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Is it better to use a travel router or a VPN for internet connectivity in Thailand?

Travel RouterVPNThailandInternet ConnectivityMobile HotspotSim CardPublic WiFiSecurityVPN ProvidersExpressVPNNordVPNCyberGhostAstrillProtonVPN
Apr 27, 2024
8 months ago
Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Question: I am planning to purchase a travel router or VPN for my upcoming trip to Thailand. Which one is better?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers around whether to purchase a travel router or use a VPN for internet access in Thailand. Community members suggest various options and share their experiences with cellular data, mobile hotspots, and the use of specific VPN services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Recommendations include buying a local SIM card, using mobile WiFi, and considerations for online security when using public WiFi networks in Thailand. Some users express concerns about accessing their bank accounts while using a VPN, while others mention the use of specific VPN services to bypass geographic restrictions on content.
Raymond ******
Remity is a transfer based company that charges $1.99 to send money from your American bank account to wherever you need it, but it takes time like 10 days. This is how I send money back to Thailand.
8 months ago
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Robert *****
@Raymond *****
 its REMITLY. my transfers from the USA to Thailand take maybe 14 seconds.
8 months ago
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Raymond ******
@Robert ****
 wtf? 14 seconds? Mine take like a week to 10 days
8 months ago
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Raymond ******
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Christopher ******
CyberGhost is a good cheap VPN works in Thailand but as noted some things don’t work with VPN on like ChatGPT
8 months ago
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William *******
Express VPN
8 months ago
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Danny ******
I live in Thailand VPN is great if you’re trying to watch something that is restricting your access to watch something in a different country
8 months ago
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Todd *********
@Danny *****
 many of us live in Thailand. But what are you finding restricted in Thailand? And why?
8 months ago
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Robert *****
@Todd ********
 things like Gun related sites. My favorite Japanese Porn sites.
8 months ago
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Danny ******
@Todd ********
 I use Express VPN. I’m able to get things that are blocked in Thailand adult entertainment. The main thing is some of the apps like Hulu and Netflix won’t work or they’ll change the region by your language.
8 months ago
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Danny ******
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Terary **********
I think those are two different things

travel router - I think you mean mobile hotspot, use wifi for internet access across several devices?

VPN - encrypt connection between two computers (routers, etc). Used often to hide your current location.

I think you want the mobile hotspot. If you are using a US phone than you will want one of these. Or, buy a cheap phone - does the same thing but then you have an international phone. Mobile wifi will get you better quality internet probably.
8 months ago
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Kerry *********
We use Astrill. Never had an issue. Used it for several years in China and continue to use it in Thailand.
8 months ago
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Chris ********
gl.inet has very nice travel routers with good VPN performance. Running OpenWRT so you have lots of options with it
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kerry ********
 definitely going to check it out
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
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Brian *********
VPN use Proton the most secure in the world
8 months ago
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Brian *********
@Brian ********
 an encrypted tunnel is an encrypted tunnel, the security level is more dependent on the vendor, not the technology (in this case VPN).
8 months ago
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Brian *********
💤
8 months ago
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Brian *********
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Robert *****
My Bank in the USA won’t let me access my account with a VPN. From Thailand.
8 months ago
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Brian *********
@Robert ****
 Did you try without the VPN? Many simply will not allow a VPN these days as it's used for hack attempts a lot!

I have 4 US based banks and 3 will not work with a VPN but work fine from Thailand without the VPN.
8 months ago
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Chris ********
Use the VPN to make them think your somewhere else. How can they know?
8 months ago
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Brian *********
@Chris *******
 It's called Geofencing! Though VPN masks or assigns different IP Addresses, it cannot mask the routing table (where the request originated) and a company (many do this) can restrict that access attempt based on its geographic origin. My experience has been in Thailand this renders VPN pretty much pointless most of the time.
8 months ago
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Chris ********
@Brian ********
 Maybe they can see that you're using an IP from a known VPN provider. I run VPN on both my home router in US and home router in Thailand and never seem to have any problems. I have seen a few sites block Surfshark VPN
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *******
 really. Can you enlighten me on how you ran a vpn on your home router and your rltravel router. I'm looking to do the same
8 months ago
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Chris ********
@Jayla *******
 I use gl.inet routers on both devices, but other brands probably do ok as well. The VPN software is pre-installed on their devices. I prefer using Wireguard however both OpenVPN and Wireguard are there. On the routers, you create public and private keys but you only share the public keys between them. You can also create a QR code public key which you can scan with your phone or laptop. Use the standard Wireguard app for your phone. The default key setup will make your clients appear to be in the LAN at home whenever you enable the VPN.
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *******
 that's amazing, thanks so much for the help
8 months ago
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Brian *********
@Chris *******
 Yes, certainly this is one way! But the end run to all the above can be ignored by using routing traces. Most often using flat tables of preidentified device origins. Though VPNs can impersonate a regions IP address it cannot mask the routing coming from outside of a designated area.

