Thailand Information

Resting in central Southeast Asia, Thailand borders Laos and Myanmar (north); Laos and Cambodia (east); Malaysia (south); and Myanmar (west). The east coast of this largely Buddhist kingdom faces the Gulf of Thailand while its west coast borders the Andaman Sea. Its maritime boundaries extend to India, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Time: GMT +7.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hertz; flat and round two pin plugs.

Language: the national language of Thailand is Thai, but English is widely spoken by those working in the tourist industry.

Currency: Thailand uses the Thai baht. Banknotes are available in 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 baht while coins come in denominations of 10, 5, 2 and 1 baht.

Visas: nationals of some countries including Australia, the US and the UK can get a tourist visa on arrival in Thailand, which is valid for a stay of up to 30 days. In some cases it is possible to extend this visa by a further 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand. However, visitors wishing to stay for up to 60 days are advised to apply for a tourist visa in advance of their arrival at a Thai embassy. Visitors from countries not on the visa exemption list must apply for a visa in advance.

Airport: Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, 25kms east of the city, is the country’s main air gateway. Phuket International Airport, 32kms from Phuket Town, is Thailand’s second busiest airport.

Health: travelers to Thailand should consider getting vaccinated against typhoid and hepatitis A at least three weeks prior to travelling to Thailand. There is a risk of malaria in some border areas and dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis in all areas. Human deaths from avian flu have occurred and visitors are advised to avoid all contact with live birds. HIV/AIDS infection rate is high and necessary precautions should be taken. Tap water isn’t safe to drink but bottled water is widely available. Should you get sick during your stay, the major cities have world-class hospitals and facilities but you must be insured or be able to make a cash payment in order to be treated.

Safety: Thailand is a safe country to travel in; however, select southern areas are experiencing unrest and should be avoided. In particular, travel to the provinces of Pattani, Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat should be avoided. Up to now, the terrorism has remained largely contained in the south but Bangkok has also experienced several explosions in recent years. Pickpockets are present in the busy cities therefore keep a close eye on handbags when walking or using public transport. Incidents involving tourists getting drugged and robbed have been reported in some areas such as Koh Phan Ngan therefore travelers should never accept drinks from strangers. The political situation in Thailand is volatile and demonstrations in the capital have the potential to turn violent and should be avoided. Wet season flooding can affect the north, northeast and central regions.

Tipping: most hotel restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill. While tipping is not necessarily expected elsewhere, people normally round up bills, except in casual eateries where tipping is not necessary.

Communications: +66 is the international dialing code for Thailand. To dial internationally from within Thailand, the code is 001 followed by the country code of choice. The area code for Bangkok is 02 while Chiang Mai numbers have a 053 code. All mobile numbers begin with 08 and mobile network coverage is good. Internet shops are prevalent in all large cities and tourist resorts.

Customs: Thai etiquette is based on Buddhist traditions with conservative dress expected at temples and in rural areas. Visitors should refrains from public displays of affection and touching locals’ heads, which are considered the most sacred part of the body. In contrast, feet are considered the lowliest part of the body and should not be pointed at anything. Women should not touch or attempt to pass anything to Buddhist monks, who are forbidden to engage in physical contact with women.

Weather: the peak tourist season spans the dry season from November to February, when temperatures in most parts of the country are pleasant. March to May, the hot season, is a more suitable time to visit the south, when the rest of the country experiences high temperatures and humidity. The rains arrive in July and last until November, and although travel is still viable in this period, humidity is high.

November to February: dry season (the best time to go)
March to May: hot season (suitable time to visit the south)
July to November: the rainy season