Thailand Facts for Travelers

       Below are some necessary information that any travelers to Thailand should know and it will help to make your trips smooth and enjoyable. Those topics will include from geography, climates, seasons, population, people, language, electricity, date, time etc. In addition, we provide more useful about visa, currency, customs and emergency & useful phone numbers.

Visa and Customs for traveler
Health Regulation
Currency
Date & Time
Dining Tips
Shopping Tips
Travelling Tips
Emergency & Useful Numbers
Transportation

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Visa and Customs for traveler

Visa
       The following information about Thailand's visa information is obtained from the Office of the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Tourist Visa Exemption
        The Thai government allows nationals from 41 countries to stay in Thailand for tourism purpose for up to 30 days without an entry visa.
        List of 41 countries are as follows: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam.

• Temporary Tourist Visa : Visa on Arrival
        Passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.
        Documents required: Valid passport, visa application form completely filled in, confirmed air ticket paid in full, one recent photograph ( 2 1/2 inches), and application fee of 1,000 baht.Validity of stay: 15 days The visa is granted by Immigration officers at Thailand's international airports -- Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hatyai, and at other points of entry into the country.
        List of 20 countries is as follows :
  1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
  2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)
  3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
  4. Czech : Czech Republic
  5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia
  6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
  7. India : Republic of India
  8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
  9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia
  10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein
  11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania
  12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
  13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
  14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
  15. Poland : Republic of Poland
  16. Russian Federation
  17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic
  19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia
  20. Ukraine
  

• Transit Visa
        Documents required:
  1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
  2. Visa application form completely filled out
  3. One recent photograph ( 4 x 6 cm)
  4. Confirmed air ticket paid in full
  5. Evidence of adequate finance
  (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
  6. Visa of a third country in a passport or travel document
  
  Visa fee : 800 baht per entry
  (The fee may be changed without prior notice.)
  Validity of stay: 30 days

• Tourist Visa
        Documents required:
  1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
  2. Visa application form completely filled out
  3. One recent photograph ( 4 x 6 cm)
  4. Confirmed air ticket paid in full
  5. Evidence of adequate finance
  (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
  
  Visa fee: 1,000 baht per entry
  (The fee may be changed without prior notice.)
  Validity of stay: 60 days

• Extension of Stay
        Those who wish to stay longer or may wish to change their status of visa must file an application form at the Office of Immigration Bureau located on Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathon Road, Bangkok. The extension of stay as well as the change of certain type of visa is solely at the discretion of the Immigration officer.
        The above information is subject to change. For more details, contact the Immigration Bureau, South Sathon Road, Bangkok, tel. 0 2287 3101 to 10
  
  Or contact Embassies & Consulates in Thailand

Customs

• Thailand is a Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred. Sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign visitors.
• Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence, and so will not tolerate foreigners showing disrespect to them.
• Generally Thai women are conservative. So do not touch them without their consent.
• Dress properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Miniskirts and shorts are not allowed. Take your shoes off before going inside the hall of worship. Ladies must not on any account touch a Buddhist monk, give things direct to him or receive things direct from him.
• Intimacies between man and woman should not be shown in public. Sunbathing in the nude is prohibited.
• Call Thais their first names; use the title "Khun" for adults.
• Normally, Thai people address others by their first names and with the title 'khun'. So don't be surprised if you are addressed as 'Khun Mary' or 'Khun John' instead of by your surname.
• Traditionally, Thais greet each other with a wai (by pressing the palms together at the chest). If someone wais you, you should wai back (except wai-ed by a child).
• Thai people smile to express gladness and happiness, to thank for small services, to return the wai of children and inferior persons, and even to excuse small inconveniences.
• Don't touch a person's head, nor ruffle his hair. The head is the noblest part of the body. A sincere apology should be offered immediately if you touch someone's head unintentionally.
• Avoid placing your feet on the table while sitting. Never use your foot to point things out or to touch any part of the body of anyone, which is considered rude.
• Entering a Thai house, you are expected to remove your shoes.

