Useful tips for tourists going to Thailand. Tips for tourists in Thailand

Useful tips for travelers to Thailand
Thailand is not only an exotic paradise, but also a country with a unique culture. This also applies to the island of Phuket. As for the culture of behavior in Thailand, there is a significant difference here with the norms to which Russian citizens are accustomed. However, every tourist must clearly understand that the attitude towards local traditions can only be respectful, otherwise various troubles may arise on this basis. Therefore, when going to Thailand, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of behavior, as well as read the advice given by tourists who have visited this area more than once.
Tip 1. If necessary, you need to avoid various types of touching that could be regarded as an insult to a person.
Tip 2. Raising your voice when clarifying everyday problems is also a sign of ignorance and will not bring the desired result. It will be most effective to address the problem to people in high positions. Raising your voice is a sign of something serious and may result in the police being involved.
Tip 3. To contact a police officer, it is better to opt for a representative of the “tourist police”. He speaks English, and he exudes even greater friendliness than when communicating with his colleague from the regular police.
Tip 4. Thailand is characterized by freedom of morals, but attempts to preach nudism may result in a fine.
Tip 5. Dollars must be exchanged in banks; airports and hotels are not suitable places for this due to the unfavorable exchange rate. Try to use only local money, as exchanging outside the bank building is comparable to a real robbery.
Tip 6. Photocopies of all documents, including the ticket back home, will guarantee your salvation if the documents are lost.
Tip 7. When going for a walk, try to take with you the business card of the hotel where you are staying. Thailand is one of those countries where it is very easy to get lost. It will be difficult to hear the name you say. That's what a business card is for.
Tip 8. You should not make calls to Russia while in a hotel room. A call from a street payphone will cost you several times less, or even better, buy or take a free SIM card from any cellular operator - the cost per minute is 1-2 rubles.
Tip 9: Before you get into a taxi, you need to agree on the price. It is also worth remembering that the fixed fare is much higher than the metered fare.
Here are the main useful tips when visiting Phuket or another province of Thailand.
Tips for vacationers on the island of Phuket
We will try to give some advice for everyone who is planning to go and have a good rest in Phuket.
Diving shops located on the island offer modern equipment for rent, and for beginners there is the opportunity to take lessons.
The cost of one day of scuba diving is approximately 3,000 baht, but the most popular are five-day excursions to outlying islands. An example of such islands is the Similan Islands, which are famous for the purity and transparency of their water, as well as its high temperature, thanks to which it is possible to get around without a special suit.
Tipping is usually carried out for porters, taxi drivers and those hotel workers whose service is provided at the highest level. Restaurants where the cost of services is not included in the total bill suggest a tip of 10-15% of the paid meal.
The national transport of the Thais is the tuk-tuk; it does not have a meter, but the cost of travel on it is several times cheaper than a taxi. However, such transport is unlikely to be suitable for long distances.
Souvenir shops in Thailand, and any other shops, usually open within 12 hours. Here, tourists have opportunities to purchase souvenirs for relatives and friends. It is also worth remembering that in Thailand there is a ban on the export of ivory products and figurines depicting Buddha.
When it comes to clothing, you should give preference to loose ones, made of cotton. A suit and tie will only be needed if you visit a certain restaurant.
You can take photos everywhere, but using a video camera is not as free. It is not allowed to film without specific permission in the building of the Grand Royal Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Most of the dishes prepared in Thailand are distinguished by their characteristic spiciness.
Most restaurants can offer menus not only in Thai, but also in English and Russian.
Salt, as a rule, is not present in dishes; fish or soy sauce is a substitute, so to speak.
Drinking tap water is not recommended to avoid infectious intestinal diseases. It is better to order clean water directly to your hotel room.
Holidays in Thailand are associated with an abundance of fruits, which can also be dangerous for the intestines. Therefore, washing them every time before eating will eliminate this possibility to a minimum.
What dangers await us on vacation?
Marine life.
An encounter with jellyfish in Thailand can happen anywhere. The coastal waters of Phuket are home to a huge number of species of jellyfish. At popular resorts there is no such danger, but still, it will not be superfluous to have knowledge of what the danger of meeting a jellyfish can be. A jellyfish can sting, but there are no toxic substances in their venom and the possibility of death from their bite is zero. But there are also jellyfish whose bite can actually kill you. For the most part, their location is the coastal waters of Hua Hin.
Some species of fish that live in coral thickets are also dangerous. Therefore, snorkeling is dangerous, as it can lead to encounters with poisonous fish that cause injuries incompatible with life. All this gives reason to unquestioningly follow safety rules when in the water.
Snakes.
