Currency, money matters, business hours, security,
Internet access, emergency numbers, medical. All you
need for a great stay in Bangkok. |
Festivals are celebrated throughout the year in
Thailand and provide a wonderful excuse for a
holiday. During the major festivals of Songkran
(Thai New Year - April) and Loy Kratong (Nov) many
Thais take a break so travelling throughout these
periods can be hectic. Flights and trains are often
booked in advance so check the dates before you
depart.
The
festivals however do add colour and are a great time
to visit if your travel arrangements are already
sorted out. Most larger shops (department stores)
stay open and usually offer discounts, so it's a
good time for a bargain. Small family shops
generally close for Chinese New Year and Songkran.
April - Songkran Festival - Nationwide.
Probably the best known of the Thai festivals. This
simple and fun filled festival celebrates the Thai
New Year. The exact date varies according to the
solar calendar, but usually occurs around the
13th-15th April when the planets are positioned so
that the days and nights are equal.
Thais celebrate by visiting the temple to make
merit, honour their relatives and "spring clean"
their houses before entering the streets. Then the
fun begins with water thrown over everyone passing
by. The days of the traditional gentle pouring over
the hands as a blessing have long since gone;
replaced by water pistols and and buckets, but it's
all very good natured and lots of fun. This is
particularly popular in the tourist areas of Khao
San Road, Bangkok.
May - Bangkok
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Presided over by the King and Queen at Sanam Luang
in Bangkok, this ancient Brahmin festival marks the
beginning of the rice-planting season. Predictions
are made about weather and harvests for the coming
year on the basis of which of the selected foods the
sacred cows choose.
June - Nationwide
Thailand Grand Sales at participating shopping
malls, hotels, restaurants, tourist sites
nationwide) A wide range of products at discount
prices. Thai handicrafts, Thai silks, electrical
appliances, sports products, brand name products and
local textiles. .
August
Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen -
Nationwide.
Also marking Mother's Day in Thailand, the 12th of
August see the towns and villages of the country
festively decorated with lights and portraits of the
Queen.
November - Loy Krathong - Nationwide
The most beautiful of the Thai festivals,
when all waterways, canals, rivers, coastal areas
are illuminated by thousands of candles placed on
floating kratongs. Held on full moon night each
November, Wan Loy Kratong, in total contrast to
Songkran, it's a very gentle festival.
The
Kratongs or boats, created from the trunk of a
banana tree and decorated with flowers candles and
incense, are made in advance, ready to float upon
the water. Prayers are said so that the krathong
will float away, taking all bad spirits, bad luck
and sins along with it. Many hotels in throughout
the country often host a special evening so that
guests can join in.
The
most beautiful sights are at the Bang Sai Arts &
Crafts Centre near Ayutthaya, and in the ruins of
Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, where the
festival is supposed to have originated.
River Kwai Bridge Week
The River Kwai bridge, in Kanchanaburi, is
the setting for this week-long festival featuring
spectacular sound and light performances on the
bridge, archaeological and historical exhibitions,
and vintage train rides. (November 21 to December)
December - Birthday of His Majesty the King
- Nationwide
Flags, lights and portraits of His Majesty the King
adorn the streets and building of every town and
village on the 5th and the occasion is marked by a
huge and spectacular fireworks display near the
Grand Palace.
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Currency The Baht. (See Exchange
Calculator) Notes: 1,000 Baht (grey) 500 Baht
(purple) 100 Baht (red) 50 Baht (blue) 20 Baht
(green/grey)and (grey). Coins are silver 1, 5, 10
Baht.
ATM machines Available at most
banks and shopping centres throughout the city. Thai
Baht only. ATMs generally have Thai and English
language displays and will accept most
internationally recognised foreign cards. Many ATM's
will also accept cards under the CIRRUS, Maestro,
VISA or Mastercard system.
Travellers Cheques / Credit Cards
Most traveller cheques can be cashed at banks. Take
your passport or ID. Mastercard and VISA are widely
accepted by major banks, restaurants and shops.
AMEX, Diners and tend to be accepted only at
upmarket venues.
Banks Open Mon. - Fri. from 9:30am
to 3:30pm, except public and bank holidays.
Currency exchange centres operate in most
tourist areas from 7.00am to 9.00pm, everyday,
including holidays.
VAT Refunds Value Added Tax
(VAT) is payable on a range of goods and services
at 7%. If you're visiting for less than 180 days in
a calendar year, not an airline crew member, and
leaving Thailand by plane, you can claim VAT refund
(Non-Thais only) Tel: 66 2 272 6576/79 (fax 662 617
3559)
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There is a deep reverence for the Royal
Family and you will find portraits of the
Royal Family in shops and offices. At the cinema you
must stand for the national anthem before the film
is screened.
Anger is regarded as crude and lacking in
self discipline. Remain calm and smile and
you will find all sorts of doors opened.
