Recommended · reviewed 23 October 2026
What we use, and who it suits.
Ad: SafetyWing and Yesim sponsor The Bangkok Guide, and the links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Sponsors never see or change what we write, and we say plainly below who each one is not for.
Health and travel insurance · Sponsor
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
Thai private hospitals are excellent and they bill like it. A few nights in a Bangkok hospital can cost more than your flights, so nobody should be here uninsured. For visitors and long-stayers under 70, SafetyWing is what Cal uses and recommends.
Good for
- Holidays and long trips, bought by the month and stopped whenever you like
- Digital nomads and DTV holders moving around Asia
- Buying after you've already left home
Pick something else if
- You need insurance for a retirement visa (Non-O-A): use a policy from the official Thai long-stay scheme
- You're 70 or over (Essential is sold up to 69)
- You have a condition that needs ongoing treatment
Know before you buy
- Two plans. Essential is travel medical cover for emergencies, renewing every four weeks. Complete is a full health plan with a 12-month commitment and a health questionnaire, open to ages 18–64.
- Pre-existing conditions. Essential excludes anything treated, re-medicated or with symptoms in the 180 days before you start.
- Back home. Essential covers limited time in your home country (30 days in every 90; 15 for US residents).
- Price. It depends on your age. Check the calculator on SafetyWing's site rather than trusting a number quoted anywhere, including here.
Check SafetyWing's price for your age
Retiring here? Thai insurers on the official long-stay scheme issue visa-ready policies: see the Thai General Insurance Association list. For the full picture, watch the healthcare and insurance guide.
Phone and data · Sponsor
Yesim eSIM
Install it at home, switch it on when you land, and you have data before you reach immigration: no airport SIM queue, and your home number stays on your phone for bank codes.
Good for
- Visitors who want data the minute they land
- Trips across several countries on one app
- Keeping your home SIM in for banking texts
Pick something else if
- You need a Thai phone number (banks, some apps and deliveries ask for one): get a local SIM from AIS, True or dtac
- Your phone doesn't support eSIM: check first
- You'll use a lot of hotspot data: tethering depends on the network
Know before you buy
- Data only. No Thai number and no calls; WhatsApp and LINE calls work fine.
- The clock starts on arrival. A plan's days count from when it first connects, so you can install it a few days early.
- Plans run from a day to a year. At the time of writing a 30-day, 10GB Thailand plan was about US$13.
- Code CAL15 takes 15% off.
Arriving soon? Watch the first hour in Bangkok guide: it covers SIMs, cash and getting into the city.
Free tool
Thailand Move Planner
17 questions, then your city match, budget, visa route and checklist. It's free, and built by The Bangkok Guide.
Other things Cal uses
- Wise · How Cal moves money between currencies.
- 12Go · Train, bus and ferry tickets across Thailand.
- Skyscanner · Comparing flights in and out of Bangkok.
These are affiliate links too. Questions about any of these? hello@thebangkokguide.org
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