Thailand Hotels

Welcome to Thailand, the land of smiles; where the country itself is as diverse and spectacular as the glossy postcards depict.
Thailand is a beautiful country, offering something for everyone: beautiful beaches, historic culture and museums, lively arts, a good nightlife and one of the best cuisines in the world.
The north has lush mountains and wild rivers, the south offers numerous islands and beaches, and the centre boasts bustling Bangkok. It is a relatively safe and stable country with friendly people who enjoy an easy-going attitude towards life.

Dining in Thailand is a highlight in any visit. The Thai’s are expert cooks and the menu extensive. Generally it is considered safe to eat the dishes on offer in any restaurant or from a street cart. Bangkok offers nearly ever kind of cuisine imaginable. The north leans towards a more Chinese style of cooking, while the southern regions make use of their abundant coconut supply and turn out mouth-watering coconut cream curries in red, gold and green! Of course the coastal areas offer a wide variety of fresh seafood, many restaurants providing tanks full of live food available for your choosing.

Tipping for service is generally up to you but some eateries include service charge in your bill. If you are not a lover of spicy food, learn the words, “Mai pet” which means “not spicy”.  In addition, if you are a vegetarian and want to try the many Thai delights sans meat, learn to say “Keen jay” (“eat vegetarian”). This means that you don’t eat any animal product, including eggs.

Chinese New Year takes place around the end of January or beginning of February, according to the moon. Bangkok’s China Town puts on a show of firecrackers, lion dancers parade, live music and loads of food stalls. Lanterns line the streets and the smell of incense wafts through the air.

Most people spend a few days in Bangkok either for shopping, partying, history or all three. If there is just one sight worth seeing in Bangkok, it is the Grand Palace, also known as Wat Phra Kaew. The palace compound includes the Royal residence, several ornate temple buildings, extensive murals from the 1700s, and Thailand’s national treasure – the Emerald Buddha. Arrive early and give yourself ample time to explore this exquisite palace. The most exotic (and traffic-free) way to arrive at the palace is by boat. The view of the palace from the river is magnificent. If you are not dressed appropriately, the palace compound has a changing room and lends clothing and shoes to unacquainted visitors.

Bangkok’s new airport, Suvarnabhumi (“Soo-wan-na-boom”) is located 30km east of downtown Bangkok. It is approximately a 45 to 60 minute drive from downtown Bangkok, depending on traffic.
Suvarnabhumi now handles all international and domestic flights to and from Bangkok.
Suvarnabhumi has inherited the old airport, Don Muang's "BKK" international airport code and Don Muang will be recoded as "DBK".

Thailand’s currency is Baht. Bills come in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are 10, 5, 1 and tiny satangs. Satangs are quarter fractions of 1 and are not widely used.

Most international currencies and Travellers Cheques can be exchanged at banks or local moneychangers. Major credit cards are accepted in major establishments as well as at moneychangers. You can get a cash advance on your credit card at most banks and transfer funds into the country, the latter usually taking a few working days. Western Union outlets are relatively common and easy to access.

There are many ATM’s throughout the country, usually with optional displays in English. International ATM cards with the Cirrus symbol link may be used at most ATM’s, although there may be a hefty transaction fee.