Enjoy our practical, on-the-ground tips for delegates attending PTCOG 65 to help you better prepare for your trip to Thailand.
Currency: Thai baht (฿)
Language: Thai
Plug type: A / C / F, 220V
Emergency: 191 / 1155
Traveling to Bangkok, Thailand
Most international flights arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok’s main international gateway.
Europe has daily nonstop flights from London, Paris, Frankfurt, and other major hubs. North America has no nonstop service, so expect one connection via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong. Australia has several direct flights a day from Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, around 9–10 hours. Delegates already in Asia have it easiest, with frequent direct flights of just 2–6 hours from Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and most regional capitals.
However you arrive, the Airport Rail Link or a Grab from Suvarnabhumi gets you into the city in under an hour.
Before you land
- Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online in the days before you fly — it’s free and replaces the old paper form.
- Keep a copy of a return/onward flight; it’s occasionally requested at check-in or immigration.
- Passport should have at least 6 months’ validity from your entry date.
- Check the visa requirements for your country of residence.
Getting Around
Once you’re in Bangkok, there are several options to choose from to move around the city.
BTS & MRT
The Skytrain (BTS) and subway (MRT) are the fastest way across the city and skip the traffic entirely. Buy a rechargeable card if you're staying more than a couple of days.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Metered taxis are cheap if the driver actually uses the meter — insist on it, or use Grab instead, which shows the fare upfront and removes the negotiation entirely.
Tuk-tuks & motorbike taxis
Tuk-tuks are fun once, as an experience rather than transport - agree the price before you get in. Motorbike taxis (look for the numbered orange vests) are the fastest way through gridlock for short hops.
Chao Phraya Express Boats
Chao Phraya Express Boats connect directly to Wat Arun, the Grand Palace area, and several riverside neighborhoods - genuinely useful, not just scenic.
Practical Tips
Money & costs
Cash and cards
Card payments are common in hotels, malls, and the conference venue area, but street stalls, markets, and most taxis are cash-only. Withdraw baht from ATMs rather than exchanging cash at the airport — rates are better in the city, especially at licensed exchange counters like Superrich. Expect a foreign ATM fee (around ฿220) on top of your bank’s own charge.
What things cost
- Street food meal: ฿40–80
- Sit-down Thai restaurant: ฿150–350 per person
- BTS/MRT ride: ฿17–62 depending on distance
- Short taxi ride (metered): ฿60–120
- Bottled water, convenience store: ฿7–10
Click here for more information about the daily exchange rates of bacht.
The weather in June
PTCOG 65 falls right at the start of Bangkok’s rainy season. Expect heat and humidity with short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain. Pack a light rain layer and plan outdoor time for morning or evening.
Other tips
For additional information about activities, sightseeing, transportation and more, click here.
Accommodation Recommendations
See you in Bangkok!
Join world’s leading clinicians, physicists, and researchers that are advancing precision cancer care.