Thailand is also home to snakes, of which there are several hundred species. Some are not dangerous, but from some you cannot expect such nobility. An encounter with a snake can occur both in the countryside and in the very center of a big city. Those places where there is grass and greenery can put you at risk of encountering a snake. For some snakes, their characteristic feature is passivity, while others, on the contrary, are overly active. You should be afraid of snake bites, as they can cause death. In the event of a bite, immediate medical attention should be sought. But the doctor will need to know which snake caused the bite in order to prescribe the necessary medications. As a piece of advice, we can recommend avoiding contact with any snakes, since some are simply indistinguishable from each other.
Scorpios.
An encounter with scorpions in Thailand can happen with the same probability as an encounter with a snake. In most of them there is no danger to the human body, except for a fairly strong sting, from which the likelihood of dying is very small. In the event of a bite, a visit to a doctor must be made to treat the wound.
The meeting place with a dangerous animal can be anything, even a hotel room. When going for a walk, you should not touch unfamiliar animals to avoid unwanted consequences. Even centipedes can be dangerous.
Features of Thailand
Thais are strong individualists with remarkable tolerance. Following Buddhist traditions became a teaching for them to overcome and mitigate conflicts and disputes as much as possible, without bringing them to the point of flaring up. Thus, speaking in simple and understandable language, if some actions are committed that relate only to one person, then no one has the right to interfere with them, but if the public is affected, then everything done is subject to strict regulations.
Thais are characterized by neatness in their clothing. You can hardly see anyone here in torn jeans and worn T-shirts. Wearing shorts is acceptable on the beach or while staying at a hotel. At the entrance of every house, a necessary condition is to remove shoes, the same applies to temples.
In Thailand, you must avoid stroking anyone's head, be it a small child or an old person. And in a cross-legged position, you cannot point your feet towards people, as well as towards the statues of Buddha and the king. The royal house cannot be mentioned even casually in conversation. This topic is inherently taboo.
There is no wrong place for politeness. The rules of politeness are no different from the rules in force in other countries. But here it is important to have information on some cultural characteristics, if violated, you can hear insults directed at you. Expressing anger outwardly is considered rude and ill-mannered in Thailand. All doors will be open here for calm and smiling guests.
Public displays of affection between a man and a woman are not accepted here. Modern couples are allowed to walk arm in arm, but only if they receive approval from society. For a young guy and girl holding hands, such behavior is unacceptable and indicates a violation of morality.
The traditional greeting is “wai,” which requires folding your palms together and placing them on your head or chest. Significant persons are greeted with this gesture longer than others. Although in everyday life everyone gets by with a banal nod of the head.
As national features, it is worth especially highlighting the sacredness of all images of Buddha, the punishment of all those who decide to somehow desecrate Buddhist shrines, respect and reverence for the royal family, and the removal of shoes before entering the temple. In addition, touching the head or showing the bottom of the feet is unacceptable. When visiting a cinema, you need to know that before the start of the show the royal anthem will be played, which you will have to listen to, just like everyone else, while standing.
10 useful tips for tourists
1. There is no need to take a large number of things with you. There are often cases when payment is required at the airport due to excess baggage. Take only the essentials with you on the road.
2. You should not choose a direction that is too high in cost. Many cities deliberately inflate the price, thereby leaving tourists without money at the end of their vacation.
3. Most tourists do not look at the weather forecast for the period of their trip, which leads to unplanned purchases of warm or summer clothes.
4. A lot of travelers go broke making calls from a mobile phone due to the high cost of roaming. Therefore, before your trip, you need to inquire about the tariffs of your mobile operator and connect to the tariff that will be the most profitable in the country’s conditions. In addition, it would be advisable to clarify the availability of Wi-Fi adapters in the hotel. As a rule, Wi-Fi in hotels is provided free of charge, which will significantly reduce the cost of calls to your home country. Some local operators typically provide tariffs for calls to their home country on favorable terms. You also need to ask your guide about this in advance.
5. Before the trip, it is necessary to analyze all the necessary things, including electronic devices: laptops, mobile phones.
6. Making a trip during the high season will not add to the impression; on the contrary, there is a high probability of encountering too high prices. Travel agencies advise coming to the island of Phuket in Thailand between March and April.
7. You should also expect that a considerable amount of money will be spent on tips to hotel and restaurant staff during your trip. Knowing the places where tips are taken and their amount will help you avoid unexpected expenses during your trip.
8. You should not save on buying insurance, because if something happens you will have to pay for medical services yourself, and this costs a lot of money abroad.
9. Using taxi services is expensive and may not be affordable for everyone. Despite the speed and comfort provided during the trip. So in Phuket, the cost of a taxi fare (minimum) is 300 baht, and this amount does not depend on the distance that needs to be covered. Therefore, before your trip, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the surface urban transport map and the metro map.
10. A significant part of hotels and airlines use a system of accumulative points and discounts in their work. Therefore, you should not delay in obtaining special credit cards and earning bonus points, with the help of which you can book a room in a good hotel or buy a plane ticket quickly and for less money.

