Travel Info
Travel info
Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the baht. One baht is divided into 100 satang. Notes are in denominations of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht.
Coins consist of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht.
Currency Exchange
Try not to convert your money into Thai Baht until you arrive in Thailand as you will get a much better rate in Thailand. Currency exchanges is available in all the International airports (better rates outside the airports). ATM machines are widely available (maximum daily withdrawal limits apply).
Major currency bills and travellers cheques are cashed easily at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centres and money changers. Travellers cheques are best changed in banks (you will need your passport). Rates of exchange at banks or authorized money changers are better than those at hotels and department stores.ATM's are everywhere
Money Tip: Reputable money dealers are prominent in Tourist areas, they offer very good exchange rates
NB: lowest currency for exchange is aud$50 notes see our daily tips about Thai Baht
Banks are open Mon - Fri 8:30am - 3:30pm but, especially in some of the large shopping centres, some Banks are open on Saturday mornings. Cheques are not commonly used in Thailand for the purchase of goods or payment of bills as they take an inordinate amount of time to clear through the Thai banking system. Travelers cheques are easily exchanged.
It is possible for foreigners to open a Savings Account in Thai banks but the individual requirements vary not just between the different Banks but also between different branches of the same Bank. Currency Exchange Rates
Credit cards are widely accepted.
Lost cards:
American Express T: 0 2273 5100 or 0 2273 0022 Diners Club T: 0 2238 2920 or 02238 2680 MasterCard T: 0 2256 7326-7 Visa, T: 0 2256 7326-7
Electricity/Voltage
The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travellers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110-volt transformers. Adapters are very easy to find in obvious shops and much much cheaper there!!
Emergency Calls
Police 191 Crime 195 Fire 199 Traffic Control Centre 197 Highway Police 1193 Tourist Police 1699
Tourist Service Center 1155 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Hotline 1555
Missing Persons Bureau 282 1815
Medical Evacuation & Ambulance Service 255 1133 Crime Suppression: 195 or 0 2513 3844
Useful Phone Numbers
Embassy - Australian - page down for details
Immigration Office Soi Suanphlu, Sathorn Tai Road, Bangkok 10120 T: +66 2 287 3101
Revenue Department Chakkapong Road, Bangkok 10200 T: +66 2 282 9899
National Museum Division Na Prathat Road T: +66 2 226 1661
Tourist Information Counter 372 Bamrung Muang Road, Bangkok 10100 T: +66 2 226 0060, 226 0072
Tourist Assistance Center 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, Bangkok T: +66 2 281 5051
Tourism Authority of Thailand Head Office Le Concorde Building 202 Ratchadapisek Road T: +66 2 694 1222 F: +66 2 694 1220
Tourist Police Unico House, Soi Lang Suan, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok T: 1699 or +66 2 652 1721
Bangkok International Airport Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok T: +66 2 535 1111
Bangkok Domestic Airport Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok T: +66 2 535 2081
Thai Airways International Plc. 89 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok T: +66 2 513 0121
Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10500 T: +66 2 223 7010, 223 7020
Northern & Northeastern Bus Terminal Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok T: +66 2 272 0299
Southern Bus Terminal Boromrat Chonnani Road, Bangkok 10700 T: +66 2 435 1199, 434 5558
Eastern Bus Terminal Sukhumvit Road (Ekamai), Bangkok 10110 T: +66 2 391 2504, 392 2521
Phone call tips
LOCAL CALLS
At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls, long distance calls within the country and all mobile phones) have nine digits, starting with 0.
• For Bangkok calls, it is 0 + 2 + numbers, i.e 0 2694 1222.
• For provincial calls, it is 0 + area code + numbers, i.e 053 for Chiang Mai; or 076 for Phuket.
INTERNATIONAL CALLS
• The international dialling code for Thailand is 66.
• When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 0011 + country code + area code + telephone number
Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)
Mobile Phones! ..... use the "+" symbol ... it's the code for international dialing. ie., 0011 = "+" example:
from Australia aust 61 08 93688-999 Aust to Thailand Thai 66 BKK 02 555555555
from Thailand + 61 8 93688-999 from Australia +66 2 555555555
Value for Money - Buy a Thai Ph number. Most shops (7/11) sell phone cards with a Thai number, they'll even instal (instructions can be a headache when your in holiday mode) so ask for help and give a tip. TIP: ... must do! If your travel group and don't like waiting.. get a low cost local Thai phone number and be mobile!
TIP: ... take a 2nd phone so you have your aussie phone and a thai phone ... it really works !!
Embassy
Royal Thai Consulate General (Perth)
Level 4, Durak Centre, 263 Adelaide Tce, Perth WA 6000 T: 08 9221 3237
Australian - Bangkok
Links:
1. DFAT Dept of Foreign Affairs - link to Embassy Thailand with Map (OUR MAP )
2. Embassy Bangkok contact details
NB: Aust Embassy Bangkok has a separate office for Thai visa to Australia -> we urge you to study the details.. read more
Festivals and Events
With its ethnic and cultural diversity, Thailand has a kaleidoscope of festivals up and down the country to attract the traveler. Take part in one of these festivals to get a real appreciation of Thai culture.Thai people celebrate at the drop of a hat, so there are several reasons and various occasions to hold festivities throughout the year. Festivals in Thailand can be roughly categorized into religious, social, regional and official royal ceremonies. .... More on Festivals in detail.....
