Travel Infomation

• Visa
  THAILAND VISA EXEMPTIONS
  93 countries eligible for the visa exemption scheme include:
  - Africa: Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa
  - Americas: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay
  - East/Central Asia: Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
  - Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
  - Middle East: Bahrain, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
  - Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga
  - Bilateral agreements with Thailand: allowing foreign nationals to enter under the Thailand visa exemption status at international airports only: Argentina, Chile, Myanmar
  
  THAILAND ELECTRONIC VISA (E-VISA)
  There are currently over 20 nationalities across the world who need to have an approved eVisa to gain entry to Thailand. Thailand’s online eVisa grants holders a single entry stay of up to 15 days for tourism purposes. Once approved, the eVisa is valid to enter Thailand for 30 days. To apply for a Thai eVisa, it is necessary to complete a simple online form with personal, passport, and travel information.
  
  To submit the form, the applicant is also required to upload images of the following:
  - The passport biographical page
  - The passport cover page
  - Airline tickets for both arrival and departure
  - Proof of accommodation in Thailand
  - The applicant’s passport needs to valid for at least 30 days from the expected arrival date in Thailand and contain a minimum of one blank page.
  - Once the eVisa for Thailand approved, it is sent to the applicant through email. Visitors need to print a paper copy of this document as it will be requested upon arrival.
  - Travelers are recommended to apply at least 5 working days before the intended arrival in Thailand to allow enough processing time to receive the approved online visa.
  - Eligible citizens who wish to spend more time in Thailand or need to visit the country for other purposes, such as to study or work, need to obtain an embassy visa to do so.
  
  Thai eVisa ports of entry
  Holders of an approved Thai electronic visa are able to enter Thailand by air at select ports of entry in the country.
  Travelers are able to use a printed copy of their Thai eVisa to gain entry at any of the following International Airports in Thailand:
  - Don Mueang (DMK)
  - Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
  - Phuket (HKT)
  - Chiang Mai (CNX)
  An online visa for Thailand is not valid for entry by sea or via land border checkpoints. Nationalities eligible for the eVisa will be required to apply for one of the other Thai visa types to gain entry for tourism via sea or land.
  
  VISA ON ARRIVAL
  Visa on arrival availble countries
  Countries available to apply VOA with a 60-day stay
  - Albania, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan,
  Kosovo, Morocco, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Trinidad
  and Tobago, Uruguay.
  Countries that were previously allowed to apply VOA and now get a 60-day stay:
  - Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta. Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Taiwan, Uzbekistan
  
  How to apply visa on arrival
  - The applicant must have the means to cover living expenses for the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.
  - The applicant must present a fully paid ticket which is usable within 15 days from the date of entry.
  - A Visa on Arrival is provided at 32 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (4 x 6 cm) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht.
  - Please check the country list through the link below that informs which passport holders can apply for a Visa on Arrival: http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/visa-on-arrival.php
   
  IMPORTANT NOTES
  - Make sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity beyond the date of entry, otherwise you will need to renew it before applying for a visa to Thailand.
  - Upon arrival, travelers will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 30 days or 60 days.
  - Visa application form must be completely filled out
  - In order to be issued a Visa on Arrival in Thailand, travelers need sufficient funds for their stay and a return ticket.
  - 01 photos (4 x 6 cm) required
  - Visa fee may be changed without prior notice:  1,000 Baht per entry
• Best time to travel
  BEST TIME TO GET A THAILAND BEACH HOLIDAY
  
  If you are looking for a beach vacation in Southern Thailand, by the Andaman sea or the gulf of Thailand, you might want to consider the fact that the western coast of Thailand, to the clear waters of the Andaman sea can know heavy storms from April to October, while the Eastern coast, to the Gulf of Thailand, knows its biggest rainfalls from September to December. There is therefore always a good time to visit Thailand if you are looking to lay down on a sandy beach and enjoy the sunshine. Whether it s on the Andaman Sea, or the Gulf of Thailand, the scenery always is amazing!
   
  Best time to visit Northern Thailand BEST TIME TO VISIT NORTHEN THAILAND
  
  From March to May, the weather is still dry in Northern Thailand. You can therefore consider a trip from Bangkok up North, to the cities of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. Don't forget to discover cultural heritage of these cities and what the mountainous regions of the North have to offer, such as an introduction to the many ethnic minority groups, adventure activities, treks, promenades and biking tours in this beautiful scenery.
  
  THAILAND FESTIVAL TO ENJOY AT BEST TIME
  
  In choosing the best time to visit Thailand, it is clear that you have to select your destination and check the weather first, but those criteria are not the only ones, as the kingdom of Thailand also offers interesting festivals and the most famous is New Year Festival, or Songkran. This Festival, common to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, is a celebration of entering a new year and Thai population celebrates in the streets of the major cities by throwing water and flour at each other. This festival happens in April and all travelers who have made it to Chiang Mai at this time of the year will tell you that the culture capital of Thailand is also the best city to celebrate Songkran.
  
