists.
You can buy a SIM card on arrival at any international airport in Thailand. Many phone carriers in Thailand offer tourist SIM cards that can be purchased at a premium price for 30 days.
AIS is one of the carriers with the best coverage in Thailand. If you are looking for a SIM card, you can choose from packages ranging from 8 to 30 days.
The price for a 30-day SIM card from AIS with unlimited 5G data is 1,699 THB, which is about 48 USD or 45 EUR. An 8-day SIM card from AIS starts from 299 THB or 8 USD.
The SIM card activation takes about 15 minutes, and it can be done by the carrier’s staff at the airport.
Many SIM card sellers accept only cash, so you must withdraw local currency from an ATM and pay at least a 200 THB ATM fee to buy a SIM card at the airport.
Connecting to WIFI Networks
If you are on a budget or don’t need to be connected to the internet at all times, you might as well use the WIFI in restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels. Almost every venue offering services to tourists offers free WIFI in Thailand.
While this is the cheapest way to get internet in Thailand, it’s certainly not the fastest or safest option.
Connecting to the internet via public WIFI networks continually exposes your device to external threats, especially when working with sensitive information.
If you are a heavy internet user, you might not be happy with the internet speed as you share the bandwidth with other users connected to the same WIFI network.
Those three options are the most popular ways to get internet in Thailand, which is a necessity, mainly when calculating the price of goods or simply navigating the country.
If your phone supports eSIMs, it’s the most convenient way to stay connected during your travels to Thailand.
Happy Traveling!