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EMH, Enjoy  Myanmar  Holiday, Tours & Travel Group Website: www.emhtours.com

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Guides > THAILAND  

A tour to Thailand should not be limited in the beach or

the nightclubs in the south, there is much more amazing

things Thai can offer in the north. Just spare some time

to travel to the north after the south, to meet hill

tribes, see elephants and explore ancient temples.

Thailand offers plenty of exotic places and things to do,

promising a memorable holiday experience for visitors.

Here are the updated information and tips about

Thailand, including tourists’ attractions, food, drinks,

shopping, visa, hotels, climate and etc. which are

collected by our travel experts. Hoping you will get a

better understanding about Laos and have a wonderful

vacation in Thailand.

Thailand Visa

Passport/Visa Requirements  

Generally, a foreign citizen who wishes to enter

Thailand is required to obtain a visa from a Royal Thai

Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate-General and hold a

passport or travel document with validity not less than

6 months.

 

However, there are nationals of countries which

are exempted from visa requirement for tourism

purposes, they are 48 countries: America, Australia,

New Zealand and most countries of Europe as well as a

special administrative region - Hong Kong SAR. Passport

holders of these countries can stay in Thailand for a

period of not exceeding 30 days for each entrance.

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Besides, nationals of countries which hold bilateral

agreements with Thailand are also exempted from visa

requirement: they are Malaysia, The Philippines,

Singapore, Republic of Korea and Tunisia.

Visa On Arrival

Nationals of certain countries can apply for visa upon

arrival in Thailand at the immigration checkpoints for

the purpose of tourism, they are Bhutan, China, India,

Maldives and other 28 countries and territories.

Passport holders of these countries can stay in Thailand

for a period of not exceeding 15 days after they obtain

the visa upon arrival.

 

Information for Applying Visas

 

Passport or travel document with validity not less than

6 months Visa application form completely filled out A

passport-sized photo Evidence of travel from Thailand

(air ticket paid in full) Evidence of adequate finance

(20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

Validity and Period of Stay

The validity of a visa is 3 months or 6 months, which

means your visa will be invalid after 3 months or 6

months from the day it is issued. And travelers are

permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not

exceeding 60 days.

Thailand Climate

The climate in Thailand is dominated by tropical

monsoons and can best described as hot and humid

across most of the country during the whole year. if you

are planning a Thailand tour, you need to know that the

weather in central, northern and northeast Thailand is

divided into three seasons while the southern is only

two.

In the central Thailand, dry season is from November

and May. However, it can be divided into two sub-

seasons: cool season and hot season occur from

November to February and March to May respectively.

While the rainy season occurs from May to November

influenced bt the southwest monsoon. During this

period, rainfall happens regularly and heavily, but

almost are downpours in the afternoon.

The southern Thailand, most along the sea has only two

seasons: rainy season and dry season. And it is different

on both the east and west side. On the west coast,

where Phuket, Krabi, and the Phi Phi Islands lie, rains

and heavy storms happen from April to October, while

on the east coast, near Gulf of Thailand side rains occur

between September and December.

Best time to visit Thailand  

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Thailand is

from November to February with cool and dry air to

enjoy the sceneries. During this period, the

temperature ranges from 18 to 32 degrees Celsius in

most of the country and rains the least. And the

following peak season is from July and August. If

possible, try to avoid April, the hottest month across

the country.

If crowds will make your feel uncomfortable and your

budget is limited, try to visit Thailand during the rainy

season (roughly from July to October). The discounted

room rates, the cooler temperature, the fewer tourists

will also grant you a wonderful vacation.

Chiang Mai  

Chiang Mai is located far to the north and surrounded

by mountains, which means that its climate is away

from the influence of the sea. The winter is cooler and

the summer is hitter than in the south of Thailand. The

cool season is from December to the end of February -

the best time to visit Chiang Mai. And the hot season

from April to June is very hot. You will likely to avoid

this time to here, unless you know how to deal with

heat and humidity. The rainy season runs from the end

of May to September with heavy and short rains while

the sun is there. Despite the rains, it is another best

time to Chiang Mai for the green and lush countryside.

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Bangkok

Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate. It is hot and

humid year-around. The tropical climate makes

Bangkok has three main seasons: hot season, rainy

season and cool season. Hot season runs from March to

June when temperature will reach 95°F (35°C). Rainy

season is from July to October with nearly 14 inches

(360mm) of rain. There will be nearly 21 days in

September raining. And cool season runs from

November to February when the temperature being

comfortable and less rain. So, the best to visit Bangkok

is during the cool season which is also the peak tourist

season in Bangkok.

Phuket

What draws tourist to come to Phuket are the hot

temperature and the amazing beaches. Indeed, Phuket

owns one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If

you prefer to have a perfect vacation in Phuket, you

should avoid the rainy season from May to November,

especially avoid May, September and October.

