Frequently Asked Questions about Thailand
What is the best time to travel?
The coolest period in Thailand is between October and February. During this period the rain is infrequent and this is therefore generally seen as the best time to travel. Between May and July rain showers can fall but dry periods prevail. Travelling during this time is pleasant as nature is lush and there are not as many tourists at the main sites of interest.What is the best time to see wildlife?
Hornbills are most frequently observed in Thailand between January and May. In the jungle of Koh Sok there are almost 50 species of mammals including bears, leopards and gibbons and over 180 species of birds including hornbills. You will probably see gibbons, which are widely present all year around. In Thailand, the abundant tropical fish and corals are remarkable.What are the best festivals and when do they take place?
The number of festivals in Thailand is immense, especially between November and February. Many festivals are related to Buddhist rituals and follow the lunar calendar so the dates vary.
April: Songkran (New Year) is celebrated in mid-April. Buddha statues are washed with perfumed water, houses are cleaned and respect is shown to monks by the sprinkling of water over the monk’s hands. The crowds are cooled with ice water. Tourists can also expect to be drenched by happy Thai folk. If you wish to remain dry on this day, it is best that you shut yourself in your hotel room!
May: The rocket festival is held in the North and North-East. Fireworks are set off in their thousands in order to bring plenty of rain. Dance processions accompanied by loud drums make their way through the streets.
November: Loy Krathong, the festival of floating lights, is one of the most beautiful festivals. It is held beside rivers and canals in the evening during full moon. Lotus-shaped boats containing candles float by, decorated with flowers, coins and incense.
December: 5th December is King Bhumibol’s birthday. The celebrations are very exuberant, particularly in Bangkok. Queen Sirikit’s birthday, 12th August, also sees celebrations. Father’s day coincides with the King’s birthday, and Mother’s Day with the Queen’s, and these celebrations are noticeable amongst the birthday festivities.When does the tour start?
All of our tours start at 12:00 midday at the hotel where we spend our first night. Your room will be available to check-in from this time. If you arrive later, don't worry, your tour leader will meet up with you at a later time to brief you.Can I pre-book transfers and extra nights?
We are unable to offer airport transfers but we do have the option to book pre-tour/post-tour nights if you have chosen to arrive earlier/leave later. Prices for these extra nights are available on the tour information page.
What about my passport?
You need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel.Do I need a visa?
UK citizens do not need to arrange a visa for Thailand for stays of up to 30 days. However, these things can change so please click here and check out the current situation. You can also check on that website if a visa is required for any other nationality. Make sure you inquire at least a month before departure if you need a visa so you do not run out of time. If you need a visa, please click here to find details of the embassy you need to contact (unless you use a visa service). Shoestring does not organise your visa. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel. You can also obtain the visa through a specialised visa agency such as www.travcour.com. It is a good idea to visit this website in any case, as it provides much more detail on exceptions etc.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Please
click here for questions regarding vaccinations or malaria tablets for this country and then contact your GP or a specialised health centre to make an appointment to get your injections and pills. Please make sure that you arrange this at least six weeks before departure to allow time for a full program. Two weeks should be enough for people who have already had a few injections. You are responsible for having the right protection when going on tour.
What is the recommended currency for Thailand?
The baht is the official currency of Thailand and it comes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 baht notes. Coins come in denominations of 10, 5, 2, 1 and 0.5 and 0. 25 baht. British Pounds and Euros can usually be changed in the larger cities. There are ATMs which issue baht in most sizeable towns and cities.
Some more upmarket hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. In banks in the bigger cities you can withdraw cash with your credit card and change travellers cheques.
We advise you to bring an ATM card and a mix of cash in US Dollars, Euros or Thai baht and some travellers cheques.
What kind of clothing and other stuff is practical to take?
Don’t bring too much baggage. Thailand is a tropical country so thin, cotton clothing is advisable. A sweatshirt can be useful for the cooler evenings, especially in the winter. All you need for your feet are a good pair of walking shoes and a pair of flip flops (easy to remove before entering temples). An umbrella will come in useful too. As protection against the sun, bring a hat, sunglasses and sun cream. Other important items include swimwear, insect repellent and a long-sleeved T-shirt, toiletries, a beach towel, a first-aid kit, a (video) camera and sufficient film and batteries, a torch, a pocket-knife, an alarm clock, writing equipment, books, your passport, sufficient travellers cheques and money, a list with all the numbers of your travellers cheques along with their receipts (store these separately), all relevant travel insurance details and documents, copies of your passport and travel insurance, flight tickets, a diary with contact numbers and addresses, a tour guide and the booking papers for this trip. You may also wish to bring some toilet paper or tissues and a reading lamp.What kind of luggage should I take?
We request that you bring a frameless backpack or strong weekend bag to carry your luggage. Don’t bring a suitcase as these are very tricky to transport. We find that 12 kg is the maximum weight for your requirements. A small backpack or shoulder bag is best for your hand luggage. For the storage of valuables and important documents we advise that you bring a thin money belt that you can wear discreetly under your clothes.Electricity
Please
click here to check what voltage and plugs are in use in Thailand. You could also consider taking a universal electric plug adaptor.
Travel guides and maps
If you want to take a travel guide or map, we suggest you click on
Lonely Planet.
