General information for the traveller new to Thailand.
Visas
All visitors to Thailand must hold a passport valid for 6 months beyond
the duration of their stay. Most nationalities are permitted one month
visa-free visits, although citizens of certain countries will need
to apply for a visa. If planning a longer stay, a tourist visa valid
for 60 days must be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate
abroad. Visitors must enter the country within 90 days of a visa being
issued.
Visitors can extend
their stay for a period of up to 30 days and applications should be
made at the Immigration Department in Bangkok.
Customs
No more than 50,000 Baht in cash can be taken out of the country.
Visitors may take
the following into Thailand duty free:
- Alcohol - 1
litre of wine or spirits
- Tobacco - 200
cigarettes
Antiques and Buddha
images require export licences that may be obtained from the Bangkok
Department of Fine Arts.
Penalties for
carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging
from long prison sentences to the death penalty.
Time
Thai
time: GMT + 7 hours
Currency
Baht (B) - Check current exchange rates
100 satang = 1
Baht
Notes issued:
B1000, B500, B100, B50, B20, B10
Coins issued:
B10, B5, B1, 50 satang, 25 satang
Language
The national language of Thailand is Thai, however English is widely
understood in most tourist areas.
Tipping
Tipping is not standard practice in Thailand, although it is becoming
increasingly common. Many larger hotels and restaurants add a 10%
service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip but the
gesture is appreciated and B10-B20 is acceptable for porters.
Banking Hours
Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
Telephone
The international dialling code for Thailand is 66.
When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001 + country
code + area code + telephone number
If calling Laos or Malaysia there is a special code which is charged
at a semi-domestic rate:
When calling Laos, first dial 007 + 856 + area code + telephone number
When calling Malaysia, first dial 09 + 60 + area code + telephone
number
Electricity
220 Volt AC (50 cycles) Flat and round 2-pin plugs are most common
and it is advisable to carry a universal plug adapter.
Water
Stick to bottled water and if taking ice, check whether it has been
obtained from a pure source.
Health
Make sure that you have adequate health insurance. Consider inoculations
against typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take
advice regarding anti-malarials. It is always best to check the current
situation and any vaccination requirements with a doctor when planning
your trip.
International
Airports
Etiquette/Dress
Code
Thai people have a great reverence for their monarchy, therefore visitors
should never show disrespect to the Thai Royal Family. It should also
be noted that the head is considered to be a special part of the body,
so patting/touching someone on the head is not appreciated and it
is also considered rude to use your feet to point to a person or object.
Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home.
Try to avoid wearing
revealing shorts, short skirts, vests and singlets once away from
the beach. If visiting wats (temples), dress neatly as a sign of respect
and wear extra modest clothes such as long trousers/skirts, closed
in shoes and keep your shoulders covered - if necessary, you can always
improvise with a sarong. When visiting the Grand Palace it is possible
to borrow clothes (free of charge) if you are inappropriately dressed.
