City of Bangkok:
  
Emerald Temple, Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city and was founded in 1782. Two 19th-century kings of Siam, Mongkut and his son Chulalongkorn, introduced Western education and technology maintaining the character of a devout Buddhist society with excellent medical training. Bangkok is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, numerous shopping centers and traditional ways of life, especially along the "Venice of the East" canals and the Chao Phraya River of the "River of Kings" winding through the city. Bangkok is Thailand’s spiritual, cultural, diplomatic, commercial and educational hub. It covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres, and it is home to approximately ten million people or more than 10% of the country's population. With an estimated population of over 10 million in a country of only 60 million, Bangkok is the urban and cultural heart of the land. It is also the financial capital of one of the fastest-growing economies of the world. It offers a highly developed infrastructure with excellent public transport, high-end shopping and accommodation.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN BANGKOK Grand Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand From the 400 temples in Bangkok to white sandy beaches in Phuket or the tranquil villages along the Mekong River, Thailand offers numerous activities and events for every traveler.

Bangkok Skyline, Thailand

Pansea Beach, Phuket, Thailand

Floating market near Bangkok, Thailand

Buddhist Temple, Thailand

THAILAND GENERAL INFORMATION
 
Official Country Name
 
• Kingdom of Thailand
 
Thailand Population
 
• 62.4 million
 
Capital City
 
• Bangkok
 
Bangkok Population
 
• 10 million
 
Language
 
• Thai (official language); English is the second language of the elite; regional dialects. English is being taught as a second language in secondary school and universities, which enables the English speaking visitor to have little trouble conversing.
 
Time Zone
 
• Bangkok, Thailand - current day and time http://www.myworldclock.com/timezones/countries/Thailand
• The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT)
 
Passport Requirement
 
• U.S. citizen tourists staying for fewer than 30 days do not require a visa, but must possess a passport and may be asked to show an onward/return ticket. Effective October 1, 2006, persons entering Thailand without a visa will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 30 days per visit. The total duration of stay in Thailand for persons who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six-month period, counting from the date of first entry. Travelers must pay a Passenger Service Charge in Thai baht when departing from any of Thailand’s international airports.
  
• Embassy/Consular Information - Thailand: http://www.thaiembdc.org/index.htm
  
• Passport required. Tourists staying no longer than 30 days do not need a visa. For longer stays, obtain a visa in advance. Visa requires 1 application form, 2 photos, postage for return of passport by mail, and appropriate fee. Transit visa, for stay of up to 30 days, $20 per entry fee, or tourist visa, for stay of up to 60 days, $25 per entry fee. Extensions may be applied for in Thailand. Transit and tourist visas require copy of airline ticket or itinerary. Business visas, valid up to 90 days, require $20 entry fee or $40 fee for multiple entry and company letter (on letterhead) stating purpose of visit, name of company, and address of counterpart in Thailand. (Note: All visa fees are payable in cash or money order, if applying in person, or by money order only, if applying by mail. Apply at the Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20007 (202/944-3600), or the nearest Consulate General: CA (323/962-9574), IL (312/664-3129), or NY (212/754-1770). For other Consulates General throughout the U.S., call 202/944-3600. Internet: www.thaiembdc.org
  
• The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
 
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. You are advised to check your entry requirements with your destination Embassy and Consular Services: http://www.thaiembdc.org/index.htm
Visa Requirement
• A visa is not required for a business or tourist stay of up to 30 days. A passport is required.
• Thailand – Visa Requirement: http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm
 
Exchange Rate
 
• Current Exchange Rate Converter - Click Here
 
Cuisine
 
• Thai cuisine is known for its balance of five fundamental flavors in each dish or the overall meal – hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty and bitter (optional). Although popularly considered as a single cuisine, Thai food is really better described as four regional cuisines corresponding to the four main regions of the country: Northern, Northeaster (or Isan), Central and Southern. Southern curries, for example, tend to contain coconut milk and fresh turmeric, while northeastern dishes often include lime juice. Thai food is known for its enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and spices as well as fish sauce.
 
Water
 
• Drink bottled water only.
 
Transportation
 
• Buses, trains (including the BTS Skytrain), boats, taxis and tuk-tuks (open air taxis) are widely available in Bangkok and other major Thailand cities. Your hotel or any local travel agent can provide transportation options and bookings.
 
Cell Phone
 
• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards are available for travelers in Thailand. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range.
 
Telephone/Dialing Information
 
• The international dialing code for Thailand is 66, i.e., 011 66 +area code +telephone number. Telephone numbers have nine digits (for local calls and long distance calls within the country).
    • For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers, i.e., 02 555 5555.
    • For Phuket the area code added is 076, i.e., 0 7655 5555
    • For mobile phones, 01, 06 or 09 is added to the existing numbers.
 
Government
 
• Constitutional Monarchy. The Royal Family is revered and respected. Visitors should show respect for the King, the Queen and their children.
 
Head of Government and Head of State
 
• Surayud Chulanont (interim), Prime Minister (head of government)
• Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), King (head of state)
 
Climate
 
• Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country. The climate is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy season lasting from about May to September and a relatively dry season for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in March and April and lowest in December and January. The average temperature is 23.7 to 32.5 degrees Celsius. Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November (the 'rainy season'). This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June.
• Thailand Climate and Weather - Click Here
 
Health
 
• Consult your doctor prior to departure. Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled "Health Information for International Travel" (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.
 
