I recently visited Thailand and here are my Top Tips!
It’s hot and rarely gets cool. I should have remembered, it’s near the equator stupid! Bangkok has the highest AVERAGE temperatures of any city in the world. So pack clothes with short sleeves & shorts. I normally wouldn’t be seen dead in a peaked cap but a cap really helps keep the sun off. Clothes from market are cheap, so travel light. Obviously use sun tan lotion – if you want a tan use factor 15 if you just want protection use 25.
In some locations it is wise to cover your legs and arms in the evenings when the mosquitoes come out. I personally recommend using these products ‘Lifesystems Expedition Plus’ Insect Repellent and ‘Autan Aftersun Aloe Vera Insect Repellent’ Lotion. Use ‘Tiger Balm’ if you get bitten. Don’t leave cuts and wounds untreated as they go septic very quickly in the tropics. Tiger balm seems to be used for every medical condition over there!
Thai Medical Treatment is very good in modern facilities. If you are staying for a while, drugs such as for blood pressure can be expensive as the big brands are controlled by a small number of International wholesalers.
For good or bad there are well known international stores all over the country such as Carrefour, Tesco (Lotus) & Boots so you don’t need to bring the kitchen sink with you! I bought some Carex antiseptic hand wash, which was confiscated at Manchester Airport check In because it was over 150 mls size.
UK Airport Security Rules
Money Matters
Thailand is a cash economy, so don’t expect to pay by Credit Card for your hotel unless it is a well-known international chain. You can use the Internet to book hotels and internal flights to get round this. There are loads of Internet Cafes & Wireless Hot Spots for your laptop. Even travel agents only except cash if you are booking tours or flights. You can only get "cash back" at the big hypermarkets like Tesco & Carrefour but don’t rely on it, always ask before committing to a purchase. You get a poor exchange rate in UK so exchange your most of your cash when you get there! Malaysia/Thailand are the credit card fraud capitals of the world so:
Think like the old days: Take multiple money streams like cash Sterling/Dollars, cards & travellers checks. Have a plan B & C!
Tell your bank if you plan to use your plastic abroad. It probably will still stop working after a couple of days but least you tried!
Find an ATM machine soon after you land at the airport; they nearly all take VISA or MasterCard (Cirrus & Maestro). Check your card works OK. Also There are money changers at the airport – they are regulated to give the correct rate.
Don’t try and make more than one withdrawal a day. Or if you enter your PIN incorrectly, DON’T try again until the next day. It’s an automatic BAD flag!
If your Credit Card stops working, you can usually still withdraw money if you go to a bank with your card and passport. This was a lifesaver for me as ALL my cards stopped working, so I could not draw money from ATM’s.
Always ask how much things cost before you buy and BARGAIN. There are two rates one for locals and one for foreigners (known as ‘Farangs’). All Farangs are regarded as millionaires and walking ATM cash machines. Always be polite and just walk away if it seems too much! Especially Tuk Tuks & Taxis!
Make sure you change big notes 1000 baht break into 500 200 and 100 notes. "I don’t have change sir" is the usual scam. Bear in mind one thousand baht is a large amount of money to an ordinary Thai person, so it is rude to ‘flash your cash’! If you go round the markets you WILL get mythered to buy stuff; again if not interested just politely decline.
Mobile Telephones
If you make a lot of phone calls get a Thai network SIM phone card. Put it in your phone if it is not locked to a network. A phone shop will set it up for you – well worth any extra payment as mine and a friends phone card would not work properly for 24 hours when I set it up myself. You can get top up cards from convenience stores like 7/11. Best coverage one2Call other networks DTAC & True (Orange), you can get mobile internet on your laptop. Internet cafes are everywhere. Mobile Phones are expensive in Thailand but calls are cheap.
Friday, March 23, 2007
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