Thailand Travel Information

Thailand Travel Information

General Information

Climate

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with 3 distinct seasons - hot from March to May, wet from June to September, and cool from October to February. The average annual temperature is 28°C (83 F). In Bangkok the temperature ranges from about 30°C in April to about 25°C in December.

What to wear

Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during the cool season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas or national parks. Jackets and ties are required in a few restaurants and nightclubs. Neat clothing is required for entering temples or palaces.

Visiting temples

Always take your shoes off before entering a temple building and leave them outside. Dress respectfully - do not, for example, wear shorts, open shirts or revealing clothes. On entry it is polite to show respect to the Buddha and monks by placing palms of hands together, as if praying and bowing. Sitting is usually on the floor so sit in a way so your feet point away from the Buddha and the monks. Ideally sit with your legs tucked under you to one side. You should never try to shake hands with or touch a monk. If you offer food or a gift to a monk, he will offer you a cloth on which to place the offering. Never touch a Buddha image in a temple. Always ask permission before taking photographs.

Local time

GMT + 7 hours (BST + 6 hours)

Business hours

Most offices open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, except on public holidays. General banking hours are Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Currency

There are 100 satangs in 1 baht. (B=baht) Notes are issued in denominations of B1000 (grey), B500 (purple), B100 (red), B50 (blue), B20 (green), and B10 (brown). There are 10, 5 and 1 baht coins, and 50 and 25 satang coins. Most foreign currencies and traveller cheques are easily changed at banks, hotels or money-changers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the Kingdom.

Electricity

The electric system is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles). There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travellers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit.

Travel Tips

Visas

Official visa information is available on website www.thaiconsul-uk.com

Tipping

Tipping is not a usual practice in Thailand although it is becoming more common. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to their bill. Taxi drivers do not require a tip, but the gesture is appreciated.

Bargaining

Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected. Generally, you can obtain a final figure of between 10-40% lower than the original asking price. Much depends on your skills and the shopkeeper's mood. But remember, Thais appreciate good manners and a sense of humour. With patience and a broad smile, you will not only get a better price, you will also enjoy shopping as an art.

Language

Thai is a tonal language belonging to the group of Ka-Tai languages. The five tones are monotone, low, falling, high, and rising. This can be a rather complicated language for the visitor; however, English is quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language.

Do's and Don'ts

The Monarchy

Thai people have a deep, traditional reverence for their Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Religion

Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire. It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept. Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.

Social norms

Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who returns it. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude. Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon

Advice to Visitors

If you intend staying in Thailand for more than 30 days it is recommended that you register your presence with your respective embassy as soon as possible. Persons wishing to register with the British Embassy in Bangkok can do so

through the internet – www.britishembassy.gov.uk/thailand

  .

You are advised to use only authorised transportation services for transfer from airport to other areas.

If, on arrival in Thailand, you need help with accommodation you are advised to consult the Thai Hotel Association counter at the airport.

Beware of unauthorised persons who offer to show you around.

Visitors are advised to use hotel taxi services wherever possible.

Observe all normal precautions as regards personal safety and the safety of your belongings.

Avoid walking alone in quiet or deserted areas.

Ensure that all valuables including passport and airline tickets are properly protected from loss.

Do not get involved with drugs - the penalty for drug offences is very severe in Thailand.

If you plan to visit a bar or night club make sure you are aware of the rules otherwise you could find the experience very expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Thailand ?

During the cool season between November and March

What vaccinations do I need before coming to Thailand ?

There are no required vaccinations, unless you are coming from a Yellow Fever area in which case a certificate may

be required. Please check the latest regulations with your local health office.

Do I need a visa ?

You are advised to check with the Royal Thai Consulate on website www.thaiconsul.co.uk or telephone 01482 581668.

What are the Thai Customs regulations ?

Prohibited items: All kinds of narcotics, obscene literature, obscene pictures or obscene articles.

Firearms: Firearms and ammunition can be imported only with a permit obtainable from the Police Department of the

                 local Thai Registration Office.

Personal effects: A reasonable amount of clothing and toiletries for personal use may be brought in free of duty.

Cameras: One still-camera or one movie camera can be brought in without duty. Five rolls of still-camera film or three

                 rolls of 8 or 16 mm movie-camera film may be brought in free of duty.

Tobacco: Cigarettes must not exceed 200 in quantity or cigars/smoking tobacco must not exceed 250 gms in weight.

Alcoholic beverages: One litre each of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty.

Household effects: A reasonable amount of used household effects, accompanied by the owner on change of

                                 domicile are also free of duty.

