How to greet people, how to dress, how to perform on social occasions are all facts that should be known to visitors if they are to avoid pitfalls in the Land of Smiles. Information on Visas, currency, business hours and banks is also covered below.
Social Conversations:
A Thai will greet you with the traditional closed hands and a slight bow of the head. This is known as the Wai and the position of the hands and the bow of the head are acknowledgements of the importance of the person being greeted. Buddhist monks are usually greeted with a high Wai, i.e. hands as high as the forehead.
The Thai Royal family is regarded with religious reverence and must be respected. The National Anthem is still played in cinemas and everyone must stand for this. DO NOT attempt to leave before this has played.
Do not indulge in public displays of affection.
Dress appropriately when visiting temples, no shorts, tank tops, hot pants, minis or spaghetti straps. Remove shoes before entering a shrine (or even a Thai home).
Buddhist images are sacred: don’t do anything to indicate a lack of respect.
It is regarded as polite to arrive a little early if invited out socially.
Never touch anyone on the head as the head is the most sacred part of a person. Never point your feet at anyone as the feet are the lowest part of the body.
Visas:
Travellers are required to have an onward ticket and a 30-day Visa (usually provided quickly on arrival) on entering Thailand. Extensions of two weeks can usually be provided by going to the Immigration Office with your Passport, two photographs and the extension fee. (There are few Immigration Offices in Thailand and you may have to return to Bangkok).
Currency
Currency exchanges are available in all major cities and towns but may be sparse up-country. The Baht is divided into 100 satangs (but not much used in cities and towns). Paper money and coins.
Credit Cards
All major CCs are accepted in Thailand in hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes, but it may be advisable to ask beforehand, as many try to charge a supplement for their use.
Business Hours
Most department stores operate between 10.00 – 21.00 hours all week (including Sundays). Government Offices from 08.30 – 16.30 hrs. Monday to Friday.
Essential =Telephone Numbers
Police – Hotline 191
Tourist Police – Hotline 1155
Telephone number Information –Hotline 1133
Tourist Authority of Thailand - Hotline 1672
Immigration Office - 0-2287-3101
Suvarnabhumi Airport - 0-2713-0000 Ext. 2080-83
BTS Skytrain - 0-2617-7300
MRT Subway - 0-2354-2000
Bus Terminal - 0-2391-2504
UK Embassy - 0-2205-8333
USA Embassy - 0-2205-4000
Canadian Embassy - 0-2636-0540
French Embassy - 0-2657-5100
German Embassy - 0-2287-9000
Swedish Embassy - 0-2263-7200
Swiss Embassy - 0-2253-0156
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
