SOME FACTS ABOUT THAILAND
Officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand, this wonderful land covers an area of 514,000 square kilometres. It is similar in size to France with a population of about 60 million. Approximately 95 percent of Thai citizens are Buddhists. The remainder of the populace is made up of Muslims, Christians and Hindus.
The Kingsom is divided into four main regions: the Central Plains, the North, the Northeast and the South. with most people living in the fertile Central Plains, where Bangkok, the capital city, is to be found.
The Northern region (capital Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city), consists of mountains and fertile valleys.
In contrast to the Central and the Northern regions, the Northeast has a harsher climate and is the least fertile region of Thailand while the South is famous for its fine beaches and idyllic limestone islands.
Thailand proudly proclaims that it has never been colonised. One positive aspect of this fact is that the country has retained its unique culture, traditions and language. With a long, rich heritage and abundant natural resources, Thailand is without doubt one of the most exotic countries in Asia.
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Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons:
Hot Season: March - May
Rainy Season: June - October
Cool Season: November - February
The average annual temperature is about 28 °C. The northern region can be a bit cold during the cool season. Be sure to bring along a sweater or a light jacket if you intend to visit this region around that time of the year. During the rainy season, downpours seldom last more than a couple of hours.
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Thailand
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Feb
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Mar
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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| Northeast (E-SAN) |
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| Eastern Seaboard |
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| South Gulf of Thailand Coasts |
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| South Andaman Sea Coasts |
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Legend
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Many nationalities, including the citizens of Australia, Canada, South Africa, the USA and most European countries, do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry, return ticket or onward travel arrangement needs to be presented upon request at your arrival in Thailand. These requirements are subject to change. Please check with the embassy or consulate in your home country before departure.
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Importation of all kinds of narcotics (opium, heroin, cocaine, etc.) and pornographic media is strictly prohibited. Firearms and ammunition can be imported only after a permit has been obtained from the local police department. A reasonable amount of clothing for personal use, toiletries and professional instruments can be brought in free of duty. In addition, 200 cigarettes or smoking materials totalling 250 grams, one litre of wine or spirits, one video camera, five rolls of still film, three video cassettes and one item of electrical goods per person are allowed in duty free. Buddha images, antiques or fragments thereof are not allowed to be taken out of Thailand without authorization from the Fine Arts Department.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
No vaccinations are presently required unless you are traveling from or through contaminated areas. It is recommended that you be immunized against polio, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A and B.
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CURRENCY: The Thai monetary unit is the Baht. There are 100 Satang to one Baht. Coins are used in denominations of 25 Satang, 50 Satang, 1 Baht, 5 Baht and 10 Baht. Bank note denominations comprise 20 Baht (green), 50 Baht (blue), 100 Baht (red), 500 Baht (purple) and 1000 Baht (gray). Notes are also scaled in size; the larger the denomination, the larger the note.
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25 Satang
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50 Satang
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1 Baht
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5 Baht
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10 Baht
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10 Baht
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20 Baht
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50 Baht
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100 Baht
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500 Baht
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1000 Baht
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MONEY EXCHANGE: Money and travellers' cheques of all major currencies can be exchanged at hotels, banks, exchange booths and mobile exchange kiosks in tourist areas. Banks usually offer the best rates.
CREDIT CARDS: Credit cards are widely accepted in department stores, major hotels, up-market shops and restaurants. They can also be used for cash advances at banks and exchange counters. The most commonly accepted cards are VISA and Mastercard, followed by American Express, JCB and Diners Club.
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The electric current for the whole of Thailand is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Dual-prong rounded plugs as well as flat-pin plugs can be used in sockets. Adaptors are provided by most of the hotels.
SAFETY & SECURITY
Thailand is a safe country, but as is the case in most places in the world, it is wise to be a little cautious. Simple safety precautions such as ignoring touts, keeping away from trouble spots, not wearing excessive jewellery, being careful when crossing roads (remember: left-hand traffic!) and taking care of valuables will keep you out of trouble. Valuables such as money, travellers' cheques, passports and flight tickets are best kept in the safety box of your hotel.
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MON
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01 JAN
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New Year's Day
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SAT**
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03 MAR
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Makabucha Day
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FRI
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06 APR
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Chakri Memorial Day
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FRI
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13 APR
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Songkran Day
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SAT
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14 APR
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Songkran Day
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SUN**
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15 APR
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Songkran Day
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TUE
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01 MAY
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National Labour Day
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SAT**
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05 MAY
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Coronation Day
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THU
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12 MAY
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Visakha Bucha Day
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MON
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30 JUL
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Buddhist Lent Day
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SAT**
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12 AUG
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H.M. The Queen's Birthday
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TUE
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23 OCT
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Chulalongkorn Day
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WED
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05 DEC
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H.M. The King's Birthday
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MON
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10 DEC
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Constitution Day
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MON
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31 DEC
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New Year’s Eve
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**If any of the holidays listed above fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the following working day might also be observed as a holiday.
AIRPORT TAX
Airport tax or departure tax is required to be paid by all international and domestic passengers departing from any Thai airport. The airport tax & insurance surcharge of a domestic flight ticket bought within Thailand is usually added to the ticket fare automatically, except for flights originating from Kho Samui, Sukhothai and Trat airports.
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For international flights:
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Baht 700.- per person
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For domestic flights ex Samui:
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Baht 300.- per person
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For domestic flights ex Sukhothai:
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Baht 300.- per person
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For domestic flights ex Trat:
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Baht 300.- per person
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TIME ZONE
Thailand time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 6 hours ahead of Rome, Paris and Vienna, 5 hours ahead of Pretoria, 13 hours ahead of New York and 3 hours behind Sydney. All these time differences are based upon Winter Time. Thailand lies in the same time zone as its neighbors Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Important Telephone
| Metropolitan mobile police |
191, 02-246-1338 to 42 |
| Police Hospital |
02-255-1133 to 6 |
| Highway Police |
1193 |
| Tourist Police |
1155 |
| Tourist Assistance Center |
1155 |
| Emergency Ambulance |
1646, 1669, 1554 |
Communication Services
| Telephone Directory Service (Bangkok) |
1133 |
| Traffic Information |
02-222-8111 |
Airport Service Information
| International Airport (Call Centre) |
02-132-1888 |
Thai Airlines
| Thai Airways International (TG) |
1566 |
| Thai Air Asia (FD) |
02-515-9999 |
| Bangkok Airways (PG) |
1771, 02-265-6578 |
| Nok Air (DD) |
1318 |
| P.B. Air (9Q) |
02-261-0220 to 5 |
| One Two Go (OG) |
1126, 2-229-4260 |
Bus Stations
| North (Morchit) |
02-936-2841 to 8 Ext. 311 |
| North Eastern (Morchit) |
02-936-2841 to 8 Ext. 611 |
| Central (Morchit) |
02-936-2841 to 8 Ext. 311 |
| Eastern (Ekkamai) |
02-391-2504, 02-391-8097 |
| Southern (Sai Tai Mai) |
02-434-7192, 02-434-7864 |
Bangkok Railway Station
| Hua Lumpong |
1690 or 02-621-8701 |