Plants: Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited. Please contact the Agricultural Regulatory

             Division, Bangkhen, Bangkok, Tel : +66 2579 1581 or +66 2579 3576.

Animals: Permission for entry of animals coming in by air or sea can be obtained on application to the Department

                of Livestock Development, Bangkok, Tel: +66 2251 5136 or +66 2252 6944. Vaccination certificates are

                required.

Buyer Beware

The Tourism Authority of Thailand receives over 1,000 complaints a year about fake jewelry purchases. To avoid being a statistic, you must stay alert to the warning signs of a swindler at work. Heeding our warning could help you stave off unpleasant surprises and make your vacation what it should be - full of sparkle.

The following are valuable pointers for your protection :

Be wary of any encounter that ends up requiring your presence in a gem shop. Most probably it is a scam.

Buying gems or jewelry to resell at double or triple the purchase price is an impossible proposition under any

circumstances. Buy jewelry only for personal satisfaction for your own use or for loved ones.

Make price comparisons in various shops before deciding to buy. Never be in a hurry.

Never mail sapphires or other precious stones. Carry valuable items with you.

Do not believe special (jewelry) sales of any kind. Reputable dealers hardly ever offer sales and never send

touts to lure tourists to their stores.

There are no promotions, shows or special sales on jewelry authorised by the Thai government or any official

agencies at any time of the year.

The Thai government does not own, operate, subsidise or authorise any jewelry stores.

As far as you can, take time to verify all claims. Words, promises, personal guarantees, unchecked documents,

unauthorised verbal or written statements, casual references, encounters and the like do not constitute

verification. Remember, you are your own best protection. All Thai embassies, consulates or any delegations

abroad are neither bound nor responsible for refunding goods that are bought in Thailand. When in doubt

about a gem shop, check it with: -

Tourist Assistance Centre

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Le Concorde Building

202 Ratchadapisek Road

Bangkok 10310

Tel: +66 2694 1222 extensions 1090 to 1094

Gays in Pattaya

Pattaya Beach is a truly welcoming, comfortable place for gay travelers. There are several reasons for this. Among these are that:

1. Thai culture is generally more accepting and tolerant of homosexuality than are many  other cultures.
2. Pattaya is a major tourist destination and, in Thailand, gay Thais tend to concentrate around these places. Thus,   the population of gay Thais relative to the general Thai population is quite large.
3. There are many businesses in Pattaya that actively seek gay customers. Many have gay owners.
4. Gay foreigners have felt comfortable in Pattaya and   have settled there.
5. Most non-gay people in Pattaya have no interest in gay people one way or the other. They are too busy making money or chasingwomen to be bothered or interested.
6. The Thai tourism industry is naturally hospital to all guests…with the possible exception of terrorists and so forth!!!!

Thus, Thailand is an excellent place for gay tourists, either traveling alone or with a partner, to visit and have fun.

Where in Pattaya is the best place for gay people to go? Well, most gays are comfortable on all the beaches and in all public places such as shopping malls and restaurants. There are a couple of areas in Pattaya that have many gay bars, massage parlors, A Go-Gos and  other businesses that serve gays. One area is called “Pattayaland” and is located near the walking street, east of the Royal Gardens Mall, and between the first and second beach roads. When on the second beach road, one can easily identify the area by a large “Boyztown” sign. A second area is located on and off of Soi 17, “Soi VC,” in South Pattaya, next to the VC Hotel. If one walks up Soi VC a few blocks,  beginning where it intersects with the road heading toward Jomtien Beach, one will come to a smattering of gay bars and discos. To the right are two sois which together are called “Sunee Plaza.” Unfortunately, the “Sunee” part of the welcoming signs have been removed but the area is easy to recognize.   The number of gay establishments here is very concentrated and is distinctly separated from the surrounding area. There is also a nice gay area in nearby Jomtien Beach, which also has its own gay beach, Dongtan Beach (lots of straight people go there, too). The gay area in Jomtien is located to the left of Theprasit Road between the north police station and  the sharp right turn where TheprasitRoad heads due east to the beach. Dongtan Beach is to the right of the police station and a short walk from the gay bars andbusinesses.

What is the lesbian scene in Pattaya like? Unfortunately for gay ladies, there are no lesbian bars and there  is no organized lesbian scene in Pattaya.  It is possible for lesbians to meet young Thai ladies in heterosexual bars but everything is hit and miss. Many of the ladies in the bars will be as happy – maybe more happy - to go home with a young foreign lady as with a foreign man. Money will, however, always be involved. Some ladies working in the heterosexual bars are gay, but most are not. Many Thai ladies in heterosexual bars would not consider being entertained by a foreign woman in the woman’s hotel or guest house. A problem gay foreign women face in trying to meet a partner is that the Thai ladies often do not speak English – or any other foreign language except perhaps Lao – very well.  Lesbians traveling with partners, however,  will have very nice time together and will not be disturbed in anyway!! All doors will be open to them.

