Blog Posts
Thailand: Ancient City of Sukhothai
Thailand: Ancient City of Ayutthaya
Thailand: Bangkok – 15 great things to do
Thailand: Bangkok – Erawan Museum
Thailand: Bangkok – The Calypso Cabaret
Thailand: Bangkok – Royal Barge Museum
Thailand: Bangkok – Wat Suthat Thepwararam
Thailand: Bangkok – Bangkok National Museum
Thailand: Bangkok – Jim Thompson House
Thailand: Bangkok – Chatuchak Weekend Market
Thailand: Bangkok – Giant Swing
Thailand: Bangkok – Golden Mount
Thailand: Bangkok – Wat Arun
Thailand: Bangkok – The Fig Lobby
Thailand: Koh Samui – ten great things to do
Thailand: Koh Samui – Muay Thai
Thailand: Koh Samui – Wat Ratchathammaram
Thailand: Koh Samui – Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks
Thailand: Koh Samui – Guan Yu Shrine
Thailand: Koh Samui – Wat Plai Laem
Thailand: Koh Samui – Big Buddha
Thailand: Ovenight on Cheow Lan Lake
Thailand: Night hike in Khao Sok NP
Thailand: Ao Phang-Nga National Park
Thailand: Surin Islands
Thailand: Koh Lipe
- Capital: Bangkok
- Area: 513,120 sq km
- Population: 69.6 million
- Language: Thai
Thailand is located in southeast Asia and covers an area of 14,000 square kilometres.
The capital, Bangkok, is by far its largest city and is home to more than 10 million people. It is famous for its Buddhist temples and monuments, however, the city is congested, with air pollution and subsidence (sinking land) being major ongoing concerns. Natural disasters, such as droughts in the northeast and floods in the central area, continue to fuel urban migration.
The country has four main geographic regions: the mountainous north, the dry northeast, the fertile central plain drained by the Chao Phraya River and the southern peninsula with its white sandy beaches. The climate is tropical, with hot humid conditions and monsoons half the year-round.
PEOPLE
The official language is Thai with minority languages including Chinese, Malay, Khmer and Karen. Religion is an integral part of Thailand’s culture. Almost 95 percent are Buddhists and a small percentage is Muslim and Christian. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) is revered by the majority of Thai people.
HISTORY
The Khmers are believed to be Thailand’s earliest inhabitants. The Khmers were overthrown in the 13th century when the Thais established their first kingdom, Siam. In 1939, Siam became Thailand, meaning “Land of the Free”. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been under European colonial rule – a fact that Thai people take great pride in.
The country experienced many coups and countercoups between 1932 and 1992. After 14 years of stable government, another coup in 2006 led to the removal of the Prime Minister before a civilian coalition government was formed after delayed elections. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) has served as head of state for 64 years and remains extremely influential. Born on 5 December 1927, his birthday is a day of national celebration.
Prolonged political protests in Bangkok in March to May 2010 led to the declaration of a state of emergency and an enforced curfew, as well as much violence. Bangkok has since returned to relative stability.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Currency & banking
Current exchange rate: $1USD = 36.12 Baht
The official currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). The money comes in the form of coins and bills.
Bills are issued in these banknotes: 20 baht, 50 baht,100 baht, 500 baht,1000 baht
Coins are available as: 1 baht, 2 baht,5 baht,10 baht
One Thai baht is made up of 100 satang. This smaller currency unit is also available as a coin, namely as 25 satangs and 50 satang. In smaller shops or supermarkets you sometimes get satang as change. In many cases, however, it is simply rounded up or down, since a satang is worth very little.
In practice, you should always carry some smaller bills with you, such as 50 or baht notes. For example, if you want to pay with a 1000 baht banknote (around 28 euros) at a street food stand, it can happen that the seller does not have enough change and cannot give you the right change.
Credit cards from major providers are accepted almost everywhere. That includes Visa and Mastercard as well as American Express and Diners Club.
Just be wary of the charges you might incur for using your credit card overseas. These can include:
- International transaction fees
- High exchange rate margins
- ATM fees
- Potential ‘cash advance fees if you use an ATM
Getting around
Boats
If you plan on doing any form of island hopping in Thailand (which is in the south) then you’ll be making use of the boats. Boats can range from slow and local to fast and more expensive! But getting between all the popular Thai islands will typically require a boat journey.
You can get tickets from many places around the islands, but we don’t recommend leaving this until the last minute. If like me you are a worrywart then you can book your boat and ferry rides in advance through 12Go Asia.
Buses
You can easily get around Thailand by bus especially thanks to the super easy booking options via 12Go Asia. I’ll tell you now that we used 12Go Asia all throughout our travels in Thailand, I can’t remember using anything but that website.
