Phone, internet, and messaging apps — how to stay in touch while traveling in Thailand.
Buy a local SIM at the airport (AIS, Dtac, True Move) for 50–100 THB, then load prepaid credit — much cheaper than roaming.
Free WiFi in malls, cafes, hotels, and most restaurants; speeds vary but sufficient for messaging and maps.
WhatsApp, Line, Telegram all work fine in Thailand — many Thais use Line for messaging.
WhatsApp or Skype calls work via WiFi; international calling cards available at 7-Eleven if you need voice calls.
See the SIM card guide for exact pricing — a tourist SIM (299–599 THB) at the airport arrivals hall gets you connected within minutes of landing, and Thai mobile data is both fast and cheap by international standards.
Hotels, cafes, malls, and even many street-level restaurants offer free WiFi — connectivity is rarely a genuine problem in central Bangkok, though speeds vary at budget accommodation.
Google Maps (download the Bangkok area offline), Grab, and Google Translate with Thai downloaded for offline use — see the full apps guide for the complete list.