Moving to a new city is exciting and busy, and health admin is easy to postpone. A few hours spent in your first month will make the next few years much smoother.

Sort out insurance properly

Check what your employer policy actually covers: outpatient visits, dental, maternity, evacuation and pre-existing conditions are all common gaps. If you are self-employed or retired, compare international and local plans, and pay attention to the deductible and the annual limit. Private hospital care in Bangkok is excellent but not cheap without cover.

Choose a hospital before you need one

Pick one main hospital near your home and register there while you are well. Bring your passport and insurance details, and ask about direct billing. Save the emergency number, 1669, and the hospital's own ambulance line in your phone. In heavy traffic, a hospital ten minutes away by motorbike may be an hour away by car, so think about distance realistically.

Find a pharmacy and a GP-style doctor

Pharmacies are everywhere and pharmacists are generally helpful, but some medicines that need a prescription at home are sold over the counter here. That convenience is a reason to be more careful, not less. For ongoing medication, see a doctor to get the correct local equivalent and dose.

Vaccinations and dental

Check your routine vaccinations are up to date and ask a travel clinic about hepatitis A and B, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis, depending on your plans. Dengue is present year-round; use repellent, especially around dawn and dusk. Book a dental check-up, since Bangkok's clinics are good value and it is easier to find one before you have toothache.

Build a routine around the climate

Decide early when and where you will exercise, ideally in the cooler parts of the day or indoors. Notice how the heat affects your energy and appetite and adjust; many newcomers find they want lighter lunches and an earlier start.

Look after your head too

Culture shock is real, even in a city as welcoming as this one. Expect a dip somewhere between the second and sixth month. Keep in touch with people at home, join something that meets regularly, and know that English-speaking counsellors and psychologists are available if you need support.

Give yourself time. Most people who stay in Bangkok for years say the first six months were the hardest and the most interesting.