Thailand is a very popular tourist destination. You can enjoy the sun and sea here all year round. At the same time, this is an exotic country. So before your trip, it makes sense to find out about the local culture, lifestyle and even natural conditions in advance. Here are some interesting facts that will help you navigate better while traveling in Thailand.

It makes sense to choose a time for a holiday in Thailand only when you want to go to a specific resort - it is important not to fall into the rainy season. If you are planning a trip simply to this country, and the region does not matter, then at any time of the year there will be a coast where the sun shines.
Wai is a Thai greeting used instead of the European handshake. To greet a Thai resident, you need to fold your hands in front of you so that your fingers touch each other, resembling a lotus flower, and bow your head slightly. The one who is younger in age greets first.
Air travel within the country is often used by tourists to visit the famous island resorts - Samui or Phuket, if the main vacation takes place on the mainland. Such a flight will take about an hour, which will seem like sheer nonsense if you remember, for example, how long it takes to fly from Thailand to Moscow.
Jellyfish are ubiquitous in the coastal waters of Thailand, but very few of them are poisonous. The most dangerous is the sea wasp, which is carried from the coast of Australia to Koh Samui, Phuket and the Gulf of Thailand. Another very poisonous Australian visitor is the invertebrate physalia "Portuguese man-of-war". It has bright blue tentacles and a transparent sail-shaped bubble that floats above the surface of the water. Contact with these sea creatures requires immediate medical attention.
The national currency is the Thai baht. When leaving on vacation, it is better to take dollars or euros in large banknotes with you and exchange some of them immediately upon arrival. Foreign banknotes are not accepted in stores. Residents of the country treat paper bahts with care, since they contain an image of the king they reverence.
Night markets operate in cities and resorts from five o'clock in the evening to two o'clock in the morning. Often, to install them, traffic on the road is blocked, and the street is temporarily pedestrianized. Saphan Bhut is one such market in Bangkok, and it is aimed not at tourists, but at local residents. Here you can not only buy a variety of goods much cheaper than in markets for foreigners, but also see real Asian life.
A moped or scooter is the most common vehicle rented by tourists. It is much more convenient for moving around the streets than a car, and cheaper. They rent them out wherever there is demand - even in bars and hotels. Although it is safer and more reliable to rent vehicles from specialized, relatively large companies.
Thai cuisine is very original, so all tourists try to try local dishes. Its main ingredients are rice, fish, seafood and exotic fruits. They are mixed in the most unusual combinations for Europeans: sweet and spicy, sour and salty, etc. A variety of spices are used in large quantities. Seafood is especially popular among tourists: you can buy it at the market and immediately ask for it to be cooked.
A live orchid is one of the most beautiful souvenirs you can bring from Thailand. Along with the lotus, this flower is loved and revered by the inhabitants of the country. The tropical climate allows you to grow plants of the most incredible colors. Every February, a three-day flower festival is held in the country's cultural capital, Chiang Mai.
Thailand is one of the countries where there are strict customs restrictions. It is strictly prohibited to transport psychotropic drugs of any kind across the border unless there is an official prescription. The death penalty is imposed in this country for transporting substances considered narcotic. In addition, it is prohibited to export Buddha images in any form from the country, with the exception of body medallions.

