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first time

Everyone needs a helping hand when they visit a country for the first time. There are phrases to learn, customs to get used to and etiquette to understand. The following section will help demystify Thailand so your first trip goes as smoothly as your fifth.

Language

Don’t know a lick of Thai? In most places you don’t need to. Tourist towns are well stocked with English speakers. Bus drivers, market vendors and even taxi drivers are less competent speakers. In small, less touristy towns, it helps to know how to order food and count in Thai. With just a few phrases, you’ll be rewarded with big grins.

Thais have their own script, which turns educated Westerners into illiterates. Street signs are always transliterated into English, but there is no standard system so spellings vary widely and confusingly. Not all letters are pronounced as they appear. Confounding, huh?

Booking Ahead

While it’s very easy to score walk-in bookings at many midrange and budget spots, we recommend booking your first few nights in advance. The following phrases will help you when booking accommodation.

What to Wear

In general, light, loose-fitting clothes will prove the most comfortable in the tropical heat throughout the year. It’s worth bringing one reasonably warm sweater for the odd cool evening (or the blasting air-con on the plane). If you plan to visit a temple, you will need shirts with long sleeves and full-length pants. While sandals are definitely the way to go, you should bring one pair of nice shoes for the occasional night out in Bangkok or Phuket.

What to Pack

Passport

Credit card

Driving licence

Phrasebook

Power converter

GSM mobile phone

Mobile phone charger

Sunscreen

Mosquito repellent with DEET

Anti-itch cream (for sandfly bites)

Light, long-sleeve shirts

Breathable pants

Hat

Sunglasses

Beach towel

Comfortable sandals

Torch/headlamp

Camera

Antibiotics

Checklist

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months.

Purchase your international and domestic flight tickets.

Visit the Thai consulate for a tourist visa if you’re planning to stay for more than 30 days.

Organise travel insurance and diver’s insurance.

Visit the doctor for check up and medical clearance if you intend on scuba diving.

Etiquette

The Thais are generally very understanding and hospitable, but there are some important taboos that permeate the various aspects of local life. The best way to win over the Thais is to smile – any visible anger or arguing is embarrassing; the locals call this ‘loss of face’. Never disrespect the royal family with disparaging remarks, and also treat objects depicting the king (like money) with respect.

Temples When visiting a temple, it’s important to dress neatly and conservatively. As with most interiors, it is expected that you remove all footwear. When sitting, keep your feet pointed away from any Buddha images. Women should never touch a monk or a monk’s belongings – it is best to stay at a palpable distance to avoid accidental bumps.

At the beach Avoid public nudity – in fact most Thai will swim fully clothed. Away from the sand, men should wear shirts and women should be appropriately dressed (no bikinis).

Bargaining

When to bargain Bargaining forms the crux of almost any commercial interaction in Thailand. There are no set rules. If you’re purchasing something like souvenirs or clothes, it’s best to buy in bulk – the more T-shirts you buy, the lower the price will go.

When not to bargain Bargaining is very seldom taboo. You shouldn’t bargain in restaurants and at petrol stations, and you should never haggle for a better price at a high-end hotel. Accommodation bargaining is, however, fair game at most Thai-run beach establishments.

Money

In general, paying for your food, drinks, entertainment and souvenirs is a lot easier with cash than card. For the most part, midrange and top-end hotels will take a credit card, as will most diving outfits, but expect to pay an additional ‘processing fee’ (of two to three per cent) when you swipe your Visa or Mastercard (the two preferred cards).

It should be noted that withdrawing money comes with a hefty withdrawal fee – usually around 150B to 200B. Consider making an educated guess as to how much you plan on spending each day and withdraw your money accordingly. You will find ATMs at (or near) almost all 7-Elevens. Many islands, however, have limited withdrawal facilities, so it’s best to read the Information sections of each of our destinations for pre-planning.