 As a general rule, any foreigner seeking entry into the Kingdom of Thailand for business, investment, study, medical treatment, mass media, religion, employment and other purposes is required to apply for a visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. To do so, a foreigner must possess a valid passport or travel document that is recognized by the Royal Thai Government and comply with the conditions set forth in the Immigration Act B.E.2522 (1979) and its related provisions.
Duty Free Allowance
The duty free allowance will be applied to accompanied personal effects up to Bath 10,000 worth if i) the items are intended for your own personal or professional uses; ii) the quantity are reasonable; and iii) the items are not subject to prohibition or restriction.
However, there are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco to which you may include in your duty free personal exemption as follows:
- 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or smoking tobacco
- 1 litre of spirituous liquor.
Personal effects do not include motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts regardless of the length of time used and owned.
Currency
Banks or legal moneychangers offer the best rates. For buying baht, US dollars are the most readily acceptable currency, though travellers' cheques get a better rate than cash. Credit cards are becoming increasingly acceptable in quality shops, hotels and restaurants. Visa is the most useful, followed by MasterCard. ATMs which accept Visa and other credit cards are easily found in the larger cities, and many exchange booths will give you a cash advance on your credit card.
Tipping is not customary in Thailand, although Thais are getting used to the idea in upmarket hotels.
Bargaining is common practice in markets and tourist shops, and when catching non-metered taxis. Treat it
as a form of social discourse rather than a matter of life and death.
Getting Around
Thal International has a useful domestic flight network, although as of June 2000 that network decreased by one when Angel Airlines Co, Thailand's second national carrier, pulled all their planes off the airways while undergoing major company restructuring. Travellers tend to prefer Thailand's good bus and train transport anyway.
 Buses are phenomenally (read hair-raisingly) fast, and they're also well serviced and air-conditioned. Trains are comfortable, frequent, punctual, moderately priced ana rather slow. Cars, jeeps or vans can be rented in Bangkok and large provincial capitals. Motorcycles can be rented in major towns and tourist centres.
Local transport includes taxis, tuk-tuks (motorlsed rickshaws), samlors (bicycle rickshaws) and songthaews (small pick-ups). Taxis are (mostly) metered in Bangkok and songthaews tend to run regular routes, but samlors, tuk-tuks and taxis outside Bangkok require bargaining and agreement on a fare before departure. A unique feature of Thal public transport is the women-only buses that revived up in June 2000 - an attempt by the government to protect female passengers from crime and sexual harrasment.
What to Wear
Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
- Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
- Highway Patrol : 1193
- Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
- Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
- Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10
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