Banks: 09:00 to 15:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 15:30, Monday to Friday; some open Saturday mornings until 12:00
Government Offices: 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; some open Saturday mornings until 12:00
Business Centres: 08:00/08:30 to 17:30/18:00, Monday to Saturday
Shops: 09:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday; many open Sundays also
Trat town centre is used to receiving a steady influx of foreigners that are either just passing through on their way to Cambodia or taking beach holidays on the mainland and the nearby islands. Consequently, the locals are friendly and welcoming and crime directed at visitors is rare. Veering off the beaten track into more rural areas of the province is also considered safe.
Obviously, like any destination where tourists are present, there are a few unscrupulous locals, so it pays to keep cash and valuables in secure places - whether about your person or at your hotel room.
220V, 50Hz; both two prong flat and round are usual used.
Avoid drinking the tap water in Trat; it’s not considered potable. Exercise caution when eating food from roadside vendors; you may not have the same resistance to certain strains of bacteria that the locals do. Malaria is said to be present on Koh Chang, but risks of contracting it are low. Spray liberally with a DEET-based repellent on exposed areas of skin as night falls or if venturing into jungle areas.
Accidents can happen when riding motorcycles or taking part in water sports or other outdoor activities and visitors should be sure to have adequate medical cover in their holiday insurance. The quality of medical care at local government hospitals in Trat province is reasonable, while the Trat Bangkok Hospital observes international standards.
Emergency services: 191/1669/199 (police/medical/fire)
Trat Bangkok Hospital: +66 3953 2735
Thai is the national language of Thailand and is subject to many regional variations. Trat is close to Bangkok so most locals speak Central Thai (also known as Standard Thai). English speakers are common in tourist restaurants, hotels, and guesthouses.
Thailand uses the Thai baht (THB) as its official currency, a unit comprised of 100 satang.
Non-Thai nationals may bring the following into the country: up to 200 cigarettes or the equivalent in cigars or loose tobacco; a maximum of 1 litre of alcoholic beverage; and personal items not exceeding 10,000 baht in value. Volumes in excess of this are subject to duty payments. Pornographic and religiously offensive material is prohibited.
Thai etiquette is complicated, but if you learn the basics you’ll get by without any problems. Thais don’t usually shake hands as a greeting, but rather they use a gesture known as a wai (hands in prayer position at upper-chest height). A wai is usually offered first by a younger party or someone of lower social class and then generally returned by the superior party.
Remove shoes before entering temples and homes; never point or gesticulate with the feet or raise them in public; and don’t pat locals on the head or touch the heads of children. Women should not go topless on beaches and men should not go shirtless in the town. Members of both sexes should dress conservatively when away from the beach. Public displays of affection are frowned upon; save them for the hotel room. Avoid publicly criticising or complaining to locals, as this can cause a loss of face for both parties.
Visitors from a total of 47 specified countries are permitted entry to Thailand for 30 days without need of a visa, provided they have a valid passport and an onward flight ticket. The majority of other visitors require a visa; these can be obtained from Thai embassies in major cities around the world.
There are no tourist information offices in the Trat province. Visitors with urgent enquiries should contact the main Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Bangkok on: +66 2250 5500.
