Thailand 's booming tourist economy, driven largely by Hollywood (the country has been the setting for The Man with the Golden Gun, The Bridge over River Kwai and most recently Alex Garland's The Beach) has resulted in the opening of a number of expensive and luxurious international hotels. Those looking for the rustic splendour of the beaches and islands will find plenty of cheap and comfortable accommodation.
The size and geographical diversity of Thailand provides for a variety of activities. Snorkelling, diving and a host of watersports are very popular around the Islands , while inland enthusiasts can trek into the mountains or cycle across the flat river areas of the northeast.
A turbulent, and often bloody history has left Thailand scattered with ruins, forgotten temples and deserted cities that reveal a rich tableau of past eras to those willing to explore.
How to Get In
Visa
Ordinary passport holders of 41 countries, including the United States , European Union countries, Japan ,and Australia , do not need a visa if their purpose of visit is tourism and if their stay in the Kingdom does not exceed 30 days. Visa-on-arrival is available at certain entry points for passport holders of 14 other nations, including India , China and the Russian Federation . Check the latest scoop from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Passport/Visa Note: All nationalities require valid passports; it is recommended that they are valid for six months beyond period of intended stay. Travellers entering Thailand are required to prove they have sufficient funds to cover the length of their stay, and should hold documentation for return/onward travel. Entry may be refused to travellers of a 'hippy' appearance. Visa free travel is restricted to a maximum of 90 days in a 6 month period.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.
By plane
Bangkok is one of Asia 's largest hubs; practically every airline that flies to Asia also flies to Bangkok , meaning competition is stiff and prices are low.
There are also international flights directly to/from Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Ko Samui, Phuket, and U-Tapao.
The national carrier is the well-regarded THAI Airways, with Bangkok Airways filling in some gaps in the nearby region. Bangkok Airways offers free internet access while you wait for boarding to start at your gate.
Many low-cost carriers serve Thailand - see Discount airlines in Asia for today's list.
For a full at-a-glance list of all Thai-based carriers, see the Thai airlines section (below).
By road
WARNING: temporary border crossing closures resulting from the 2006-09-19 coup
* Cambodia - checkpoints were briefly closed to "locals" on the 20th, but this restriction was lifted later the same day
* Laos - the border was declared "sealed" from the Thai side on the 20th, but the main Nong Khai - Vientiane ( Friendship Bridge ) and Chiang Khong - Huay Xai checkpoints were soon confirmed reopened and other crossings were later reported to have followed suit; however local confirmation may still be advisable in the case of minor crossings in the far north
* Malaysia - unaffected; all road, rail, and ferry crossings remained open as normal
* Myanmar - all crossings (including Andaman Club) were closed; all except Three Pagodas Pass are now confirmed to have reopened
Cambodia - six international border crossings. The highway from Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor via Poipet to Aranyaprathet, once the stuff of nightmares, is now merely ordinarily bad and can usually be covered in less than 3 hours.
Laos - the busiest border crossing is at the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong between Nong Khai and the Lao capital Vientiane . It's also possible to cross the Mekong at Chiang Khong / Huay Xai, Nakhon Phanom / Tha Khaek, Mukdahan / Savannakhet, and elsewhere.
Malaysia and Singapore - driving up is entirely possible, although not with a rented vehicle. There are regular buses across the border, mostly to the southern hub of Had Yai.
Myanmar :
* Mae Sai / Tachileik - foreigners can access this crossing from either side, and enter and/or exit either country here; no onward travel restrictions (other than those that apply to everyone, no matter how they enter); to get to Tachileik or Kengtung from the rest of Myanmar , a domestic flight must be taken (eg from Heho).
* Mae Sot / Myawaddy - foreigners can only access this crossing from the Thai side; neither onward travel into Myanmar (ie beyond the border town) nor overnight stays are possible. No visa needed; instead there's an entry stamp fee - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.
* Three Pagodas Pass (Sangkhlaburi / Payathonzu) - foreigners can only access this crossing from the Thai side; onward travel into Myanmar (ie beyond the border town) is not possible; entry/exit stamps are NOT issued here, and foreigners passports are held at the Myanmar checkpoint, where a fee is levied - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.
