For the nearly 2.5 million Indians who visited Thailand last year, the travel experience typically begins with a familiar frustration. You land at Suvarnabhumi Airport after a four-hour flight from Bengaluru or Mumbai, switch off airplane mode, and immediately face a choice: pay steep roaming charges to your Indian carrier, or join the queue at an airport SIM kiosk while your family waits at arrivals and your Grab ride idles outside.

Australian travel eSIM provider BazTel is now offering a third option that eliminates both hassles entirely. The company has launched international data plans for Thailand starting from just $1 (approximately Rs 85), making it one of the most affordable ways for Indian travellers to stay connected from the moment they touch down in Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai.

The Hidden Cost of Staying Connected Abroad

International data roaming remains one of the most overlooked expenses in travel budgets. Indian carriers like Jio and Airtel offer international roaming packs for Thailand, but the costs add up quickly. Jio’s daily international roaming pack starts at Rs 499 for just 250MB of data, while Airtel charges Rs 296 per day for 1GB in Southeast Asia. A typical ten-day family holiday in Thailand can easily rack up Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 in roaming charges per person, and that is before anyone accidentally leaves background app refresh turned on.

The alternative of buying a local Thai SIM card at the airport sounds cheaper, but it comes with its own inconveniences. You need to hand over your passport, navigate registration processes in an unfamiliar language, and remove your Indian SIM, which means missing important OTPs from your bank or UPI apps during the trip.

What BazTel Brings to the Table

BazTel operates as a travel eSIM provider covering more than 160 countries, with Thailand among its most popular destinations. What sets the company apart from many competitors is a combination of aggressive pricing and a simplified setup process.

The company’s Thailand plans start from $1, which at current exchange rates works out to roughly Rs 85. While the entry-level plan is designed for light usage, BazTel offers a range of data allowances that scale up for heavier users, whether you need enough data to navigate Google Maps through Bangkok’s backstreets or stream video calls back home to family in Mangalore or Mumbai.

Perhaps more importantly for travellers who are not particularly tech-savvy, BazTel uses a one-click dashboard installation system. Unlike most eSIM providers that require you to scan a QR code, download a separate app, or follow multi-step activation instructions, BazTel lets you install your Thailand data plan directly through a web browser dashboard in a single step. You can set it up at home before departure, and your phone connects to a Thai network the moment you land. Your Indian SIM stays in place, so you continue receiving OTPs, bank notifications, and calls on your regular number.

Thailand: India’s Favourite Southeast Asian Getaway

The timing of BazTel’s push into the Thai market is no coincidence. India has rapidly become Thailand’s third-largest source of tourists, with 2.48 million Indian visitors in 2025 alone, a 16.8 per cent increase over the previous year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is targeting over 2.55 million Indian arrivals in 2026, and the numbers show no sign of slowing.

Several factors are driving this boom. Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free stays of up to 60 days in Thailand. Direct flight connectivity has expanded significantly, with hundreds of weekly flights operating between major Indian cities and Thai destinations. Budget airlines have made return fares increasingly affordable, and the favourable exchange rate means Thailand offers genuine value compared to many other international holiday options.

Indian travellers are also diversifying beyond Bangkok. Destinations like Krabi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui are drawing families, honeymooners, and increasingly, destination wedding parties. Thai wellness tourism, from traditional massage retreats to detox programmes, has found a particularly receptive audience among Indian visitors.

Understanding the eSIM Advantage

For those unfamiliar with the technology, an eSIM is a digital SIM card embedded directly into modern smartphones. It performs exactly the same function as a physical SIM card but can be activated entirely through software, without opening your phone’s SIM tray. Most iPhones from the XR onwards support eSIM, as do recent Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and OnePlus devices. Even some mid-range handsets from Xiaomi and Realme now include eSIM capability.

The practical advantage for travellers is significant. With an eSIM, you effectively run two connections simultaneously: your Indian Jio or Airtel SIM for calls and SMS, and the travel eSIM for affordable local data. There is no need to swap cards, no risk of losing your nano-SIM in a hotel room, and no gap in connectivity between landing and getting online. According to GSMA, more than half of all eSIM users first activated the technology specifically for travel, and as more manufacturers build eSIM support into affordable handsets popular in India, the technology is quickly moving from a niche convenience to a travel essential.

Making the Most of Your Thailand eSIM

If you are planning a trip to Thailand and considering an eSIM for the first time, a few practical tips will help. Check your phone’s compatibility before purchasing: most iPhones from the XR onwards and recent Samsung and Pixel devices support eSIM. Set up your eSIM before you leave India, so there is zero fiddling at the airport. Keep your Indian SIM active with data roaming switched off, so you continue receiving OTPs and bank notifications without incurring roaming charges, while all internet usage routes through the cheaper eSIM. Finally, choose a data plan that matches your actual usage: light travellers who mainly use WhatsApp and Maps can get by with smaller plans, while heavy social media users will want a more generous allowance.

A Smarter Way to Travel

As Indian outbound travel continues to grow and Thailand cements its position as a favourite destination, the demand for affordable connectivity will only increase. BazTel’s plans starting from $1 represent a meaningful shift in what travellers should expect to pay. For the price of a cup of chai, you can land in Thailand with your phone already online, your maps loaded, and your family group chat pinging away.

To explore BazTel’s Thailand eSIM plans and check device compatibility, visit baztel.co.