Thailand Transportation

Get to Thailand

Generally, there are three ways to enter Thailand: by

air, by roadway and by water.

1. By Air As the capital of Thailand, Bangkok boasts international

flights connections with a vast number of destinations

worldwide, which makes most international flights

arrive at and depart out of Bangkok. There are regional

international airports including Hat Yai, Ko Samui and

Phuket in the south and Chiang Mai in the north. Phuket

has a few flights direct to certain European

destinations. It is cheap to fly to Bangkok for the loose

restriction on air fares and close competition between

airlines and travel agencies.

2. By Roadway

a. Bus  

Visitors can enter Thailand by bus from Cambodia,

Laos and Malaysia at the moment – your bus will stop

at a Thai immigration post at your point of entry so

that each foreign passenger can receive an entry

stamp in their passport.  

b. By Train  

The train lines into and out of Thailand is via Laos and

Malaysia‘s borders. It might take longer and more

expensive than a journey by bus. But more

comfortable and safer.  

3. By Water  

It is the regulation that all foreign-registered boats

must check with the relevant Thai departments after

entering Thai waters. Phuket is the most popular check-

in point when entering Thai by boat, because the

customs, immigration and harbormaster services are all

in one building.

Get Around in Thailand  

1. By Air

Getting around the country by air is getting more and

more popular and affordable not only for the time-

saving advantage, but also for the cheaper charges.

Extensive domestic flight routes are available in

Thailand airports which connect most major cities.

2. By Train  

As for the long journey from north to Chiang Mai or

south to Surat Thani, train is the most convenient way

to travel. And the rail net work in Thailand covers four

main lines: the northern, southern, northeastern and

eastern lines.

3. By Bus  

The whole bus system in Thailand is well organized,

cheap and efficient. As the most convenient way of

getting around the country, there are four categories

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buses in Thailand and the costs depend on the

destination and type of bus.

4. By Long-tail Boat

As the main transportation on rivers, the long-tail boat

in commonly seen in Bangkok and neighboring

provinces. It is the motorcycle taxis on water with fast

speed taking you to cross the river and get to an island.

5. By Songthaew  

Songthaew is a kind of open-ended vans equipped with

bench seats in the back. It is the most important ways

to travel within towns in Thailand. The charges start at

10 Baht for a local transfer and about 20 Baht for a

longer trip.

6. By Motorbikes  

Motorcycle rental service is available in major towns

and many tourist centers. It is easy to rent a motorcycle

and is an ideal way to travel in the countryside for

independent tourists. Your passport will left for the

motorcycle rental.

The formal motorcycle drivers are wearing a vest of

some color description. The traffic jam is not a problem

for them and are fast, cheap and convenient. But it is

not the proper ways to travel if you carry heavy

baggage.

Currency and Money Exchange

The official currency in Thailand is Baht. The The

denotations of notes are 1,000 baht, 500 baht, 100baht,

50 baht and 20 baht, the copper coins are 10, 25 and 50

satang and the silver coins are 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht

and 10 baht.

Most foreign currencies and travelers cheques can be

conveniently cashed at hotels, tourist shops, provincial

banks, shopping centers and exchange offices.

Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower than those

offered by banks and authorized money changers. You

can easily find cash machines in Thailand, which will

charge you extra fee of 150 baht per transaction. Major

international credit cards are accepted by major banks,

restaurants, hotels and shops, such as American

Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA.

Telephone

Public phones cost 1 Baht per minute for a local call and

up to 18 Baht per minute for a internal long distance

call. You can use your mobile phone in Thailand if you

plan to stay in Thai for a short stay and you arrange for

international roaming in your home country. But it is

still expensive. The best way to save your money is to

buy a SIM card with a prepaid option. A good place to

purchase a local SIM card or mobile phone is MBK,

where offer mobile communication service with an

entire floor.

Internet  

Most hotels offer internet access for their customers

with additional fees and free Wi-Fi access is available

in some hotels for their guests. There are internet cafes

in Thailand with higher charge than in hotels.

Business hours

Banks open from 9:00 to 15:30 from Monday to Friday. Government offices open at 8:30 and close at 4:30, with

one-hour lunch break from noon to 13:00.

Shopping malls usually open around 10:00 and close

around 21:00.

Pubs and bars open at different times but close at

01:00.

Health  

Avoiding mosquito bites is a must after sunset when the

mosquitoes are crazy for the tropical diseases are

insect borne. Gastro enteric problems often happen to

tourists as a result of contaminated food or water. So

be careful about the where and what you eat. Before

you eat, check whether your food is fresh and avoid ice

cubes and crushed ice.

