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| Facts at a Glance |
Area |
1,500 sq.km. |
Population |
11,000,000 |
Language |
English is fairly widely understood and spoken in most tourist areas of Bangkok. German, Swiss Italian, and increasingly Japanese and Russian are also spoken in most hotels. Bilingual Thai / English road signs are found on all road signs, Skytrain stations and some local buses.
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Religion |
Buddhists represent about 93 percent, Muslims 5 percent, Christians 1.5 percent and other sects less than 1 percent.
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Climate |
Thailand has a tropical climate with three seasons: summer (hot and dry) from March through May, rainy (hot and wet) from June to October, and winter (cool and dry) from November through February. The average annual temperature is 28 degrees centigrade (83 degrees farenheit), with summer highs topping 37 degrees centigrade and winter lows reaching 20 degrees centigrade. |
| Clothing |
Suits are worn for business and at many large hotels, but in general Thailand lacks the formality of Hong Kong or Tokyo. It's important to dress neatly. Women should avoid wearing anything sleeveless. For casual events, light and loose in natural fibers or blends are the best. Sunglasses and hats are essential as is an umbrella during rainy season. Do not wear shorts when visiting temples and mosques. Shoes must be removed before entering temple buildings.
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Local Time |
GMT +7 |
Currency |
Name: Baht
Code: THB
Symbol: ฿ |
Exchange |
Most banks will exchange foreign currency Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm. Exchange booths affiliated with the major banks are found in all tourist areas, open daily from as early as 7am to as late as 9pm.
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Credit Cards |
Major establishments readily accept American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa cards. Expect a 3-5 percent surcharge. Major Bangkok banks also recognize these credit cards.
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Business Hours |
Government offices (including branch post offices) are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, with a lunch break between noon and 1pm. Businesses are generally open 8am to 5pm. Shops often stay open from 8am until 7pm or later, 7 days a week. Department stores are generally open 10am to 7pm.
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Tipping |
Tip porters and hotel staff if you've been given good personal service - the amount varies with the kind of hotel. In restaurants around a 10 % - 15% tip is usually the norm, but you don't need to tip in small roadside eating places. Taxi fares should be rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 Baht, especially meter-taxis who don't earn a lot, are pretty knowledeable and incredibly patient in the Bangkok traffic.
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Electricity supply |
220V, 50Hz
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| Communications |
Mobile Phones No problems with using your own mobile phone in Thailand. Just arrange for international roaming. Normally the phone charge is calculated from your home country to the destination number and can be very expensive. True Move (formerly known as TA Orange), AIS, DTAC are the leading service providers.
IDD (International direct dialing) is Available from most hotels. Check rates, hotels often levy a surcharge. Costs vary with the time of day and charge for a minimum of 1 minute) Dial 100 for Operator-Assisted Overseas. For IDD dial 001 followed by country and regional codes.
You can also phone from International payphones found at the airport and most tourist areas using credit card or phone cards which can bought at most convenience stores.
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| Internet |
Most shopping malls and even the smallest hotel these days have at least a few terminals, and you can't take a step in places like Khao San Road, the backpacker area, or along busy Silom Road near Patpong without hearing the screech of a modem (still lots of dial-up). Prices range from 1B to 3B per minute (that's about $1.50-$4.40 per hr.). Big hotels charge exorbitant rates and are not worth it; just take a walk in any direction and you'll find affordable services (as low as 40B/$1 per hr.). |
Security |
The Tourist Police provides help for tourists in difficulties. Responsible for investigating any problems and handling claims and complaints. Bilingual Tourist Police can be found at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) offices in Bangkok. Call Tourist Police 1155, 678-680 (Emergency)/. Emergency Numbers Tourist Hotline is 1155 (English and other languages spoken) Ext 1 (24 hours). |
Tourist Information |
TAT Head-office Bangkok, 1600 New Phetburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee. Tel: +66 (0)2 250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
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| Bangkok Map Guide |
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| Discount Hotels in Bangkok |
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