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Thailand Practical information Thailand

 
 
Area : 76523  sq.mi - Population 63525062 hab.
Thailand

Our expert Thailand

map

map Thailand

Weather

Practical information Thailand

superficie

Area

76523  sq.mi
vol

Flights

Direct flights are usually around 12 hours from the UK
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

GMT + 6 hours
population

Population

63525062 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

The international airport of Don Meuang is 16 miles from Bangkok. If taxis accept to turn on their meter, hire them from the Departures gate for around 200 THB. Cheaper, but slower, are the train and the bus.
securite

Security

Beware of touts and their usually too-good-to-be-true offers. Do not accept food, drink or cigarettes on trains or buses as there is a risk they could be laced with drugs. Avoid shady bars. When in the jungle or forest make sure you are equipped with insect repellant, protective clothing (long sleeves, long trousers etc) and good walking shoes. Always be up to date with the FCO's advice for travellers on their website as there may be some regions of the country which are not safe for tourists.
langue

Languages

The official language of Thailand is Thai. English is spoken in the cities and tourist sites but this is rare outside of those places.
formalites

Requirements

European citizens are allowed to stay 30 days in the country without a visa, on the condition that they have a passport with at least six months validity. However, those arriving at overland crossing will only be given visa-free entry valid for 15 days. Illegally overstaying your visa is a serious matter and you can be held in detention until a fine is paid. The only legal way of obtaining a new visa, entry permit or extension of stay is from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, an Immigration Officer at a point of entry into Thailand or one of the Immigration Offices around the country. Be aware that a departure tax of THB 500 needs to be paid on your way out, which must be done so in cash and local currency.
religion

Religion

95% of the Thai people are Buddhist. The largest of the minority groups is the Sunni Muslims (3.7%), notably in the south of the country.
monnaie

Currency

The currency is the Thai baht (THB). 1 GBP is approximately 49 THB.

Make sure you always have cash in small denominations to cover everyday expenses. Cash and travellers cheques can easily be exchanged in banks and there are also plenty of cash machines in airports and major cities. Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in larger hotels and upmarket shops and restaurants. Banks are open during the week only, from 8:30am to 3:30pm.

transports

Local transportation

Use air transport to travel great distances while the railway network can be used to travel to the north, northeast and south of the country. Buses also travel throughout the country, with night voyages for those longer journeys. You can travel quite comfortably in 1st or 2nd class buses, most of which are air conditioned. Lastly, you can always hire different types of vehicles such as motorcycles (these are of course easier to come by in the tourist sites) but even if the roads are good, driving in Thailand is unpredictable. You'll need an international driver's licence to rent a vehicle.
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Health

Vaccines: Generally speaking, DT-Polio, typhoid, hepatitises A and B are all recommended.

Malaria: Health authorities have listed the country's south in 'zone 1' meaning an antimalaria treatment is officially recommended. The north of the country is listed in 'zone 3' so an antimalaria treatment is recommended if you are staying in a forest area or for a stay exceeding one week.

Only drink bottled water and avoid raw vegetables, seafood and undercooked meats.

electricite

Electricity

220 V.
An adaptor is necessary and can be found easily
frequentation

Flood of tourists

taxe

Taxes and tips

Most products are taxed at 7%, while luxury and imported products are taxed more heavily. Tips are appreciated by waiters and taxi drivers.
telephone

Telephone

To call Thailand from the UK dial 00 + 66 (country code) + region code (2 for Bangkok, 53 for Chiang Mai) + the number you are calling.

To call the UK from Thailand the country code is +44.