Thailand 2024: The summer season is in full swing and travellers are booking tours for the New Year

Thailand’s resorts are turning from a traditional winter destination into an all-season one. Tour operators have extended charter programmes and purchased blocks of seats on regular flights for summer 2024. The editorial staff has summarised information on visa-free entry, the cost of flights and tours, the use of UnionPay cards and the exchange of roubles for Thai baht.

Rules of entry to Thailand: whether a visa is required

Russians do not need a visa to travel to Thailand. From the basic level of 30 days, the authorities of the kingdom have constantly increased the period of visa-free travel for tourists. Currently there is a norm on visa-free entry of Russians to Thailand for 60 days from 1 May.

To cross the border of Thailand it is enough to show a valid passport. Although the term of validity of the document is not defined by the interstate agreement, tour operators recommend to have half a year before its expiry.

According to the current practice, children under 14 years old can fly to Thailand on an entry in the parent’s passport if there is a photo with stamps. The child’s birth certificate must be with confirmed Russian citizenship.

There are a number of restrictions when entering the country – for example, you cannot bring sausage or bacon for sandwiches. A large fine is provided for the import of electronic cigarettes and vape devices of any type.

Thailand does not require tourists to have health insurance, but it is preferable to have a policy to avoid large medical bills in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Flights to Phuket

Regular flights of Russian and foreign airlines have been delivered from Moscow and other cities to the resorts of Thailand. Tour operators buy blocks of seats from carriers, which significantly reduces the offer for self-tourists.

For orientation in prices for the summer period we looked at departures on Saturday, 20 July, and return on the 27th. On the line Moscow – Phuket the cost of a seat from 77.3 thousand rubles and another 14.6 thousand for luggage was on a direct flight of ‘Aeroflot’, in flight – about 10 hours. In 2 times more time take flights on aircrafts China Eastern Airlines with a connection in Shanghai at a cost from 53.9 thousand rubles with luggage included.

From St. Petersburg to Phuket the best price is also on connecting flights of China Eastern – 56.3 thousand rubles with luggage.

On the route Moscow – Pattaya with departure on Sunday, 21 July, and return a week later the ticket cost from 75.6 thousand rubles with luggage on flydubai flights with connection in Dubai. From Pulkovo to Pattaya with the same carrier the cost of one seat – from 76.4 thousand rubles.

For other dates and weekday flights it is possible to find more budget options.

Tours to Thailand for New Year

Tourists have already started booking winter holidays in Phuket and Pattaya. Samui Island and Krabi Province are also among the popular destinations. First of all choose tours to Thailand for New Year in popular hotels 4-5*, where the cost from 370-450 thousand for two people for 9 nights.

Regular flights are provided, including connections in Shanghai, Dubai, Istanbul, Tashkent. For example, only tour operator Fun&Sun has planned charters from 12 cities from Moscow to Vladivostok in the upcoming winter programme to Phuket.

Phuket tours in summer

Summer tours to Phuket from Moscow to popular hotels cost from 150-170 thousand rubles for two persons. In the search engine tour package in the complex with water park Splash Beach Resort Phuket 5 * – from 169 thousand rubles for two people for 7 nights with breakfasts and departure on 29 July.

On a direct flight from the capital offer a tour to the hotel The Marin Phuket 5 * – from 195 thousand rubles for two people for 6 nights and meals BB from 30 July. At the same time 10 nights for 2 people in Amora Beach Resort 5* will cost from 227 thousand rubles with breakfasts with a flight from Moscow on 27 July.

From St. Petersburg a tour to Phuket, for example, to The Marin Phuket 5* hotel – from 200 thousand rubles for breakfasts and 246 thousand for half board. The calculation is made for 8 nights for two people with departure on 28 July.

Tours to Pattaya

We looked for an example of prices for popular ‘five’ in Pattaya. On the beach Jomtien in the south of the city accommodation in Bayphere Hotel Pattaya – from 156 thousand rubles. On Wongamat Beach in the north, in the complex with water park Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya – from 228 thousand rubles. Both tours are for two people with departure from Moscow on 30 July for 6 nights with breakfasts.

To the resorts of Pattaya from St. Petersburg you can fly from 157 thousand rubles for two people for 6 nights with breakfasts, in particular, to the hotel Garden Cliff Resort 5*. Departure from Pulkovo on 26 July.

Weather in Phuket and Pattaya

The weather in Phuket in the coming July, according to forecasters, with variable cloudiness, rain on some days, sometimes prolonged, temperatures during the day 30-33 °C, at night about 28 °C. Similar weather is expected in Pattaya resorts.

According to long-term observations in August there are no big differences from July, but in September there is usually the maximum amount of precipitation, and the thermometer drops a little. In October, showers are not uncommon, but there are more sunny hours during the day.

From November to February, Thailand’s seaside resorts are in high season. March-April is considered the hottest time and the water is as warm as possible – up to 28 °C. In May and June there are often heavy rains, paralysing traffic on the roads.

Tour operators advise tourists that in Phuket in summer on many beaches hang a red flag, warning about the prohibition of bathing, and that in early autumn in Pattaya typhoons occur.

Ruble exchange in Pattaya

Tourists travel to Thailand with UnionPay – cards of non-sanctioned banks are used to pay in most places and also to withdraw cash from ATMs.

In exchange offices in Phuket and Pattaya accept rubles, but the rate is far from pleasing tourists. As an alternative you can count Sber’s attempt to sell Thai baht in Moscow. Calculations showed that it is still more profitable to come with dollars and euros.

The practice of transferring non-cash roubles from card to card and receiving local money in exchange has become widespread through adverts in social networks and street travel agencies. For example, on Jomtien in Pattaya you can see stationary kiosks offering such service.

Conveniently, representatives of some tour operators began to accept payment for excursions by QR code in a Russian bank .Earlier ‘TourDom’ wrote that Thailand refused to introduce a tourist fee at the entrance of tourists in 300 baht (about 700 rubles). In the government considered that such a step is able to give only short-term income – in the long term, a constant influx of tourists will better stimulate the economy.