  Another famous and exotic festival is the Phi Ta Khon, happening in the city of Dai San, in the Loei province, sometimes between March and July (it depends on the city's medium's decision). This festival is also known as the “ghosts festivals” and is the most colorful festival in Thailand as men dress up with costumes and masks to represent spirits. It is an expression of Thai people's beliefs on ghosts and spirits as they dance and wake up the dead to celebrate the return of Buddha. The festival lasts three days and is actually a succession of different festivals, including some elements of the rocket festival (which welcomes the wet season) during which homemade rockets are fired.
  
  Tip: 7 Best Festivals In Thailand You Must Attend

  1. Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)
  2. Songkran Festival (Water Festival)
  3. Chinese New Year
  4. Lopburi Monkey Banquet (Food Festival)
  5. Yi Peng (The Lantern Festival)
  6. Boon Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
  7. Wing Kwai (Buffalo Racing Festival)
• Travel tips
  HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
  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 a total of 455 private hospitals—121 in Bangkok, 165 in the Central region and East Coast, 62 in the North, 57 in the Northeast, and 50 in the South. Visitors can be assured of round-the-clock international standard medical services.
   
  ELECTRICITY
  The electric current is 220-volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travelers 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.
   
  CURRENCY, MONEY EXCHANGE & ATM
  The Thai unit of currency is the Baht. Credit cards are widely used at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centers, and money changers.  There are ATMs everywhere.  
  For spending small amounts, you are recommended to change to Thai Baht, since only Thai Baht is accepted for taxis and small shops.
   
  PACKING LIST
  Light, cool clothes such as light cotton shirts and t-shirts are recommended and a jacket is 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 when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.
  A good pair of shoes is recommended if you are island hoping or participating to an adventure trip, or even going from one temple to another as the paths can be rough.
  A hat, sunblock and sunglasses are absolute necessities as the tropical sun can be very intense and can leave you with very painful sunburns.
   
  ETIQUETTE
  Thailand is a Buddhist country for most of its population and it is forbidden for monks to be close to women so women shouldn’t touch them. While visiting pagodas, women shall dress modestly and be covered from shoulders to below knees. In general, Thai population is very modern, but in rural areas women shall prefer to dress modestly at all times, especially in presence of monks and ethnic minorities.
   
  TIME ZONE & WORKING HOUR
  Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week, usually from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, except on public holidays.
   
  MUSEUMS OPENING TIME
  Thailand’s museums cover every possible subject – the country’s monarchs, hill tribes, etc. There is even a forensic museum in Bangkok housing corpses of infamous murderers! Of course serious history and culture buffs will want to visit Bangkok’s National Museum, but it’s worth noting that almost every province has a National Museum covering important aspects of that area’s past. Thailand has an abundance of museums for you to discover.
   
  LANGUAGE
  Spoken and written Thai is 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 European languages are spoken in most hotels, shops, and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.
   
  INTERNET
  Broadband Internet is readily available in major cities and towns, but is still to be sought after in smaller villages and in the countryside.
   
  POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  The telephone system in Thailand, operated by the government-subsidized Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) under the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) is quite efficient, and from Bangkok you can usually direct-dial most major centers with little difficulty. The telephone country code for Thailand is 66.
  If your phone is not locked, you can buy a SIM for 100 baht and then buy phone cards as you need.
  If your phone is locked, you can easily buy a second-hand cellphone or a cheap cell phone in any major city and then buy a SIM.
   
  DOMESTIC FLIGTS & AIRPORT TAXES
  Thailand currently has seven international airports, in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi airport & Don Muang Airport, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Ko Samui and Phuket. Domestic airports are at Mae Hong Son, Nan, Lampang, Phrae, Mae Sot, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Phetchabun, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Trang and Narathiwat.
   
  FOOD AND DRINKS
  Thailand's cuisine is regarded by many people as one of the best in the world. And, if variety is the spice of life, you can literally have a different meal every day of the year. Almost all Thai food is cooked with fresh ingredients, including vegetables, poultry, pork, fish and some beef. Lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander give the food its characteristic tang, while liberal helpings of fresh chilies are used to add some fire to many dishes. Other common seasonings include black pepper, ginger, tamarind, and coconut milk, which is often added to curries.
  Beers, wines, and spirits are readily available but the imported items can be a little expensive. A big favorite among Thai people is rice whisky. It has a sharp, sweet taste similar to rum. Several brands of beer are produced in Thailand. The most popular is the local Singha beer.
   
  SHOPPING & BARGAINING
  Thai silks, cottons, silverware, bronze ware, pottery and celadon, precious stones, finished jewelry, and a dazzling range of folk handicrafts make memorable gifts and souvenirs. International standard ready-made sports and leisurewear is inexpensive and quality tailors and dressmakers offer reliable 24-hour services in Bangkok and major tourism destinations.