Public Holidays
Thailand’s national public holidays are linked to religious or agricultural traditions and follow the lunar calendar, therefore the dates for some of the holidays change each year.
Medical Services
All tourism destinations and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurse. In the case of an emergency, an ambulance can be summoned from any private hospital.
Vaccines & Health
As in most countries, vaccination certificates are not required for people unless coming from or passing through a designated contaminated area. Some border areas of Thailand are malarial and appropriate precautions should be taken if visiting there. Bangkok, major cities and resorts have excellent medical facilities and most hotels have doctors on 24-hour call. Thailand has many high standard private hospitals – in Bangkok and every region. Visitors can be assured of round-the-clock international standard medical services.
Your suppose to be on holidays, so pace yourself.. and use the 5 P's ... Proper planning prevents poor performance..... More....
Measurement System
The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals on vehicle speedometers, highway markers and speed limits all indicate kilometres.
The notable exceptions are measurement of land area and
weight of gold, which still stick to the old Thai system.
NB: if you intend to visit any Religious Icon including the Monarchy you should wear clothing that covers your body ... DO NOT wear shorts, singletss
All kinds of narcotics (hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin), obscene literature, pictures and articles are prohibited. Cigarettes, cigars, or smoking tobacco, each or in total, must not exceed 250 grams in weight.
Clothing to Wear
Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is only needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress (yet tolerated) when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.
Customs - Thailand
Cigarettes must not exceed 200 in quantity. One litre each of wine or spirits may be brought in duty free. Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited. Please contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division, Bang Khen, Bangkok, Tel: 0 2579 1581, 0 2579 3576.
Entry permission for animals arriving by air can be obtained at the airport. If arriving by sea, application for entry must be made at the Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok. Tel: 0 2251 5136, 0 2252 6944. Vaccination certificates are required.
Any amount of foreign currency may be brought into the country (at the time of checking). Visitors may take foreign currency out of Thailand, but no more than the amount stated in the customs declaration made on arrival. Travellers leaving Thailand may take out no more than 50,000 baht per person in Thai currency.
Customs - Australia
don't listen to the myths, view the latest feedback from Readers under "back to Australia"
Media
check the latest in Thailand.
See our online display and links to Thai Newspapers, TV and Travel Magazine
Transport Service at Airport
Services are as expected ... They have lots of people touting, those with Licences inside
it's all about cost and convenience and experience ...
you either take the 1st wave of offers or politley say no and pass toward the exit.... !
outside you will find the cheaper touters .. but is that because they don't pay for a stall inside or less quality vehicle ... ha haha
so ... march on to find your own Taxi and negotiate a set price or the meter.
.
..or as DOES HAPPEN ...find yourself in a long long que Taxi que, hot and flustered and wished you had just accepted the higher price (after all it's not that much) and had already arrived to your place of rest ... be it your Hotel room, that Pool or a beer bar...up to you!!
The style of Taxi transport depends on you .... you may as well try them all and be able to appreciate the difference. Public Transport - several options available - see examples in location about Bangkok
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.
Tap Water
Bottled water is recommended
Do the environment a favour! Buy 1 real large bottle and use it to refill your little bottle... it all helps. see our 1 minute video
Tap water is clean but drinking directly from the tap should be avoided.
Shopping Tips
Department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok have fixed prices, but most others bargaining is acceptable and expected;
some department stores will offer a discount on expensive items like jewellery and fine furniture. No fixed rules appply, it depends on bargainer’s skill and the shopkeeper’s mood, but the final price may be reduced as much as 30% to that first quoted. An important point to keep in mind is Thais admire good manners and a sense of humour and tend to be put off by a loss of temper. Providing you have th
e time, a good general rule is to make a survey of several shops selling the sort of items you want before coming to a final decision.
Tourist Traps
We show you good and bad so you can keep your balance and enjoy Thai Smiles.... Avoid the tourists Traps read more
VAT Refunds
Vistors to Thailand can claim VAT refunds at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket international airports for a minimum purchase of 5,000 baht per day.
Upon making a purchase, visitors should request the store to process a VAT refund form. If in a department store, tourists must collect their receipts and take them to the specified VAT counter to be processed. Receipts must be processed on the day of purchase. When departing Thailand, visitors must have the form stamped at the customs VAT checkpoint prior to airline check-in. Please note that the goods bought and claimed under the VAT refund system must be shown to the customs representative before the form can be stamped.
When passing through passport control, visitors will have the form processed by the Revenue Department officials and receive a VAT refund. For more information, please contact the VAT Refund for Tourists Office, T: 0 2272 9388 or VAT Refund Office at Bangkok International Airport T: 0 2535 6576-79.
Daily Tips
Index of topics
1st Names, 3 Names, Colours to Wear, Hey You, Ice in Drinks, Mobile Ph (take 2), Other Stuff, Raining, Thai Baht and eyesight, The Temperature, Tipping, Touters
