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Managing your cell phone costs is essential to enjoying your trip while you’re traveling overseas. Understanding local roaming in Thailand is necessary while visiting the breathtaking nation of Thailand.
This guide delves into the details of roaming in Thailand, compares mobile operator pricing to other options, and provides guidance on managing cell phone expenses while on the road which helps you have a convenient and enjoyable while exploring the beauty of Thailand.
Table of Contents
I. Understand Data Roaming in Thailand
Roaming is one of the main ways that most visitors think about if they want to stay connected while traveling in Thailand. Before embarking on a Thailand trip, visitors must understand how roaming works in this beautiful country.
Roaming offers you to use your home mobile provider to make calls, send texts, or even use data while traveling abroad.
However, roaming still incurs a prohibitive cost, here are three types of roaming charges to be aware of when using your phone in Thailand:
- Voice calls: Most popular providers charge $0.50-1 per minute for domestic numbers in Thailand. If you want to make calls to their number in your home country the rates may vary from $1-2 per minute. Calls to numbers outside their home country will be significantly more.
- Text message: The rates of sending SMS texts back to the home country may vary from $0.15-0.30 per message while the rates for sending SMS to Thailand numbers range from $0.10-0.20 per message
- Data: Data roaming rates in Thailand without a package: $0.50-1 per MB, for daily data packages, mobile operators offer 200MB per day costs vary from $10-25, for weekly data packages, they provide 1GB at $25-30.
II. Roaming Charges in Thailand
1. How to Check Roaming Charges Before Your Travel To Thailand
Before embarking on your journey to Thailand, it’s essential to contact your mobile network provider and inquire about their roaming charges and available roaming packages. There are a few things to consider:
- Contact your mobile provider
Tourists should contact mobile providers at least 2 weeks before their trip to check the most up-to-date information on how to activate roaming in Thailand, let them know about your upcoming Thailand trip to get the most specific details.
Source: Verizon Roaming Charges Checker
- Research applicable roaming fees
Explore the roaming fees to manage your budget, and consider your data usage habits to choose the best data plan to avoid over-data limitation.
- Call Customer Service
Contact directly customer service can provide you with the most detailed information about roaming charges and recommend appropriate roaming packages or solutions based on your traveling goals.
2. Roaming Charges in Thailand by Popular Mobile Operators
Here is a table showing approximate roaming rates for voice, text, and data in Thailand by US, UK, and Australia mobile operators (as of May 2024).
| Country | Mobile Operator | Travel Pass | Monthly Plan | Calls | Text | Data |
| USA | AT&T | – | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| T-Mobile | – | $90-180 | $0.25/min | Unlimited | Unlimited (5G speeds vary depending on the weekly price) | |
| Verizon | $10 per day | $100 | 250 mins | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| UK | Three | – | – | $2.55 /min | $0.45/text | $3.82/MB |
| Vodaphone UK | $9.42 per day | $0.76/min (make calls)$0.46/min (receive calls) | $0.1/text | $0.15/MB | ||
| EE | – | – | $2.29/min | $0.76/text | $5.97/initial 500 MBlater $3.63/100MB | |
| Australia | Optus | $10 per day | – | 5GB | ||
| Telstra | $10 per day | – | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | |
| Vodaphone Australia | $5 per day | – | $1/min | $0.75/text | $1/MB |
(Note: These rates may change at any time, it’s necessary to check with your carrier before your trip)
To avoid expensive roaming fees, visitors need to consider their data usage habits to find the best data packages from their mobile operators for their trip. Consider another alternative for keeping connected to save money as well.
III. Best Ways to Avoid Roaming Charges in Thailand
Don’t let these roaming charges make your Thailand inconvenient. There are several ways to stay connected without spending too much money. Consider three ways to avoid roaming fees and maintain a smooth internet connection while traveling in Thailand below:
1. Buy an eSIM from Thailandesim.com
Besides roaming, buying an eSIM is also a wise option to stay connected in Thailand. This digital SIM Card connects you to local Thailand networks without requiring a physical SIM card swap.
As the #1 eSIM provider in Thailand – thailandesim.com offers visitors diverse eSIM plans for any traveling goals. Here’s what makes thailandesim.com stand out:
- Variety & Flexibility: Choose among a wide array of data packages best suited to your goals.
- Multiple Network Coverage: They take care of the technical aspects by collaborating with major Thailand mobile providers so that you get a fast and reliable connection during your trip smoothly and uninterrupted.
- Top-notch Customer Service: They offer 24/7 customer support so you can get assistance if needed.
- Affordable Prices: Their eSIMs are competitively priced, offering excellent value for money
Choose the best options for your upcoming trip below:
2. Buy a local SIM card
Consider getting a Thai local SIM Card to keep sharing with your family, or friends in your home country. Several destinations such as mobile operator kiosks or convenience stores provide tourist SIM cards so that visitors can buy easily.
Read more: Thailand SIM card guide for tourists
3. Enable Wifi Calling
If your device and mobile operator allow WiFi calling, you may call and receive calls across Thailand’s existing WiFi networks as usual, but without roaming fees. Consider using some social platforms such as WhatApps, or Viber to keep connected with your family and friends.
Find out how to use cell phone in Thailand!
IV. FAQs
Will my phone work in Thailand?
Thailand uses GSM networks compatible with most international phones. Check your phone works on the 850/900/1800/2100 MHz bands.
How do I check my roaming balance?
Use the mobile operator app or access their website to check balances and deactivate roaming if needed.
Is there any way to stay connected instead of roaming?
Consider getting an eSIM plan from a popular eSIM provider like thailandesim.com to keep sharing moments with your family or friends. Connecting public WiFi or getting a local SIM card also be an alternative.
V. Conclusion
Navigating data roaming in Thailand can be a challenge, but with the right preparation and strategies, researching your mobile provider’s rates, and exploring options like eSIMs, local SIM cards, and WiFi calling, you can enjoy your trip to Thailand while minimizing the impact of roaming costs on your budget.
With some prep on roaming costs and network rules, you’ll stay connected without any surprises on your bill. Enjoy exploring Thailand! Let me know if any other questions come up.