Good to Know and some Practical Information about Thailand

Here we will give you some relevant information about Thailand and travelling. Do you have any tips and ideas to what we should write about here, please send us an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know.

Climate
The climate of Thailand is generally hot and humid. The best time for visiting is generally between November and March but this may vary slightly from north to south. This season is cooler and drier than the rest of the year.
The rainy season from May to October might still be a nice time to visit as the prices for accommodation drops and there are less tourists but be prepared for occasional rain showers or sometimes continual heavy rain for days. There might be rough seas, thunder storms and rip tides around the islands during the rainy season so take your precautions.

So when is the best time to go - check out our blogpost The best time to visit Thailand

Visa
Tourists from most countries don’t need a visa before entering Thailand for shorter stays but check with the Thai embassy if you are uncertain.

Vaccination
Before travelling to Thailand you will have to take some vaccines. Every traveler should take vaccine against Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus-diphtheria. Depending on length of stay, activities and where you plan to travel other vaccinations as well as Malaria tablets might be recommended. Contact your local vaccination office for more information.
Travelers should also bring along an antibiotic and an anti-diarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs.
It might also be wise to bring along a first aid kit if travelling in rural areas or to the islands as smaller pharmacies might be ill equipped.

Shopping in Thailand
Most goods are cheaper in Thailand than at home. Clothes, bags and suitcases, food, handicrafts and souvenirs are among the items that can be purchased at low prices. The cheapest places are often at local markets away from the tourist tracks. But good deals can also be found at shopping malls and bigger markets frequented by tourists. The worst place to shop is at the beach as the prices here can be 2-3 times or more over normal price. Bargaining is the norm except in bigger shopping malls where the items have price tags. Learning a few phrases in Thai and bargaining with a smile can get you a big discount but expect to pay more than Thai people pay for the same items.
Jewelry and precious metals and stones can also be bought cheaply in small shops or on the street in Thailand but ONLY if you know what you are doing. The safest bet is to go to a bigger shop where they have a license for dealing in mentioned items and are backed by a government guarantee.
Tailor-made clothes are very popular to buy in Thailand as the prices are good and also the quality but again only if you know what you are doing. The best places to buy are among reputed sellers in bigger cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Come shopping with us on our Shopping in Bangkok Tour

Eating out
Eating out is a favorite past-time among Thais. It’s often said that you can’t go more than 10 meters in any direction in Bangkok without having a chance to buy something to eat. Follow the crowd and be adventurous in tasting and you can sample excellent food from small restaurants and street stalls at very reasonable prices. Chinese seafood restaurants and western restaurants costs much more.

Read more about Street Food in Thailand