Thailand’s weather can be tempestuous, with year-round humidity, rocketing temperatures, and rains of biblical proportions. However, the optimum time to visit is during the cooler, drier months from November to February. It is no coincidence that this is the peak tourist season, when sights may get crowded. The hot season, from March to July, can be unbearable, while the rainy season, which generally lasts from June to October, is the least predictable of the three periods.

As the climate in Thailand is generally hot and humid, it is advisable to dress in cool, nonrestricting clothes made from natural fibers. A sweater may be needed in northern and northeastern regions during the cool season. Throughout Thailand, the rainy season brings sudden downpours; a light raincoat is handy. If visiting temples, appropriate dress is required, as is easily removable footwear. A first-aid kit is also useful.

Bangkok is a popular launching point for other Southeast Asian destinations, so it is necessary to book airline tickets well in advance. This is especially so during Thailand’s peak tourist season, November to February, when flights and hotels are heavily booked. If you plan to travel during this period, it is wise to make arrangements at least three to six months prior to departure.

Many nationalities, including the citizens of most European countries, Australia, and the US, can enter Thailand for up to 30 days without a pre-arranged visa. Proof of a confirmed return flight or other on-going travel arrangements must be presented upon arrival in Thailand. This 30-day period is not extendible. Nationals of several smaller European countries, such as Andorra, must obtain a visa before traveling. For those wishing to stay longer, a 60-day tourist visa can be arranged from a Thai embassy or consulate prior to arrival in Thailand. This usually takes two to three working days to process, but may take longer during busy periods.

A 90-day nonimmigrant visa must be applied for in your home country and requires a letter of verification from a Thai source giving a valid reason, such as business or study, for spending three months in Thailand. This visa is slightly more expensive than the 60-day tourist visa.

With all visas, entry into Thailand must occur within 90 days of issue. Visa extensions are at the discretion of the Immigration Department  in Bangkok or any other immigration office in Thailand. Over-staying a visa carries a fine of 100 baht  per day and can result in serious penalties. Reentry visas, allowing the visitor to leave the country and return within 60 days, can be applied for at the Bangkok Immigration Department. Proof of funds sufficient to support the traveler while in Thailand may be required in some cases. Strictly speaking, travelers entering Thailand should have at least six months left on their passport. It is best to confirm all such details with a Thai embassy or consulate before traveling.

Crossing the border into neighboring countries generally depends on the current political situation (see Danger Spots). A four-week tourist visa for Myanmar (Burma) can be obtained from the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok (there will be a charge). A 15-day tourist visa for Laos can be issued by the Lao Embassy, but it is often quicker to apply for it at a travel agency in major cities such as Bangkok or Chiang Mai. A 15-day tourist visa is available free of charge upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport.

There are no legal immunization requirements unless you are traveling from a country known to be infected with yellow fever. It is recommended that everyone be immunized against polio, tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A. In addition – for those travelers going to remote or rural areas, or who are staying more than two to three weeks – BCG (tuberculosis), hepatitis B, rabies, diphtheria, and Japanese encephalitis are advised. For the latest advice, contact your doctor, who will also be able to advise on the current guidelines for malaria prevention, as the drug recommendations change fairly often.

Some vaccines need to be given separately or in stages. Malaria tablets, meanwhile, are started a week before leaving and continued for several weeks after returning. For these reasons it is advisable to contact your doctor at least six weeks before departure.

Customs regulations in Thailand are standard. During an inbound flight you will be given a customs form that must be filled in and handed over at the customs desk after claiming your baggage. Thai customs restrictions for goods carried into the country are the following: 200 cigarettes, one liter of wine or spirits. For complete details about export declarations, duty payments, and VAT refunds visit www.customs.go.th

A car or motorbike can be brought into the country for touring purposes for up to six months, but this requires prior arrangement through the Thai embassy in your home country. The carrying of drugs, firearms, or pornography is strictly prohibited.

Although there are no restrictions on the maximum amount of money an individual may bring into the country, there is a minimum requirement, that varies according to the type of visa on which you are traveling. Check with your local Thai embassy for current requirements.

Antiques and Buddha images are not allowed out of Thailand without authorization. If you wish to export such items, you must first contact the Fine Arts Department  of the National Museum in Bangkok at least five days before the date of shipment to fill in a form accompanied by two frontal photographs of the object being purchased (no more than five pieces to be shown in one photograph). Contemporary “works of art,” such as paintings bought in markets, can be taken out of the country without permission. It is illegal to leave Thailand with more than 50,000 baht  without the correct authorization.

