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All you have to know about P H U K E T and T H A I L A N D
Import Tourists-Infos
Television |
English programs you will find in nearly every good hotel. |
Voltage |
220 Volts at 50 Hz. |
Clothing
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Important for tourist to know is that dirty and lazy clothing will not be accepted, especially when visiting temples. Liberal clothing, especially of women, will give offence. Swimming topless or even nude is prohibited and is not in accordance with Thai morality. |
Tax |
You can get back the tax when you leave Thailand at the airport. Conditions: The value of your purchases have to be more than 2.000 Baht at each store.Payback only when the total amount of your purchases in Thailand is more than 5.000 Baht and. Possible up to 60 days after purchase. |
Tip |
The tip should be 10%. In Taxis or Tuk-Tuks and small Thai restaurants it is normally unusual to give tip. |
Customs |
Please mark that it is not allowed to bring buddha figures out of Thailand. Don`t buy animals or products of animals from the Washington Agreement list. Thailand is well known for the perfect copies of clocks, t-shirts, shirts and leather goods. Please think of the copyright violation and that all these things can be confiscated by the customs in your country. |
Diplomatic Representations |
The U.S. Embassy in Thailand. 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok (tel. 66-2-205-4000) The British Embassy - United Kingdom 1031 Wireless Rd., Bangkok 10330
Telephone:
(662) 253-0191-9
(662) 254-9579
255-8619
Fax:255-9278 |
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Documents and Visa
What kind of visa can I get to stay in Thailand ?
Transit visa - valid for 14 days will be issued to those people arriving in Thailand without a visa. Technically you must have an onward flight ticket, but in practice this visa will be issued almost without question.
Note : There are a few countries (not many) that do not require visas and will get a three month entry stamp on arrival - in general these countries are the ones that grant the same rights to Thai nationals visiting their countries.
Tourist visa - issued by Thai embassy abroad - these visas will be valid for 60 or 90 days (varies from country to country). Of note is that you may apply for more than one Tourist visa at a time and these multiple visas may be used up consecutively. Many quasi resident visitors to Phuket (who do not work - or want to avoid the red tape of a Non Immigrant visa) live for years on a tourist visa (and go shopping in Singapore or Penang every three months). So long as you are solvent and not engaging in any local business activity, there is nothing wrong with this approach.
Non Immigrant visa - issued at an embassy outside Thailand and valid for a 90 day stay, this visa may be extended within Thailand for periods up to one year at a time.
There are three basic grounds to obtain and renew a Non Immigrant visa.
1) that you are employed (and have a work permit) in Thailand.
2) That you have Thai family.
3) That you are retired and can prove adequate pension or other financial means to support yourself. Ownership (or long lease) of property has no bearing on the extension of a Non Immigrant visa. Lengthy form filling and copying of personal documents (in duplicate) are required both when you first apply and for every subsequent renewal of this visa. If you hold a non Immigrant visa, you should obtain a Re-Entry permit if leaving the country if you do not wish your visa to lapse.
Resident visa - rarely issued and hard to obtain. These visas are issued on a very selective quota basis. Qualification requirements include reading and writing Thai, a fairly strong local financial status and some good (influential) Thai references.
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Working in Thailand?
There are different opportunities for a foreigner to work in Thailand. The great employers of foreigners are the hotels, followed by the International schools, but the biggest group of foreigners work as an owner or proprietor of a small business.
Foreigner employees needs to have a work permit. A company with a registered capital under 3,000,000 Baht may only employ a foreigner unless it can be proved that the job cannot be done by a Thai.
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Weather and Climate
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The climate of Phuket is tropical and therefore warm throughout the whole year. At the same time it is dominated by the monsoon winds that bring about the seasonal changes from wet to dry. The monsoon winds change prevailing direction according to the season.
There are two very hot periods of weather on Phuket, the first between April and May when the average temperatures range from 27 to 36 degrees Celsius and only the occasional tropical thunderstorm brings relief from the heat. April 13th is the date of the Thai New Year when tradition calls for the throwing of ice water into the streets and onto anyone who happens to be there at the time.
May, when the southwest monsoon rises to its peak, has rain on an average of 25 days during the month, making it to one of the most humid months of the year. Rainy days are interspersed with sunny days during this period and the rain generally comes in tropical downpours of an hour or so throughout the day mixed with periods of sunshine.
Most people choose to visit Phuket from November to March when the Northeast Monsoon brings beautiful blue skies and predominantly sunny weather. The average temperature ranges from 24 to 32 degrees Celsius and because of the regions popularity during this season, there is a lot to do on Phuket. |
And here you will find the actual weather of Phuket. 
Also you can get a retro or forecast.
