Useful Information for Thailand

PASSPORTS

Please ensure that your passport is valid for six months after your return date.

VISAS

Visas are not required for entry into Thailand for stays up to 30 days for UK passport holders – all other nationalities please check with the Thailand Embassy:
Thailand Embassy

AIRPORT TAX

Departure taxes are now included in your international airfares to/from Thailand.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Although no vaccinations are officially required for entry to Thailand, they are highly encouraged. Visitors are advised to check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding protection against malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and B. Any essential medications should be brought with you as there is no guarantee that they will be available in Thailand.

CLIMATE

Thailand has a tropical climate, with high temperatures and high humidity levels throughout the year. Temperatures in the capital, Bangkok, range between 68°F (20°C) in December and 95°F (35°C) in April. January and February are normally dry, March to May is the hottest time of year, June to October tends to be the wettest season (with 90% of the country's rainfall occurring in this period), and November and December are the coolest months.

Monsoons occur usually between June and October, and in September and October, much of the country experiences flooding, especially in the north, north eastern and central areas. Travel to Thailand is at its peak from November to February as this is when it tends to be coolest and most bearable for visitors.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE

The main unit of Thailand currency is the Baht - Baht notes available are 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 Baht notes. Baht can be used in other South-Eastern Asian countries. There are 100 satang to one Baht but you never really have to pay less than one Baht for anything. There 25 or 50 satang coins. 10 Baht coins are slowly replacing the notes. Newer coins have Arabic numerals (ie 1, 2 etc) as well as Thai numerals on them which makes it easier for Westerners to identify coins.

You can use debit or ATM cards at some Thai banks to withdraw Thai Baht only directly from your account at home with no charges or commission.

CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES

Enhance your Thai experience and make some new friends along the way by keeping in mind these simple Thai Customs during your stay.

• The Thais are known to be tolerant people but there are things that they consider universally sacred to them that any sign of disrespect may cause a grave offence. First of all, you should never express any disrespect for the King or any member of the Royal Family. To most Thais, the King and his family are the living embodiment of their nationhood. Be prepared to stand up whenever the national anthem or the royal anthems are played.
• Thais also regard Buddhism with the highest respect. They consider all Buddha images as sacred and so are the monks. Therefore, you should not wear shorts and sleeveless shirts when visiting any temple and shoes should be left at the entrance.
• Despite Thailand being known for its thriving sex industry, the majority of the population is actually fairly conservative. A modest way of dressing will gain you more friends than baring your flesh.
• The head, being the most sacred part of the body, should never be touched (do not attempt to pat even the heads of children). The feet, being the lowest, should never be pointed at other people, much less to a Buddha image.
• Lastly, avoid showing any sign of anger. You should also avoid initiating confrontation. Thailand isn’t called the ‘Land of Smiles’ for nothing. Keeping yourself cool is essential. The Thais have a special expression for that - jai yen, which translates to ‘cool heart’. They also have the phrase mai pen rai which means ‘no problem’, which could lead you to a better understanding of sanook, the quintessential Thai word for ‘fun’.

FOOD

Thailand is famous for its fantastic food so any trip to the country can only be enhanced by enjoying the local cuisine be it street food or the modern hotel and restaurant offerings.

Thai food is most commonly eaten with fork and spoon. Hold the spoon in your right hand and use it to eat, and reserve the fork for piling food onto your spoon. Chopsticks are only employed for noodle soups and East Asian-style dishes.

Thai food is meant for sharing. Everybody gets their own plate of rice and tiny soup bowl, but all the other dishes are laid out in the centre of the table and you're free to eat what you wish. Though some people believe that taking the last piece from a shared plate is considered slightly unlucky, and you may hear people make wishes for others to compensate for their own misfortune — a popular wish is that "may my girl/boyfriend be beautiful"!

Food is also generally brought out a dish at a time as it is prepared. It is not expected for diners to wait until all meals are brought out before they start eating as is polite in western culture. Instead they should tuck into the nearest meal as it arrives.

GENERAL ADVICE

• Drink lots of water. Purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Never drink tap water.
• Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes. It is the only way to be sure of protection against mosquito-borne diseases.
• Since Thailand has a hot and humid tropical climate, casual and lightweight clothing is best. Clothing made from natural fibers is the best option. A jacket might be needed on cool winter evenings or in hotels and restaurants using excessive air-conditioning.
• A hat and high-factor sun block is advisable as protection against the hot sun when sightseeing outdoors.
• When visiting temples or pagodas, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable. Shoes (as well as hats) are generally removed at the entrance to pagodas.
• Colour standard films (such as Kodak, Konika or Fuji), slide film, video film and camera batteries are widely available. Photos are inexpensive to process in Thailand. Any specialised photo or video equipment should be brought with you. Photography and video in airports, railway stations and near any military installations is forbidden and discretion should be used when photographing people, particularly monks and those in hill tribes.

INTERNET

Internet access is available throughout Thailand in readily available internet cafes and major hotels. The internet cafes are often very reasonable priced.

LOCAL TIME

Thailand runs at GMT +7 hours.

SECURITY NOTICE

Thailand is a very safe country to visit, but it is always wise to take some precautions to ensure you have a trouble free holiday:

• Make sure your room is locked and bolted at night.
• Always leave valuables, airline tickets and passports in the hotel safety deposit box.
• Carry a photocopy of the id page of your passport. The police can demand to see it, but rarely do.
• If you take a taxi, be clear about where you want to go.
• In Bangkok taxis have meters, but in provincial areas you will need to bargain the price before departing.
• When travelling by train or bus don't leave valuables in your baggage, and be cautious of strangers offering free food or drink. Thai's can be very hospitable, but it also has been known for food and drink to be drugged. When you awake your valuables have gone.
• If you hire a vehicle read the terms carefully, and make sure you get proper insurance cover, otherwise you may have to pay for any damage or repairs.
• Wear reasonable clothing if you ride a motorcycle. A minor spill when wearing shorts can ruin your holiday. The law requires you to wear a crash helmet.
• Driving standards in Thailand leave a lot to be desired so take extra care.
• You require a Thai driving licence or an International driving permit to ride a motorcycle or drive a car. Your licence from home is not sufficient. When driving without a licence you also invalidate your insurance cover.
• Take out travel insurance. If you are involved in a road traffic accident the maximum amount of compensation guaranteed by law is only US$2,000. For anything more you will have to go to court, possibly waiting years and still never see a penny.
• Since 2003 there has been a crack down on drugs, and the penalties for possession and trafficking have been enforced with extreme severity.
• Thailand has a special Tourist Police force which was founded to assist visitors. The officers are multilingual and will help deal with theft, accidents and disputes.

SHOPPING

Thailand offers a wonderful experience for the ardent shopper, with a tremendous variety of goods on offer. You can shop for designer goods in the Malls, or browse for handicrafts and knick-knacks in the many markets. There is something for everyone, no matter how deep or shallow your pocket may be.

Department stores open around 10:00 am and do not close until 9:00 pm. Markets vary in their timing with produce markets opening before dawn, more general markets open during daylight hours, but in many areas there are Night Markets where you can sit in the open and eat before browsing the stalls.

TIPPING

Tipping is not obligatory in Thailand, but is nonetheless widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.