E-reader devices vary in their ability to show our maps. To get the most out of the maps in this guide, use the zoom function on your device. Or, visit http://media.lonelyplanet.com/ebookmaps and grab a PDF download or print out all the maps in this guide.
This map was taken from our country guide. If you want to discover more about the locations highlighted here, head to our website to buy books, download PDFs or find out about our full eBook offerings. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ebooks
CURRENCY
Thai baht (B)
LANGUAGE
Thai
MONEY
ATMs widespread and charge a 150B foreign-account fee. Visa and MasterCard accepted at upmarket places.
VISAS
International air arrivals receive 30-day visa; 15-day visa at land borders; 60-day visas from a Thai consulate before leaving home.
MOBILE PHONES
Thailand is on a GSM network through inexpensive pre-paid SIM cards. 3G is comingsoon.
TRANSPORT
Extensive and affordable buses, cheap air connections, slow and scenic trains. Easy to rent cars and motorcycles.
Your Daily Budget
BUDGET LESS THAN 1500B
Basic guest house room: 300800B
Excellent market and street stall meals
One or two evening drinks
Get-around town with public transport
MIDRANGE 15003000B
Flashpacker guest house or midrange hotel room: 8001500B
Western food lunches and seafood dinners
Several evening beers
Motorbike hire
TOP END OVER 3000B
Boutique hotel room: 3000B
Fine dining
Private tours
Car hire
When to Go
HIGH SEASON (NOVMAR)
A cool and dry season follows the monsoons, meaning the landscape is lush and temperatures are comfortable.
Western Christmas and New Years holidays bring crowds and inflated rates to the beaches.
SHOULDER SEASON (APRJUN, SEP & OCT)
Hot and dry (April to June) but less so in higher elevations.
Beaches arent crowded and ocean provides the air-con.
September and October are ideal for the north and the Gulf coast.
LOW SEASON (JULOCT)
Monsoon season can range from afternoon showers to multiday drenchers.
Some islands shut down and boat service is limited during stormy weather.
Be flexible with travel plans.
Websites
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT; www.tourismthailand.org ) National tourism department covering info and special events.
Thaivisa ( www.thaivisa.com ) Expat site.
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand ) Country profile and what to do and see.
Bangkok Post ( www.bangkokpost.com ) English-language daily.
Thai Language ( www.thai-language.com ) Online dictionary, Thai tutorials.
Thai Travel Blogs ( www.thaitravelblogs.com ) Thailand-based travel blogger.
Exchange Rates
Australia | A$1 | 32B |
Canada | C$1 | 31B |
China | Y10 | 40B |
Euro zone | | 44B |
Japan | | 38B |
New Zealand | NZ$1 | 25B |
Russia | R10 | 10B |
UK | | 50B |
USA | US$1 | 30B |
For current exchange rates see www.xe.com .
Important Numbers
Thailand country code | 66 |
Emergency | 191 |
International access codes | 001, 007, 008, 009 (different service providers) |
Operator-assisted international calls | 100 |
Tourist police | 1155 |
Arriving in Thailand
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Airport Bus This service has been discontinued; there are local buses to the airport but the airport train is the better option.
Airport Rail Link Local service (45B, 30 minutes) to Phaya Thai station; express service (150B, 15 minutes) to Makkasan station.
Taxi Meter taxis 200B to 300B plus 50B airport surcharge and tolls; about an hour to the city, depending on traffic.
English in Thailand
Dont know a lick of Thai? In most places you dont need to. Tourist towns are well-stocked with English speakers. Bus drivers, market vendors and even taxi drivers are less competent speakers. If there is a communication problem, though, Thais will find someone to sort things out. In small untouristed towns, it helps to know how to order food and count in Thai. Thais are patient (and honoured) at attempts to speak their language. With just a few phrases, youll be rewarded with big grins and heaps of praise.
Thais have their own script, which turns educated Westerners into illiterates. Street signs are always transliterated into English, but there is no standard system so spellings vary widely and confusingly. Not all letters are pronounced as they appear (ie ph is p and final l is often n). Confounding, huh?
Phuket & the Andaman Coast
Includes
Why Go?
The Andaman is Thailands turquoise coast, that place on a Travel to Paradise poster that makes you want to leave your job and live in flip-flopsforever. And for once, the beauty exceeds the hype. White beaches, cathedral-like limestone cliffs, neon corals and hundreds of jungle-covered isles extend down the Andaman Sea from the border of Myanmar to Malaysia. Photographs havent yet fully captured the array of blues and greens, let alone the soft fingers of humidity on the skin or the feel of the worlds softest sands between your toes. For this, youll need to visit.