This is the Best Travel eSIM for Thailand!? [My review on dtac Tourist eSIM]
In-depth article on possibly the most cost-effective and reliable eSIM for travel in Thailand.
![This is the Best Travel eSIM for Thailand!? [My review on dtac Tourist eSIM]](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1578167635648-df79e1565908?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=MnwxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDMwfHxiYW5na29rfGVufDB8fHx8MTY2NDE1OTY0MQ&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&q=80&w=2000)
Thailand, one of the world's top tourist destinations, attracts countless travelers each year. As "travel eSIMs" gain rapid popularity among international tourists, the options for prepaid eSIMs for travelers to Thailand have significantly increased in the last couple of yers.
However, with more choices available, it can become challenging to decide which eSIM to choose.
That’s exactly why I took the time to carefully research and hand-pick one of the most promising eSIM options tailored for travelers visiting Thailand 🇹🇭, tested locally, and compiled the information in this article.
If you are planning to travel or go on a business trip to Thailand and are considering using an eSIM for mobile internet (which you definitely should), I hope this article proves useful.
The travel eSIMs featured in this article are hand-picked from the travel eSIM comparison website "eSIMDB". There are many other eSIMs and data plans available on eSIMDB, so be sure to check them out 👇 before you make the final decision.
dtac Happy Tourist eSIM Overview
One of the major Thai telecoms, dtac, offers a tourist SIM card called Happy Tourist SIM, and they have an eSIM version of that which provides incredible value for money, making it my No.1 recommended eSIM for Thailand.
The physical SIM card version has been a popular tourist SIM for a long time, and is sold at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Don Mueang Airport (DMK), Phuket Airport, Chiang Rai Airport, and other airports. This Happy Tourist SIM from dtac is likely one of the most purchased tourist SIM cards in Thailand (definitely top 3 in my opinion).
While the AIS "SIM2Fly" is another well-known SIM brand for Thai travel, dtac's Happy Tourist SIM offers better value.
I'll cover the actual connectivity quality in a later section, but so far, this eSIM version seems to be arguably the best travel eSIM option available in Thailand.
*However, if you'll be traveling to quite remote areas within Thailand, I'd recommend checking dtac's service area (cellular coverage) first.
Plans and Prices for Happy Tourist eSIM
*The plans and pricing information is current as of the time of writing. Prices may be cheaper during promotions, etc. and additional plan options could be introduced.
While there used to be only 2 plans available, the dtac official product page for tourist now lists 6 plans.
They can be grouped into the following two types:
- dtac Happy Tourist Infinite SIM (New unlimited plan)
- dtac Happy Tourist SIM
Both types include a Thai phone number (+66) and allows you to make calls and send SMS, which is a strong selling point in my opinion. And of course, eSIM version is available for both types.
Happy Tourist Infinite SIM
Simply put, this type comes with unlimited mobile data and unlimited calls within Thailand.
There are 3 plans available based on the number of valid days. The details are summarized in the table below.
| Validity | Price | Data | Domestic Calls | dtac WiFi | Free Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 days | 449 Baht | 5G Unlimited | Unlimited calls to all networks | Unlimited | 15 Baht |
| 15 days | 699 Baht | 5G Unlimited | Unlimited calls to all networks | Unlimited | 15 Baht |
| 30 days | 1,199 Baht | 5G Unlimited | Unlimited calls to all networks | Unlimited | 15 Baht |
*All available in eSIM version.
As you can see in the table above, aside from the validity and prices, the plan details are exactly the same.
The official selling price is 449 - 1,199 THB, but each reseller sets their own price. Will explain it the Where and how to buy section.
Happy Tourist SIM
This is the original, standard Happy Tourist SIM. It's more affordable than the Infinite plans, and personally, I recommend this one more.
There are 3 plans available based on the data allowance and valid period:
| Validity | Price | Data Capacity | Unlimited chat | Call Credit | Domestic Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 days | 299 Baht | 15GB | 5 apps | 15 Baht | Free up to 100 Baht |
| 10 days | 349 Baht | 50GB | 5 apps | 15 Baht | Free up to 100 minutes |
| 15 days | 599 Baht | 30GB | 5 apps | 15 Baht | - |
*Calls to dtac numbers are free.
*While dtac WiFi access isn't explicitly mentioned, I was able to use it in Bangkok. So it seems dtac WiFi usage is also unlimited.
Among these, I personally recommend the "50GB / 10 Days" plan. Here are the benefits of the 50GB plan:
✅ Even if you use up 50GB of data, you can still use unlimited data at a reduced speed (normally 384kbps, but promotions sometimes increase it to 15Mbps)
✅ Unlimited calls to dtac numbers
✅ Up to 100 minutes of free calls to non-dtac numbers within Thailand
✅ Unlimited chat on 5 messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp
✅ Unlimited dtac WiFi usage
If you think you'll use over 50GB in 10 days, then of course you should consider the unlimited plans, but normally, I don't think most people use 5GB per day, so 50GB should be more than enough.
Also, having up to 100 minutes of free calls (to non-dtac numbers) for 10 days is plenty for normal tourism purposes.
So there are hardly any downsides to this plan.
The only drawback I can think of is the 10-day validity period. If you're staying in Thailand for more than 10 days, you could either choose the (pricier) 30-day unlimited plan, or just buy multiple 50GB plans. Alternatively, some of the other eSIMs you can find on eSIMDB might fit your needs and itinerary better.
Where and How to Buy It (My Recommendations)
While it seems like this eSIM can now be purchased directly from dtac's official website (which wasn't possible before), the process was terrible when I tried, requiring passport or ID upload and getting stuck midway.