You can get buses to all the major cities that are typically tourist-style buses that have nice chairs, air con, sometimes entertainment and toilets on board. If you’re using local buses within a city, then don’t expect such luxuries.
This is the cheapest way to get around Thailand and perfect for the budget and “slow” traveller.
Trains
Another popular option for getting around Thailand is via train travel. Thailand has quite a well-developed rail network, so you can easily get from all the major cities on any typical Thailand backpacking route.
Getting around Thailand by train will be a little more expensive than bus, but it typically tends to be quicker and of course, train travel often provides stunning views.
Book all your train tickets through 12Go Asia.
Domestic Flights
If you’re short on time when visiting Thailand, you can get between most of the major sightseeing spots via plane travel. Flying in Thailand isn’t overly expensive thanks to budget airlines, like AirAsia.
Getting around in cities
When you are in the cities and on the islands getting around is usually inexpensive. There are always taxis and tuk-tuks around. Between towns, there are usually local buses you can take.
Bangkok has a very good local transport system of metros, monorails and buses. There of course taxis and tuk-tuks for local rides. The ride-hailing app Grab is a useful tool to have on your smartphone.
What to wear
Lightweight, loose-fitting clothes are sensible at any time of year. To avoid offending local sensibilities, female travellers should wear clothes that cover the legs and upper arms. Note that shorts are rarely worn by adults, except at the beach. Full-length trousers will create a better impression. Because of the rainfall patterns and the vagaries of Malaysia weather, always carry an umbrella.
Health advice
The US Center For Disease Control maintains an updated list of medical advice for those travelling to Thailand
The CDC recommends being up to date with all your regular shots. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot
Malaysia Health Care and Vaccinations
| Title | Special precautions |
| Diphtheria | Sometimes |
| Hepatitis A | Yes |
| Yellow Fever | Sometimes*** |
| Typhoid | Yes |
| Tetanus | Yes |
| Rabies | Yes ** |
| Malaria | Yes* |
* Malaria is only a risk in certain regions of Thailand. Urban and coastal areas are usually safe.
** Vaccinations are only recommended for travellers spending extended periods in rural areas.
*** Required for travellers≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission.1
Malaria and Hepatitis A and C are present in Thailand and Hepatitis B is also widespread, though the risk to travellers is low. Outbreaks of dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and meningococcal meningitis occur in both urban and rural areas but are rare in the cities and coastal resorts. Rabies is present; if bitten by monkeys or dogs, seek immediate medical attention.
Travellers to Thailand should protect themselves from mosquito bites and wear clothes that cover as much of the body as possible, sleep under mosquito nets and use repellents that contain DEET.
HEALTH CARE
Health insurance is recommended. Government and private hospitals are found in all the main cities and can deal with major medical needs, but all charge for treatments. Standards are generally higher at private hospitals.
FOOD & WATER SAFETY IN THAILAND?
Food is one of the highlights of any trip to Thailand, but a little caution is required as standards of hygiene can vary. Restaurants are usually one, and you should also be safe at street stalls and night markets where the food is prepared freshly on the premises. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish and avoid places where food has been left lying around in the open air. Avoid ice cream and other unpasteurised dairy products as they may have been defrosted and refrozen.
The general rule of thumb is to avoid drinking tap water in Thailand. The prevalence of clean water refill points, bottled water and the recent growth in the popularity of filtered water bottles like those from Grayl, means clean water is easy to come by across the country!
Safety
Ranked 103rd out of 163 countries for peaceability. The latest Global Peace Index puts Thailand 103rd out of 163 countries with good marks for having limited access to weapons and a low homicide rate, middling marks for personal safety, and poor marks for having a high incarceration rate.
Things to be aware of
- While tourism is one of Thailand’s major income sources, safety is not always top-of-mind at many attractions and resorts. Beaches generally lack lifeguards, hazardous areas and activities are not always identified, and staff may not be trained or certified.
- According to the State Department, “Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles” to target high-profile public events, hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists, places of worship, schools, shopping malls and markets and public transportation systems.
Violent crimes are relatively rare in Thailand, but they do occur. Crimes against women are also a possibility, often in connection with drinking and/or drug use involving one or both parties. Unfortunately, police in Thailand are often more likely to take the side of the male in many male-female crimes, especially if the male is Thai.
- Thailand has a fair amount of scams targeting tourists, including:
- Rental scams.
- Inflated bar-tab scams. You are charged huge amounts for drinks or hit with exorbitant cover charges.
- City-tour scams.
- Fake-gem scams.
- Internet romance scams.
- Financial scams.
