Information Thailand

Speak Thai - Learn Simple Thai

Learning to communicate with simple Thai, a mixture of English and Thai, can you get pretty far with. Thai language uses long and short tones, and high and low tones to describe a word, the same word can have many different meanings. Try to speak Thai when you order food or in other places and do not be afraid...

Read full article Learn Thai here
 

Holidays and Festivals in Thailand

Make note of the major holidays and festivals in Thailand; you can expect hotels and most other accommodation, as well as transportation such as airplanes, trains, buses and boats, to be booked solid at these times. These include the Chinese New Year, Songkran, Loy Kratong, Christmas and New Year’s. School vacations and other holiday times around the world...

More about holidays and festivals here...
 

Health Care

If you need urgent health care while in Thailand, you will be able to find it, and not necessarily as expensively as you might think. For example, there is very reasonably priced dental care, if you are willing to wait a while for it. Problems with your teeth and your general health might not be at the top of your list of “Things to Do While on Vacation in Thailand.” However, it’s nice to know that the country does have very modern checkups and treatments available. For example, in Bangkok you can have a complete physical for about $300.

It’s important to know about local hospitals in case of emergency. Choose your destination in the Thailandguide24 list. When you click on the details, you will see listings for the hospitals in that area, complete with phone numbers.

The emergency phone number for all of Thailand is 191, for ambulance, fire department or police.

Vaccinations

To find current information on required vaccinations for Thailand, go to This Page!, which is updated frequently. Or contact your local hospital in your area/country and get advise.

Traffic and car rental

Cars drive on the left in Thailand. This is essential for you to remember whether or not you plan to rent a car on your vacation. Be extra careful to look both ways before you cross the street, since traffic will be coming from an unexpected direction. If you do decide to rent a car, ask for one with automatic transmission so you don’t have the confusion of switching gears with your left hand...

Taxi in Thailand

When taking taxi, watch out for the drivers who don’t want to use their meter. Be sure to either settle a price in advance or ask them to start the meter. Bus is another possibility for travel, at least during the day. Or you can try one of the many motorcycle taxis. However you travel, be absolutely sure that the price (or use of the meter) is agreed on in advance...

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Illegal Drugs

In Thailand there are extremely harsh penalties for anything to do with illegal drugs – selling, manufacturing or simple possession. Even if you are caught with a small quantity of some type of “soft” drug, you face the possibility of severe punishment. You might be expelled from the country or put in jail. Be aware that Thailand has the death penalty for some drug offences. Don’t take the risk of being stuck in Thailand far longer than you ever dreamed of.

Travel Insurance

Don’t assume that your return air ticket means that you have insurance coverage throughout your stay in Thailand. Depending on your vacation plans, you may need to purchase supplementary insurance coverage, especially if you are planning to engage in a challenging sport like scuba diving or mountain climbing.

Visas and Passports

When you travel to Thailand, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. If this is not the case, you will need to apply for a new passport in plenty of time to use it for your trip.

You’ll be granted an automatic tourist visa when you go to Thailand for a vacation of up to 30 days. If you are interested in staying longer, contact the Thai embassy in your country before you leave. You’ll also need to find out how to handle crossing international borders if you are planning to backpack from Thailand into neighboring countries. You run the risk of a fine if you visit any country without a valid visa.

Contact your Embassy immediately if your passport or other ID is lost while you are in Thailand. You will need to obtain a temporary passport. If your credit card has disappeared along with the passport, cancel it right away. You will are also advised to contact the police about your lost documents.

Customs Regulations

Thailand has streamlined its customs declaration procedure to expedite imports and exports of goods. Introduction of the ATA Carnet System has brought Thai customs procedure sin line with international practice...

Learn more about Customs and Regulations here...

Thai Customs: Tel: +66 (0) 2 6177141
Website: www.customs.go.th

Sending Letters and Packages

The postal service in Thailand is quite reliable and there are a large number of post offices available, with a long list of different price ranges and speeds of delivery. To be on the safe side and ensure the fastest service, you can opt for one of the big express delivery companies, such as FedEx, UHL or UPS, for example, which have numerous branch offices throughout the country. When you receive packages in Thailand there is usually an import tax levied on each package.

Thailand’s postal website, which is also available in English, can be found at: www.thailandpost.co.th

Local Time and Calendar

In Thailand the local time is seven hours ahead of GMT. Normally the twelve month calendar common in the Western world is used. However, religious and local observances and festivals go by the lunar calendar. The Buddhist calendar, 543 years ahead of the Western world’s Gregorian calendar, is followed in a number of government offices in Thailand.