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Health Regulation

       Thailand is one of the safest countries in the region for the traveler. The risk of contracting illness or disease is minimal provided basic care is taken over food, water and sexual contacts. In Thailand, as in most countries, vaccination certificates are not required for foreign visitors except for yellow fever for travelers arriving from endemic regions (parts of Africa and Latin America). Immunizations for tetanus, polio, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis are advisable (but not essential) before travel to Southeast Asia.
       For the frequent traveler, diarrhea is almost inevitable. Just a change in drinking water and food can trigger an attack. These are generally not cause for concern though. When diarrhea strikes, it’s important to guard against dehydration by drinking lots of fluids such as weak tea or rehydration salts dissolved in water. Avoid food for a while to avoid recurrence.
       And there is a risk of malaria in some forested and hilly areas. If you plan to travel in endemic areas, it is highly recommended to take tablets to prevent the onset of this desease.

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Currency

       Foreign visitors may bring in an unlimited amount of Thai currency. For travellers leaving Thailand, both Thais and foreigners, the maximum amount permitted to take out without prior authorization is 50,000 baht per person or, if they are going to one of Thailand's neighbouring countries, 500,000 baht per person.
       The basic monetary unit in Thailand is the Baht. A baht is divided into 100 satang. The following coins and notes are currently in use: Coins : 25 and 50 satang; 1, 5 and 10 Baht , Banknotes : 10 (brown), 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1,000 (grey or brown) Baht
       Major foreign currencies can be exchanged for Thai baht with banks and authorized money changers. For buying baht, US dollars are the most readily acceptable , though travellers' cheques get a better rate than cash.
       Regular Banking hours: Monday to Friday, 08.30 - 15.30 hrs. (except public and bank holidays) but currently you can find banks in most shopping mall open until 19.00-20.00 hrs every day.

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Date & Time

       Thailand Standard Time is 7 hours ahead of Universal Time or Greenwich Mean Time (London). At noon in Bangkok the time is 5.00 a.m. in London, midnight in New York (except during Daylight Savings Time), 9.00 p.m. the previous day in Los Angeles (except during Daylight Savings Time), 3.00 p.m. in Sydney and 5.00 p.m. in Auckland.
       The official Thai calendar is calculated from the beginning of the Buddhist Era in 543 BC. The year 2000 AD is therefore 2543 BE. The year is subdivided into 12 months, the same as the Roman calendar.

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Dining Tips

• Drink only bottled or boiled water.
• You can find places to eat 24 hours a day, but better avoid sidewalk stalls where, though food is cheap and palatable, hygienic conditions may not be up to standard.
• Most Thai food is already cut into small pieces before serving or made soft enough to be cut with a spoon or fork; thus, a knife is unnecessary.
• Saltshakers are rarely found on Thai dining tables, so add a little caramel-colour fish-sauce (called nam-pla in Thai) instead, if you find your food not salty enough.
• English is spoken in large restaurants in tourist provinces and most establishments have menus in Thai and English.
• Beckon waiters with a wave of a hand. Don't clap, snap fingers or hiss.
• Normally most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bills but a tip for waiters is appreciated. For porters, a tip of 20-40 baht is acceptable.

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Shopping Tips

• Be careful with your bag and valuables while shopping in a crowded area.
• After buying and before leaving the shop, check that the goods are the same that you bought. Some shops do not exchange or give refunds, and make sure you keep the receipts.
• In the case that you have the shop send the goods by mail, ask for a receipt for sending the goods, so that you can be certain that there is an actual mailing service.
• Bargaining is an art long practised in Asian countries including Thailand. So feel free to ask for a proper discount when shopping in places where prices are not marked.
• Be careful in dealing with sidewalk vendors who may not offer genuine goods at fair prices.
• Souvenir stores in hotel arcades and department stores may ask for higher prices than general souvenir stores and street shops for they have to pay high rents. Yet these shops mostly offer high quality goods.
• To shop gems, make sure that you shop from a specialist in that field instead of buying from a simple souvenir store.
• Before making your decision to buy, especially precious objects, compare prices at several shops.
• Receipts should be obtained for the goods you buy. For jewellery you must get a certificate of guarantee as well.
• Some shops can offer a money-back guarantee but you should clearly determine all conditions with the shopkeeper beforehand.
• Ask for a written agreement to full refund on any goods returned within 90 days.
• Do not let a new acquaintance take you to shopping, for he or she is very likely to get a commission from the store. And the commission will be added to your payment.

