Thailand

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia and likely the most popular tourist destination in the region.

Visas

If Flying

Stays of up to 30 days don't require visas for citizens of many countries including:

• Australia
• Canada
• EU Countries
• Singapore
• South Africa
• USA
• ...more

If Crossing Overland

As of Dec 2008, when crossing into Thailand via a neighboring country, people will only be able to receive a 15-day visa.

Weather

Thailand has a distinct wet season and dry season. The peak tourist season in Thailand (Nov - Feb) is part of dry season and it's considerably quieter during wet season.

I've visited Thailand about 4 times in the wet season, and once in the dry season. To be honest, the rain wasn't that much of an issue. I don't recall any single day when it poured all day long, though there were several days with sudden torrential downpours (for an hour or so) and once a pretty crazy storm on Phi Phi that I was sure was going to destroy the hut I was staying in. A word of warning: don't stay in huts with tin rooves under coconut palms during storms - the sounds of coconuts smacking the tin rooves is pretty terrifying!!

Getting there

By Air

A tonne of airlines fly to Thailand. Main international airports are Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

• Thai Air

  A fabulous airline. Great staff, great service, awesome food. Flies to a stack of destinations abroad (and within Thailand)

• Air Asia

  A great budget carrier. Much nicer than Ryan Air in Europe!!. Air Asia flies to several places across Asia. It's hub is in KL, Malaysia, and you can into a number of destinations in Thailand from there. Flights to a number of cities in Asia also fly from Bangkok (e.g. Singapore, Bali, Hong Kong, Siem Reap). If you are having trouble finding a cheap flight to Thailand, consider flying through KL and picking up a cheap flight with Air Asia.

• JAL

  Has the most flights between Japan and Thailand. I've never flown them!

• Korean Air

  Fly through Incheon, South Korea. They are a fabulous airline though obviously not direct.

Money

Currency is the Baht. ATMs are pretty widely available all over Thailand though if you're going somewhere really rural, you may need to take whatever baht you'll need with you. Even a fairly popular spot like Railay/Ton Sai in Krabi doesn't have ATMs (2008).

Borders

Laos

You can purchase a visa to Laos through a travel agency in Bangkok (Khao San Road) or from the embassy itself. Probably just easier to use a travel agent - the turn over is pretty fast. Cost will vary according to which passport you carry. You can also get a 30-day tourist visa at international airports (Vientiane, luang Prabang and Pakse) and land borders - e.g. Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai (Thai border close to Vientiane), Huay Xai/Xiengkhong (North Eastern Thailand, you take a small boat across the Mekong), Thakhek/Nakhonphanom (Central Laos) by ferry, Mukdahan/Savannakhet (Southern Laos), Chongmek/Vangtao, (Southern Laos)

• Huay Xai/Chongmek Border

  Straight-forward, though I had to wait for the immigration officer to wake up, as he was sleeping in a hammock!

• Huay Xai/Xiengkhong Border

  You need to get to Chiang Khong (about an hour from Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand). You'll be dropped at the bus station in Chiang Khong and will then need to jump on a moto/tuk tuk/songthaew to get the rest of the way to the border. You cross the border by a small boat.

• Friendship Bridge close to Vientiane

  Never done this border but it's a pretty popular crossing point so I'd imagine it's straight-forward enough.

• Chongmek/Vangtao Border

  For travel between Pakse (or the 4000 islands) to Ubon Ratchantani and beyond. When I did this....I took a mini-bus, then a tuk-tuk, and then walked, and then another tuk-tuk and then a taxi to get to Ubon Ratchantani train station! It took ages....but it was kinda fun, though ridiculously HOT! Apparently there is now a bus from Pakse to Ubon Ratchatani direct (which continues to Bangkok) though this might only be once a day. Of course it's cheaper to do the trip on your own. Border crossing itself was fine - a bit of a walk between the Thai - Lao Immigration checkpoints and it was a little confusing but not too bad. I befriended a monk, who helped me find my way through and chatted to me the whole way :)

Cambodia

You can purchase a 30 day Cambodian tourist day visa in advance from the embassy or a travel agency in advance. You can also get a visa on arrival at some border crossings e.g. Aranyaprathet/Poipet (for Siem Reap), Hat Lek/Koh Kong (for Sihanoukville and Southern Coast, as well as a few others).

• Aranyaprathet/Poipet Border

  Poipet is a dive, though Aranyaprathet is not so bad. Get through immigration and leave straight away. I've only exited through Poipet, and that was fine, though entering has a reputation of being slightly horrific (scams, hassles etc). The buses between Khao San Road and Siem Reap had a notorious reputation in the past...though it seems to have slightly improved in the past couple of years. For details see this article

  It's easy enough to bus between BKK and Aranyaprathet yourself. I took a local bus and it was cheap and fast. Between Aranyaprathet Bus station and border, you can either take a tuk-tuk (80Baht) or a motorbike taxi (60Baht). Once you cross the border, you should be able to get a share taxi to Siem Reap for around $USD50 (i.e. for the whole taxi - fitting in as many people as possible), or jump on a bus to SR for $US10 - buses leave when full.

Don't believe anyone who tells you that you must change your money at the border into Cambodia. If you have USD or Thai Baht you will be fine. If you do change money, make sure you thoroughly count what they give you.

Also don't accept any random person's help to get your visa processed more easily. The visa cost is standard and anyone telling you otherwise is talking bollocks.

Irrespective of the actual visa cost, you may still be forced to pay a $US5 fee (i.e. bribe) to get your visa processed in a timely fashion - i.e. by the immigration officials. This cost seems to vary somewhat depending on your nationality and/or negotiation skills. It seems that it's best to pay in $USD. Pretty sure the money goes straight to the pocket of the immigration officials. It's a scam, but not sure you'll have a choice. I think that this is only an issue for overland crossings.

