Dubai, Desert & Abu Dhabi
Best seller.
Dubai & UAE , 5 nights, 6 days.
from
per person · twin sharing · flights extra
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
Ethan Holidays · +91 94954 78536 · info@ethanholidays.com · www.ethanholidays.com/compare/dubai-vs-thailand
Old Airport Road, Nedumbassery, Kochi, Kerala 683572 · since 2010
Facts checked October 2026
Dubai vs Thailand: which is better from Kerala?
- 4.9 on Google (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
- 10,000+ travellers
- Since 2010
Which is better, Dubai or Thailand?
Choose Dubai for a non-stop flight from any Kerala airport, theme parks, desert evenings and food you know well; it is at its best from November to March. Choose Thailand for islands, beaches and easy sightseeing with no visa for 30 days; it is at its best from November to February.
Choose Dubai if
- You fly from Kozhikode, Kannur or Thiruvananthapuram and want a non-stop flight
- Parents or young children are coming
- You travel in October, including the Pooja break
- Theme parks, malls and the desert are the main plan
Choose Thailand if
- You want beaches and island boat days
- You would rather not apply for a visa
- A couple or friends are travelling
- You travel between November and February
Dubai or Thailand: who is going, and when?
Two taps and we name one place for your trip.
How it works
Tap who is going, and your school break or month if you know it. We name the one place that suits you best, and the quote button asks for that place.
Dubai or Thailand in your month
Every month has a reason to go. Here is what each one is like in both places.
Dubai Thailand
Tap a month to see both places that month.
Dubai all year
- Nov–Mar · Warm days, cool nights. Peak season for the city and the desert
- Jun–Sep · Very hot summer. Lower hotel prices; air-conditioned days, outings in the mornings and evenings
- May · Early summer. Hot, sunny days; pool mornings and evening outings
- Apr and Oct · Warm shoulder months. Sunny days; beach and pool weather
Thailand all year
- Nov–Feb · Cool and dry. Sunny on the Phuket side; Samui drier from January
- Mar–May · Hot and sunny. Fine for the pool and the sea; first rains in May
- Jun–Oct · Monsoon. Green and fresh, lower prices; wetter on the Phuket side
Flights from Kerala to Dubai and Thailand
| From | DubaiDXB | ThailandBKK |
|---|---|---|
| COKKochi | Non-stop about 4 h | Non-stop about 4 h |
| TRVThiruvananthapuram | Non-stop about 4 h | One change about 7–10 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore |
| CCJKozhikode | Non-stop about 4 h | One change about 6–9 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad |
| CNNKannur | Non-stop about 4 h | One change about 6–9 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad |
Time difference: Dubai 1 h 30 behind IST, Thailand IST + 1 h 30. Times are about, with a good connection, for this winter’s schedule. We quote your flights from your own city with the trip.
Dubai vs Thailand, fact by fact
| Fact | Dubai | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Flight from Kochi | Non-stop, about 4 h | Non-stop, about 4 h |
| Papers | Online visa; we apply; it comes by email | Visa-free for 30 days; online arrival card first |
| Trips from | From ₹70,499 for 5 nights, indicative | From ₹56,999 for 5 nights, indicative |
| Our trips | 1 trip, 5 nights | 11 trips, 3 to 9 nights |
| Best months | Nov–Mar: warm days, cool nights | Nov–Feb: cool and dry |
| What you’ll eat | Arabic grills and seafood; Indian and Kerala restaurants everywhere | Curries, seafood, street food; Indian restaurants in every main town |
| Family or lively | Theme parks, malls and beaches; calm and orderly | Family days in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi; livelier in Pattaya |
| Easy for elders | Stronger:Non-stop from all four Kerala airports; touring by car | Non-stop from Kochi only; sightseeing by car with short walks |
| Honeymoon | Desert dinners and skyline views | Stronger:Island resorts on Phuket and Koh Samui |
| For kids | Stronger:Theme parks, the aquarium, a gentle desert safari | Safari World, SEA LIFE aquarium, Coral Island |
| Shopping | Malls, the gold souk and the spice souk | Bangkok’s markets and malls |
| Scenery | The skyline, desert dunes, the Creek | Limestone islands, lagoons, golden temples |
| Money | Dirham; cards everywhere, and UPI at many shops | Baht; cards in hotels and malls; UPI does not work there yet |
| Plugs | UK-style three-pin sockets; carry an adapter | Two-pin round plugs fit; three-pin plugs need an adapter |
The stronger side for that row. Indicative prices. They can change with dates and availability.
Which is cheaper, Dubai or Thailand?
Dubai is non-stop from all four Kerala airports, often several times a day; Thailand is non-stop from Kochi only and needs no visa. Dubai adds the visa fee and, at some hotels, the Tourism Dirham per room per night. The total depends on your dates and hotels.
Dubai
Our trips from ₹70,499 per person, twin sharing, for 5 nights, indicative.
Also budget for the UAE visa and, at some hotels, the Tourism Dirham (we confirm it with your booking).
Thailand
Our trips from ₹56,999 per person, twin sharing, for 5 nights, indicative; others priced on request.
No entry fee: the arrival card is free.
Indicative prices. They can change with dates and availability. We quote today’s price, with flights from your city, for the place you choose.
Do Indians need a visa for Dubai and Thailand?
Dubai
A UAE visa before you fly; with a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence card, a visa on arrival may be possible instead. We apply for it online; it usually comes by email in a few working days.
Carry a copy of the e-visa with your passport.
At immigration: Your return ticket and hotel booking.
Thailand
No visa needed for a holiday of up to 30 days. Nothing to apply for in advance.
Arrival card: the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), filled in online in the three days before you land; we do it with you.
