voyagevietnam
Thailand
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Airlines and arrival information
AIRLINES AND ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Domestic: Six domestic airlines are currently operating in Thailand: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, One-Two-Go, Orient Thai, PB Air, Phuket Air and Thai Airways.
AIRPORT TAX Airport taxes are included in all international and domestic flight tickets. Any additional airport fees are also included so there is no additional payment needed at the airport.
ARRIVAL IN THAILAND
BY AIR
BY LAND
From Laos:
From Myanmar:
From Cambodia:
From Malaysia:
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
Upon arrival in Thailand, all visitors must complete an entry/exit form including a customs declaration. It is important that your copy of this form is kept safe with your passport while in Thailand and is presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure. In case you are obtaining your pre-arranged visa on arrival please proceed to the Visa counter and read the visa section below. (Note: overland entry procedures change from time to time according to the immigration office) If you have booked a transfer from Exotissimo we will provide you with information on where to meet your guide/driver as well as a 24-hour phone number to be used in case of difficulties.
ARRIVAL TRANSFERS FROM EXOTISSIMO
Clients that have booked a transfer will be met by an Exotissimo representative holding an EXOTISSIMO or YOUR COMPANY signboard with the client's group or name clearly displayed.
After clearing immigration, retrieving baggage and passing through Customs, please continue to the arrivals hall where your guide will be waiting with a sign with your name. Please take the exit which is nearest your luggage belt and turn left. If you do not see your guide in the arrivals hall, please proceed to either ATTA Exit 6 (Association of Thai Travel Agents) or ATTA Exit 10, depending on which is closest. You may ask an ATTA officer to call your guide at their mobile number.
ATMs
ATMs for withdrawing Thai Baht are widely available in major airports, shopping malls, hotels and almost all provincial banks in Thailand. For most banks there is a maximum withdrawal of 20,000 THB per transaction; however several withdrawals may be made in a single day. Ask your tour guide for help when you need to locate an ATM.
BUSINESS HOURS
Most businesses are open from Monday to Friday. Government offices are open from 08:30 to 16:30 with some closing for lunch from noon to 13:00. Many retailers and travel agencies are also open on Saturday and most shops are open on Sundays.
CLOTHING
CREDIT CARDS
ELECTRICITY
ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD
The basis of a Thai meal is rice, usually steamed although it can be made into noodles, while glutinous or sticky rice is preferred with some specialties. Accompanying the rice are main dishes featuring vegetables, meat, seafood, egg, fish and soup. Although Thais generally prefer hot, spicy food, not all dishes are so intense and there are grades of hotness as Thai food can be modulated to suit most tastes. Thailand is also the perfect place for a large choice of tropical fruits such as mangoes, pineapple, bananas, longan, mangosteen, jack fruit, as well as the famous durian, dubbed 'the fruit of the gods' for its very special smell and taste. We have a 'Restaurant & Shopping Guide' which showcases our preferred restaurants and bars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Feel free to request a copy!
HEALTH
INTERNET
Internet cafes are widely available everywhere and are easily found in major towns and cities. Prices are reasonable but may vary from 10 - 60 baht an hour. In many Internet cafés, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafés are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones. Wi-Fi hotspots are becoming increasingly available in hotels and public spaces in Bangkok. Many hotels also have Business Centers with PCs connected to the Internet or in-room broadband access- please note that this service is not always free and the rates are usually cheaper at internet cafes.
LANGUAGE
The most widely spoken language in Thailand is Thai, a complicated language with a unique alphabet. Beside the numerous hill tribe dialects, other languages spoken include Lao, Khmer and Chinese. Most Thai people, especially in the major cities, speak English and tourists should have no troubles with communication in these areas.
MONEY
The currency in Thailand is the Baht. Banks, which are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 15:30, give the best exchange rates. You will receive a better exchange rate in country than overseas so it is advisable to wait until reaching Thailand to exchange your money. At the Bangkok airport arrival area there are banks offering the same rate as you will find in the city center.
In tourist areas, there are also currency exchange outlets that stay open later, usually until around 20:00. ATM machines are found throughout the country and most will accept foreign ATM cards. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
PHOTOGRAPHY
POSTAL MAIL
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2009
RELIGION
SAFETY
Thailand is a safe country to visit. As a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags. Do beware of scams and touts that remain fairly common in popular tourist destinations. As in any country, demonstrations do occasionally take place however they are usually in isolated areas away from the major tourist sites and has little, if any, affect on travelers.
SHOPPING
TELEPHONE
Most hotels have offer international dialing and fax facilities although be warned that these services are expensive in Thailand. The best way to stay in touch is to buy a local SIM Card for your mobile phone at a convenience store. They cost approximately 150 THB and offer international dialing rates as low as 7 THB per minute and free incoming international calls. Internet cafes usually offer cheap web-phone call systems as well, however the quality is often poor.
TIME
TIPPING
TRANSPORTATION
Those possessing a valid International Driving License will be able to rent and drive a car. Road signs and maps are commonly displayed in the English language and international car hire companies such as Avis and Hertz also operate in major tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui Island. It is also easy to rent a car with a driver.
Getting around town there are several options. The ubiquitious three-wheeled Tuk Tuks are fun for short transfers while metered taxis offer a nice (and cheap) air-conditioned ride. In Bangkok, the public transportation includes a Skytrain and Underground Metro which are easy to use, reasonably priced and link most major tourist areas! A great way to avoid the city's infamous traffic jams.
VISAS
Citizens of 56 different countries can enter Thailand without a visa and be granted a free visa at the airport for a 30-day stay. (NOTE: Most overland arrivals only receive a 15-day visa) Next in length of validity is the tourist visa which is good for 60 days and costs approximately 25 USD, depending on the country of application. Three passport photos must accompany all applications. Please check the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the latest information and full details of your country's visa agreement: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2637.php
WEATHER
The best time to visit Thailand is from November to February when the weather is dry and the temperatures are not too hot. During these winter months, the temperatures in the far north can drop down to freezing during the evenings, so trekking and camping trips in these areas are not recommended. From March to June, the heat returns with temperatures soaring to over 40 degrees Celsius during the day time. However there is rarely any rain during this time and the humidity is low. Thailand's rainy season begins toward the end of June and continues until October. During this time the humidity can be stifling as it rains on a daily basis, usually in the afternoon, but it is also the quietest time for travelers meaning hotel prices drop and popular tourist spots are blissfully uncrowded.
The Southern Thai beaches are faced with two weather systems which bring the tropical rains at different times of the year, so it's possible to enjoy Thailand's beaches year-round. From January to September you can choose a beach on the east coast such as Koh Samui or Koh Phangan where you will have the best chance on sunny and dry weather while from October to April the west coast, including Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Samed and Ko Chang, offers the best chance of getting an all over tan.
WATER
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