Visas in Thailand 2026: Immigration Office? Forget About That<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Pay in Thailand: Cash, QR Codes and Payment Reality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hard truth: anyone not using InDrive is robbing themselves. And it doesn’t matter how many years someone has been „living“ in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bargaining hasn’t disappeared from Thailand. It just moved to where it makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s just good to know where you’re going. And why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the trip was a return to Tao for photography \u2013 Tomas Arsov<\/a> sunscreens or Furiosa<\/a> jewelry and shooting content for personal brand. Followed by a return back to Bangkok, Big Buddha, sailing on the Chao Phraya and hurray home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few points that repeat and still make sense:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can be frugal, but also splurge nicely. I’ll leave that up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question isn’t whether Thailand is good. The question is what Thailand you want to experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/andrekohout.cz\/pisu-si\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0545-2-ve-velke-velikosti-768x1024.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTransportation in Thailand: Grab is Convenient but Expensive. Solution? InDrive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bargaining in 2026: When Yes and When You’ll Look Like an Exotic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Straight outta Chum\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nReturn to Thailand After Two Years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPractical Things That Will Save You Nerves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Much Does a Trip to Thailand Cost and Why I’m Addressing This<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Thailand Worth It? Absolutely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n