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Travelling Tips & Tricks

• Don't get involved with any kind of narcotic drugs, gambling, child prostitution or other illegal activities that violate the law.
• Don't walk in isolated places.
• When it rains and floods in Bangkok, don’t bother putting on a heavy raincoat. Slip on something light and cool, a pair of plastic shoes and take your umbrella, just like the Thais.
• Strictly observe the warning signs at tourist attractions. Don't violate the law, as this may result in severe consequences.
• Be careful with your bags and valuables when travelling. Don't leave them unattended.
• Don't accept any complimentary tour offered by a stranger. Reliable tourist information and safe tours are only provided by a tour agency with a license.
• Before using any service, check the information before making a final decision and keep all the important related documents in case a problem should arise after using the service.
• Don’t get angry when someone on the street shouts “hey you” to attract your attention. They don’t realize they’re being impolite. “You” is translated from the Thai word “khun” which is a normal and polite form of address in Thai.
• Don't spit saliva or phlegm, discard cigarette stubs, or throw away any garbage in public areas, on the streets, or on the ground. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of 2,000 baht. Ask for a written agreement to full refund on any goods returned within 90 days.

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Emergency & Useful Numbers

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Transportation

Airplane
       Domestic flight services are now operated by six domestic carriers as follows: Thai Airways International (or THAI), Bangkok Airways, PB Air, Air Asia, Orient Thai Airlines and Nok Air
       Thailand has six international airports, one each in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Ko Samui and Hat Yai, and 23 domestic airports in major cities around the country.
      They are Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, Lampang, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom, Phrae, Nan, Loei, Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon, Mae Sot (Tak), Phetchabun, Buriram, Roi Et, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Ranong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Krabi, and Narathiwat.
Bus
       There are two main types of buses running to provinces around Thailand.

• Non-air-conditioned buses operated by the government which are the cheapest and slowest. These orange-coloured buses stop in every little town and pick up passengers at any point along the route.
• Air-conditioned buses painted in blue. This type, run by both the government and private companies, is faster and more comfortable. Yet the number of routes of air-con buses are less than those of the ordinary buses as they go to major cities only. Normally, there are two classes of air-con buses -- regular and 1st class; the latter have toilets.  

Bus terminals
      There are three long-distance bus terminals in Bangkok as follows:

• Northern & Northeastern Bus Terminal
       Located on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, a little way from Chatuchak Market. For information Call 0 2936 2852-66, 0 2936 3666
• Eastern Bus Terminal
        Located on Sukhumwit Road at Soi 40 opposite Soi 63 (Ekkamai). For information Call 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 8097
• Southern Bus Terminal
        Located on Borommarat Chonnani Road, about 2 km. from Pin Klao Bridge. Besides the southern buses, the buses going to western provinces like Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi also depart from here. For information Call 0 2435 1199, 0 2435 1200 (air-con bus) or 0 2434 5557-8 (non air-con bus)

Train
       The State Railway of Thailand offers train services throughout the country at very reasonable fares. Most long-distance trains start off from Bangkok's Hualamphong Station on Rama IV Road. The four main rail lines, covering over 4,000 km., are the northern, northeastern, eastern and southern routes. Note that the trains to the northern and northeastern routes pass Don Muang airport station, so you can catch a train here if you go to any province along either route to avoid heavy traffic in town in rush hours.
       There are four types of trains -- ordinary, rapid, express and special express, and three classes of cars -- 1st, 2nd and 3rd. For a long distance trip, the fare for the 2nd class is about the same as a private tour bus, but some say that the train is more comfortable, especially on overnight trips. However, travelling by train take a bit longer than by bus.
       For details, call the State Railway of Thailand, 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2220 4444 (RSVN), 0 2220 4334, 0 2621 8701

Local Transportation

• Bus Most big provinces have public non-air-con bus and air-con bus services to destinations within the provinces and to other nearby provinces.
• Taxi Many tourist cities have taxi services, but most of them are non-metered. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the fare before departure. Some big cities also have share-taxi services for popular routes. Though the fare is fixed and cheaper, you have to wait until there are enough passengers (usually four or five).
• Samlo A samlo is a three-wheeled taxi which comes in two types -- motorised and nonmotorised. Motorised samlos or Tuk-Tuk can be found throughout the country while nonmotorised ones (or tricycle or rickshaws) are available in certain provincial towns. Both types of samlos are suitable for short trips only.
• Songthaeo Literally meaning two rows, this is a small pickup truck with two benches, each at one side of the truck seating several people. It is a public transport which operates fixed routes like buses, but normally runs a shorter distance or within the province. Songthaeo can also be chartered like a regular taxi.

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