I'm an Indian citizen travelling from India to Bangkok in January 2024. Owing to the fact that Thailand has temporarily relaxed visa requirements for Indians. is there anything specific I need to do before I travel or can I just board the flight without a

imo you're overthinking it, the visa thing is pretty straightforward for january. just make sure your passport's valid for at least 6 months from your travel date, that's the only hard rule they actually enforce at indian immigration before you board.

one thing nobody mentions is the thailand digital arrival card thing - they tried rolling out an online system called tm6 but it keeps getting delayed. so don't bother with any website asking u to pay for it, just grab the paper card on the plane like always. also if you're flying from delhi or mumbai, the check-in counters might ask for your hotel address so have that ready, they're more annoying about it than thai immigration actually is

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just a heads up on the biometrics thing - when you land at suvarnabhumi, they've got those automated gates for indians now but they dont always work so be ready for the manual queue. also the thai immigration form (tm6) is still required even with the visa exemption, they hand them out on the flight or you can grab one before the counters. fill it out in english block letters, they get picky if ur handwriting's messy. one more thing - carry some cash in usd or baht, sometimes they ask for proof of funds (20k baht equivalent) but rarely check it. if u connect through a hub like singapore or kuala lumpur, that airline might ask for ur hotel booking too

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You should also check that your passport has two blank pages for the entry and exit stamps. Some travelers get turned away at check-in if they're short on space. January is a busy month so book your airport transfer ahead of time, the taxi queue at Suvarnabhumi can take 45 minutes during peak hours.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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