Money

The currency system in Thailand is based on the baht (THB). You can change money to baht at places like exchange bureaus, banks, hotels and travel agencies. Credit cards such as MasterCard or Visa can be used for payment at hotels and large shopping centers but for purchases at markets and the smaller shops, it’s a good idea to have cash on hand in the form of baht.

Although Thailand is on a par with most countries in terms of theft and burglary, it is a good idea to be cautious. Leave your valuables in the hotel safe and use a fanny pack or a neck pouch when you are carrying credit cards and cash.

Lost credit cards Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners

Visa and Mastercard cards: +66 (0)2 270 1122
Lost credit cards: +66 (0)2 252 3712

American Express: +66 (0)2 235 0990
Lost credit cards: +66 (0) 2 273 0044

Diners cards: +66 (0)2 233 0313
Lost credit cards: +66 (0)2 233 5644

Communications - Internet - Mobile

Buy SIM cards locally to save money on the cost of phone calls and SMS. These are available in 7/11 stores. There are various operators, each with their own prices and special promotions. Make sure you are familiar with all the costs of your particular plan before you start merrily texting and telephoning from Thailand.

You can usually access the Internet from your hotel room, so go ahead and bring a computer if you think you will need it. You can get free WIFI in lots of public places like cafes, restaurants, stores and pubs.

For holidays, when most public places will be closed, you can rent a cell phone service to get an Internet connection. Ask the staff at your hotel, a phone shop or 7/11 for the best solution. For 3G on your mobile phone, check with 7/11, DTAC stores or Tesco branches, among others. Find out what the coverage is for your destination.

Electrical Connections

The electrical system in Thailand is 220 volts, 50 Hz AC, the same as in most European countries, although most wall sockets have the capacity to take either EU standard contacts, with two round pins, or American plugs, with flat pins. If you buy small electrical appliances in Thailand that run on 220 volts, you can buy adapters so that you will be able to use them at home.

All Thai Embassies around the World

Website: thaiembassy.org

All Foreign Embassies in Thailand

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

Head Office Tourist Assistance Center
1600 New Petchburi Road
Makkasan, Rachatewi
Bangkok 10 310
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511
Website: www.tat.or.th

Airports in Thailand

Tel: 1722
Tel: +66 (0) 2 1321888
Flight information: +66 (0) 2 1320000
Departures: +66 (0) 2 1329324-7
Incoming: +66 (0) 2 1329328-9
Help Desk: +66 (0) 2 1323888
Website: www.suvarnabhumiairport.com

Tel: +66 (0) 2 5351111 or +66 (0) 2 5351254
Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Tel: +66 (0) 76 327230 to 7
Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Tel: +66 (0) 2 1343960 or +66 (0) 2 1343888
Tel: +66 (0) 77 428 500 or +66 (0) 77 428 555
Website: www2.bangkokair.com

Tel: +66 (0) 38 245295
Website: no

Tel: +66 (0) 77 441137
Website: no

Tel: +66 (0) 5 327 0222 to 32
Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Tel: +66 (0) 5 3798000
Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Tel: +66 (0) 74 227000
Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Tel: +66 (0) 32 520180
Website:

Phone List generally for the whole of Thailand

Alarm numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 191 (all of Thailand)
Ambulance: 1554
Medical: 1669
Fire: 199
Tourist Police: 1155
High Way Police: 1193
Report crimes: 195

Mixed numbers:

Enquiries: Thailand 1133
Tourist Service Center: 1672
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): +66 (0) 2 2505500
Immigration Office: +66 (0) 2 2873101 to 10, Website: www.immigration.go.th

Transport numbers:

Bangkok train station: 1690
Thai airways: 1566
Bangkok Airways: +66 (0) 2 1343960
Air Asia: +66 (0) 2 5159999
Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bangkok: +66 (0) 2 1321888
Phuket Airport: +66 (0) 76 327230-7
Koh Samui Airport: +66 (0) 77 428500, +66 (0) 2 1343960
Chiang Mai Airport: +66 (0) 53 270222-32
Pattaya Airport: +66 (0) 38 245295
Chiang Rai Airport: +66 (0) 5 3798000
Hua Hin Airport: +66 (0) 32 520180
Don Meang (old Bangkok airport): +66 (0) 2 5351111

Credit card companies:

Visa and Master Card: +66 (0) 2 270 1122
Lost credit cards: +66 (0) 2 252 3712
American Express: +66 (0) 2 235 0990
Lost credit cards: +66 (0) 2 273 0044
Diners cards: +66 (0) 2 233 0313
Lost credit cards: +66 (0) 2233 5644-5

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