Before you leave, make sure your phone is unlocked, if it is locked, you will not be able to use a Thai SIM card, so you will remain connected while roaming on your regular network.
There are three operators sell prepaid Tourist or Traveller SIM cards in Thailand, visit
simoptions.com/ and learn more about them.
AIS Advanced Info Service Public Company
There are three SIM travel packages. The basic 49 baht model offers 15 baht 30 days credit validity, 7 days free wechat and 7 days AIS super Wi-Fi free. A call home will cost you 1 baht/minute. The other is 299 baht and 599 baht, which are more interesting, 6 GB, 15 days of unlimited Internet and a credit of 100 baht with 30 days validity. AIS offers good privileges and promotions such as 300THB discount on the first 3 rounds! By downloading the application via the link and entering this special promo code.
Where to Buy It
At Suvarnabhumi airport, but I recommend buying it in the city in a shopping mall: Telewiz, Family Smart and telecom resellers. For practical reasons, I myself use the AIS service at Terminal 21 on the top floor, good service, English-speaking. There is also True and DTAC on the same floor. Most shopping centres are open from 10am to 9pm.
DTAC
It is the first company to offer Tourist SIM cards. DTAC has four Happy Tourist SIMs and the 299 baht pack is not a bad choice, unlimited Internet 8 days (3 GB at maximum speed) 100 baht call credit, an unlimited number of calls among Happy Tourists using this package and a special international call rate via 00400.
The others are, 599 baht, 15 days unlimited Internet (6 GB at maximum speed). Cheaper, 199 baht, 7 days unlimited Internet (500 MB at maximum speed) and the basic model, 49 baht, 15 baht call credit and 5 chat applications for 1 day.
DTAC also regularly offers privileges and promotions.
Points of Sale
As AIS in shopping centres, but also in supermarkets and 7 eleven
True Move
A 4G 4G 4G True Move prepaid SIM card 49 baht free for 1 day, unlimited Wi-Fi Internet 24 hours, 15 baht call credit, 0.99 baht per minute call in Thailand, and 1 baht abroad. Recharge 100 baht for unlimited WiFi and 14 social applications for 8 days. This includes Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Line, Twitter, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, Pinterest. For those who only use social applications, from 49 bath, 4 G+ 14 social applications for 30 days. International dialling at special rate 006 or 00600
Two packages for those who stay longer are similar to those offered by AIS, 299 baht unlimited 8 days, 100 baht call credit, 3GB + 14 applications, and 599 baht for 15 days, 50 baht call credit, 8GB, unlimited Wi-Fi.
True also offer certain privileges. Special international tariff numbering 006
Despite being a partner of Vodafone, I find the site confusing to use and not fully translated into English.
Where to buy it?
Many stores, Central World, Siam Paragon and shopping malls, BIg C and Lotus supermarkets, 7 eleven. True is the second largest operator and is also a provider of cable TV, mobile and Internet, so the stores are very busy and sometimes requires a long wait, some of them are cafes.
7 Eleven
If you stay one week in Thailand, you can buy a SIM card in almost all 7 eleven, which focus mainly on short-stay tourists. Most Thai staff does not speak much English.
It should be noted that 7 eleven and AIS do not have any commercial agreements and therefore do not offer the services of this operator.
Which one to choose?
- The largest AIS operator has a very good 4G coverage network. I use AIS LTE/3G, no problem
- The DTAC can be a good choice for quality/price, but I will still use AIS.
- My friend has been using True Move Internet for years and is satisfied with it
In each store, reseller or convenience service, you pay for the packages you choose, the staff takes care of the rest and will activate the SIM card for you.
Foreigners must now provide their passports and have their photos taken when buying a local SIM card.
All over the country, there are signs everywhere saying: 'Thailand SIM card for tourist'. And some street vendors sell prepaid data packages without any identification, but it is better to know that it may be a used SIM card that can be disabled at any time.
I recommend that you visit the websites of these operators and make your choice before your trip. I hope this will be useful to you in planning your next trip to Bangkok.