Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-
hot and dry: February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity)
rainy: June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity), but plenty of sunshine
cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).
Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.
Opened in 2006, Suvarnaphumi Airport is the newest airport in the country. The airport serves all international links to Thailand.
The national carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), serves major cities in Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia, while 80 international airlines come to Bangkok.
The Thai unit of currency is the baht. 1 baht is divided into 100 satang. Note 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.
Major currency bills and travelers checks are cashed easily at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centers and money changers. Travelers checks 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.
Any amount of foreign currency may be brought into the country. Visitors may take foreign currency out of Thailand, but no more than the amount stated in the customs declaration made on arrival. Travelers leaving Thailand may take out no more than 50,000 baht per person in Thai currency.
Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely accepted.
The time in Thailand is 12 hours ahead of EST or seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).Thai is the spoken and written language of Thailand. 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.
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
All of Thailand's leading hotels offer fax and e-mail services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities, most often in conjunction with translation services.
The international dialing code for Thailand is 66. The area code for Chiang Mai is 0 (53) and Phuket is 0 (76).
There are currently no required vaccinations for visiting Thailand. Depending on how long you are planning to stay in Thailand and whether you will be spending your time in urban or rural areas, there are different vaccinations that are recommended by travel health specialists. In general, the most useful vaccinations for Thailand are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus/diptheria, Japanese encephalitis, and typhoid fever. Some doctors also recommend getting a rabies shotŃabout 400 rabies cases are reported each year, so beware of stray dogs. Malaria pills are recommended only if you'll be traveling outside of Bangkok for an extended period of time.
A Thailand visa is not necessary for tourism or transcient stop-over if you plan to stay 30 days or less. If you will remain in the country for more than a month or your purpose for travel is other than tourism, you will be required to get a visa.
You can either apply for a visa to Thailand yourself or you can contract a private travel document expediter.
Independent of the type of visa you request, the Thailand Embassy and Consulates require the following:
Thai food is internationally famous - a true blend of Eastern and Western influences coupled with its own unique elements. Soups, rice, and curries make up a typical meal. Most non-Thai curries consist of powdered or ground dried spices, whereas the major ingredients of Thai curry are fresh herbs. A simple Thai curry paste consists of dried chillies, shallots and shrimp paste. More complex curries include garlic, galanga, coriander roots, lemon grass, kaffir lime peel and peppercorns.
Try ThailandŐs famous dish, Pad Thai, a savory rice noodle dish, lightly fried with scrambled eggs and vegetables and sprinkled with ground peanuts. Also try ThailandŐs popular dessert of sweet mango served with creamy sticky rice. Northern style (Lanna) restaurants are known for their Pork Curry and Chiang Mai Sausage dishes. If you are feeling adventurous, try a fried Black Water Beetle.
Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks obviating the need for a knife. The spoon is used to convey food to the mouth.
In rural areas especially, boiling water (or buying it bottled) is a wise precaution; vegetables and fruits should be peeled before eaten, and uncooked foods should generally be avoided.
Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected.
When entering a Temple, never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire. It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept.
Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.
Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai.
Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home.
Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.
Light, cool clothes are sensible 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.
New Year's Day : Jan 1
Makha Bucha Day : late January to early March
Chakri Day : April 6
Songkran Day : April 13
National Labour Day : May 1
Coronation Day : May 5
Visakha Bucha Day : May
Asanha Bucha Day : July
Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) : July
HM the Queen's Birthday : August 12
Chulalongkorn Day : October 23
HM the King's Birthday : December 5
Constitution Day : December 10
New Year's Eve : December 31