Banks: 09:30 to 15:30
Post Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Shops: 10:00 to 20:00, daily. Some stay open later
Business Offices: 08:00 to 17:30, daily

In general, Ayutthaya is a very safe destination to travel to, although like most cities, it does suffer from its fair share of undesirable characters. Always lock your passport and valuables in your hotel safe and never carry more cash on your person than is needed. Never leave bags unattended and never flash cash in public.

Like most of Thailand, the roads can be very dangerous places. Always be careful if you hire a motorbike and if you are crossing the road, be sure to look in all possible directions. Driving throughout Thailand can cause problems as road safety procedures are not as strict as they are in many Western countries.

Ayutthaya suffers from many stray dogs in poor condition. They can be particularly problematic during the low season when there aren’t so many people around. They often group together in packs at night, so if you are nervous of dogs, try to avoid quiet streets at night. If however you are used to stray dogs, they should pose no problems.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz, with two-pin sockets.

You are not required to have any vaccinations when you visit Thailand, although you are advised to ensure that you are up-to-date on stand vaccines such as tetanus, hepatitis A and diphtheria. If however you are going to be spending a lot of time with animals, especially wild animals, rabies vaccination is recommended.

Many travellers experience bad stomachs while they are on holiday, but usually a trip to the pharmacy and some rest will sort you out, other than minor ailments, disease is rare. It is however always important to ensure that you make sure your seafood has been thoroughly cooked, and stick to bottled water for drinking. Always make sure vegetables have been cooked and peeled and ice is from bottled water. If you have a particularly sensitive stomach, you will be wise to stay away from food stalls and many local restaurants as you may find that hygiene standards are not up to those in the west. Unfortunately, many of these places also offer some of the best food in the city.

If you find yourself the victim of an accident, you will find excellent hospitals in Ayutthaya as well as some world class hospitals in Bangkok. You will also find pharmacies throughout the city as well as smaller clinics.

Navanakorn Hospital: +6635 335 555

Thai is the national language spoken throughout Thailand, but you will find that many people speak English and you should have no problems getting yourself understood. People in the tourist industry tend to speak very good English.

The Thai Baht is the currency in Thailand (THB). Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht while coins can be found in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 baht. Satang also comes in coins but is not widely accepted.

Only baht is accepted in Ayutthaya and while you’ll find a number of banks and bureaux de change available for this purpose, many people now choose to take money straight out on their ATM card. ATM machines are widespread and not only is this an extremely convenient way of exchanging money, but you also get excellent rates. Hotels and even some shops and restaurants will also exchange money but you will receive much lower rates. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels as well as the larger restaurants and shops while traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at most banks.

Visitors are allowed to import 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco; one litre of alcohol and a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use only. Drugs, firearms, plants, meat and fruit are banned from being imported and Buddhist images and historical items are banned from being exported. Thai customs are renowned for being fairly rigid so it is important to ensure that you are not breaking any rules or you may face a hefty charge.

Thais follow many social etiquettes which can be quite confusing for many visitors, but it is important to at least learn a few of them to show respect. In general, you will find that most Thais are very polite and fairly reserved. The Thai smile is famous and they will almost always go out of their way to help all visitors. While they may appear fairly easy going and friendly, it is important to remember a few rules: feet are considered dirty, so always avoid pointing with them; always remove your shoes before entering a house; never touch any Thai on the head as the head is held in high esteem; never lose your temper in public and never force anyone to lose face, including yourself, this can have devastating consequences.

Despite many people’s opinions of Thailand, it is actually a very conservative society. It is important that you leave your beachwear at the beach and never sunbathe topless. Never show too much affection in public and remember that the royal family are held in the highest regard and it is adviseable not to talk about them to anyone.

Dining Etiquette
Unlike social etiquette, Thais follow no particular rules when eating. Generally Thais order a variety of dishes and share them among the group and you will find that the dishes go in the middle of the table and you help yourself to rice and whatever has been ordered. The dishes will arrive as soon as they are cooked and there is no such thing as starter. The first dish is literally the quickest cooked. Sharing food in this way allows you to sample a lot more than you would normally so take advantage of the style and get stuck in. It is wise not to expect either quick or particularly efficient service from Thai staff as dining is extremely laid back in Thailand. In local restaurants, waiters are rarely tipped although in the more upmarket establishments, tips are usually expected now.

Most nationalities will receive a 30 day visa upon arrival for free. It is also possible to get a 60 day and 90 day visa, although these must have been obtained before arrival in the country. Contact your nearest Thai embassy for information as well as for updates on visa regulations as laws have been known to change frequently and suddenly.

Ayutthaya’s tourist information office can be found at: 108/22 Mu 4, Tambon Pratu Chai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si, Ayutthaya, 13000. They can be contacted by calling: +66 3524 6076/7 or by emailing: tatyutya@tat.or.th.