Pattaya Massage Parlors

Pattaya Massage Parlors are all over the city just about in any street or alley.

'Adult' Massage parlors don't advertise the manual happy end with much more than sometimes advertising it as a body or physical massage. I have seen signs like "1 hour happy hands massage" and it seems obvious what that means in Pattaya.

These massages usually cost 300-600 Baht for 1-2 hours and the happy end is oftentimes included in the price. You may have to ask for your happy ending though and maybe give a tip for the optional "extra".

Pattaya massage parlors of the above mentioned adult nature are really just about anywhere in Pattaya and the best you can do is to just walk around the Streets (Sois.)

There are many Pattaya massage parlors in the Sois or alleys from Beach Road to 2nd Road, up to Soi Buakaow and further on to 3rd Road. Some of these Massage parlors disappear just as fast as they opened. Usually there are several girls sitting in front of the massage parlor.

If the girls call you by your favorite title (Sexy Man), you can be assured you have come to the right place. Sometimes this may be emphasized with a hug or arm pulling, in which case you can be dead sure.

Pattaya Girls and Nightlife The Beautiful Bar Girls Of Pattaya

Beautiful, exotic, fun loving, feminine, and taking care of their men.

Pattaya Girls. Sounds like the right description for a woman you would like to meet?
It definitely is the description that comes to mind when talking about the girls in Pattaya.

With an estimated 3,000 Entertainment venues and it's crazy and fun nightlife, Pattaya is not a true representation of Thailand, although geographically it is located in Thailand. The women in Pattaya are not to be confused with other women in Thailand. 

Pattaya is far from being a true representation of the rest of the country and it's culture.

Even though the girls working here will be going back to their families, family members usually do not know what the girls are doing in Pattaya.

Eventually, most of these Pattaya girls want to go back to their families to live a Thai life with all its values and culture.

The estimated numbers of girls working in the adult industry in Pattaya during high season are as high as 40,000. That does not mean that every girl or woman in Pattaya works in the adult Industry !

The ones that do work in the Nightlife and "adult industry" work as Bar Girls in Beer bars or in Go Go bars, massage parlors or as 'freelancers' mainly along Beach Road are usually available as companions.

Most of these Thai girls come from Isaan, the poorer northeastern part of Thailand.

Some Girls come from Bangkok, some from the north and other parts of Thailand or maybe even from Laos or Cambodia.

The reason they come to Pattaya is for economic reasons. Meaning they work in Pattaya to make money.

They come to work and that usually means work for you 'the rich farang' and help you part from your money while offering you companionship.

Some of these girls may also hope to meet a 'rich white' man who will take care of them and their family. From their point of view most or all farangs (foreigners) are rich...which compared to most Thai people is true with your spendable foreign currency while vacationing.

Pattaya must be the easiest vacation destination for men to find beautiful women available for companionship for fairly little money compared with many other parts of the world.

The beauty and Femininity of Pattaya girls/Thai women can be quiet mesmerizing and some are turning heads where ever they go and may have been the cause for vehicular collisions.

Most men would agree that once you have been with a Thai woman it becomes hard to enjoy the company of their sisters in the western world where gender equality and feminism is on the rise.

Femininity seems almost something of the past in western societies and according to conversations with a lot of men in Pattaya, that is the main reason why they are seeking out the companionship of women in Pattaya. 

The beautiful "Pattaya Girls" employed in Pattaya's Adult Entertainment industry are the main attraction for many foreign men coming to Pattaya.

No wonder, because the girls are not just happy, beautiful, friendly and fun-loving, they also have this inner beauty and an abilty to make men feel welcome and good about themselves.

It seems natural to them to make Pattaya visitors feel like royalty and it's impossible to take a walk in Pattaya and not to fall in love about every 15 minutes.

That's why many men become Pattaya addicts and return as often as they possibly can and if they don't move to Pattaya, they at least dream about living here.

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya ) is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung (Banglamung) in the province of Chonburi.The City of Pattaya ) is a self governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. The City is situated in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha, Laem Chabang, and Chonburi. It has a population exceeding 100,000 (2007).Pattaya is also the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area, the conurbation in Chonburi Province, with a total population exceeding 1,000,000 (2010).

