BKK Survival GuideThe Expats’ Essential Checklist

The Transport Game Why the Meter is Non-Negotiable

Bangkok traffic is a living, breathing entity. It has moods. It has seasons. It has personal vendettas against you specifically. Your daily ritual is negotiating movement like a Victorian explorer: brave, sweaty, and mildly confused.

Your relationship with the metered taxi is your first test of will. If a driver refuses the meter, wave them off instantly. Do not debate. Do not bargain. Do not “just this once.” That driver is running a confidence scam where the confidence is yours. There are ten more taxis behind him, and at least one of them still believes in the law.

For convenience, Grab (or Bolt) is king—especially when you don’t want to do emotional labour at the curb. But surge pricing can turn a “quick trip” into a small mortgage payment. The BTS and MRT are air-conditioned lifelines. Learn the station names like a local. Nobody says “Siam Square.” It’s just Siam.

SURVIVAL TIP: Under 3km? Use a motorcycle taxi. If you value your life, keep your knees tucked in, close your eyes, and make peace with your past decisions.

THE METER RULE: Refuse flat rates, always. If they won’t use the meter, say thanks, step back, and flag the next taxi. No debate, no exceptions, no stress.

The Culture Code Master the Silent Language

The biggest hurdle for long-term expats isn’t spice levels—it’s the unspoken cultural rulebook. The most useful phrase is Mai Pen Rai (it’s fine / no problem / let’s all pretend this didn’t happen). It can mean: “don’t worry,” “I forgive you,” “I cannot be bothered,” and “this conversation is over.”

Tipping isn’t mandatory at street food stalls or casual spots, but rounding up is appreciated. At restaurants and bars, a small tip (often 20–40 baht) is a nice move when service is great. Also: never touch someone’s head, never point your feet at people, and if you don’t know what to do—defer, smile, and let everyone keep face (including you).

Bangkok has multiple smiles. There’s the “happy” smile, the “sorry” smile, the “this is awkward” smile, and the “I’m smiling but I will remember this forever” smile. Assume nothing. Smile anyway.

SURVIVAL TIP: If you’re angry or frustrated, hide it. Loud arguments are a massive loss of face for everyone involved and will solve nothing here, ever.

THE SMILE: Bangkok has many. One means “thanks”, one means “sorry”, one means “awkward”. If unsure, smile and keep moving, and let everyone save face.

Money & The Scams ATMs and Avoiding the Tuk-Tuk Trap

The easiest way to lose 220 baht is to use a foreign debit card at an ATM. That 220 baht fee is non-negotiable at most Thai bank ATMs. If you can, use a travel debit card (Wise/Revolut style) that minimizes conversion fees, and withdraw larger amounts to reduce the number of times you pay the 220 baht “welcome fee.”

The Tuk-Tuk Scam is eternal: a driver offers you an incredibly cheap tour that ends at a “closed temple” and requires a stop at a tailor or jewelry shop. Don’t fall for it. If a tuk-tuk is too cheap, it’s not sightseeing; it’s a sales route with wind.

SURVIVAL TIP: If a friendly local suggests a specific shop, tailor, or “special” gem market, run. Pay the actual meter, visit the actual temple instead. Always.

ATMS: Accept the 220 baht fee; withdraw bigger amounts, fewer times. Use a travel card with fair exchange rates, and stop paying twice if possible.

Health & Air Quality PM2.5 and Finding the Right Pill

The two biggest health challenges are heat exhaustion and PM2.5 (air pollution). During the burning season (roughly November to April), air quality can be rough. Invest in a proper N95 or KF94 mask and check a real-time air quality app. When AQI hits the danger zone, your “outdoor plans” become “indoors with aircon.”

On the upside, Thai pharmacies are excellent. Many everyday meds that require a prescription back home are often available quickly here. Keep electrolytes in your bag for the heat, and don’t treat dizziness like a personality trait.

SURVIVAL TIP: If you feel dizzy, sick, or stop sweating, get indoors immediately. Aircon isn’t luxury; it’s survival. Rehydrate fast, and don’t power through the heat.

HOSPITALS: Keep your preferred private hospital’s name and address saved. Add your insurance policy number, blood type, and one emergency contact.

Digital Survival SIMs, VPNs, and Delivery Apps

Your phone is your armour here. Step one: get a local SIM (AIS/True/dtac) immediately. Data is cheap and essential for navigation, translation, and sanity.

Step two: delivery apps. Food delivery (GrabFood, foodpanda, LINE MAN) is fast, cheap, and non-negotiable for busy expats. Learn to use LINE—it’s the default communication tool for landlords, businesses, and half your social life.

SURVIVAL TIP: VPNs aren’t needed daily, but if you stream internationally or access geo-restricted banking, install one before landing to avoid headaches later.

THE GOLDEN RULE: Get a local SIM immediately and keep data topped up. Maps, Grab, translations, and payments die without it. No data equals chaos.

7-Eleven Etiquette The True National Curriculum

You will go to 7-Eleven. A lot. It’s not a convenience store—it’s a survival bunker with snacks, SIM cards, iced coffee, emergency umbrellas, and a toasted sandwich that will fix problems you didn’t know you had.

Basic rules: don’t block the doorway, have your money ready, and if the cashier asks a question, they’re offering a service: bag? receipt? points? heat it up? You can survive most interactions with a smile and a confident “no thanks.”

SURVIVAL TIP: Learn two sentences: “Heat this up, please,” and “No plastic bag.” Use them daily at 7-Eleven and you’ll look competent instantly without saying much.

THE FINAL BOSS: Queues form fast. You can't pay by most QR such as Prompt Pay, so pay cash or card, step aside, and let the next person breathe. Bangkok hates dithering.

Weather Chaos Rain Season, Wet Socks, and Tactical Umbrellas

Bangkok rain doesn’t “start.” It arrives like a plot twist. One minute: blue skies. Next minute: the sky is dumping water on you with the confidence of a fire hose. Suddenly everyone has an umbrella except you, because of course they do.

Carry a compact umbrella or rain jacket, keep a spare shirt at the office if you can, and accept that shoes may become optional during a proper downpour. Also: trains get crowded when it rains. Everyone has the same idea. Bangkok loves a synchronized panic.

SURVIVAL TIP: Waterproof your bag, and keep electronics in a zip pouch. The rain doesn’t care your phone is ‘new’, or your shoes are ‘nice’ today. Assume you will get wet.

STREET WISDOM: When locals buy ponchos, you’ve got 90 seconds. Move under cover, avoid puddles, and expect trains to pack instantly, and patience thins.