Trusted services
Trusted travel services in Thailand: what we check before we list
We list a service only when you can check the basics yourself: a price published before you book, a clear cancellation policy, a person you can reach, and a licence where Thai law requires one. We do not inspect vehicles or premises, and a listing here is not a certification.
Updated · Terms taken from each operator's published pages
How we choose
Six checks you can repeat yourself
Every check below is something you can verify in a few minutes before paying anyone, for any service in Thailand, listed here or not.
Price published before you book
The full price is on the website or in writing before you commit, not "quoted on arrival".
Per vehicle or per person, stated
You know whether the price is for the car or for each traveler, and what it includes, such as tolls, fuel or entry fees.
Clear cancellation terms
The policy says when you can cancel for free and what happens after that, in plain words.
A person you can reach
A phone number, WhatsApp or LINE that a person answers, so a delayed flight or a change of plan can be sorted out.
A licence where the law requires one
Tour operators need a Department of Tourism licence number you can look up online; licensed paid vehicles carry yellow or green plates.
No prepayment traps
No full payment in advance to a business you cannot reach, and no passport left as a deposit.
What we do not do: we do not inspect vehicles, hotels, boats or dive equipment, we do not vet individual drivers or guides, and we are not linked to the Tourism Authority of Thailand or any government agency. "Approved" on this site means official, licensed or checkable, and we show you how to check. More in about this site.
Airport transfers and private taxis
The Smile Taxi Service network, by area
One operator, Smile Taxi Service, runs every ride booked on the sites below; the regional sites show the routes for their area, in English and Thai. Prices are published on each site and change, so we do not copy them here.
Nationwide
- Smile Taxi ServiceNationwide · the operator
Private airport transfers, intercity rides and 10-hour day tours with driver. Airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), U-Tapao (UTP) and Phuket (HKT); custom quotes for unlisted routes.
- Thailand Taxi ServicesNationwide
Booking gateway with one page per route across Thailand, from the four main airports to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, Hat Yai and the beaches of Phuket and Krabi.
- Thailand TaxisNationwide
Nationwide booking site with route guides, such as how to reach Koh Samet via Ban Phe pier or get from Phuket Airport to Ao Nang.
- Taxis ThailandNationwide · airport-first
Airport fares from Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U-Tapao and Phuket, plus city-to-city fares between the main destinations.
Bangkok and the airports
- Bangkok Taxi ServicesBangkok · BKK · DMK
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang to Bangkok hotels and beyond, intercity rides from Bangkok, and a Bangkok day tour with driver.
- Airport to Pattaya TaxiPattaya · BKK · DMK · UTP
Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao to any hotel in Pattaya, Jomtien, Naklua or Pratumnak, and from Pattaya to Ban Phe pier, the Koh Chang pier and Hua Hin.
Central and west
- Ayutthaya TaxisAyutthaya
Ayutthaya to and from Bangkok, both airports and Pattaya, and onward to Khao Yai, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin and Sukhothai.
- Ratchaburi TaxisDamnoen Saduak · Ratchaburi
Bangkok and both airports to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Ratchaburi town, and from the market on to Kanchanaburi or Hua Hin.
- Kanchanaburi TaxiKanchanaburi
Bangkok and both airports to Kanchanaburi town, plus custom full-day charters around the province (River Kwai, Erawan, Hellfire Pass).
- Sai Yok TaxisSai Yok · Kanchanaburi
River Kwai raft-house resorts and sights along Highway 323, from Kanchanaburi town, Bangkok and both airports. Resorts further out may cost extra, confirmed before you book.
- Hua Hin TaxiHua Hin
Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Pattaya to Hua Hin and back; Cha-am and other stops quoted by message.
East
- Ban Phe TaxisBan Phe pier (Koh Samet) · UTP
To Ban Phe pier for the Koh Samet boats from Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U-Tapao, Bangkok and Pattaya, and on to the Koh Chang ferry pier. Boat tickets are bought at the pier.
- Koh Chang TaxiKoh Chang ferry pier (Trat)
Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Pattaya to the Ao Thammachat ferry pier at Laem Ngop, the gateway to Koh Chang; transfers end at the pier.
North
- Chiang Mai TaxiChiang Mai · CNX
Car with driver from Chiang Mai or its airport (CNX) to Pai, Chiang Rai or Bangkok, and a 10-hour Chiang Mai day with driver.
- Sukhothai TaxisSukhothai · THS · PHS
New Sukhothai and the Old City from Sukhothai (THS) and Phitsanulok (PHS) airports, Bangkok and its airports, Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya.
Northeast (Isan)
- Khao Yai TaxiKhao Yai · Pak Chong
Suvarnabhumi to Pak Chong and the Khao Yai resorts, and a Khao Yai day tour with driver (park fees paid on the day).
- Korat TaxisKorat (Nakhon Ratchasima) · Phimai
Korat from Bangkok and both airports, and from Korat to Khao Yai, Phimai Historical Park and Khon Kaen.
- Khon Kaen TaxisKhon Kaen · KKC
Khon Kaen Airport (KKC) to the city, and Khon Kaen to Udon Thani, Korat and Bangkok, including BKK and DMK.
- Udon Thani TaxisUdon Thani · UTH · Nong Khai
Udon Thani Airport (UTH) to the city and to Nong Khai and the Friendship Bridge (rides end at Thai immigration), plus Khon Kaen.