This Asian country has its own traditions that may not be clear to Europeans. It is not customary here to show negative emotions in public - to get angry, to swear. You cannot pat local residents on the head or hug them when meeting or saying goodbye. It is highly undesirable to touch Buddha statues and other sacred relics when visiting religious sites. To enjoy your vacation and not get into an unpleasant situation, it is better to follow these rules, thus respecting the culture of the exotic kingdom.

Are you planning a trip to Thailand? Or just curious to know what it's like there?

We present to you our photo review of Phuket (visited in the spring of 2015).

In this article you will find answers to the most common questions: How long to fly to Thailand? Do you need a visa? What's the weather like? What do Thais look like? What should I bring? What is the travel budget? Read about all this here :)

1. How long is the flight to Thailand?

The flight from Moscow to Phuket takes about 9 hours. Back - even longer :)

2. Do I need a visa to Thailand?

Russians do not need a visa, they need a migration card.

They will give you forms on the plane and advise you on how to fill them out.

Here is a sample of filling out a migration card.

There will be two such sheets, one sheet will be taken away upon arrival, the second will rest with you: it will be required only before boarding the return flight.

3. What language do you need to know to travel to Thailand?

English. All sellers and waiters speak English clearly, and sometimes understand Russian. Locals communicate with each other in Thai.

The Thai language is quite melodic, pleasant, but not completely understandable. You don’t even have to try to download a tutorial on the Thai language - why? An entry-level English language for a holiday in Thailand will be enough for you :)

The menu in Russian in cafes will, of course, make you smile or even burst into laughter - there are a lot of typos and funny wording)

4. Thais: what are they like?)

Outwardly, these people are short, with dark skin and small features.

The Thais seemed to us less intrusive than, for example, the Turks. I simply calmly offer you services; if you leave, no one will grab you by the hand and offer discounts. The barkers in the cafe will just as calmly invite you to come in, and will not shout, shouting over each other.

Salespeople will often simply tell you “Hello! Massage? That's all. Nice and unobtrusive.

Thai girls look something like this photo:

The cutest Thai girls work in offices - at the reception, in
car rental centers :) But the masseuses have strong hands and rather awkward figures.

In general, we remember the Thais as calm, friendly, somewhat lazy and relaxed. They look at tourists rather indifferently and even seem a little shy.

5. Official currency of Thailand:

Thai baht

Photo of Thai currency:

6. Where can I find exchangers in Phuket?

There are exchangers at every step! There is one exchanger, and three booths later you can see the next one. It’s easy to find out - the inscription: “Exchange”.

The course may vary significantly. Compare in several places, then change.

The check is perfect: nothing extra))

Attention: for dollars there is a different exchange rate depending on the denomination of the banknote! (That is, it is better to change 1 $100 bill than 5 $20 bills)

There are ATMs - also located on busy streets. The ATM charges a fee of ~150 baht for each transaction.

Bank cards are accepted in Thailand. Almost all pharmacies, tour desks, and hospitals.

Look for a sign on the front door with the Master Card or Visa logo.

Of course, you will have to pay for fruit and taxis in cash.

7. What currency should I take to Thailand?

Take dollars. In general it's not a big difference.

8. Exchange rates:

Now 1 Thai baht = 1.8 Russian rubles.

