The Kingdom of Thailand has been an attractive tourist destination for decades. Perhaps you can trace its surge in popularity back to Leonardo DiCaprio’s star turn in the 2000 hit film The Beach, which was set in the Thai islands and really showcased some of the country’s extraordinary tropical beauty.
Budgeting for SIM cards in Thailand
Thailand is extremely popular because of its enticing low-cost of travel. From its low-budget hotels on the Kao San Road in Bangkok to renting your own, hammock-strung beach hut in the Phi Phi Islands, your western currency can take you a lot further in Thailand.
Budget-minded travellers who are considering a holiday in Thailand will want to explore their options for staying connected on their mobile device. It’s tempting to think you can survive on free Wi-Fi, connecting to local networks where available, and relying on that to navigate an unfamiliar country while staying in touch using chat and social media apps.
However, spending your precious vacation time hunting for Wi-Fi, as you look for cool restaurants, try to book accommodations, and Google mapping tourist destinations like floating markets and Buddhist temples, is not ideal. You need the seamless connectivity provided by a travel SIM card.
Prepaid eSIM cards for Thailand in 2024
SIM cards are affordable and plentiful in Thailand, especially urban centres like Bangkok, where convenience stores and mobile shops are ubiquitous.
Buying a SIM card on the ground in Thailand, though convenient, comes with a big downside for travellers. Installing them can be a hassle because they are generally not in English, and there is no guarantee the employee at the store will be able to help you install it. Their English skills could be minimal at best.
You also want to think about the potential risks that come with swapping out a physical SIM card while in Thailand. SIM cards are very small and easy to lose. Are you sure you want to carry around your personal SIM card in your baggage all through Thailand and pray it doesn’t get lost?
Travellers looking to minimize hassle and maximize convenience will opt for an eSIM card. No swapping out physical cards and you can be connected as soon as your plane touches down at Suvarnabhumi Airport. In fact, an eSIM plan can be prepared on your mobile before you even board the plane. Here’s a look at some of the best Thailand eSIM plans available at Sim Local, including local telecom provider DTAC.
Best eSIMs for Thailand
Sim Local only partners with trusted providers (including local telecom provider DTAC). Here's a rundown of all the most popular plans available at Sim Local.
DTAC Thailand
DTAC is the top seller for Sim Local’s eSIM plans in Thailand. It’s a 50GB plan that offers 10 days of unlimited local minutes for only £10.50. This very competitively priced plan is unique in that it comes with unlimited calls on the DTAC network, 100 free minutes of calls to local Thai networks, plus 30 minutes of free calls to India, Korea, and Vietnam.
Users can also use chat applications, such as Facebook Messenger, LINE, WhatsApp, WeChat & Kakao Talk, free of charge and not have it deducted from their total data. You also have 15 Thai baht (local currency) on the eSIM to buy more data or use to send SMS.
Smartroam
This Smartroam eSIM runs on the AIS/AWN mobile network in Thailand, using the best available data to keep you connected. You can get a range of data-only plans, including the Thailand Unlimited Data 7 Days for £23. This is the perfect plan for short stays in Thailand. The backpacker types, however, might want to look at the more long-term 30-day plans that can cost between £7.50 and £17, depending on how much data you need.
For all the plans you don’t get a local phone number, though you can use data-driven communication tools, like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Instagram, and others to stay in touch. Smartroam also works seamlessly with the Sim Local app for top-ups, and for checking your data balance to ensure you stay within budget.
Orange Travel
For the world traveller, an eSIM plan on the Orange Travel network provides incredible value and mobility. The Global 10 GB plan for £25.50 provides coverage for 149 countries, including Thailand, for 14 days. The global amount of data depends on the zone you are traveling to. Thailand, for example, falls into Zone 1, which also includes European and nearby Southeast Asian countries, like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
The big advantage here is if you want to jump around to nearby countries, which is very easy to do from Thailand, you will have seamless connectivity and avoid the hassles of finding a local coverage provider. If you want to travel a little further, say Nepal, you will have coverage but the amount of data will vary.
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