Myanmar/Burma

Never done this crossing. A couple of border crossings. I think you need your visa in advance. You may not be able to travel overland once you get to the Burmese side - i.e. you might have to fly to wherever you are going e.g. Yangon, Mandalay etc.

China

Get your visa in advance.

Malaysia

Never done this crossing. Check the safety situation in the area as the border regions can be a little volatile. I know numerous people who crossed between Thai/Malaysia between 2003-2006 with no hassles.

Transportation

Getting from the Bangkok Airport into town

• Airport Express

  Still not running. This was supposed to be up and running a long time ago....But one day, hopefully, before I die, this may be up and running.

• Airport Bus

  There are several lines. They are super cheap and go to a variety of places across Bangkok. Cheapest way to get into town by far. If you get a local, non-air-con bus it's something like 40baht! If you want to go upmarket and jump on the air-con bus it's more like 150baht.

• Taxis

  To/from Bangkok Int'l Airport to downtown Bangkok cost between 320-400Baht including highway tolls. Taxis run to a meter and you can either pay the driver the tolls as you come to the toll gates, or pay at the end in addition to the taxi fare. Only get taxis from the taxi queue.

Air

Both Thai and Air Asia are great airlines. Bangkok Airways are also a good airline.

You can usually book tickets a few days in advance online or through a travel agency - no problem.

Rail

I only took a couple of trains in Thailand including an overnight 2nd class sleeper between Ubon Ratchantani and Bangkok. It was fine. There are reasonably good services across Thailand. Bangkok Railway Station has showers (cold water only) which are pretty grotty but cheap!

check out Seat61 Thailand for more info.

Buses

The ones running from Khao San Road are fine - though perhaps a bit overpriced. The seats are ok, buses are usually air-con (with toilet). Tickets often come as part of a package - e.g. if you want to go from Bangkok to Ko Chang, you get the bus to Trat and ferry across to Ko Chang included. So that's kinda handy. But not really that hard to get there yourself.

All the government buses I took were just as nice, if not nicer, and cheaper. And there are probably more frequent services.

Never took any buses within cities so can't advise.

Taxis

At least in Bangkok, taxis are a convenient way to get between places in air-conditioned comfort. The taxis in BKK run on meters and are really affordable to get to places the skytrain/subway don't go.

Tuk Tuks

Fun to do once or twice, but often not worth the hassle. Unless you speak Thai or are a ruthless negotiator, you're likely to pay just as much to get a tuk-tuk the same distance as you would for a taxi. And even then, you may well be scammed.... taken to the driver's half-brother's-cousin's-father-in-law's-concubine's-maidservant's gem shop...or something like that. Extra caution if they claim to be your "friend". ALWAYS negotiate the price before you get on.

Motorbike Taxis

Not a bad option for short hops. Negotiate the price before you get on.

Places

Bangkok

See Bangkok

Railay

See Railay for beach info

Trat

Smallish city close to the Eastern border with the Cambodian South coast. Not a lot to do here though the market is pretty cool and the town has a nice, relaxed vibe. I wouldn't make any special effort to get here, but en route to Ko Chang or Cambodia, it's a pleasant stop-off point for a day or so.

Ko Chang

a pretty big and nice island, close to the Cambodian border. There is a fair bit to do and see here and it's a beautiful island.

Beaches are so-so. If you're looking for great beaches, head to Southern Thailand, but it's not a bad place to chill for a few days en route to Cambodia.

It's a lonely beach...a bit of a misnomer, but not a bad beach.

Transport to Ko Chang

You need to get to Trat first (about 7 hours on a bus from BKK or 1 hour flying) and then jump on a ferry from there, and then a tuk tuk to wherever you want to go on the island. It's a big island, so do some research before you go so.

Phuket

Another big island and a convenient enough place to fly into for Ko Phi Phi etc. though you can just as easily fly into Krabi airport (domestically anyway). I stopped here for 2 days in the middle of the SARS hysteria and it was pretty deserted...as in Patong Beach was virtually empty! Great restaurants here but it's pretty much a desination geared towards package tourists/ honeymooners and far too many ugly men soliciting the services of under-aged girls.

Transport to Phuket

International flights go to Phuket from several countries as well as many places in Thailand. The airport is about 40mins from Patong Beach and shuttle buses are available as well as taxis.

• Buses to Phuket come from all over Southern Thailand as well as from further afield places like Bangkok.
• Boats to Phuket frun from Ko Phi Phi/Ko Lanta/Railay. I think boats to Ko Similan also run from Phuket, but are not as frequent.
• If you want to take the train, you need to get to Surat Thani and then jump on a bus from there.

Ko Phi Phi (Don)

Irrespective of how overly touristed it is (the place seems to be run by Swedes!), it IS a beautiful island. If you want to come here to snorkel/dive, I wouldn't bother. Even before the tsunami, the reef was in terrible shape. A popular day trip from here will take you around to some of the neighbouring islands, including Ko Phi Phi Leh, which is where The Beach was filmed. It IS a lovely spot for a swim on an uninhabited island, and you might even see some monkeys here. The nightlife could be perceived as either incredible or lame. If you want to watch Muay Thai at a bar whilst eating overpriced Western food and drinking $2 rum and coke buckets it's great...otherwise...

Frequent boats run to Phi Phi from Phuket, Ao Nang, Krabi and Railay and possibly Ko Lanta.

Chiang Rai

I only stopped here for a day en route to Laos so not a lot to say. You can organise treks from here, and if you are heading into Laos through Huay Xai, will pass through here at some point.

Links

• Thailand - Wikitravel