What is the accommodation like?
In Thailand we mostly use mid-range accommodations, such as guesthouses and lodges. Most have twin rooms with private ensuite facilities.How is accommodation arranged if I book alone?
If you book alone you will share your room with a fellow traveler unless you have booked a single room. Sometimes this means sharing your room with someone of the opposite sex.Do I need a sleeping mat or sleeping bag?
For some of the optional, locally booked trips it is advisable to bring a sleeping bag. You may prefer to hire one once you are in Thailand. It costs around 150 baht to hire a summer one or 200 baht for a winter one.
Do I need to take a mosquito net?
You don’t need to bring a mosquito net with you. Malaria is not considered a high risk throughout most of Thailand. Insect repellent and t-shirts with long sleeves are useful for avoiding bites.
Do they cater for vegetarians in Thailand?
In Thailand there is plenty of choice for vegetarians. Rice and vegetables are the basic ingredient of the local cuisine. Thai people have no regular mealtimes; they tend to eat simply when they are hungry. For this reason, food is available virtually round the clock. In the cities there are special food markets, where it is easy to find tropical fruit such as coconut, mango and pineapple. Foods tend to be spicy. There are many levels of spiciness, and sauces are used to add extra fire. If you would prefer milder food, ask for “mai pet” (not spicy).What kind of transportation is used?
In Thailand we use air-conditioned buses and sometimes trains.Can you travel with children?
Yes, children can travel with their families on a Shoestring tour. We recommend the easiest tours which are listed as ‘Category A’ where the distances covered are short and there is a slow traveling speed. But please check with our friendly sales team if you are unsure.
We would define a child as being under the age of 18. They would only be allowed to travel provided they do so with an adult family member or close relative.
Children under the age of 8 we recommend not to travel as they simply would not be old enough to enjoy the experience nor cope with the nature of travel that we provide.
The tour prices are the same for both adults and children however there will be a reduction on the child airfare which will vary depending on the flight selected (Please use the ‘search flights’ facility on the website to check the up-to-date prices).
Is Thailand dangerous?
In general Thailand is a place where you can feel safe.
Theft occurs in Thailand, so keep an eye on your valuables in the same way that you would in Britain. Money and important documents are best kept in a thin money belt worn under your clothes. Be careful if you go out in the Patpong area of Bangkok, as many tourists are conned out of large sums of money here.
If you are interested in what the Foreign Office has to say, please
click here.
What local customs do I need to keep in mind?
Touching other peoples' heads is extremely impolite in Thailand. The head is seen to house the soul and must be treated as sacred.
it is considered rude to point at somebody and pointing with your foot is an even greater sign of disrespect.
You must be both bareheaded and bare-footed in all holy sites in Thailand. If you walk round a pagoda, you must walk in a clockwise direction. If you carry your shoes in your hand, use your left hand. Another deeply offensive gesture is sitting with your feet pointing towards a Buddha statue or a monk. Photos of Buddha statues are also not appreciated by the locals.
Monks must not be touched under any circumstances, especially by women. If a woman wishes to give something to a monk, it is best to do it via a man or lay the object down in front of him. Women are also best advised not to sit next to a monk. It is extremely impolite to get in the way of a monk or to remain standing in the presence of a monk who is sitting down.
The Thai are pleasure-seekers who strive to enjoy life to the fullest, with the emphasis on the present. Beauty, taste of food, being well dress, are all part of this way of life. They will appreciate you more if you are clean and well dressed.
Thailand is reputed as the ‘Land of smiles'. The function of the Thai smile is essentially to make life run as smoothly as possible.
Differences in opinion between people are rarely expressed. Losing one’s patience, getting angry or exchanges of raised voices in public results in loss of face. The expression of positive emotion is also much more subtle than we are used to. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex are seen as very inappropriate.
Do not expect that Thai people will have the same concept of time and being on time as we do. The Thai live more in the here and now, worry much less than us about the future, and have much more patience.
Haggling is an everyday way of life in Thailand. Remember, haggling is here seen as a social activity and is not a matter of life and death!
Are there opportunities to snorkel or dive?
Thailand has a wonderful coast and tropical islands. There are many coral reefs and exotic fish are easy to spot. You will have the opportunity to snorkel or dive off some beautiful Thai beaches.Are there opportunities to swim?
You will have the possibility to swim in beautiful tropical sea water and, depending on the tour, also to swim in clear water in Kanchanaburi and/or in the Chang Mai area.What other activities and sports could I do?
In Thailand there are so many possible activities that is difficult to list all of them! You can experience elephant riding, rafting and bamboo rafting. You can go on bike rides or a boat trip, hike in the jungle or try to swim under a waterfall! In the islands and on the coast you can enjoy windsurfing and other watersports.Mobile phone, email and snail mail
The international country dialling code for Thailand is +66. The outgoing code is 001, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Bangkok is (0)2 and Chiang Mai is (0)53. International direct dial facilities are available throughout most of the country. Mobile phone networks cover most towns, cities and holiday resorts; operators use GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 networks. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.Time difference with the UK
Please check the
world clock in order to find out the exact time difference between Thailand and the UK.
Please bear in mind that the time can change depending on whether the UK is on daylight saving time or not.