* Ranong / Kawthoung - foreigners can access this crossing from either side, and enter and/or exit either country here; no onward travel restrictions (other than those that apply to everyone, no matter how they enter); access to/from Kawthoung is by sea (Myeik/Dawei & Yangon) and air (Myeik & Yangon). If entering without a visa, maximum stay is 3 days / 2 nights, travel beyond Kawthoung is not permitted, and there's an entry stamp fee - USD10 if paid with USD notes, more (500 baht) if paid with Thai currency.
By train
Thailand 's sole international train service links to Butterworth (near Penang ) and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia , continuing all the way to Singapore . Tickets are cheap even in first class sleepers, but it can be a slow ride; the 2-hour flight to Singapore will take you close to 48 hours by rail, as you have to change trains twice. The luxury option is to take the Eastern & Oriental Express [2], a refurbished super-luxury train that runs along the same route once per week, with gourmet dining, personal butler service and every other colonial perk you can think of. However, at around US$1000 one-way just from Bangkok to Butterworth, this is approximately 30 times more expensive than an ordinary first-class sleeper!
While you can't get to Laos or Cambodia by train, you can get very close, with railheads just across the border at Nong Khai (across the river from Vientiane ) and Aranyaprathet (for Poipet, on the road to Siem Reap). There are plans to connect to both countries someday, but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
By ferry
Ferries cross from Satun in southern Thailand to the Malaysian island of Langkawi . There are also occasional cruises from Malaysia and Singapore to Phuket and Bangkok , the main operator being Star Cruises [3], but no scheduled services.
Get around
Thailand is a large country, and if sitting in a bus for 11 hours is not your idea of a fun time, you may well want to consider domestic flights. Never terribly expensive to begin with (at least by Western standards), the deregulation of the industry has brought in a crop of new operators; it's now possible to show up at Bangkok's Don Muang / Suvarnabhumi airports, buy your ticket and fly pretty much anywhere in the country for less than 2000 baht. Note that various taxes and (often hefty) surcharges are invariably added to "advertised" prices.
An easy way to find internal flights in Thailand is through Thailandflights
Thai airlines
By train
SRT railway network
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has a 4000-km network covering most of the country, from Chiang Mai in the north all the way to (and beyond) the Malaysian border in the south. Compared to buses, most trains are relatively slow, but safer. Point-to-point fares depend on the type (speed) of the train and the class of the carriage. There are three main classes:
* First class (chan neung) 2-berth sleeping compartments with individually regulated air conditioning are available on some trains, but prices are sometimes matched by budget airfares.
* Second class (chan song) is a good compromise, costing about the same as 1st class buses and with a comparable level of comfort. Some 2nd class trains are air-con, others aren't; air-con costs a little more. Second class sleeper berths are comfortable and good value, with the narrower upper bunks costing a little less than the wider lower bunks. Food and WCs are basic. 2nd class Express Railcar trains have reclining seats and refreshments are included in the fare; unlike all other Thai passenger trains, they can match buses for speed, but cannot carry bicycles.
* Third class (chan saam) is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand , with virtually nominal fares, and can be great fun. Sometimes packed with tuk-tuk drivers heading home with a sack of rice and a bottle of cheap whisky for company, as a farang you're guaranteed to be the center of attention - quite enjoyable in small doses, but 10 hours of this might be a bit much. Some 3rd class trains have wooden seats, others are upholstered; some services can be pre-booked, others cannot; refreshments are available from hawkers who roam the aisles.
Pre-booking is recommended, especially for sleeper berths. Many travel agencies will spare you the trouble of travelling to the station to buy tickets for a service fee (often 100 baht/ticket), or you can reserve with SRT directly by e-mail at passenger-ser@railway.co.th for a 200 baht/booking surcharge.
By road
Thailand 's roads are more or less up to international standards and hence head and shoulders above its neighbors Myanmar , Laos and Cambodia , but driving habits are still quite dangerous. Drunk driving, speeding and reckless passing are depressingly common, and bus and taxi drivers (especially for private companies) work inhuman shifts and often take drugs to keep themselves awake, with predictable and tragic results. Death tolls skyrocket around major holidays, especially Songkhran, when bystanders often throw water on passing cars and bikes. Many drivers don't use headlights at night, multiplying risks, and it is wise to avoid or minimize overnight travel by road.
