Thailand travel data guide
From Bangkok's sois to island ferries: what to know about mobile data in Thailand and how to be online the moment you land.
2 min read
Thailand is well set up for travellers, and a lot of everyday travel there runs through your phone: ride-hailing, maps, ferry and bus bookings, translation and chatting with hosts. Here's how to make sure you're connected from the arrivals hall onwards.
Why you'll use data constantly
- Ride-hailing. Apps like Grab and Bolt show the fare before you ride, which takes the haggling out of getting around cities.
- Maps. Markets, temples and the small side streets called sois are much easier to navigate with live directions.
- Getting to the islands. Ferry, minivan and bus tickets are often booked and shown on your phone.
- Messaging. Hotels, guesthouses and tour operators often prefer chat. LINE is very popular in Thailand, alongside WhatsApp.
- Translation. Handy for menus, street food stalls and signs away from the tourist centres.
Your options
Roaming
Simple, but usually charged per day by your home carrier, which adds up over a typical Thailand trip of a week or more.
Tourist SIM at the airport
Widely available on arrival. You'll need your passport to register it, there may be a queue after a long flight, and you have to swap out your home SIM.
Travel eSIM
Buy and install it before you leave, walk straight past the SIM counters and connect when you land. Your home SIM stays in your phone for calls and texts. You'll need an eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked phone.
Coverage: cities, beaches and beyond
Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the popular beach and island areas generally have good mobile coverage. In national parks, on remote islands, in the mountains and out at sea, coverage can be patchy or disappear for a while. Download offline maps before day trips into nature, and don't count on a signal on every boat.
Practical tips
- Download offline maps and a Thai language pack for your translation app.
- Screenshot ferry and bus tickets in case you're at a pier with weak signal.
- Carry a power bank. Heat, bright screens and navigation all day drain batteries quickly.
- Watch your hotspot use. Sharing your data with friends or a laptop uses it up faster than you might expect.
- Keep your home SIM for texts if you need bank codes, with data roaming switched off on that line.
How much data for Thailand?
- One week, typical use: around 5 GB for maps, ride-hailing, messaging and social media.
- Two weeks or more, with lots of photos and video: 10 to 20 GB.
- Working remotely: consider 50 GB, especially if you'll use your phone as a hotspot.
Every OneSim plan is valid for 30 days from when the eSIM first connects in Thailand. Staying longer, or using more than planned? Top up the same eSIM from your order page or My eSIMs.