You should dress neatly in all temples.
Don't go shirtless, in shorts, hot pants, spaghetti
straps, etc., Remove your shoes when entering a
private Thai home, a Buddhist temple.
Buddha images large or small, ruined or not,
are regarded as sacred. Don't take
photographs or do anything which might indicate a
lack of respect.
It is considered rude to point your foot at
a person or object.
Thai's regard the head as the highest part
of the body and do not appreciate anyone
touching them there, even as a friendly gesture.
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Mobile Phones No problems with
using your own mobile phone in Thailand. Just
arrange for international roaming. Normally the
phone charge is calculated from your home country to
the destination number and can be very expensive.
Orange, AIS, DTAC are the leading service providers.
IDD (International direct dialing)
Available from most hotels. Check rates, hotels
often levy a surcharge. Costs vary with the time of
day and charge for a minimum of 1 minute) Dial 100
for Operator-Assisted Overseas. For IDD dial 001
followed by country and regional codes.
You
can also phone from International payphones found at
the airport and most tourist areas using credit card
or phone cards which can bought at most convenience
stores.
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Tip
porters and hotel staff if you've been given good
personal service - the amount varies with the kind
of hotel. In restaurants around a 10 % - 15% tip is
usually the norm, but you don't need to tip in small
roadside eating places. Taxi fares should be rounded
up to the nearest 5 or 10 Baht, especially
meter-taxis who don't earn a lot, are pretty
knowledgeable and incredibly patient in the Bangkok
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Airport - Taxis. If you are
arriving from a long flight, try to arrange with
your hotel for transfer on arrival at the airport.
If not, you can book an ariport taxi or limousine
from inside the arrivals hall. Fares are around
500-600 Baht. If you want a meter taxi (less
luxurious, less expensive) join the (usually short)
queue outside the arrivals building and get a taxi
voucher from the ticket booth outside. Tell them
your hotel. You pay the taxi driver on arrival at
your destination. Fares vary depending on the
time/distance from around 200 Baht upwards. A small
tip is always appreciated.
Depending on your hotel location, the driver may ask
if you want to take the tollway.
There two main toll roads into central Bangkok which
cost 30-40 baht. This is an extra separate charge
from the fare and optional. You should pay the
driver direct as you go through the tollway. It can
be much quicker to take the toll roads in standard
"rush hour" periods.
Transit Tours
Arriving passengers with between 5-12 hours transit
time, can take a Bangkok Transit Tour jointly
offered by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(T.A.T.) and the Assocation of Thai Travel Agents.
Contact the counters located near the transfer desks
in terninals 1 & 2. Tours
Airport Tax
Payable on departure to an international
destination. 500 Baht. Domestic flights are also
liable, from 50 - 150 Baht depending on the local
airport. This is often included in the price of the
airline ticket so check first.
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English is fairly widely understood and spoken in
most tourist areas of Bangkok. German, Swiss
Italian, and increasingly Japanese and Russian are
also spoken in most hotels. Bilingual Thai / English
road signs are found on all road signs, Skytrain
stations and some local buses. |
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The Tourist Police Provides help
for tourists in difficulties. Responsible for
investigating any problems and handling claims and
complaints. Bilingual Tourist Police can be found at
the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) offices in
Bangkok. Call Tourist Police 1155, 678-680
(Emergency) or TAT Helpline for assistance. Tel :
281 5051, 282 8129 Fax: 2815051
Emergency Numbers
Tourist Hotline 1155 (English and
other languages spoken) Ext 1 (24 hours)
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Bangkok is 7 hours ahead of GMT (London). At midday
in Bangkok, it is 05.00 in London,
Business Hours
Most shops including the major department stores and
shopping complexes stay open until 9.00pm. Markets
can operate throughout the night in parts of
Bangkok. Most business in Bangkok work a five-day
week.
Government offices:
08.30 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 16.30 Banks : 08.30 to
15.30 Department Stores: 10.00 to
21.00 Shops: 08.00 to 20.00
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Most hotels now have Internet access either directly
from the room if you plug in your laptop, or from
their business centre. Charges vary from around 100
Baht for the first 15 minutes with lower charges
afterwards. Additional surcharges sometimes apply, so
check first. There are also Internet cafes in most
shopping areas which are generally expensive.
Connections however can be slower than in your home
country.
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Contact:
TAT Head-office Bangkok 1600 New Phetburi Road,
Makkasan, Rajatevee, Bangkok 10310. Tel: 0-2250
5500 (120 automatic lines) Fax: 0 2250 5511 (two
automatic lines) Email: info@tat.or.th Website:
http://www.tat.or.th
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Voltage is 220 Volt AC with flat 2 pin plugs. You
can buy an adapter for shavers, laptop computers,
mobile chargers, etc., on arrival at most department
stores. |
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