Some useful information for first time visitors, information is provided simply as a courtesy to those visiting and no endorsement of any of these services is implied

Time

  • Local Time is GMT + 7 hours. There is only one time zone for Thailand.

Useful Numbers

  • International flight arrivals information: 021329328 to 9
  • International flight departures information: 021329324 to 7
  • Domestic flight information: 025351253
  • Local directory assistance: 1133
  • International directory assistance: 100
  • Tourist Police: 1155
  • Mobile Police: 191
  • Fire Brigades: 199
  • Ambulance (Bangkok) 022551133 to 6
  • Tourist Service Centre 1672
  • Tourist Information (TAT Head Office) 022505500
  • NA Thailand Hotline: 022318080

Lost Credit Cards

  • American Express: 022730022
  • Mastercard: 022322039 No answer
  • Diners Club: 022383660 Press 4 to report
  • Visa - Thailand: 0018004413485

Visas

  • Travellers are required to have an onward ticket to enter Thailand.
  • Citizens of most countries can obtain a free 30-day visa on arrival. Check with the Thai embassy in your own country before leaving.
  • Two-week extensions can be obtained by going to the Immigration Department, 507 Suan Plu Road; Tel: 022871740 or 022873101. Take your passport and two passport photographs. You will be required to pay an extension fee.

Money

  • Local currency is the Thai Baht (pronounced Bart). At the time of writing the exchange rate was...25 May, 2008

  • 1 Australian: 30.26 THB
  • 1 Euro: 49.83 THB
  • 1 India Rupees: 0.635 THB
  • 1 USD: 30.93 THB
  • 1 GBP: 62.29 THB
  • It is best to exchange money in Thailand as the rates are generally better than in other countries. You can exchange at the airport after going through Customs and Immigration.

VAT

  • A 7% Value Added Tax (VAT) is put onto the price of all goods and services including hotel stays and restaurant meals. There is a VAT refund for tourists available for certain purchases such as electronic goods, you will need to get a completed VAT refund form from participating stores, Save your receipts for proof of purchase, they will explain more fully how to reclaim the VAT at the airport on departure.

Transport from Bangkok airport – taxis

  • A licensed taxi in Bangkok is easily recognizable by the yellow and black number plates and the "Taxi - Meter"sign on top. Use only these while in Bangkok, as they are required by law to use the meter.
  • Ensure that the meter is not already running before you enter the cab.
  • Walk out of the terminal to the public taxi counter, tell them where you want to go and they will find a taxi for you. The public taxi counter is where there are lots of taxis queeing...not the touts or limo services inside the airport! There is a B50 surcharge for taxis from the airport, you will also be expected to pay the highway tolls of about 65Baht..
  • The journey downtown will take between 30 minutes and 1 hour depending on the traffic.
  • The total cost, including the B50 surcharge, the metered fare and any tollway charges should not come to more than about B350 (approx US$7.50).

Transport from the airport - airport bus

  • The airport bus is cheaper than taxis and very convenient.
  • Air-conditioned bus service between Suvarnabhumi Airport and first-class Bangkok hotels.
  • There are 4 Airport Express Bus routes to downtown. The cost is 150 baht for entire route.
  • It operates from 5:00 am to midnight.
  • For details: Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8 or visit: http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/55

Electricity

  • Electricity in Thailand is 220 volts, 50 cycles/sec

Mobile Phones

  • "Pay as you go" SIM cards are available at 7/11 stores.
  • New and used mobile phones can be bought very cheaply

Internet

  • Cheap, high speed internet stores and cafes are everywhere around Thailand