One Month in Bangkok (1) — Everything to Prepare Before You Leave
Visa, flight, accommodation, money, insurance, packing, the first day on the ground — what someone who actually lives in Bangkok would tell you to do, in order.
The question I get most from friends planning a month in Bangkok — "What do I do first?"
The answer is simple. Visa → flight → accommodation → cards → insurance → packing → arrival day. That sequence, in that order. This three-part series walks through each. I live in Bangkok. Every year, friends come for "a month" — this is the accumulated trial-and-error from watching them.
Why Bangkok
Among the usual one-month-living candidates — Bali, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, Lisbon — Bangkok's strength is "the city has all of it, well-built." The infrastructure a temporary resident needs is already in the city:
- Eating out at one-third the cost of Korea
- Better café and coworking density than most Asian capitals
- 24-hour convenience stores and delivery
- English works (especially around Sukhumvit and Sathorn)
- 5-hour direct flight from Korea, only 2-hour time difference
- Low friction when leaving — no logistics tail
Chiang Mai is quieter, Bali has better nature, but "the most familiar city in which to run a one-month life, working or resting" is Bangkok.
When to come — the truth about seasons
| Season | Months | Weather | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | Nov – Feb | 25–32°C, dry, cool dawns | ★★★★★ |
| Hot | Mar – May | 35–40°C, brutal sun | ★★ |
| Rainy | Jun – Oct | 28–33°C, daily 1-hour downpour | ★★★ |
November through February is the answer. It pairs with Korea's winter, and it's the most pleasant Bangkok ever gets. December–January is peak hotel pricing — November or February for value.
Avoid May. Genuinely. The Korean definition of "hot" gets rewritten.
Visa — the strength of the Korean passport
Koreans get 90 days visa-free in Thailand for tourism. A month is well inside that, no decisions required. Photograph the entry stamp's exit date.
For longer stays:
- DTV (Destination Thailand Visa): New in 2024. For digital nomads. 5-year multiple-entry, up to 180 days per visit. Apply from Korea. Fee about USD 200, bank balance proof around USD 14,000.
- Education Visa: Issued via Thai language schools. 6–12 months. Schools: Walen, Pro Language.
- Retirement Visa (50+): One year, renewable. 800,000 THB balance proof.
Visa rules change frequently. Check the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
Flights — BKK vs DMK
Bangkok has two airports.
- Suvarnabhumi (BKK): Main international. Korean Air, Thai Airways, Asiana, JinAir, Jeju Air direct.
- Don Mueang (DMK): Low-cost only. AirAsia, Nok Air, T'way.
Round-trip from Seoul: about USD 400–800 in cool season. April and October are cheapest.
Accommodation — where, how much
Where you live = 70% of the month-long experience. The neighborhood is the city you'll live in.
Five neighborhoods worth considering
Sukhumvit (Asok–Phrom Phong)
The default expat zone. BTS+MRT junction, dense cafés, restaurants, coworking. Mid-range pricing. First Bangkok stay — start here.
Thonglor (Soi 55)
The hip district. Foodies, design, bars. Pricier. Fits a 30-something lifestyle well.
Ari
Local neighborhood, café paradise. Few foreigners, cheaper rents. If you want a quiet month.
Sathorn / Silom
The business district, beside Lumpini Park. Busy weekdays, quiet weekends. Best base for runners.
Riverside (Saphan Taksin)
Along the Chao Phraya. Luxury hotels, river views. Less daily-life-friendly, but special.
Price guide (per month, cool season)
| Option | Monthly | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel | $300–500 | Nomad community, social |
| Airbnb 1-bed | $700–1,400 | Kitchen, privacy |
| Serviced apartment | $900–2,000 | Cleaning + gym, hotel-like |
| Hotel (long-stay rate) | $1,200–2,800 | Daily housekeeping, breakfast |
Recommendation: digital nomad → Airbnb 1-bed (Sukhumvit or Ari). Vacation mode → serviced apartment.
Money — the 5:5 rule
Half your spending in cash, half on card. That's the rule for a month in Bangkok.
Card
- A multi-currency travel card (Wise, Revolut equivalent): low FX (~0.7%), ATM withdrawal. Essential.
- Local ATMs charge 220 THB per withdrawal (~$6). Withdraw large amounts at once.
Cash
- Exchange a small amount at the airport on day one (5,000 THB for taxi + first meals)
- City exchange counters (especially SuperRich) beat the airport by 1–2%
Card-accepted vs cash-only
- Card OK: hotels, supermarkets, chain restaurants, malls, cafés
- Cash only: street food, markets, motorbike taxis, small shops, massage
A month here on cards alone means missing 80% of the great street food. The 5:5 rule.
Travel insurance — cheap, not optional
Thai medical care is cheaper than Korean care, but international hospitals (Bumrungrad-tier) bill foreigners at international rates. A month's policy:
- SafetyWing: $45 per 4 weeks. Designed for nomads.
- World Nomads: more expensive, more comprehensive.
- Credit card travel insurance sometimes covers, but read the limits (often 90 days max).
Minimum coverage: medical USD 100k, baggage USD 1k. That's enough.
Packing — Korea side vs Bangkok side
Bangkok has everything. Bring what you must, buy the rest here.
Bring from Korea
- ✅ Prescriptions and a personal pharmacy kit
- ✅ Plug adapter (Thailand uses A, C, O types mixed; a multi-adapter helps)
- ✅ One light long-sleeve layer (interior AC is brutal)
- ✅ Running shoes (if you'll run — and you should, it's wonderful)
- ✅ Cards, passport, IDP if driving
- ✅ Laptop and charger
Buy in Bangkok
- Daily clothes (Uniqlo, Zara, markets — same or cheaper than Korea)
- Toiletries and skincare (Watsons, Boots — Korean brands abundant)
- Umbrella (100 THB at any 7-Eleven)
- SIM (airport or eSIM in advance)
One 20-kg suitcase is plenty. More and you'll regret it on the way out.
Day one — airport to hotel
After landing at Suvarnabhumi:
- Immigration — 90-day visa-free stamp. Photograph the exit date.
- Cash — Bays Bank ATM (220 THB fee, withdraw 5,000–10,000 THB).
- SIM activation — AIS Tourist SIM, 8-day 299 THB. Or activate an eSIM bought before flying (Airalo, Nomad).
- Airport to city:
- Airport Rail Link (45 THB, transfer at BTS Phaya Thai): the value play. 25 minutes outside rush hour.
- Grab (450–700 THB): the move with luggage.
- Metered taxi (350–500 THB): the official queue, level 1, main counter.
Three things to buy your first night
- ✅ A pack of six bottles of water at 7-Eleven (~90 THB)
- ✅ Sunscreen SPF 50+ (Korean SPF is gentler than what you need here)
- ✅ Mosquito repellent (even in nice hotels, occasionally)
Sleep early. The time change is small, but the day is long. Tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. — your first run at Lumpini Park.
In Part 2 — Living: The Shape of a Day: how a month actually unfolds, what it costs, where to work, where to eat.
This is a one-month-living guide, written as a guide. Personal essays live elsewhere. Visa rules and prices change — verify before you fly.
Related writing
One Month in Chiang Mai (3) — Experiencing: Seeing Chiang Mai For Real
Five temples, nature 30 minutes away, the khao soi war, the Saturday walking street, Pai for a weekend, and the Yi Peng lantern festival you should see once.
One Month in Chiang Mai (2) — Living: The Shape of a Day
How to get around without a metro, what a month costs, cafés and coworking, the northern food, and how to survive the burning season if you must.