Guide for Travelling to Thailand
By air:
Thailand is served by more about 80 inter- national airlines. There are daily nonstop flights from major European cities to Bangkok; the flying time from London, for example, is about 12hr. Daily direct flights are also operated from Australia and the USA, As a Southeast Asian aviation hub, Bangkok is readily accessible from all main regional points,
By rail:
Regular rail services link Bangkok with Singapore via Malaysia; the journey takes 34hr. The same route is also served by the ultra- deluxe - and ultra-expensive - Eastern & Oriental Express, a sister train to Europe's famous Orient Express, although without the tatter's authentic heritage.
By road:
Entry by road is possible from Malaysia, as well as to and from Laos via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong at Nong Khai. There are no vehicle crossing points Thailand and Myanmar (Burma).
Airport tax
An airport tax of 500 Baht for international flights and 40 baht for domestic services is charged for each passenger on departure.
Visas
Most passport holders from Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa and arc allowed to stay for up to 30 days after the date stamped in your passport on arrival. Sixty-day tourist visas can be applied for in advance through your country's Thai embassy or consulate but give yourself two weeks for processing this if not applying in person. Two photos and a payment are required. The normal 30-day tourist visa can be extended for another 10 days at immigration offices in Thailand. Visitors can also make a short visit across Thailand's land borders, especially with Malaysia, and obtain a new 30-day visa when re-entering. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Thailand; Visa requirements are subject to change and can be checked at the website for Thailand's Ministry of Foreign
Customs
Customs are generally pain- less. The declaration form you have to complete on arrival is little more than a formality unless you are carrying firearms, prohibited drugs, pornography or very large sums of money. Otherwise the usual camera, film, tobacco and alcohol allowances apply. There are standard green and red customs channels at Bangkok International Airport.
Health
It is essential to have full health and travel insurance arranged before you arrive in Thailand because otherwise you will have to meet the costs, No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless visitors have come from or passed through an infected area. As a general travel pre- caution, however, vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended, while it is also advisable to have a tetanus booster. Certain parts of Thailand are malarial but the efficacy of prophylactics is questionable; should high fever occur within 14 days of a visit, consult a doctor, Rabies is prevalent in Thailand, self you are bitten by an animal you should obtain medical treatment immediately. Venereal diseases can be easily contracted, hut obviously there is an easy of avoiding infection; the extent of AIDS is a cause for concern, so the same comment applies,
Other, less serious health hazards can be avoided by using common sense:
Generally, the standard of hospitals and health care in Bangkok and other major tourist centres is good and readily available
Personal Safety
In spite of Thailand having one of the world's highest murder rates, acts of violence are mostly limited to business disputes and affairs of the heart, and visitors have nothing to fear. Simple commonsense precautions - avoid touts, treat suspiciously friendly strangers with caution, do not flaunt wealth, etc. - should keep visitors out of trouble. A special Tourist Police division has charge of visitor-related crime - for assistance call 1155 from anywhere in the country.
Clothing
Light, natural fabrics - for example, cotton - are best for staying cool. A sun hat is another extremely useful item to take with you. Men should usually wear a suit and tie for business; however, as a concession to the climate, going in tie and shirtsleeves is acceptable. Generally, Thaïs tend to dress informally (mostly in Western style) but neatly, and prefer visitors to do likewise, Respectable dress is required when visiting temples. Shoes should be removed whenever you enter a temple or a private home,
Accommodation
Bangkok and the main tourist centres offer a remarkable wealth of accommodation in all categories, from 'best in the world' to budget. Overall standards of comfort, hospitality and service are high. For details of recommended establishments, consult the 'At a Glance' section at the end of each chapter. Telephone numbers prefixed 'BKK Ret.' there refer to Bangkok reservation offices.
Transport
Air: There are a number of airlines running domestic routes and they all have websites for online hooking. After payment by credit card you will receive a reference number which is used at the check-in desk when you present your passport. Check the websites for timetables and fares and note the luggage limits, Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, One.Two.GO, PBAir, Phuket Air, THAI,
Trains: Rail transport is generally good - it is reasonably cheap, clean and comfort- able, and in most instances the trains are on time, There are three classes (1st, 2nd and 3rd, and both air-conditioned and fan cooled carriages. Tickets should be booked in advance whenever possible. The website of the State Railway of Thailand ISRTI (www.railway.co.th) has timetables, seat availability and sample fares but online booking is not possible. Within Thailand, SRI can be contacted on a 24-hour Personal information line or at Bangkok's Hualamphong station. Online booking is available through Asia-Discovery and Thaifocus. Fares are cheap- and so is life, judging by the criminal way in which many drivers handle their vehicles; fatal accidents are tragically frequent. Note that the different bus stations in Bangkok serve different parts of the country.
Songthaews: A typically Thai version of the minibus concept. The word literally means 'two rows' and refers to an open-back pickup truck with two lateral bench seats. The vehicles ply set rouses in towns and between villages in rural areas.