I used to restrict access to infrastructure, sites and services to only the US 48 contagious states for an entire organization, VPN or not. Tools used would not only allow for restriction based on IP and subnets, they would identify the geographic origin of the request. Frankly pretty slick stuff!
8 months ago
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Brian *********
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Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ****
 that my biggest worry is one day my bank would need to send me a security code and it won't go thur because my IP/VPN says I'm in Thailand
8 months ago
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Brian *********
@Jayla *******
 what I did to get around this is retained my home phone number, ported it over to Google Voice which is VOIP and it works fine! 😉
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ********
 perfect, I'm try that
8 months ago
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Jayla ********
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Todd *********
Why
8 months ago
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Naj *************
@Todd ********
 no idea how the internet works? There are plenty reasons to use a VPN… you can check more here. Www.giybf.com
8 months ago
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Todd *********
@Naj ************
 another one sucked in… 🤷‍♂️
8 months ago
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Naj *************
@Todd ********
 in what? Basic education? Yeah guilty as charged…
8 months ago
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Todd *********
@Naj ************
 you can't even figure out how to get a driver's license. It must be hard to function with your head jammed so far up your arse.
8 months ago
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Naj *************
@Todd ********
 at least you can read… use it to educate your self…. Instead of stalking profiles… old creep
8 months ago
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Todd *********
@Naj ************
 it’s in the posts log lol. But how would you know that? You basic education has failed you. Nobody is likely to stalk your profile lol. You sound useless
8 months ago
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Naj *************
@Todd ********
 yeah… not as useless as a retired Canadian who only came to Thailand to find a women to buy🤣 hard to find someone in your country low enough to take you…
8 months ago
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Naj *************
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Owen ********
@Todd ********
 that's the best answer exactly, why do you think you need either. What's the business case?
8 months ago
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Todd *********
@Owen *******
 exactly. No idea what people are thinking here 🤷‍♂️
8 months ago
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Todd *********
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Tony **********
Wifi everywhere
8 months ago
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John *********
@Tony *********
 I would always use a VPN on public wifi - no exceptions
8 months ago
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Tony **********
@John ********
 okay, but the question was about connectivity.....
8 months ago
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Ruth *******
@Tony *********
 where do you see that? I see a question about a VPN router.
8 months ago
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John *********
@Ruth ******
 A VPN router is any router that has a VPN installed on it. ExpressVPN software on your router can provide full VPN benefits to all devices connected to the router, including encryption and location changes, protecting your whole home.
8 months ago
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Ruth *******
@John ********
 I didn’t need that explanation. 🤣🤣🤣 talk to Tony, maybe.
8 months ago
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John *********
@Ruth ******
 do you want a complete answer or an incomplete one?
8 months ago
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Ruth *******
@John ********
 an "answer" to a question that was not asked is not an answer ("complete" or not) at all.🤣🤣🤣

I'm done following this thread now...you can instruct into the wind if you'd like.
8 months ago
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John *********
@Tony *********
 I have had excellent results with ExpressVPN so far.
8 months ago
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John *********
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Ed *****
Use a mobile wifi, with a high speed sim card.
8 months ago
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Ed *****
8 months ago
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Paul ********
Nord vpn works well plenty of connections
8 months ago
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John *********
@Paul *******
 ExpressVPN works great
8 months ago
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David ******
@Paul *******
 I have nord as well but have been told express vpn is faster in Thailand.
8 months ago
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Steve **********
@David *****
 yes, I have both, the Nord servers in Thailand are horrible. ExpressVPN servers in Thailand are really good.
8 months ago
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Steve **********
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Pascal ********
Buy a simcard and use your cellphone as a hotspot. Works great.
8 months ago
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Pascal ********
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