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Tourists are especially likely to get stomach as a result

of the climate in Thailand which is extreme hot and

humid. Always remember to drink plenty of water, only

the bottled water.

If you still have some concerns, you can get

vaccinations for typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A

(validity varies).

Cost of Living

Costs for accommodation in Thai range quite

dramatically according to the location. Luxurious sea

view villas in Phuket or Kha Samui can be rented

monthly, which cost about 90,000 baht or more a

month. While in downtown, about 30,000 baht a month

can rent a mid-range accommodation. And studio

apartment can be rented as little as 2,000 baht and

upward a month. conservatively. It is not appropriate

to show off to much skin.

Food in Thailand is feature variety and inexpensive

prices both in restaurants and street stalls. A quick

snack from a street stall can be had for just 20 baht for

BBQ chicken, pork on a sticks, papaya salad and other

Thai meals. While in a standard restaurant, the cost will

not be expensive.

Thailand Foods and Drinks

Thai food is world-known for its magical balance

between different flavors including spicy, sour, sweet,

salty, and bitter. Nowadays, it is easy to find at least

one Thai restaurant in most western cities or

restaurants you can order Thai dishes.

Curry is the mainstay of Thai cooking, as well as hot

chili. Other common flavorings are fish sauce, dried

shrimp paste, lemon grass, basil, garlic, ginger, cumin

and so on.

It is no doubt that Thailand cuisine is influenced greatly

by other dishes of its neighboring countries like

Vietnam, Myanmar and India. But with gifted chefs who

could make their own dishes with the inspiration from

foreign countries’, Thai food has successfully developed

its own flavor.

Popular Dishes

1. Tom Yam Goong

It is the most famous and popular Thai food with

generous use of fragrant herbs. With lemongrass, lime

leaves, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and shallots mixing

in this soup and chillis and fish sauce give it a

memorable smell. The main ingredients are shrimp and

mushrooms. Many tourists love it.

2. Kuay Tiew Nam It is soup noodle, a bowl of soup with noodles, meat and

vegetables. Meat can be beef, pork, chicken, fish or

meat balls.

3. Som Tam It is Green Papaya Salad which usually serves as an

appetizer with a taste of sour, sweet and spicy. Som

Tam is crunchy-delicious with green papaya and

lettuce.

4. Pad Thai  

Pad thai is probably the signature dish in Thailand that

tourists will be fascinated by it. It is a bowl of stir fried

rice noodles withe a variety of ingredients, such as

tofu, peanuts, shrimp, green onions, bean sprouts,

garlic, pepper, fish sauce and lime juice. With a

scrambled egg mixed into the noodles which will

definitely suit your taste.y rice cakes as part of their

offerings when they worship their ancestors.

5. Massaman Curry  

Massanman means Muslim in Thai, which is the

community to heartily thank for this concoction of

coconut milk, potatoes, roasted peanuts, bay leaves,

sugar, cinnamon, and tamarind sauce.

Thailand Shopping Tips

With various high quality shopping malls and

department stores as well as multifarious local

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markets, Thailand is a place always ready to blow away

your baht. Here in Thailand, you can find almost every

thing you want like exquisitely crafted handicrafts,

superb antiques, electronic equipment, gorgeous

artworks, everyday clothing and etc.

What to buy

1. Thai Silk

Thai silk had recognized by the whole world with the

introduction by Jim Thompson. And before that, it had

already been famous in Asia with the beautiful

appearance and outstanding quality.

2. Jewelry or Gold  

In Thailand, there are some places are rich in resource

of jewels like rubies and sapphires. And due to the face

that Thai people like to keep their money in gold, gold

shops are easy to be found.

3. Wood Carvings  

Wood carvings are made from raw wood and

transformed into sorts of beautiful forms like animals,

buildings and figures from ancient temples and palaces.

4. Ceramics & Pottery  

You will be attracted by the sorts of beautiful forms,

shapes and sizes of the Thai ceramics and pottery.

5. Dried Fruits  

If you are totally keen on the exotic fruits in this

tropical country, and want to bring some to your friends

and relatives, the dried fruits will be your best choice.

Easy to carry and won’t go bad for a short time.

Shopping Tips  

1.Bargaining is a must when buy things in Thailand.

Although large department stores and malls have fixed

prices, street vendors and markets always set their

prices higher.

2. Never let a tout or a newly-made friend take you to

shop, because they will take commissions from the

stores, which is paid by you.

3. Be extremely careful when purchase valuable items

like gems. You should go to large malls, not a general

souvenir store with cheaper price.

4. Learn to compare items and prices between several

shops.

5. Require a receipt for goods after your shopping and

make sure it is correct.

6. Without the approval of the Fine Arts Department in

Bangkok, you have no right to take the images of

Buddha, deities and antiques out of Thailand.