Thailand Information
The name Thailand means "Land of the Free", a reference to the fact that the country never has been colonized. The Thai are proud of this and it defines for a part their proud ness, hospitality and independence.
Thailand is a combination of old and new: beautiful temples, witnesses of a rich past rooted in Buddhism, a monk walking barefoot in a modern shopping center in Bangkok, a bicycle taxi on the way to the morning market, women in the latest western fashion in the subway, old women in their traditional sarongs at a temple fair in Chiang Mai, the capital of the former Lan Na kingdom. Thailand never ceases to amaze the visitor.
A tropical climate, a delicious cuisine and beautiful nature complete the picture and contribute to the image of Thailand as a paradise. Despite the mass tourism of recent years Thailand has managed to retain its own character and there are still many places which are authentic and interesting to explore.
Sawadee! Welcome!
Highlights of Thailand
- Exciting Bangkok
- The ruins of Ayutthaya, the old capital
- Delicious Thai cuisine
- Tropical dream islands in the South of Thailand
- National Parks full of jungle and waterfalls
- Old Khmer temple ruins
- Fascinating hill tribes in the North of Thailand
- Lanna culture in Chiang Mai
- Beautiful decorated temples
- Lively Chinatown
- Historical Kanchanaburi with the river Kwai
- Relaxing Thai massage
- Authentic Isan, the unknown North-East of Thailand
- Friendly people
Practical Information about Thailand
Visas and Passport
For visitors of western countries, a visa is not necessary for stays
shorter than 30 days.
For other nationalities, please check at the Thai embassy in your home
country if you need a visa.
Health
Make sure you have medical insurance. Hospitals in Thailand are modern
and equipped with the latest equipment and the doctors are usually
trained abroad. See our Health
page for more general information about health.
Money and Banks
The currency of Thailand is called Baht. For the currency exchange rate click here. Cash
Dollars and Euros can be exchanged everywhere at banks and exchange
offices. Travelers' cheques from American Express or Thomas Cook can
be cashed in at banks. Buy travelers' cheques in US dollars, other
currencies can not be cashed in everywhere. Credit cards are only accepted
at deluxe hotels and restaurants. ATMs can be found in many places.
Electricity
Electricity in Thailand is 220V, 50 Hz. Power sockets are generally of
the round, two-pin variety. Adapters can be bought at markets and supermarkets.
Communications
Postcards sent from Thailand to western countries take about 5 to 10
days to arrive
To telephone to Thailand from home, dial your international access code
followed by 66, then the local area code (minus the initial zero), then
the number.
To call home from Thailand, dial 001 (or 007) + your country code + area
code without the initial zero + the number.
In the capital and provincial cities there are many internet cafes for
checking and sending email.
Thailand in Books
- The English Governess at the Siamese Court (1870) by Anna Leonowens
- A Woman of Bangkok (1950) by Jack Reynolds
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1952) by Pierre Boulle
- Jasmine Nights (1995) by SP Somtow
- The Beach (1997) by Alex Garland
- Monsoon Country by Pira Sudham
Thailand in Films
- Anna & the King of Siam (1946) with Rex Harrison
- The King & I (1956) with Yul Brynner
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) by David Lean with Alec Guinness
and William Holden
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) with Roger Moore and Christopher
Lee
- Emmanuelle (1975)
- Kickboxer (1989) with Jean-Claude Van Damme
- The Beach (2000) with Leonardo DiCaprio
- Bangkok Dangerous (2008) with Nicolas Cage
Time
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Universal
Time Coordinated (UTC). When it is midday in Thailand, it is 1 am in New
York, 5 am in London, 6 am in Amsterdam and 3 pm in Sydney.
Opening Hours
Government Offices are open Monday to Friday from 08.30-12.00
and from 13.30-17.00. but don't come too early or too late, as the officers
may not be there yet or have left already.
Banks are usually open from 08.30 till 15.30.
Crime and personal safety
Thailand is a relative safe country and you can travel everywhere
in the country without worries, except in the far south of the country
in the three provinces bordering Malaysia.
In busy locations like train stations, on busses and on markets, be careful
for pick pockets.
Be careful when approached by "too friendly" people who want to
take you on a free of very cheap sightseeing tour. Their goal is to bring
you to shops (usually jewelry shops and tailors) where you pay too much
for low quality (or fake) jewelry or clothes.
Climate
Thailand is a tropical country and the weather is warm all year
round. Thailand has 3 seasons. The cool season (November to February)
is cool with temperatures in the mid- to upper 20s Celsius. In the hot
season (March to May) the temperatures and humidity rise with peak daytime
temperatures of 35C. Do as the locals and avoid the midday heat. The
rainy season (June to October) brings rain on the whole of Thailand.
Mostly it rains for a short while in the afternoon or in the evening.
The countryside turns lush and green again.
Discover the real Thailand with the Monsoon Adventure Group Tours.
