Thailand ticks all the boxes for a great tourist destination: affordable, scenic, safe, and never cold. You've probably seen photos of white-sand beaches, bustling streets, frolicking elephants, and mouth-watering food. It may be hard to believe, but there's so much more to experience.

While the Land of Smiles is certainly worth every ounce of effort for all of these things, it is still a far cry from the place many of us call home. So before your trip to Thailand begins, we wanted to mention a few things to keep in mind before you arrive to help avoid any unexpected surprises.

Weather conditions

Thailand is located in one of the warmest and wettest climates on Earth. That’s the point, right? Warm weather and perfect beaches. It’s located just above the equator, and the temperature rarely drops below 25 ºC (77 ºF). While it’s hot year-round, there is a rainy season – from July to October – when it rains almost every day, but usually only in short, intense bursts.

So in short, you'll be hot, sweaty, and sticky. Luckily, we planned our trip accordingly. Your transportation and accommodation are all air-conditioned (except for the night train, one night camping in Erawan National Park, and the water bungalows in Khao Sok National Park)..