Liam

Book AIMA appointment immediately — 4 month wait

Booked my residence permit appointment (AIMA, formerly SEF) online on day 3. First available was 4 months away. Your entry stamp and appointment confirmation is your legal proof of residence until then.

Nextbike or Lime for short trips under 3km

I use Nextbike for commutes under 3km — €1 to unlock then €0.15/min. Lime e-scooters are everywhere too. Both cheaper than U-Bahn for short distances and parking is easy.

Thai employment contracts should specify severance pay clearly

Thai Labour Law mandates severance pay based on length of employment — from 30 days pay (under 1 year) to 400 days pay (over 20 years). Make sure your contract explicitly references Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 for severance provisions. Some contracts include clauses waiving statutory severance — these are not enforceable under Thai law, but inexperienced employees often don't dispute them. Know your rights before signing.

Always use bank-counter currency exchange, not airport or hotel kiosks

Bank exchange counters (SuperRich Orange, SuperRich Green, Kasikorn Exchange kiosks) give rates 1.5–3% better than airport money-changers and 5–8% better than hotel rates. SuperRich kiosks around Siam Square and Asok offer consistently excellent rates. For large amounts, bring USD or EUR cash — you'll get a meaningfully better rate than card withdrawal for amounts over 10,000 THB equivalent.

River taxis on the Chao Phraya are faster than Grab during peak hours

The Chao Phraya Express boats run from Nonthaburi in the north to Wat Rajsingkorn in the south. If you live or work near a pier (Sathorn/Taksin, Oriental, Tha Chang), the river is dramatically faster than road at 07:00–09:00 and 16:30–19:00. Fares are 15–40 THB depending on pier and boat type. The orange flag boats are the fast service — fewer stops.

Lazada and Shopee deliver next day — cheaper than mall prices for most things

Lazada and Shopee are Thailand's main e-commerce platforms. Almost everything is available for next-day delivery in Bangkok. Electronics, kitchen items, and furniture are 20–40% cheaper than mall prices. Use Cash on Delivery for first orders from new sellers until you trust the platform. Flash sales on Shopee (11.11, etc.) have genuinely good discounts on major brands.

Condos built before 2010 often have weak WiFi infrastructure

Many older Bangkok condos have one common router per floor and individual unit CAT5 drops that cap at 30–50Mbps. For remote workers this is a dealbreaker. Always test the internet speed during your viewing — not just 'yes there is WiFi' but an actual Ookla Speedtest. Newer condos (post-2015) typically have fibre-to-the-unit with True or AIS at 200–1000Mbps.

True Move Unlimited is the best value if you don't need top-tier speed

True Move's 399 THB/month unlimited plan throttles to 1Mbps after the daily high-speed quota but 1Mbps is enough for messaging and maps. For video calls and heavy streaming you need the 599 THB tier. Both plans include unlimited calls to Thai numbers. True's coverage in Chatuchak, Lat Phrao, and outer Bangkok is better than AIS in my experience.

Open a Kasikorn Bank (KBank) account in week one

KBank is the most foreigner-friendly Thai bank. Open at any branch with your passport and Non-Immigrant visa (tourist visas sometimes work but non-immigrant is safer). The KBank mobile app (K PLUS) is excellent for transfers and QR payments. Bring a local address — your hotel name and address is acceptable for the first account. The Siam Paragon and Asok branches are well-practiced with expats and have English-speaking staff.

Turkish employment contracts must be in Turkish to be legally binding

If your employer provides an English-only contract, it is not legally binding in Turkish courts. Insist on a Turkish version (or a bilingual version) signed alongside any English document. In disputes, Turkish courts refer only to the Turkish text. Use a certified translator if needed — this costs 300–600 TL for a standard employment contract and is worth every kuruş.

Keep some USD or EUR cash as a hedge against TL volatility

The Turkish lira has lost significant value over the past several years. If you receive TL salary, converting a portion immediately to USD or EUR (using Wise or Döviz exchange offices) protects your savings from inflation. Döviz offices (currency exchange) often give better rates than banks for cash — check the TCMB daily rate as a benchmark and don't accept more than 0.5% below it.

BiTaksi and Uber Turkey are both operating — BiTaksi is more reliable

Uber was banned in Turkey but relaunched via a licensed taxi partnership in 2023. BiTaksi is the dominant local app and connects you to licensed yellow taxis. Both work similarly but BiTaksi tends to have shorter wait times in residential areas. Always use apps rather than hailing a cab — you get a fixed price, GPS tracking, and receipt. Unlicensed taxis near tourist spots regularly overcharge foreigners.

Trendyol and Hepsiburada deliver most items next day — good for setup

For flat setup items (towels, kitchen basics, storage), Trendyol and Hepsiburada are the main Turkish e-commerce platforms. Most Istanbul deliveries are next-day. Keep a running list of what you need and order in batches to meet the free delivery threshold (usually 200–300 TL). Trendyol has better product variety; Hepsiburada has better electronics deals.

Rental prices in Istanbul inflate 30–60% at lease renewal — know your rights

Turkey's housing market has had extreme inflation. The TÜFE (consumer price index) cap on annual rent increases applies to existing contracts, but some landlords try to increase above this. Know that if your contract has a CPI clause, they legally cannot exceed the TÜFE rate at renewal. Check the official rate on the TCMB website and dispute any excess in writing. Many landlords back down when you cite the law.

Airport SIM vs city stores: buy at the city for better value

Turkcell kiosks at IST Airport charge a significant premium — their tourist SIM for 10GB was 450 TL versus 250 TL at the Cevahir Mall store. Use the free airport WiFi and buy your SIM in the city. The metro from IST Airport to central Istanbul (M11 line) has excellent tunnel WiFi if you need data during transit.

Get an Istanbulkart from the airport before leaving arrivals

The Istanbulkart is the transit card for metro, tram, bus, funicular, and ferry across Istanbul. You can get one at kiosks in the arrivals hall of both IST and SAW airports for 70 TL (50 TL card + 20 TL credit). Without it, single-journey tokens cost roughly double. Top up at any metro station machine or online. One card works for the whole city including the Bosphorus ferries.