For international flights out of Thailand, there is a departure tax of 500 baht  per person. For domestic flights the departure tax is 50 baht . The departure tax is included in the price of your ticket.

The many branches of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are very helpful, offering plenty of practical and background information on sights and festivals, as well as maps, brochures, miniguides, and posters. They also have a useful list of reputable travel agents and hotels. There is a small information booth in Don Muang airport. Many of the provincial capitals in Thailand have a TAT office (listed throughout this guide), as do some overseas countries.

Admission charges to sights in Thailand are usually nominal, ranging from 10–50 baht  for government-run establishments (including most national parks), to 100 baht  or more for private museums. Occasionally, foreigners may (legitimately) be charged a higher admission price than locals, on the assumption that they earn more than most Thais. Major tourist wats  charge a set fee; in others there is usually a box for donations.

Most destinations and sights in Thailand can be visited throughout the year, though accommodations on, and ferries to, some of the southern islands may be limited in the rainy season. In general, major tourist attractions open at 8am or 9am and close any time between 3:30pm and 6pm. A few also shut for lunch between noon and 1pm. Most major sights are open daily, but some national museums close for public holidays and on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Large department stores are usually open daily 10am–9pm, and smaller shops are open 8am–9pm. In small towns markets are usually held on a daily basis. Commercial offices are invariably open 8am–noon and 1–5pm Monday to Friday. Government offices are open 8:30am–noon and 1–4:30pm Monday to Friday. During the Chinese New Year, many businesses may close, especially in the South. See banking hours for further details.

There are few facilities for disabled travelers in Thailand. Sidewalks can be uneven and pedestrian bridges are often accessed only by steep steps. Wheelchair access is limited to the top-class hotels in major cities. The easiest way to travel is to book an organized tour or to contact the Association of Physically Handicapped People  for further information.

Thais adore children and will go out of their way to help you make them happy. The larger hotels have baby sitting services, and TAT offers advice on attractions that have special appeal to kids, such as zoos. Hats and sunblock are a must for children (and adults) out in the sun. There are plenty of fast-food outlets and adaptable chefs who will willingly provide a choice of suitable alternatives to spicy meals.

There are many facilities for visitors to undertake Buddhist studies. The International Buddhist Meditation Center  has details of English-language courses at wats  in and around Bangkok.

Most other religious denominations are represented in Thailand – listed below are religious centers in Bangkok offering services in English. Christ Church  holds Anglican and Episcopalian services. The Holy Redeemer Catholic Church  holds services every Sunday. The Jewish Association of Thailand has occasional services at the Jewish Community Center . The Haroon Mosque  has services for Muslims. Places of worship are listed in the telephone directories available in hotels and guesthouses in Bangkok and provincial capitals.

It is useful to learn a few Thai phrases, and Thais will be delighted that you have made the effort. Many local people in popular tourist towns speak some English, as do most hotel receptionists. Sight and road names in these areas are transliterated, and menus are often in English as well as Thai. Prices and road numbers are in Arabic numerals. Transliterated spellings vary wildly in different maps and guides, and on signs. Note that “j” and “ch” are interchangeable, as are “d” and “t.” The letters “ph” (e.g. as in Phuket) are pronounced “p,” never “f.” Likewise, the “h” in “th” is always silent (e.g., Thailand).

Bangkok time is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and 15 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (6, 11, and 14 during Daylight Savings). Although the standard clock and 24-hour clock are used and widely understood, Thailand also has its unique own system. Thais divide the day into four segments of six hours each. For example, 7am for us is one in the morning for them.

Two calendars are used in Thailand: the Gregorian (Western) and the Buddhist calendars. The Buddhist Era (BE) starts 543 years before the Gregorian era. To convert from the Gregorian calendar to the Buddhist calendar, add 543 years. For example, AD 1957 is the equivalent of 2500 BE.

The metric system is generally used in Thailand, although traditional weight and measurement systems are sometimes used in markets and outside Bangkok. As well as being a unit of currency, the baht  is also a unit of weight that is used when pricing gold.

The electric current for the whole of Thailand is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Dual-prong rounded plugs as well as flat-pin plugs can be used in sockets. Major hotels in Bangkok also have 110-volt outlets for electric razors. Adaptors can be bought in any department store or electrical store. These outlets also sell power-surge cables, which are vital if you are traveling with a laptop computer.

Power failures are increasingly rare but not unheard of in smaller towns, especially during the rainy season. In some rural areas it is a good idea to keep a flashlight handy.

Digital photography dominates Thailand. Photography shops are easy to find, and they can print out your digital images or load them on a disk at very reasonable rates. If you use film, you may find it harder to obtain, though there are several professional photography stores in Bangkok.