• Southeast Asia Health Information provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 
People
 
• Thailand's population is relatively homogeneous. More than 85% speak a dialect of Thai and share a common culture. This core population includes the central Thai (33.7% of the population, including Bangkok), Northeastern Thai (34.2%), northern Thai (18.8%), and southern Thai (13.3%).
 
Social Expectations
  
• Thais don't normally shake hands like we do in the west. When greeting a Thai, press your palms together in a prayer-like gesture. This is called “Wai”. The head is spiritually regarded as the highest part of the body and Thais do not appreciate being touched on the head. Also, showing the sole of your foot is considered rude.
 
Security Expectations
• Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited in Thailand with severe penalties for breaking the drug laws. Thailand does enforce the death penalty.
• Do not allow unauthorized people to provide you with travel services. Only work with authorized agents. A list of authorized agents in Bangkok can be received from the Bangkok Metropolitan Tourist Bureau (0 2225 7612 4).
• Use your common sense with regards to personal safety, security and behavior in a foreign country. If you’re not sure about acceptable social practices, please call the tourist Police at 1155.
• Do not litter. You will be fined if you drop garbage/trash, spit or discard cigarettes on the ground (and not in a trash can/garbage bin).
• Do not purchase snake, turtle or ivory products – it is illegal to trade in any wild animal products.
 
Area
 
• 513,115 sq. km. (198,114 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Texas.
 
Literacy Rate
 
• 96%
 
Religion
 
• Buddhist 94-95%, Muslim 4-5%, Christian, Hindu, Brahmin, other.
• Religious temples and shrines are to be respected. It can be quite warm in Thailand and shorts are tempting, however, you must wear respectable/suitable attire (not shorts) when visiting Buddhist temples. When entering a Buddhist temple, take your shoes off inside the chapel. Buddha images are sacred in Thailand.
 
Currency
 
• Baht. Paper baht comes in denominations of 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1000 (beige).
• Credit cards are becoming increasingly acceptable in quality shops, hotels and restaurants. Visa is the most useful, followed by MasterCard.
 
Internet Access
 
• Many hotels offer Internet access via modem or WIFI. Some hotels provide free WIFI Internet access for guests using their own laptops.
 
International Dialing Code
 
• 011 + 66 + 2 + Local Number (Calling from United States to Bangkok, Thailand)
• 001 +country code +area code +number (Calling from Thailand to other countries)
• Country calling codes http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/detailed-results.php?CallTo=Thailand&From=United+States&CityInfo=Bangkok&CitySubmit=Submit
 
Emergency Contacts
 
• Medical World Travel will provide you with emergency contacts prior to your departure.
• Ambulance (PHONE: 1669). Fire (PHONE: 199). Police (PHONE: 191). Tourist Police (4 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand. PHONE: 1155, Subway: Phetchaburi; Skytrain: Asok).
• The U.S. Embassy http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/ in Thailand is located at 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok (tel. 66-2-205-4000).
• There is a Consulate General in Chiang Mai http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consulcm/index.htm , 387 Wichayanond Road (tel. 66-53-252-629).
• Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Thailand, 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330. Information Office Phone: 02-205-4468 Fax: 02-650-8919. Information Resource Center Phone: 02-205-4113 Fax: 02-650-8918
• American Corner in Thailand: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/services/acthailand
• Tourist Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Phetchburi Rd., Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand. PHONE: 02/250-5500, FAX: 02/694-1361, Subway: Sukhumvit; Skytrain: Asok
• Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.
  
Holidays
 
• January 1st – New Year’s Day
• April 6th – King Rama I Memorial and Chakri Day
• April 13th – Songkran
• May 5th – Coronation Day
• May 31st – Visakha Bucha Day
• August 12th – Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday
• October 23rd – Chulalongkorn Day
• December 5th – His Majesty the King’s Birthday
• December 10th – Constitution Day
• December 31st – New Year’s Eve
 
THAILAND GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
  
Thailand related links

• Tourism Thailand - http://www.tourismthailand.org/
• Tourist Authority of Thailand - http://www.thailand.net.au/
• Bangkok Tourism Division - www.bangkoktourist.com
• Thailand Background Information – LonelyPlanet
• National Geographic – Thailand, Click Here
• Wikipedia Thailand - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
• Tripadvisor Thailand Tourism - Click Here
• TravelGuide Thailand - Click Here
• Travel Images Thailand - http://www.travel-images.com/thailand.html
   
Travel Assistance and Related Links:
 
• Exchange Rate Currency Converter Calculator http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
• US Department of State Background Notes on Thailand http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2814.htm
• CIA World Fact Book – Thailand - Click Here
• US Department of State International Travel Public Announcements - Click Here
• US Bureau of Consular Affairs
  •For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://www.travel.state.gov
For additional information on international travel, Click Here
   •Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.
• US Department of State – International Travel Information - Click Here
• New Zealand Government Safe Travel Advice http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/countries/thailand.shtml

For questions regarding this destination call us at: 1 877 514 0186 or email info@medicalworldtravel.com

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