A lot of travelers to Thailand want to know the best and easiest way to stay in touch with friends, family, and business associates while traveling.  One common question is whether they can use there own mobile or cell phone while traveling in Thailand.  The short answer is yes, but as always there are exceptions to the case.

Is Using My Home Number or Getting A Thai Number Better?

The first question is what exactly are your mobile phone needs while traveling to Thailand.  Do you want people back at home to be easily be able to reach you by your current number in cases of emergency.  Do you expect to only make calls in Thailand from your cell in cases of emergency as well?  If so, just ensuring that your phone carrier and phone will work in Thailand is all you'll need.  I'll get into finding out if your compatible a bit later.  Bear in mind this is an expensive option should you find yourself making or receiving a lot of calls.

If you'll be making a lot of calls locally while you are in Thailand, and want to give your friends and family a local number to reach you, then getting a Thai SIM card for your phone is the better and cheaper option.  They are readily available at most convenience stores and malls and are quite inexpensive.  You need to make sure your phone is compatible, which I'll get into in a little bit.

The third option can be to carry two phones, which I often do.  I have a local phone with a Thai SIM card for local calls, and my home phone from the US in case of emergencies.  I usually keep the home phone locked up in the hotel room safe and only check it once a day in case someone needs to reach me.  Having both phones came in quite handy when I was stuck there during the airport closures thanks to the protesters.

American - U.S.

America is still not on the same standards as most of the global community, and sometimes not even with each other.  However, so carriers and phones will work while you travel in Thailand.  You need to have a Tr-band or Quad-band phone.  Most smart phones these days are Quad-band but you must check it out with your carrier.  A dual-band phone will not work as they are made strictly for the U.S. market.

Next check with your carrier to see if they have an agreement with one or more of the Thai companies.  You can usually check this from the website.  Your carrier must be GSM in order to work.  CDMA is not compatible.

If you want to use a Thai SIM card, you need a phone that uses that technology.  Not all American carriers do.  AT&T Yes, Sprint No.

Also, you need to make sure that your cell phone is unlocked if you want to use a Thai SIM card.  Most U.S. Cell Phone companies 'Lock' your cell phone so it can not be used on other networks.  This has to do with them subsidizing your phone purchase - that means they give you a lower than MSRP rate for a contract term.  When the initial period is up most companies will help you unlock the phone.  Just to reinforce - If your phone is locked a Thai SIM will not work.

European

Most European phones will work in Thailand without a hassle.  Though checking with your cell company before you depart is advised to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Once you get to Thailand you will be able to purchase a SIM card almost anywhere. There is even a Kiosk at the airport as you walk out the door.

In Bangkok you can go to a shopping mall like the MBK, where they have an entire floor dedicated to cell and mobile phones shops. They will set up the phone for you and you will be on your way in minutes.

The two most popular SIMs are 12Call and DTAC. Either of these will work fine. You may get some text message advertisements when you first start using your new number which can be kind of annoying. However I've had my number for two years and can't remember the last time I've got one. I've been very happy with 12Call, and can recommend it.

Recharging Your SIM

Once you run out of your initial minutes on your phone you will want to recharge or topup your SIM card with more minutes. These topup cards can be purchased at most convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart which are everywhere in Thailand.

You purchase a card by the baht amount, 100 baht for instance. You scratch off the silver covering on the back of the card to reveal your activation number. There are directions in English of how to input the number into your phone and top-up. Very Easy.

Can You Recharge Your Thai SIM from Home?

With the advent of the internet, most likely yes, with one exception. Your Thai phone has to get reception where you are located. This hasn't been a problem for many Europeans, but in the U.S. it has been a challenge. My Thai Phone has just started working in the U.S. last year. So if it works - how do I recharge it? My 7-11 doesn't carry Thai SIM Topups!

This is where the Internet comes in. I went on ebay and did a search for 12call and some sellers popped up. More than I realized. I found one couple who were based in Phuket that would scratch off the back of the card, take a photo and email me the code. It wasn't a lot of money so I gave it a try. I had my email in 24 hours and it worked like a charm! Buyer beware with Ebay - but this couple was top shelf.

Well there you have it. If you have any questions leave me a comment below and I'll do my best to answer them.

My Other Thailand Hubs

Finding Hotel Deals In Pattaya

Pattaya Sightseeing Trips

Other Thai Mobile Resources

Pattaya Thailand Mobile Phone Tips