Bus
Very Inferior Product
Travel agencies, particularly those on Bangkok 's Khao San Road , are keen to sell you VIP bus tickets. These are more often than not cramped minibuses that will do their best to arrive late, often by breaking down right next to a conveniently located restaurant, and sell you to the guesthouse that gives them the highest commissions. Theft, particularly on routes to the south, is also a major problem. Thais never use them, opting for public BKS buses instead - and you should too.
Buses travel throughout the country and the government's bus company BKS ( º¢Ê Baw Kaw Saw), known in English simply as the Transport Company, has a terminal in every town of any size.
Generally speaking, BKS buses are the best option for both price and comfort. There are also many private bus companies, who mainly compete on price and are less reliable in terms of amenities, schedules and safety. In particular, beware of non-government "VIP" buses, which may be nothing of the sort. A special subclass are the cheap Khao San Road buses, targeted at backpackers. These are the slimiest of the lot and you may find that your supposed VIP bus is in fact a cramped minivan - after paying in advance, that is.
The basic bus types are:
* Local - relatively slow, can be cramped when full (nevertheless there's always room for one more), and stop at every village and cowshed along the way. Many are of larger songthaew flavour. Not suitable for long-distance travel, but may be the only cheap way to get around locally.
* Express (rot duan) - skip some stops, but no other frills. Identifiable by their orange colour. Size varies, with the largest having around 65 seats (five seats per row) as well as an open space across the width of the bus by the back door for you to sling your rice / chickens / bicycle / backpack.
* Second class (chan song) - skip more stops, but often take a less direct route than 1st class / VIP / S-VIP. Blue and white with an orange stripe, usually 45-48 seats per bus, air conditioned (some provide blankets, some do not), and most have no on-board toilet (however the frequent stops mean this isn't a problem).
example price: Bangkok - Phuket 463 baht (approx 14 hours, USD12)
* First class (chan neung) - generally take the most direct routes and make very few stops. Blue and white in colour, air conditioned, blanket usually provided, fewer (larger, longer pitch) seats (typically 40, but some double-decker types seat 60+), snack and drinking water included. Most have a toilet on board (only very short haul services sometimes do not).
example price: Bangkok - Phuket 580 baht (approx 12 hours, USD15)
* "VIP" - as per 1st class, but with only 32-34 seats, which have more leg room and recline further. Basic meal included and freshly laundered shrink-wrapped blanket provided. Also blue and white (or sometimes blue and silver) but usually signed "VIP".
example price: Bangkok - Phuket 678 baht (approx 13 hours, USD18)
* "S-VIP" - Super-VIP is very similar to VIP, except there are only 24 seats, which are wider - the aisle is offset, each row having a pair of seats on the right and only a single seat on the left. Primarily used on overnight services.
example price: Bangkok - Phuket 900 baht (approx 13 hours, USD24)
example prices were correct in December 2005
Some buses may have TVs and sound systems blaring, so earplugs are well worth having, just in case.
On long-haul buses, if your ticket allocates you a front seat, you may have to switch seats if a monk boards.
Songthaew
A songthaew is a truck-based vehicle with a pair of bench seats in the back, one on either side. By far the most common type is based on a pick-up truck and has a roof and open sides. Larger types start life as small lorries, and may have windows, and an additional central bench; smaller types are converted micro-vans, with a front bench facing backwards and a rear bench facing forwards.
Songthaews are operated extensively as local buses (generally the most economical way to travel shorter distances) and also as taxis; sometimes the same vehicle will be used for both. Be careful if asking a songthaew to take you to someplace if there is nobody in the back, the driver might charge you the taxi price. In this case, check the price of the ride before embarking.
Tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks on the prowl, Bangkok
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Tuk-tuks on the prowl, Bangkok
The name tuk-tuk is used to describe a wide variety of small/lightweight vehicles. The vast majority have three wheels; some are entirely purpose built (eg the ubiquitous Bangkok tuk-tuk), others are partially based on motorcycle components (primarily engines, steering, front suspension, fuel tank, drivers seat). A relatively recent development is the four wheeled tuk-tuk (basically a microvan-songthaew) as found in Phuket.
Taxi
Metered taxis are ubiquitous in Bangkok , but rare elsewhere in the country. When available, they are an excellent means of transport - insist on the meter. Beware of taxis which idle around touristy areas and wait for people. They are looking for a tourist who will take their taxi without using a meter. Always use the meter!
Motorbike
As is the case throughout virtually all of Asia , motorcycles (motosai) are the most common form of transport overall; the most popular type are the 100cc-125cc step-through models. These are very widely used as taxis, with fares starting from as low as 5 baht.
Motorcycles can be rented without difficulty in many locations, usually without having to produce a licence, from as little as 100 baht/day (or even less for periods of a week or more). Often a deposit will be required; sometimes a passport photocopy, or even the passport itself, will be requested. Helmets are normally included, except in the case of small islands and more remote areas where there is zero enforcement. Insurance is usually not included. Some rental contracts prohibit long-distance travel.
Some (but not all) border crossings allow motorcycles through. At those which do, documentation including proof of ownership must be produced (with the possible exception of day visits to Payathonzu , Myanmar via Three Pagodas Pass ).
In Thailand , motorcyclists (including passengers) are required to wear helmets, and motorcycle headlights must be switched on at all times. Drivers of all types of motor vehicles must carry a valid driving licence; foreigners who do not have a Thai driving licence must also carry a valid International Driving Permit (1949 Convention IDP - these are valid for 12 months from date of issue). Legal IDPs can usually only be applied for in the country which issued the driving licence (although in many countries postal IDP applications are possible). Enforcement of these requirements varies widely, however in many areas popular with tourists, spot checks - especially for helmets and/or licences - are commonplace.
Rental car
Cars can be rented without difficulty in many locations. More reputable agencies (especially those that include insurance) require that valid licences be produced. Driving your own car in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted, and many rental companies can supply drivers at a very reasonable price. Driving is (usually, but not always!) on the left hand side of the road.
By boat
Long-tail boats, Ao Nang, Krabi
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Long-tail boats, Ao Nang, Krabi
One of the Thais' many names for themselves is jao naam, the Water Lords, and from the river expresses of Bangkok to the fishing trawlers of Phuket, boats remain an indispensable way of getting around many parts of the country.
Perhaps the most identifiably Thai boat is the long-tail boat (reua hang yao ), a long, thin wooden boat with the propeller at the end of a long 'tail' stretching from the boat. This makes them supremely manouverable even in shallow waters, but they're a little underpowered for longer trips and you'll get wet if it's even a little choppy. Long-tails usually act as taxis that can be chartered, although prices vary widely - figure on 300-400 baht for a few hours' rental, or up to 1500 for a full day. In some locations like Krabi, long-tails run along set routes and charge fixed prices per passenger.
Modern, air-conditioned speedboat services as well as slower, sometimes overnight ferries also run from the mainland to popular islands like Ko Samui and the Phi Phi Islands . Truly long-distance services (eg. Bangkok to any other major city) have, however, effectively ceased to exist as buses, planes and even trains are faster. Safety measures are rudimentary and ferries and speedboats do sink occasionally, so avoid overloaded ships in poor weather, and scope out the nearest life jackets when on board.
What to Eat
The food alone is really reason enough for a trip to Thailand . Curries, fruit shakes, stir fries, fresh fish made a zillion ways - and that's just the beginning. Food in Thailand can be as cheap and easy as 20 baht phat thai (Thai fried noodles) cooked at a street stall or as expensive and complicated as a $100 ten-course meal by a royal chef served in one of Bangkok's 5 star hotels.
Since most backpackers will be sticking closer to the first than the second, one of the great things about Thailand is that food from stalls and tiny sidewalk restaurants is usually quite safe. Unlike some Asian countries, travellers should worry more about overeating or too much curry spice than about unclean kitchens and bad food. In fact, street restaurants, where you can see what you'll get and everything is cooked on the spot (usually in a pool of germ- and diet-killing vegetable oil) can be the safest option.
