Welcome to our Visitor Information section. We have compiled some general information and tips that may help you during your stay in the kingdom.

Currency and Exchange Service:
The Thai unit of currency is the baht which is worth a little less than 3 US cents.
One US dollar = approximately 35 baht.
See: Currency / Exchange Rate

The baht is divided into 100 satang. "Copper" coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang.
"Silver" coins are in denominations of 1 and 5 baht.
A 10 baht coin is composed of both "silver" and "copper".
Banknotes are valued at 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht(red),
500 baht (purple) and 1,000 baht (grey)

Climate:
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with 3 distinct seasons - summer from March through May, rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to September and cool from October through February. The average annual temperature is 28 C (83 F), ranging, in Bangkok, for example, from 30 C in April to 25 C in December.

Tipping:
It is customary to tip porters, taxi drivers and hotel personnel who have given good personal service. A 10%-15% tip is appreciated in restaurants, particularly where service charge is waived.

Travelers Checks / Credit Cards:
US dollar traveler checks can be conveniently cashed at all provincial banks and authorized money changers. Traveler checks in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok where better rates are lower than those offered by banks and authorized money changers.

Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diner, Carte Blanche, Master Change and VISA are accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops.

Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nationwide, Monday through Friday except public and bank holidays, between 9:30AM. and 3:30PM.

Major banks such as Bangkok Bank and Thai Farmers Bank operate currency exchange
centers in most tourist area from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., seven days a week including holidays.

Many first-class hotels provide 24 hours money exchange services but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss francs. Travelers checks are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel guests.

Currency Exchange Controls
1. Foreign tourists may freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign exchange. Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which be brought in with him, with the exception that foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum of US 10,000 or the amount declared in writing to Customs upon arrival. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and/or prosecution.

2. For travelers leaving Thailand, the maximum amount permitted to take out without prior authorization is 50,000 baht per person.

3. Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by current customs regulation. Other than personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.

4. Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a special gesture to non-residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance of and withdrawal from the account as long as the funds originate from abroad.

For additional information concerning foreign exchange regulations, please contact any authorized banks.

Language:
Spoken and written Thai remain largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and some other European languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants, in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.  If time allows, pick up a pocket sized English-Thai
book, it may help eliminate some of the frustration or visit our page at Speaking Basic Thai to assist when dining.

Clothing:
Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during cool season, evenings or if visiting mountainous areas and remote national parks. Jackets and ties are required in a few restaurants and nightclubs.

Electricity:
The electric current is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110 Volt transformers.

Television and Video:
The television system in Thailand is PAL, the same as the videos on sale. If you buy a video you won't be able to play it on NTSC systems in America or Japan.

Car Rental:
Those possessing valid International Driving Licenses may prefer to hire automobiles. English language road signs and maps are commonplace. The Bangkok Yellow Pages list local and international automobile rental companies. Visitors are advised to shop around since most companies offer different conditions. Self-drive and
chauffeur-driven automobiles are widely available.

International car hire companies such as Avis and Hertz also operate in Pattaya, Hat Yai, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui Island.

Passenger Service Charge (Airport Tax):
A passenger service charge, to be paid at the airport check-in counter, is required of all international and domestic passengers passing through Bangkok International Airport.

• International passengers 250 baht per person

• Domestic passengers 30 baht per person

Please note that foreign passengers whose passports have been stamped upon arrival are considered to have entered the Kingdom of Thailand. Therefore, when leaving the country they are required to pay the passenger service charge.

Children under two years old are exempt from the passenger service charge.

Business Hours:
Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week. Government offices are generally open between 8:30AM and 4:30PM. with a 12 noon to 1:00PM lunch break, Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. Private businesses maintain much the same hours perhaps 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with certain exceptions. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tourist Police:
In 1982, the Tourist Police was set up to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in providing safety for tourists. Its responsibilities are receiving and acknowledging claims and complaints; conduction investigation and acting as co-ordinator of tourist security protection. At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major
tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Patpong and Lumpini Park.

Bi-lingual Tourist Police are attached to Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket and Kanchanaburi to provide speedy assistance to visitors.

In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Centre (Section 4), Crime Suppression Division, 29/1 Unico House Building Soi Lung Suan Ploenchit Road Bangkok. Tel: 652 1721-6 ext. section 4 or call the TAT Helpline at Tel: 281 5051, 282 8129 Fax: 281 5051

Dangers and Annoyances

Traveling in Thailand is safer than most people think. As long as you follow some common sense rules then you shouldn't have any problems during your holiday.

Some of the dangers faced by tourists are usually more annoyances than anything. These usually involve "gem scams" which despite being widely publicized still continue to exist. Gem scam stories usually start with: "We were walking to this temple/museum when a well-dressed English speaking man came up to us. He said that the place we were going was closed for a festival. After chatting for a while he offered to take us to a relatively unknown tourist attraction." The story always has the same ending. The tourists are tricked into buying something triple the normal price. You have been warned!

The following "Cautions" have been issued by the Tourist Police in Thailand.

• Never believe street touts. Promised jewelry bargains are scams.

• Never purchase jewelry with the unrealistic expectation of reselling it for two or three times the original purchase price.

• Never mail precious stones home.

• Always exercise common sense. If something appears too good to be true it probably is "too good to be true".

• Please be aware the Thai government does not own, operate, subsidize or authorize any jewelry stores, except The Thailand Duty Free Shops.

• Disregard all offers of shopping or sightseeing assistance from strangers. They invariably take a big commission on a high surcharged price.

• Please avoid in any habit forming drugs and avoid being induced into any form of gambling, since the penalties in Thailand are very severe.

• Always select reliable Tour operators and Travel agencies or Guides with official licenses issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

• Please contact the bus terminal directly for your ticket. If you purchase the ticket from other agencies, please be sure to obtain all necessary information before using their services to avoid the subsequent problems.