So personally, I recommend purchasing from one of dtac's official reseller partners instead. It's not only easier but also tends to be cheaper.
The number of reseller partners has been increasing, and currently there are 8 companies listed on the official website. Of course, regardless of where you buy it from, the eSIM itself is the same.
Recommended Reseller No.1: Nomad
Nomad undoubtedly offers one of the best user experiences when it comes to travel eSIMs. Sometimes the number of their offerings can be a bit overwhelming, but they are usually very affordable.
On Nomad, the 50GB / 10 Days plan is $8.
Plus, using the promo code "ESIMDB3" gives you a $3 discount. The code can only be used once, but if it works for you, this could be the cheapest way to buy one.
Both their website and mobile app have a simple design, and the purchase process is very straightforward.
Again, use "ESIMDB3" to get $3 OFF.
Recommended Reseller No.2: Airalo
Airalo, arguably the most well-known brand in the travel eSIM industry, is also one of the recommended partners for purchasing the dtac Happy Tourist eSIM.
The sale prices on Airalo are:
- 50GB / 10 Days : $9.90
- Unlimited 15 Days : $19.95
Additionally, using the promo code "ESIMDB10" gives you a 10% discount on the purchase amount.
With this discount, the 50GB plan comes to under $9, which is probably cheaper than buying from the official website.
I've personally used Airalo many times before and considering online payments, they're more trustworthy than dtac's official site.
Other Reseller Options
The pricing for dtac's eSIM is essentially open, so each reseller sets their own prices for sales. So you might be able to find somewhere selling it cheaper than Nomad or Airalo.
Here are some resellers with relatively low prices, generally speaking.
eSIMX
eSIMX is a relatively new player in the travel eSIM market, but they prices are very competitive.
On their Thailand eSIM page, make sure to select "VOICE, DATA, SMS" tab.
The 50GB plan is sold at $8.27. And using the promo code "ESIMDB10" gives you an additional 10% OFF, bringing it under $8.
MobiMatter
MobiMatter is another company / website selling the dtac Happy Tourist eSIM.
MobiMatter has very competitive prices in general, typically cheaper than most of the official resellers.
15GB / 8 Days plan is currently sold at $7.99 on their site.
Installing eSIM
This time, I bought a Happy Tourist eSIM 50GB Plan from Nomad. And they sent me a QR code to install eSIM right after the purchase is complete.
Installing / activating an eSIM on your phone is a straightforward process and should complete in a minute or two. Just tap, tap, tap, and done.
Once it's installed, it probably shows "Activating..." but it's normal if you are outside of Thailand.
Whenever you install a prepaid / travel eSIM, I highly recommend updating the Cellular Plan Label to easily identify the eSIM and distinguish it from other cellular plans on your phone. I usually do so with a country flag emoji to make it even easier to spot.
I successfully installed the eSIM on my iPhone 15 Pro the day before my trip. (FYI, the plan validity starts from this point). It's generally recommended to install pior to the trip.
Testing in Bangkok
- The connectivity / speed tests were conducted in Bangkok and its surrounding tourist areas.
- Tested in May 2024
After arriving at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), I turned on the dtac Happy Tourist eSIM, set it for Cellular Data, and I was able to connect to the internet within seconds.
As expected, local eSIMs seem to connect quickly. No Data Roaming or other settings were necessary.
In Bangkok, I was connected to dtac's 5G almost the entire time. (Occasionally on 4G.)
For some reason, the carrier display name is the rather long "dtac.Better Together".
Speed Tests
From left to right are the speed test results near Phrom Phong BTS Station, around Terminal 21, and at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Being a local eSIM, the Ping is good at around 30 ms. Both download and upload speeds are quite satisfactory too considering it's a prepaid travel eSIM. (Not comparable to the 5G experience you'd get in developed countries though.)
There were times when the speed temporarily dropped, but overall the speeds were as good as I expected it to be at least. I never experienced any noticeable packet congestion.
In addition to Bangkok, I also stayed in Hua Hin for a few days. There were no issues with signal conditions there too, and I was able to use mobile internet comfortably the entire time.
I also used tethering (internet sharing) quite heavily, but this too worked without any problems.
How to Check Data Balance and Plan Expiry Date
Unfortunately, checking data balance for dtac's Happy Tourist eSIM is a bit troublesome.
You need to access the following dtac webpage, click the "Check balance, Top-up and Add-On Package" at the bottom of the page, enter your phone number, receive a one-time password (OTP) via SMS.
As for the call credit balance and plan expiration date, you can check by dialing the following number from the phone app:
Dial *101*9# and tap 📞
Within a few seconds, you'll receive the information via SMS like this:
Final Thoughts
dtac Happy Tourist eSIM, regardless of which plan you choose, undoubtedly offers great value for money. Based on my own positive experience using this eSIM in Thailand, I can confidently recommend it as your top choice for the following reasons:
✅ Affordable pricing (50GB / 10 Day plan for under $10, Unlimited 15 Day plan for under $20)
✅ Local connection without roaming = low latency (less sluggish) compared to roaming eSIMs
✅ Call credit included + Unlimited domestic calls to dtac numbers
✅ Fulfills typical travel connectivity needs with reliable cellular performance (though not super fast)
✅ Robust coverage in the majority of Thai cities (though AIS is probably better for very rural areas)
✅ Supports Personal Hotspot (tethering) to connect multiple devices
If you are traveling more than 10 or 15 days, you'd have to either buy multiple eSIMs or you might want to find a different eSIM with a longer validity from eSIMDB 👇.