What to Drink
Tap water is usually not drinkable in Thailand . Bottled water ( ¹éÓà»ÅèÒ naam plao) is cheap and ubiquitous at 5-10 baht a bottle, and drinking water served in restaurants is always at least boiled ( ¹éÓµéÁ naam tom). Ice ( ¹éÓá¢ç§ naam khaeng) in Thailand usually comes packaged straight from the factory and is safe; there is only reason to worry if you are served hand-cut ice.
Iced drinks
Coconut water ( ¹éÓÁоÃéÒÇ naam ma-phrao), iced and drunk directly from a fresh coconut is a cheap and healthy way to cool the body - available at restaurants and also from vendors that specialize in fruit juice.
Fruit juices, freezes and milkshakes of all kinds are very popular with Thais and visitors alike. Most caf?s and restaurants charge 20-40 baht, but a bottle of freshly squeezed Thai sweet orange juice ( ¹éÓÊéÁ naam som) - which really is orange! - can be sold on the street for 10 baht or less.
Stay Safe
Avoid any tuk-tuks in Bangkok . Tuk-tuk drivers might demand much higher price than agreed, or they might take you to a sex show, pretending they didn't understand the address (they get commissions from sex shows). For the same reason, avoid drivers who propose their services without being asked, especially near major tourist attractions.
Don't buy any sightseeing tours at the airport. If you do, they will 'phone several times to your hotel in order to remind you about the tour. During the tour, you will be shortly taken to a small temple, without a guide, then they would take you to a shop, and to another shop, and to another shop (they get commissions). They might refuse to take you back home until you saw all the shops. On your way back, they would pressure you to buy more tours.
The vast majority of visits to Thailand are trouble-free, but travellers should be aware that there is a continuing threat to westerners from terrorism throughout South East Asia and should be particularly vigilant in public places, including tourist resorts. Visitors are advised to avoid the border areas and not camp in undesignated areas in national parks. Visitors to major cities are advised to keep an eye on their passports and credit cards and ensure they don't carry around too much money or jewellery. In Bangkok visitors should be aware of scams, often involving gems recommended by kind strangers. In tourist areas, and in particular at the Full Moon Party on Ko Phan Ngan, visitors should be careful about accepting drinks from strangers, as there have been several reported incidents of drinks being heavily drugged. Incidents of sexual assault, on women in particular, continue to occur, and female travellers should be cautious. The security situation in the southern provinces closest to the Malaysian border is unstable and travel to Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat and Songkhla is to be avoided; recent bomb explosions and fighting have killed and injured many people in public places and the government has announced a state of emergency in the area. Further attacks could take place in areas frequented by foreigners, although the Thai authorities have put additional security measures in place throughout the country, including in Bangkok . Several explosions have occurred in Bangkok since December 2005. Since the beginning of 2006 numerous political demonstrations have taken place in Bangkok and provincial towns, and more demonstrations are expected due to opposition to the Prime Minister. On 19 September 2006 the commander of the army established a Reform Council to take over the administration of the country; a state of martial law has been declared, and although the situation in Bangkok remains calm, visitors are advised to avoid all government buildings and military personnel.
Stay Healthy
Being a tropical country, Thailand has its fair share of exotic tropical diseases. Malaria is generally not a problem in any of the major tourist destinations, but is endemic in rural areas along the borders with Cambodia (including Ko Chang in Trat Province ), Laos and Myanmar . As is the case throughout South-East Asia , dengue fever can be encountered just about anywhere, including the most modern cities.
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are not rare in Thailand . Condoms are sold in all convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc.
Travellers should take medical advice at least three weeks before travelling to Thailand . Malaria is a risk outside Bangkok and the major tourist resorts and most physicians will advise immunisation against hepatitis A and typhoid fever. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required from those travelling from infected areas. Since January 2005 there has been an increase in reported cases of dengue fever in the south, particularly the area near the border with Malaysia .
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Poppular
Hotel in Thailand 