- Ubon TaxisUbon Ratchathani · UBP · Khong Chiam
Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) to the city and to Khong Chiam on the Mekong; Pha Taem and full days out priced by message.
South
- Phuket Taxi ServicesPhuket · HKT
Phuket Airport (HKT) to Patong and to Ao Nang in Krabi, long-distance rides to Bangkok and Pattaya, and a Phuket day tour with driver; other beaches quoted by message.
- Krabi TaxisKrabi · Ao Nang
Ao Nang to Phuket Airport and Patong at fixed prices; Krabi Airport (KBV), Krabi Town and the piers quoted by message.
Transparency: Smile Taxi Service and the regional transfer sites listed here are affiliated with Approved Thailand. Everything we say about them comes from the operator's published terms; we have not inspected its vehicles.
How these terms compare with the official airport taxi rank, rail links and ride-hailing apps is set out in our guide to licensed taxis and airport transfers.
Mobile data
Travel eSIMs for Thailand
An eSIM gives you data from the moment you land, without a SIM kiosk queue, and lets you keep your home number for bank codes.
- Thai eSIMThailand
Prepaid, data-only travel eSIMs for Thailand on the AIS, TrueMove H and dtac networks: 5G in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya on supported plans, 4G/LTE nationwide. Plans from 24 hours to 180 days; the QR code arrives by email and validity starts on first connection in Thailand. Paid once via PayPal.
- eSIM Hub190+ countries
The parent store of Thai eSIM, with travel eSIMs for more than 190 countries, useful when Thailand is one stop on a longer trip.
What to check yourself
- Your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked (the stores list iPhone XS/XR and later, Galaxy S20 and later, Pixel 3 and later, and other unlocked eSIM phones).
- A data-only eSIM has no Thai phone number. Some Thai services send a one-time code by SMS to a Thai number, for example drone registration with the NBTC.
- Install before you fly, but check when validity starts so days are not used up before you arrive.
Transparency: Thai eSIM and eSIM Hub are affiliated with Approved Thailand. The details above come from the stores' published information.
Hotels, tours and activities
Editor's picks, and what to check yourself
Independent businesses we think are worth a look. They are not affiliated with us and have not been inspected by us; each link goes to the business's own website.
Hotels
- Mandarin Oriental, BangkokBangkok
A long-established luxury hotel on the Chao Phraya river.
- AmanpuriPhuket
A resort of pavilions and villas on Phuket's west coast.
- 137 Pillars HouseChiang Mai
A boutique hotel built around a restored teak house in Chiang Mai.
- Four Seasons Resort Chiang MaiChiang Mai (Mae Rim)
A resort among rice terraces in the Mae Rim valley, north of the city.
What to check yourself: the total price including any service charge and 7% VAT, the cancellation deadline in writing, and that you are booking on the hotel's real website (type the address yourself rather than clicking an ad).
Tours, food and activities
- Smiling AlbinoThailand and Southeast Asia
A tour company that designs private trips in Thailand and neighbouring countries.
- Bangkok Food ToursBangkok
Guided food walks through Bangkok neighbourhoods.
- Blue ElephantBangkok
A Thai restaurant group that also runs a cooking school.
- Big Blue DivingKoh Tao
A dive centre on Koh Tao offering courses and fun dives.
What to check yourself: any company selling tours in Thailand needs a Department of Tourism licence. Ask for the number (it looks like 14/01234), search it on the DOT's License Check page or call 0 2401 1111, and expect your guide to carry a licence card. For diving, check the dive centre on the training agency's own shop locator and ask what insurance covers you. Step-by-step instructions are in our scams guide.
Official marks you may see, and what they mean
| Mark | Who awards it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Tour operator licence (number like 31/01200) | Department of Tourism | The company may legally sell tours; valid 2 years; check it online |
| Guide licence card | Department of Tourism | A licensed guide; the colour shows where they may work (silver-bronze nationwide) |
| Thailand Tourism Standard (elephant raising its trunk) | Department of Tourism | Certified against one of 56 standards for 3 years; 694 businesses were certified in fiscal 2025 |
| Thailand Tourism Awards | Tourism Authority of Thailand | Held every two years; the 15th edition in September 2025 gave 151 awards |
| SHA | Tourism Authority of Thailand | A COVID-era hygiene certificate from 2020; no longer required and not a current quality mark |
"Approved Thailand" is not one of these marks. We do not award badges or certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Does Approved Thailand certify the businesses it lists?
No. We list services that meet checks you can repeat yourself, such as published prices and clear cancellation terms, but we do not inspect vehicles or premises and we do not issue certificates. Official licences come from Thai authorities such as the Department of Tourism.
How do I check a tour company's licence in Thailand?
Ask for its Department of Tourism licence number and search it, or the company name, on the DOT's online License Check page. You can also call the DOT on 0 2401 1111. The Tourism Authority of Thailand does not issue licences.
Are the transfer sites on this page one company?
Yes. Smile Taxi Service operates every ride booked on the network sites listed here; the regional sites show the routes for their area. They are affiliated with Approved Thailand, which we disclose on every page that mentions them.
Do I pay for a transfer when I book?
Not with the Smile Taxi Service network: nothing is charged when you book, and you pay the driver in baht at the end, or by a PayPal card link with 5% added. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Why are some businesses marked "Editor's pick"?
They are independent businesses we think are worth considering, with no affiliation to us. The label is an editorial opinion, not a verification, so apply the same checks before you book.