Country guide
Flights to Thailand
No non-stops from the US, two Bangkok airports, and islands on opposite seasons
Thailand takes the best part of a day to reach from the United States, with no non-stop service and at least one connection on every itinerary. Choosing that connection well is worth real effort, because the difference between routings can be several hours.
The planning detail most people miss is that the islands do not share a season. The Andaman coast and the Gulf coast have their monsoons at different times, so the right island depends entirely on when you are going.
Cities we have guides for
Where to go beyond the obvious
The Andaman coast
Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta on the west side. Best from roughly November to April, and wettest from May to October.
The Gulf coast
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao on the east side, with a different pattern — their wettest period runs roughly October to December, when the Andaman side is at its best.
Chiang Mai and the north
Cooler, mountainous and culturally distinct, an hour by air from Bangkok. Note the burning season from roughly February to April, when air quality deteriorates badly.
Bangkok itself
Worth several days rather than a stopover, with the caveat that its traffic makes the rail lines the only reliable way to move around in the afternoon.
When to go
November to February is the cool dry season across most of the country and the most comfortable time to travel. It is also the busiest and most expensive.
March to May is very hot, regularly above 35°C with high humidity. April brings Songkran, which is a considerable draw in its own right.
June to October is the rainy season on much of the mainland and the Andaman coast, with heavy afternoon downpours rather than constant rain. The Gulf islands are often good during this period, which is the useful thing to know.
Getting around
Domestic flights are cheap and frequent and are the practical way to reach the islands and the north. Check which Bangkok airport they use, because the two are far apart.
Overnight trains and buses connect the mainland at low cost and considerable time. Ferries reach the islands and are weather-dependent in the monsoon.
In Bangkok, the BTS and MRT beat taxis in the afternoon by a wide margin because of traffic.
The basics
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB)
- Language
- Thai; English is common in tourist areas and hotels
- Time zone
- ICT, UTC+7, with no daylight saving
- Power
- Types A, B and C, 220V
- Driving
- On the left
- Entry for US passports
- Short tourist visits have generally been permitted without a visa, and terms have changed more than once recently. Confirm the current requirement with Thai immigration before booking.
Before you book
Match the island to the month
The Andaman and Gulf coasts have opposite wet seasons. Picking the wrong coast for your dates is the difference between a beach holiday and a week of rain.
Never connect between Bangkok's two airports on separate tickets
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang are a long, traffic-dependent drive apart. A delay on the first flight means buying a new ticket.
Avoid the northern burning season
Air quality around Chiang Mai deteriorates sharply from roughly February to April. It is a genuine health consideration, not a minor inconvenience.
Temples enforce a dress code
Shoulders and knees covered at the major sites, without exception. Cover-ups are sold outside at a markup you can easily avoid.
Routes to Thailand
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to Thailand — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
November to February is the cool dry season and the most comfortable across most of the country, which also makes it the busiest and priciest. The important nuance is the islands: the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi is best from November to April, while the Gulf islands like Koh Samui have a different pattern and are often good when the Andaman side is wet.
Which Bangkok airport will I use?
Suvarnabhumi handles most full-service and long-haul flying, so an itinerary from the US will almost always arrive there. Don Mueang handles most low-cost regional and domestic traffic. They are a long road journey apart with no airside connection, so if a domestic add-on uses the other airport, treat that transfer as a serious constraint and never book it on separate tickets.
How long does it take to get to Thailand from the US?
There are no non-stop flights, so every itinerary connects at least once, typically through a Gulf or East Asian hub. Total door-to-door time usually runs somewhere between twenty and twenty-six hours depending on the routing and layover length. Comparing connections rather than sorting purely by price is worth real time on this route.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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