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Tourist Safety
Thailand is one of the friendliest and safest travel destinations in the world. Your personal safety is taken well care of in Phuket and the tourist police demonstrates polite and competent attitude all around. By traveling with confidence, being aware and showing the proper caution, you will surely enjoy your stay. Still, there are some things travelers should watch out for:
Pickpockets are more likely to be found in tourist areas, on buses, at festivals, and at boat harbors, so keep an eye on your valuables. Bring only what you have to, and leave all else at home or in your hotel safe (for which you should make sure to obtain an authentic receipt).
Credit card fraud is not uncommon in Thailand, so be cautious with your cards, even those left in your hotel room (as hotel clerks have been known to be dishonest), and allow them to be used only at reliable places of business. Visitors have also been robbed after a stranger who has befriended them slips them a sleeping drug in their food or beverage. Do not accept food or drink from someone you do not know, and be wary of strangers who offer tours of the city or private boat cruises in Bangkok. If you do go on a tour or trek, try to do so with a reputable company.
Penalties for drug possession and dealing in Thailand are harsh, and little distinction is made between the various drugs (e.g. between marijuana and heroin), so you would do well to stay from all of them.
Taking the correct safety precautions will reduce your chances of encountering difficulties while in Thailand.
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Thai Currency
The basic monetary unit in Thailand is the Baht (THB). One Baht is divided into 100 Satang. The use of the Satang as a monetary unit is rare nowadays because of its small value.
The basic monetary unit in Thailand is the Baht (THB). One Baht is divided into 100 Satang. The use of the Satang as a monetary unit is rare nowadays because of its small value.
All major foreign currencies can be exchanged for Thai Baht at the banks and authorized money changers. Major credit cards are also widely accepted especially in resort areas.
Visitors may freely bring in foreign currencies and other forms of foreign exchange. Cheques or drafts brought in must be negotiated through a bank.
Upon leaving Thailand, visitors may take with them all foreign exchange that they brought in. For residents of Thailand, no more than US$ 20,000 in bank drafts or cheques may be taken out of the country at one time. Currency however, is not limited.
Foreign visitors may bring in an unlimited amount of Thai currency. For travelers leaving Thailand, up to THB 20.000 may be taken out without prior authorization. However, if the journey is to one of Thailand's neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Burma, the limit is THB 500.000 per person. |
The following coins and notes are currently in use: Coins:
25 Satang
50 Satang
1 Baht
5 Baht
10 Baht Bank notes:
10 Baht (brown)
20 Baht (green)
50 Baht (blue)
100 Baht (red)
500 Baht (purple)
1000 Baht (gray) |
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Holidays in Thailand
| January 1st (Fri) |
New Year's Day |
| Mar 1st (Mon) |
Magha Puja* |
| April 6th (Tue) |
Chakri Dynasty Day |
| April 13th to 15th (Tue to Thu) |
Songkraan (Thai New Year) |
| May 1st (Sat) |
Labor Day |
| May 5th (Wed) |
Coronation Day |
| May 10th (Mon) |
Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day |
| May 29th (Sat) |
Visakha Bucha* |
| July 27th (Tue) |
Asaraha Bucha* |
| July 28th (Wed) |
Buddhist Lent Day |
| August 12th (Thu) |
H.M. the Queen's Birthday |
| October 23rd (Sat) |
Chulalongkorn Day |
| December 5th (Sun) |
H.M. the King's Birthday |
| December 10th (Fri) |
Constitution Day |
| December 31st (Fri) |
New Year's Eve (
New Year's Eve)
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*Buddhist holidays are based on the Lunar Calendar and the actual dates vary from year to year. The dates around mid-February is Chinese New Year. This is not actually a public holiday, but there are traditional Chinese processions and colorful displays for the visitor to enjoy. From October 20th to October 28th, the famous Chinese Vegetarian Festival is celebrated in Phuket Town, a must for every visitor. |
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Important Telephone Numbers
| Emergencies: |
Airlines |
| Police |
191 |
Bangkok Airways |
225033 |
| Tourist Police |
1699 |
Emirates Air |
212892 |
| Ambulances Phuket or Bangkok |
Malaysian Airlines |
216675 |
| Hospital |
25442 - 106 |
Thai Airways |
212946 |
| Phuket Int. Hospital |
210935 |
Phuket Int. Airport |
327230 |
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Lufthansa (Bangkok) |
(02)2642400 |
| Lost Credit Cards: |
Government Services: |
| American Express |
(02)273 0022/44 |
Customs |
211105 |
| Diners Club |
(02)2383660/5775-6 |
Harbour Master |
391174 |
| Master + Visa |
(02)2991990-2 |
Immigration |
212108 |
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Weather Bureau |
327330 |
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