Thailand 2026: What Has Changed and What Even Expats Won't Tell You

Two years ago, I wrote a series of articles about Thailand that was read by over 10,000 people. And judging by the discussions, I should have “gone home and kept quiet” back then. So we returned there after two years. Not to prove anyone right, but because Thailand changes maybe faster than opinions in Facebook groups. Here’s my current update from January 2026. No romanticizing. No expat dogma. With real data and experiences from the trip.

If you’ve read my previous articles, this is their direct continuation. If not, I recommend starting there and then coming back here.

Visas in Thailand 2026: Immigration Office? Forget About That

If you read older discussions, you might think Thailand is visa hell. The reality of 2026 is significantly different. Czechs currently have visa-free entry for 60 days. Not thirty anymore. Sixty. Cool, right?

If you’re not planning to stay a quarter year in one place, the immigration office is a problem you don’t need to deal with at all. Thailand finally opened the floodgates and it shows.

How to Pay in Thailand: Cash, QR Codes and Payment Reality

One of the most common pieces of advice is “cash is king.” Sure, cash still makes sense. But saying in 2026 that you can’t survive without it means being stuck in time somewhere around 2018.

Thailand is extremely advanced with QR payments via PromptPay. Even a remote stall on an island has a QR code. Tourists don’t have Thai accounts, but solutions are emerging through travel wallets and apps like Revolut that gradually bend this system.

Practical advice: definitely carry cash with you, but don’t rely only on it. ATM withdrawals still hurt with fixed fees, so withdraw larger amounts at once. And yes, SuperRich down at the metro at the airport still has one of the best exchange rates.

Transportation in Thailand: Grab is Convenient but Expensive. Solution? InDrive

Grab works everywhere. And it’s also the most expensive almost everywhere. Easily 30 to 50 percent more. Bolt is cheaper, but the real gamechanger of 2026 is InDrive.

An app where you negotiate the price directly in it, without haggling on the street. If you still prefer “authentic bargaining with taxi drivers” today, you’re not saving money, but at most cultivating your ego.

Hard truth: anyone not using InDrive is robbing themselves. And it doesn’t matter how many years someone has been “living” in Thailand.

Bargaining in 2026: When Yes and When You’ll Look Like an Exotic

Bargaining hasn’t disappeared from Thailand. It just moved to where it makes sense.

On islands like Koh Tao or Phangan, prices are often set by online price lists. You don’t bargain in cafes. At 7-Eleven, definitely not. At markets without price tags, yes. For services, yes. For scooters, almost always.

If someone tells you that bargaining is an insult to culture, they probably shop exclusively in shopping malls. In tourist spots, the price is often set with the expectation that you’ll speak up. Period.

Straight outta Chum…

You can experience Thailand without filters. Half the prices compared to islands, rawer service, less English, more reality. A place where Thais go on vacation. Not influencers. Where is it? I won’t tell you right away. Or I will, if you message me on Instagram.

Koh Tao and Phangan are a different world. Gentrification is felt at every step. Koh Tao is no longer just about diving. It’s about specialty espresso, cold brew, and perfect breakfasts. Is that bad? No. It’s evolution.

It’s just good to know where you’re going. And why.

Return to Thailand After Two Years

After two years, we returned to Thailand partly following the footsteps of our previous trip. And surprisingly, my own articles came in handy. That’s exactly why I write them. So I can come back to them and know how much things cost and why we did something.

We got tickets for just under 14,000 CZK with a transfer in China. A separate travel blog about that will come out here on my blog because China deserves it, even though I said no two years ago. After arrival, classic Bangkok. Chatuchak Market, Lumpini Park with lizards and the new Little Den Cafe. Exotic animal cafe where for 349 THB you spend an hour with fennec foxes, meerkats or raccoons. Bizarre. At the same time, surprisingly well done.

Then a move to a place I won’t name this time either. Not because I want to be mysterious, but because some places deserve peace. Five days, wind, worse weather, but still one of the reasons we return to Thailand.

Koh Tao disappointed us this time. Even more touristy than two years ago. The beaches, ocean, and mood of locals suffer from it. But if it were your first time, it would still make sense to go and take snorkeling gear. However, the return wasn’t as strong for us.

Koh Phangan was all the more surprising. The party island with Full Moon Party is just one layer. Beneath it are beautiful beaches, national parks, local food, and great restaurants. A place I’d gladly return to.

The rest of the trip was a return to Tao for photography – Tomas Arsov sunscreens or Furiosa jewelry and shooting content for personal brand. Followed by a return back to Bangkok, Big Buddha, sailing on the Chao Phraya and hurray home.

Practical Things That Will Save You Nerves

A few points that repeat and still make sense:

A scooter costs about 200 to 300 THB per day. Always photograph and film the whole thing.
An international driving license with group A is not a recommendation, but a necessity. Without it, you risk a fine and non-compliance with insurance.
Handle SIM through Airelo (with code ANDRE5430 you’ll have it cheaper), local SIM at 7-Eleven. Roaming is nonsense.
Thai massage from 200 THB per hour is still one of the best investments.
Eat where locals eat. Restaurants full of tourists are expensive and usually weak.
Don’t drink tap water. Never. Only drink bottled. Don’t get sick from it…
Always have toast from 7-Eleven heated up. No debate.

How Much Does a Trip to Thailand Cost and Why I’m Addressing This

This time we spent over 30,000 CZK per person. About 17,000 CZK for accommodation, over 5,000 CZK for transfers and the rest food, drinks, admissions and things paid in cash.

I write this because numbers give context. Thailand is no longer an “ultra cheap” destination, but still offers an extremely good price-to-experience ratio. When you know how to navigate it. Keep in mind we spent almost a month there.

You can be frugal, but also splurge nicely. I’ll leave that up to you.

Is Thailand Worth It? Absolutely

Thailand 2026 isn’t worse or better than before. It’s different. More digital, more expensive in some places, more open in others. But still worth it.

The question isn’t whether Thailand is good. The question is what Thailand you want to experience.

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

Příspěvek sdílený André Kohout | King of Networking (@jajsemandre)

And that’s exactly what this update was about.

Thailand 2026 Itinerary

Bangkok

Chatuchak Weekend Market
Lumpini Park
Little Den Cafe
Big Buddha
boat cruise on Chao Phraya

Koh Tao

360 Viewpoint Sun Suwan
Sairee Beach
Tanote Bay
Ao Leuk
snorkeling
evening fire show

Koh Phangan

Phantip Market
Mae Haad Beach
Koh Ma
Three Sixty Bar
Thong Nai Pan
Ang Thong National Park
Amsterdam Bar