My Time in Pattaya

I went to Pattaya  in November. Let me tell you what a fantastic holiday I had. I have been all over the world but Pattaya takes some beating for anyone who is single of any age. I went with a friend who had been there a few times and it made the holiday so much better knowing where to go, what to do, and what to avoid.
It can very intimidating and overwhelming all the things you will see and experience and all girls throwing themsevles at you takes some getting use to. I am not fat, old, ugly, or bald, not that it matters here. I can get plenty at home, but my god nowhere near as stunning or as sexy as these girls.
Some of them range from perfect 10's to just mind blowing dreams. A must is a visit to SOI 6 better known as "SHORT TIME " street. But don't be shouting your mouth off that you have been or go there, not even the normal bar girls like to know you go.
Its one long street of short time bars with bedrooms upstairs of stunning young women. All for 500 baht, plus bar fine. The best two streets, where I actually stayed are SOI 7 and SOI 8. Rows of bars upon bars full of ladies all waiting for you and only 1,000 baht for the whole night.

Thai Bar Girls in Pattaya.

And man did I have some long wild nights here and back at my room. Do learn a few Thai phrases especially compliments for the girls. Goes a long way, so does being polite and corteous.
Another absolute must is to visit a massage parlour for a Thai body massage. The experience alone is enough to make your head explode. There is about half a dozen in Pattaya, not hard to find so I suggest you type in a search engine on the net "massage parlours pattaya". And it gives you addresses of where they are.
I visited a place on 2nd road called "the coffee shop". Big white building. Wow, what an experience! I wont go into any detail, but a became a regular, and ended up seeing a girl from here. .. well I hope this helps some of you out there. Got lots more to tell you. I could write a book just on my 2 weeks there and already booked my 2 return visits for this year.
Thats how good it is. Enjoy!.

Pattaya Bar Girls Tips

“Welcome handsome man!” “Come inside sexy man!” They’re the siren cries of the beautiful Pattaya bargirls as they try to pick you out from the endless stream of  Western men (farangs) who stroll down the crowded sois (side streets) of Pattaya, to entice you into their house of fun.

Wherever you are in town, in the concentrated beer bar complexes of Soi 2, Soi 8 or Soi Diana, the “short-time” Mecca that is Soi 6 (which many ex-pats would rather keep among their own little Pattaya secrets), or the in-your-face frenzy that is Walking Street, which must have more go-go bars, erotic shows for every taste, and just plain sexual energy than anywhere else on the globe, a smiling charmer of a Thai lady is waiting to give you an experience you may never forget.
Make no mistake, when these Thai bar girls offer you entertainment, they usually really mean it! If you play your cards right you can have the time of your life. But, if you want my advice, it would be wise to do a little research first. After all you wouldn’t like to get your sexy bargirl darling home to your lair, only to find:

• She’s not a lady at all, but a ladyboy (or the reverse, depending on your orientation).
• She’s just arrived in town, has no idea of the scene, and would really rather be working in the Family Mart store.
• She’s been in town for far too long, and is only interested in trying out her newest theories on the quickest way to empty a farang’s wallet.
• For some reason your culture doesn’t match with hers, with sometimes embarrassing results (to say the least)!
• A host of weird (and sometimes funny) complications that you would never imagine.

The Pattaya nightlife is probably the best in the world (and certainly the raunchiest)! Many books have tried to portray the excitement that buzzes through the bars, restaurants and hotels here, and failed.
Many male visitors to Thailand only experience a tiny percentage of the fun and excitement that is to be had in Pattaya, and many return with a broken heart and an empty wallet after it all.
If you are still pondering on these potential pitfalls;

1. Your “Tee Rak” (darling) is probably a “lady of the second kind” if she has one or more of the following attributes:
   • She is tall, (most Thai girls are around 5 foot 4 inches or less).
   • She has feet, ankles, hands and wrists, which are roughly the same size as yours ( if you are a male).
   • She has an Adam’s apple. (Sometimes disguised using surgery).
   •  
2. If, when you pretend to forget the location of your hotel, your doe-eyed innocent can name all of the hotels on your soi, and the four streets adjacent, be skeptical of her claim (often made) that she has only been working in the bar for one week.
3. And on the cultural front, you may be surprised to learn that the in-your-face, erotic dancing sweetheart in your arms is a devout Buddhist who is afraid of ghosts!

It sounds a bit like a minefield, but it’s actually a whole lot of fun as long as you are well prepared. My advice is to do lots of research before you land there.
Whether you are a seasoned visitor or a newcomer to the seductive charms of the bargirls, dancers, freelancers and assorted other ladies offering you pleasure and fulfillment in this labyrinth of go-go bars, massage parlors and “bar beers”, there is always something new and fascinating to learn.