The official language of Thailand is Thai. While it may feel awkward at first, attempting the local language goes a long way when navigating a city and interacting with people. Practice these basic phrases to get started:

• Hello: Sawasdeeka (female) / Sawasdeekrub (male)
• Goodbye: La korn
• Please: Karuna (kah-roo-nah)
• Thank you: Khob khun ka (female) / Khob khun krub (male)
• Pardon me: Kor thod
• Yes: Chai
• No: Mai chai
• Cheers (for drinking): Mod kaew

Thailand is tropical and extremely historic. What more could you want?! As you prepare to spend time in this warm and glittering destination, here are some expert tips to help you understand the ins and outs of Asia, and feel like a true local:

• Head and toes: In Thailand, the head is considered a sacred body part, and the feet are the least. Out of respect, never touch anyone in the head and never point at anything with your feet.
• Begging: You may see monks begging, especially in busy cities like Bangkok. However, Monks are not allowed to beg for money or food so if you see this, it means this person is posing as a monk.
• Shoes: You will likely be asked to remove your shoes in certain homes, restaurants, or temples. It is a rule of etiquette to abide by this request.
• Street Food: It’s safe, and it’s delicious! Try to stick with vendors that have a long line to make sure you’re getting the best of the best.
• Nightlife: From Bangkok to the beaches, you’re sure to find some fun nightlife in Thailand. While Thailand is very safe, we still recommend using the buddy system, and only using licensed taxis to get around.
• GrabTaxi: This is basically Thailand’s version of Uber. You can use this app to order a taxi, and it’s a safe and reliable way to get around!
• Bartering: Especially at the markets, if something doesn’t have a visible price tag you should try to barter! A good starting point is half the cost the merchant suggests.

Guaranteed to put your town’s local Thai place to shame, prepare to dive into a fusion of ancient tradition and modern practices that is the gastronomical paradise of Thailand. Read on for tips, tricks, and delicacies you must try.

• Guay Teow: AKA, noodle soup. This is one of the most popular Thai dishes and you can find it almost everywhere.
• Som Tam: Or spicy papaya salad, som tam hails from Northeastern Thailand and is another popular dish. A classic som tam is usually shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, beans, lime, and pleeenty of chillies.
• Tom Kha Gai: Similar to tom yum, this is a chicken in coconut soup and offers a lower-spice opportunity to taste all the flavors of tom yum.
• Laab: A “salad”, but really it’s a mixture of meat or mushroom and mint; NOT recommended for those with low tolerance to spice.
• Pad Thai: You know this one… When in Rome, right?
• Pad See Eiw: A thick noodle dish, pad see eiw consists of wide rice noodles stir-fried in dark soy sauce mixed with chicken, pork, or beef plus Chinese broccoli or cabbage.
• Khao Pad: Fried rice. A fan favorite
• Panang: Or, Thai curry. This is a bit milder than other curries in Thailand, which is what makes it so popular.
• Kai Jeow: One of the simpler dishes of Thailand, this is an omelette usually served on rice with sweet chili sauce. A great way to start the day!
• Kao Niew Ma Muang: Mango and sticky rice. Just the dessert you needed!

Note: Chopsticks are a staple of Asian cuisine and culture. Attempting to use chopsticks instead of western cutlery will earn you some respect with the locals, but be wary of using chopsticks to point at someone, poke at food, or play them like musical instruments - these are all signs of disrespect.