Local laws and customs
- Respect the Thai King
- Always carry your passport in Thailand
- Avoid illegal drugs in Thailand. Although Thailand has legalised cannabis it is only for medical purposes and is low in THC – so not enough to get you high. So, beware of this when purchasing cannabis in Thailand
- Thailand’s legal drinking age is 20
- Don’t overstay your visa in Thailand
Useful emergency numbers
| Service | Dial |
| Police | 191 |
| Fire | 199 |
| Ambulance | 1669 |
| Tourism Police | 1155 |
Climate
Thailand has a predominantly tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) in the north and a tropical monsoon-type climate (Köppen Am) in the south. A few sections in the western and southern regions harbour tropical rainforests (Köppen Af). The extreme north has few regions with a temperate climate (Köppen Cwa, Cwb), with warm to hot summers and dry winters. Thailand lies in Southeast Asia, entirely between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Laos and Cambodia are in the east, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand in the south, Myanmar and the Andaman Sea in the west, and Laos and Myanmar in the north. The tropical location and monsoon rains, along with proximity to large water bodies, chiefly influence the climate.
Thailand has several geographical regions with varied topography. Northern Thailand is mountainous and a source of several important rivers. The northeast region is mainly a plateau that sits on a high-level plain. Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai is the highest mountain in the north, at 2595 meters. The Yom, Nan, Ping, and Wang rivers unite to form the Chao Phraya River in the broad, low-level plain of the central region. The eastern portion mostly consists of plains and valleys and kisses the Gulf of Thailand in its south. Southern Thailand is a peninsula between the Andaman Sea in the west and the South China Sea in the east. The long ridge of western mountains extends from the north and central regions, all the way to the south. The Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat ridges separate the southern portion into western and eastern coasts. The Mekong and Chao Phraya are famous rivers. The Bang Pakong, Mae Klong, Tapi, and Chao Phraya rivers drain into the Gulf of Thailand, whose clear shallow waters along the southern region are famous for tourism. The islands along the Andaman Sea coast, such as Phuket, Phang Nga, Trang, and Krabi are tourist hotspots.
The best time to visit Thailand
The worst time to visit Thailand
Weather Month-By-Month
Thailand:
The weather is good throughout the country at this time of year. There is little chance of rain, while cooler temperatures in the north make conditions more comfortable and all the west coast beaches are likely to be bathed in sunshine. Perhaps the only exception being Koh Samui, which often sees high levels of rainfall at this time of year.
Events & Festivals
- Chinese New Year Festival (date varies): While this isn’t a public holiday, it is celebrated across the country; particularly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, which turns red and hosts exciting dragon parades, firecrackers and dancing in the streets.
- Chiang Mai Flower Festival (first weekend of February): A three-day festival held at the end of the ‘cool season’, featuring a parade and colourful displays of chrysanthemums and the Damask Rose — a variety found only in Chiang Mai.
- Chinese New Year Festival (date varies): While this isn’t a public holiday, it is celebrated across the country; particularly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, which turns red and hosts exciting dragon parades, firecrackers and dancing in the streets.
- Chinese New Year Festival (date varies): While this isn’t a public holiday, it is celebrated across the country; particularly in Bangkok’s Chinatown, which turns red and hosts exciting dragon parades, firecrackers and dancing in the streets.
- Songkran (13th to 15th April): This is the traditional New Year’s Day in Thailand. Scented water is poured over people and thrown in the street to symbolise the washing away of sins and bad luck./li>
- Vegetarian Festival (October): This nine-day festival celebrates the Chinese belief that abstinence from meat during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will obtain good health and peace of mind. Experience this festival in Phuket.
- Loy Krathong (November): A festival predominantly celebrated by southwestern Thai cultures. Decorated baskets are hand-made using banana tree trunks, bread or styrofoam and floated along a river as locals make a wish.
- Validity: Usually valid for entering Thailand within 3 months from the date of issue.
- Duration: Once you enter Thailand, you can stay for up to 60 days.
- Extension: It’s possible to apply for an extension of stay for another 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand, making the total potential duration of stay up to 90 days.
- Validity: Allows multiple entries into Thailand over a 6-month period from the date of issue.
- Duration: Each entry allows a 60-day stay, meaning you can come and go as many times as you want during the 6-month validity, but each stay can’t exceed 60 days.
- Extension: Like the Single-Entry Tourist Visa, each entry can potentially be extended for an additional 30 days at a Thai immigration office.
Thailand:
A few showers are expected on Thailand’s east coast toward the start of the month, but the rest of the country remains hot and dry. Even the normally cool early mornings in the north begin to heat up.
Events & Festivals
Fine weather should be expected throughout Thailand in March, with temperatures rising into the mid 30°Cs and the colder weather in the north disappearing. This means that you can go anywhere in the country to enjoy sun-kissed beaches.