At immigration: Your return ticket, hotel bookings and about 20,000 baht in cash each, as the Indian Embassy advises.
Both ask for a passport valid for six months from the day you land. Entry rules change, so we check them again when you book. Any visa fee and our service charge are extra.
What you’ll eat in Dubai and Thailand
Dubai
Arabic grills, shawarma and fresh seafood, and Indian and Kerala restaurants in every part of the city. Most food is halal, and vegetarian food is easy to find.
Thailand
Curries, seafood and street food, with rice at every meal. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket have many Indian restaurants. Halal food is easy to find in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi, and vegetarian food in every city.
Tell us what you eat and we note it with the hotels.
Good to know before you fly
Dubai
- Visa: carry a copy of your e-visa
- Medicines: some, such as codeine cough syrups, need a permit; ask us before you pack
- Time: 1 h 30 behind IST
- Money: dirham; cards everywhere, and UPI at many shops
- Plugs: UK-style three-pin sockets; carry an adapter
Thailand
- Arrival card: TDAC, free, in the 3 days before you land; only on the official site
- Cash: about 20,000 baht each, as the Indian Embassy advises
- Time: IST + 1 h 30
- Money: baht; UPI does not work there yet
- Plugs: 220 V; two-pin round plugs fit, carry an adapter for three-pin plugs
Dubai trips
1 trip, 5 nights, each one changed around your dates.
Dubai trips
Thailand trips
11 trips, 3 to 9 nights, each one changed around your dates.
Thailand trips
Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket
Best seller.
Thailand , 5 nights, 6 days.
from
per person · twin sharing · flights extra
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
Phuket Island Break
Thailand , 3 nights, 4 days.
Price on request
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
Pattaya & Bangkok
Thailand , 4 nights, 5 days.
Price on request
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
From our travellers
Rated 4.9 on Google. Read all reviews on Google(opens in a new tab)
Rated 5 out of 5
Had a wonderful experience with the travel agency for our Thailand trip! From planning the itinerary to hotel arrangements, transfers and activities, everything was well organised and hassle-free. The team was very responsive, supportive and professional throughout the trip. They made sure everything went smoothly and helped us enjoy our time in Phuket and Krabi without having to worry about the arrangements. Highly recommended for anyone planning a Thailand trip!
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently traveled to Thailand with Ethan Holidays and had the most amazing experience! Every detail was taken care of, from airport pickups to hotel check-ins, island tours, transfers, and even local recommendations. They customized the itinerary based on our needs, and everything ran like clockwork. What really stood out was their attention to detail and how quickly they handled last-minute changes.
Rated 5 out of 5
Trusted travel partner. Everything was handled with such ease that the entire journey felt seamless from start to finish. What impressed us most was the prompt communication, the smooth, hassle-free arrangements, and the continued support at every step. Ethan Holidays truly delivers a premium experience in the simplest, most effortless way.
Rated 5 out of 5
Well arranged: flight, itinerary, package, food, vehicle. Good 24x7 support from start to end of our tour. We covered the Cordelia cruise and a Thailand trip with Ethan Holidays. We always recommend Ethan Holidays for an extraordinary travel experience.
Before you ask
The 8 questions people search most about Dubai and Thailand.
Still unsure? Ask us when you request your free quote.
Office Mon to Sat, 9 AM to 6 PM · Call or WhatsApp until 11:30 PM
Get a free quote Or chat on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp in a new tab)Thailand has no visa fee, and its hotels and food come at every level. Dubai has more flights from Kerala, non-stop from all four airports, but adds the UAE visa and, at some hotels, the Tourism Dirham. The total depends on your dates and hotels; we quote today’s price for the place you choose.
Thailand, for island resorts on Phuket or Koh Samui from November to May, and on Koh Samui, the drier side, from June to September, when Dubai is very hot outdoors. Dubai suits couples who want city lights, desert dinners and shopping, and is the pick in October, when Thailand is at the end of its monsoon.
Dubai: a non-stop flight from your nearest Kerala airport, theme parks and the aquarium for children, and easy sightseeing by car for parents. From June to September it is very hot outdoors, often above 40 degrees, so we plan air-conditioned days in the indoor theme parks, the aquarium and the malls, with outings in the mornings and evenings; May is hot too. From November to May Thailand is a good pick too, with Safari World and the boat to Coral Island.
Both are in season: Dubai has warm days, cool desert nights and the winter festivals, and Thailand is cool, dry and sunny on the Phuket side.
For Dubai, yes: Indian passport holders need a UAE visa before they fly, and we apply for it online; with a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence card, a visa on arrival may be possible instead. For Thailand, no: visa-free for up to 30 days, with the free TDAC arrival card in the three days before landing. Entry rules change, so we check them again when you book.
Dubai is about 4 hours non-stop from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur. Thailand is about 4 hours non-stop from Kochi; from the other three airports it is one change, about 6 to 10 hours.
For Dubai, four or five nights cover the city, the desert and a day in Abu Dhabi. For Thailand, four or five nights cover Bangkok with Pattaya or Phuket.
Both welcome Indian families every day. Dubai is known for clean and safe streets; carry prescribed medicines with their prescription. In Thailand, keep bags close in busy places and wear the life jacket on boat days; the Tourist Police helpline is 1155.
Where these facts come from
Seasons, entry rules and flights checked against official sources in October 2026. For reference only; we handle the papers for you.
- UAE government portal: tourist visas(opens in a new tab)
- GDRFA Dubai: visa on arrival for Indian citizens(opens in a new tab)
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: visa exemption for Indians(opens in a new tab)
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)(opens in a new tab)
- Thailand Tourist Police 1155(opens in a new tab)
- Onmanorama: Kochi airport winter schedule 2026(opens in a new tab)
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