Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with spectacular islands, stunning nature, world famous beach parties and exotic wildlife. A holiday in Thailand could combine the dynamic bustling capital Bangkok, with the beaches of Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui, a backpacking adventure to see temples and remote hill tribes in the Golden Triangle or a visit to an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
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Thailand Travel Guide
Key Facts
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Dialing Code: +66
Getting to Thailand
There are daily flights from worldwide destinations into Thailand’s international airports including Don Muang airport and Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, and other popular destinations like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya and Udon Thani.
Money
The Baht is the national currency of Thailand. “Copper” coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang. “Silver” coins are in denominations of 1′ 2 and 5 baht. A 10 baht coin is composed of both “silver” and “copper”. Banknotes are valued at 10 baht (brown), 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht (red), 500 baht (purple) and 1,000 baht (khaki).
Electrical Appliances
The electric current in Cambodia is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. You should check with an electronics store before leaving your home.
Time Zone
The time in Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and lies in the same time zone as its neighbors Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Health Requirements
No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. The malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. The medical facilities are rather limited in all countries and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
The centre of Thailand, the north, northeast and east have three seasons: hot (February and March to June), rainy (June to September and October) and cool (October to January and February). Countrywide, humidity is high almost all year.
Temperatures in Bangkok are mostly hot, with highs of around 35° C in April, dropping to roughly 30° C in December. This is the best time to visit, when cool breezes make sightseeing much more pleasant. The monsoon rains usually come in brief but heavy downpours – sometimes producing flash floods – followed by sunshine.
The north (especially Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son) and the northeast can become chilly around New Year, with night-time lows of 11-13°C . Bring warm clothing. However, daytime temperatures are in the high 20° C, reaching the mid-to-high 30°C in April. Rainfall, although is not as heavy as in Bangkok.
The south, roughly from Prachuap Khiri Khan to the Malaysian border, has two seasons; rainy and dry. It is always hot and humid, and the rainfall here is heavier than the rest of the country, especially from March through November. Temperature highs range from 30-36°C on the eastern side of the southern peninsular and dip slightly on the western side, from 28/29° C to 33/34° C.
Food
The Thai cuisine is distinctive, thanks to the spicy ingredients, that combines the best of Chinese and Indian culinary traditions – noodles, curries, sweet and sour dishes, lengthily cooked and fast-cooked ingredients, exotic spices and condiments – while retaining its own very special character.
Restaurants offer every imaginable type of Asian cuisine and menus are extensive and usually available in English. Service is prompt. Prices are reasonable. All kinds of regional Thai food can be sampled. Special dinners can be enjoyed on boats cruising the Chao Phraya River. Soft breezes, candlelight dining and distant music create romantic moods.
Seafood restaurants are very popular and offer a wide choice of fresh ingredients, charcoal grilled or broiled to individual requests, and a fine selection of local and imported wines. Some tourist-oriented restaurants present selected Thai classical and folk dances. Guests sit around low tables, often in traditional surroundings, with teak panelling and floors, classic paintings and precious porcelain. A combination of Thai cuisine, music, silk, orchids and graceful dances creates memorable evenings.
People and Culture
The Thai monarchy is a dynasty that has maintained the independence of the country for centuries, and Thailand is now a blend of tradition with contemporary living. Buddhism is a way of life in Thailand and local people are very friendly.
