Thailand

General Info:

Just imagine the incredible combination of exotic islands, magnificent temples, wild landscape, authentic tribes, remarkable food diversity, enormous shopping centers, Buddhist culture, fascinating history and trendy night clubs. Believe it or not, this is just a partial list of the attractions Thailand has to offer, what makes it the third most visited country in the world with over six million tourists every year. Thailand supplies the vacation atmosphere of liberty, adventures and pleasure.

 

Capital: Bangkok

 

Borders:

Myanmar in the west. Malaysia in the south. Cambodia in the east and. Laos in the north.

 

Land: 514,000 Square Kilometer

 

Population: Approximately 62, 828,706 million.

  

Currency: Baht. Approximately 1E= 50 Baht, 1$=35 Baht.

 

Language: Thai. In cities and touristy area you will have no problem to function in English.

 

Weather: The best time to visit is November to February which is the dry and cool season. March to June is hot and sticky weather. The rainy season starts with the monsoons arriving in July and last till November.

 

 

Useful Information:

 

Visa - Unlike what you travel agent might tell you – You do not need a visa to enter Thailand for the first 30 days. If you make planes in advance to stay for over a month turn to the Thai embassy in your country and ask for a 90/120/over 120 days visa.

If you came to Thailand and decided you want to extend your staying you have two options:

Get out of the country to visit Laos/ Cambodia/ Vietnam etc for a couple of days, when you will reenter Thailand you will another 30 days to hang around. Extend your visa within Thailand – will cost you 1900 Baht.

Remember: the fine for three days exception is 1500 Baht.

 

Health – No vaccinations are required for Thailand, some general are recommended – hepatitis A and B, polio and tetanus (if you coming from a developed country you should have those anyway). Some people recommend taking Malaria pills before going to the north. Consult a doctor in any case. Make sure to get travel insurance and equip yourself with a mosquito repellent, especially for the islands and the north.

 

Money and Costs -

A night at a hostel                                 5-30 USD

A meal                                                  5-13 USD

An hour of internet                                 0.5-4 USD

A large bottle of local beer                    3-4 USD           

A bus from Bangkok to Chang Rai        18-20 USD

 

Country Dailing Code – (+66)

 

Electrical Plugs – European standard (220V 50 Hz). If you are coming from country with US standard bring a converter.

 

Time Zone – GMT+7 (Indochina time).

 

 

General Tips -

If you have more than a week in Thailand, don't buy anything in the first couple of days. Get used to the prices and to the atmosphere of consumerism that got out of control. Bargain and bargain. The right way to get the best prices is not to do it violently or demand but in a friendly way and use a lot of humor. Don't be afraid of buying from random carts in the street. They usually have fresh food, frequent changeover and they make it right in front of your eyes. Watch out from (too) cheap prices in travel agencies, they might mislead you or disappear with the money.  When taking an inter-city bus ride check your luggage at any stop, theft from the trunk in not uncommon. It is not common to tip in Thailand, service is usually included in the bill and nobody expects extra. Don't take a cab if the driver's license is not visibly attached to the dashboard. On your way out of the country (through the airport) you have to pay 500 Baht, as a one time tax. Make sure to have that amount with you. On your last day before packing, take all contents of your bag, shake it upside down out and repack from the beginning. The sentence in Thailand for carrying any kind of drugs or anything that can be perceived as a weapon can easily get to life sentence.