Events & Festivals
More excellent weather during April and the visitor numbers continue to rise. Be sure to book your accommodation far in advance to get the best choice of hotels. Travelling over Songkran (Thai New Year) means you can have great fun joining in the celebrations, but it is likely to be busier.
A great month to visit Thailand as prices lower following the peak season, meaning that you may be able to take advantage of a shoulder season promotion. For the majority of the month very little rain is expected, but for guaranteed sunshine on the beach, stick to the east coast.
June is a good time to visit, allowing you to catch the last of the dry weather and avoid the crowds seen during the European school holidays. Thailand is bathed in sunshine at this time of year, and there are wonderful opportunities to grab a shoulder season bargain.
Temperatures start to drop a little as wind and rain becomes more common toward the end of the month. The sun is still out on the east coast beaches, but islands such as Koh Samui tend to get busy over the school holidays. The beginning of the month is best.
The rain is widespread across Thailand now; especially in the north of the country where heavy rainfall is common. Beach options start to dwindle, with Hua Hin and Koh Samui being the best places to head; although you may still experience a few showers.
September is usually the wettest month of the year, so it’s not ideal for beach goers. However, those seeking a low season bargain and no crowds can still enjoy a worthwhile exploration at this time of year.
Rains continue throughout the beginning of October and temperatures begin to drop. However, the more comfortable cooler temperatures and lower humidity, along with less chance of rain at the end of the month, make October a good month to travel.
Events & Festivals
The sun returns to Thailand’s west coast and beach goers begin to flock to Khao Lak, Phuket and Krabi once again. Perhaps the only exception being Koh Samui, which often sees high levels of rainfall at this time of year. If you visit at the start of the month you can beat the crowds. Early mornings and late evenings in northern Thailand begin to cool as winter approaches.
Events & Festivals
Thailand’s west coast beaches prepare for the Christmas rush and it’s best to book far in advance to secure your preferred option. With good weather all round, it’s peak time to visit Thailand. Perhaps the only exception being Koh Samui, which often sees high levels of rainfall at this time of year. We recommend going at the beginning of the month to avoid the hotel surcharges over Christmas.
Visa information
A Thailand Tourist Visa is a stamp or document placed in your passport. It is needed to enter Thailand for tourism. It is issued by a Thai embassy or Consulate in your country and stamped on your passport upon arrival at the airport in Thailand. A tourist visa can be extended while in Thailand if you want to stay longer. The tourist visa should not be confused with the Visa Exemption stamp issued at the airport.
Thailand offers both multiple-entry and single-entry tourist visas for foreigners who wish to visit the country for tourism purposes. Here’s a general breakdown of the two:
Single-Entry Tourist Visa
Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa
Thailand Tourist Visa Requirements
When applying for a tourist visa with a valid passport, there are certain documents needed, and a fee may be required on application. The documents and fee can change anytime and without prior notice, so contact your local embassy before organizing your application before you arrive in Thailand. Some countries allow for the Thai E-Visa and you can apply for the e-visa online. The Thailand E visa is a very fast method for obtaining your tourist visa online.
Visa on arrival
Passport holders of many Western and Asian countries apply for Visas on arrival at the designated immigration checkpoints for tourism and will be granted permission to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 30 days. For some countries, this may only be 15 days. Also, a Visa on arrival cannot be extended.
Electrical
The standard voltage is 240 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Which power plugs and sockets in Thailand?
In Thailand, the power plug sockets are of type A, B, C, F and O. Check out the following pictures.
Type A: mainly used in North and Central America, China and Japan. This socket only works with plug A.
Type B: like type A but with an extra prong for grounding. This socket also works with plug A.
Type C: also known as the standard “Euro” plug. This socket also works with plug E and plug F.
Type F: also known as “Schuko”. This socket also works with plug C and plug E.
Type O: this type is unique to Thailand but it also works with plug C, plug E and plug
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| Type A: This socket has no alternative plugs | Type B: This socket also works with plug A | Type C: This socket also works with plugs E and F | Type O: This socket also works with plugs C, E and F |
Mexico
Are you planning to visit Mexico? Check if you need a power plug adapter or voltage converter for the power sockets (outlets) used in Mexico.
The following information is for travellers living in the United States of America. I live in another country.
You don’t need a power plug adapter in Mexico when living in the United States of America.
Electricity in Mexico
In Mexico the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 127 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.
Power plug adapter needed in Mexico?
In Mexico the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. When living in the United States of America you don’t need a power plug adapter in Mexico. Your power plugs fit.
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| Type A: This socket has no alternative plugs | Type B: This socket also works with plug A |