Those. to understand the price in rubles, you need to multiply the price in baht by ~2.

9. Internet in Phuket:

There is Internet! :) In 3-star hotels there is wi-fi, but it is quite slow - it was enough for correspondence on Skype, but not enough for uploading photos to Instagram.

And in our case, Wi-Fi was not in the rooms, but only near the reception.

The cafes (almost all) have good wi-fi. The password is written on napkin holders. Ask at the entrance or look for a cafe with signs informing about Internet availability.

10. Tourists in Thailand:

The resort is international, Russians are often found there. There are also people from China, Japan, Sweden, English speakers, German speakers. Everyone is behaving quite peacefully.

11. Russian tourists in Thailand:

As everywhere else: there are many of them and you can easily recognize them. I won’t even describe why)

Here, for example, is the number of newly arrived passengers on a regular Moscow-Phuket flight:

12. Transfer from Phuket airport to the hotel:

It takes 1-2 hours, depending on the situation on the road (there are often traffic jams), on the type of transport (a small minivan is faster and more agile than a huge bus), and on the remoteness of the place of residence.

13. Hotels in Phuket:

Mostly small buildings, 3*. The area is open, there may be a swimming pool. This is what a standard Phuket development looks like:

A 3* hotel in Thailand is:

clean spacious room
a large bed
air conditioner
fridge
TV
toilet
towels
set of dishes
nice balcony with table and chairs

There are tiles on the floor. We were cleaned every day, clean and tidy. Towels were also changed every day.

Between the beaches of Kata and Karon there are also more expensive hotels, with a guarded area, parking, etc.

14. Traffic in Thailand:

The traffic is on the left side, chaotic. The roads are empty in the morning, busy in the afternoon, and very busy in the evening: many people turn on the music at full volume.

Lots of mopeds.

15. What is the weather like in Thailand?

The weather is the same all year round - warm and wonderful :)

During the day, all months of the year: approximately +32

At night, all months in years: approximately +25

The water temperature does not drop below +25 degrees!

16. How much does a Thai massage cost in Thailand?

Prices for massage start from 300 baht/hour. (~600 rubles)

Most often, any massage (whether it is a massage of just the legs or the whole body) costs 400 baht.

Massage rooms, like exchange offices, in Phuket are just at every step and everywhere about the same. If there are free seats, Thai women sit at the entrance waiting for clients. You must take off your shoes and leave your shoes at the entrance.

The massage room has beds and chairs. Foot massage is usually done in chairs.

It's nice and relaxing, try it :)

17. What to eat and drink in Phuket?

And this is a topic for a separate note :) I’ll tell you in detail a little later.

In short - delicious and varied seafood, fruits, excellent and inexpensive fresh juices.

18. What to bring from Thailand?

In our opinion - fruits and cosmetics.

Well, and magnets, if you collect them. Although, they are mostly ugly here.

By the way, large grocery stores sell special shipping containers for fruits. It looks like a plastic basket with handles.

Attention! The following fruits cannot be brought from Thailand:

coconut (it is not visible through security)
watermelon and melons (can burst on a plane due to pressure drop)
durian (due to its pungent smell).

19. What cosmetics should I bring from Thailand?

It is worth paying attention to products with coconut oil. Or just coconut oil. There's a lot of it here.

You can find creams, lip balms, lotions, soaps... Everything is sold in pharmacies.

Prices are average: the simplest lip balm costs 100 baht (200 rubles), hand cream - 150 baht (300 rubles), lotion - 250 baht (500 rubles).

Read the composition! There are beautiful products that contain a lot of not the best ingredients and flavorings. Try to pay attention to cosmetics in simple packaging, with a simple and understandable composition.

You can also bring leather goods, shoes, snake medicine, latex, sunburn... In general, stop buying junk and use sunscreen :)

20. Prices and travel budget:

Prices for tours - 7 nights - (plane tickets, transfer, accommodation in a 3* hotel, breakfast) start from ~ 45 tr. per person

A modest dinner for two costs ~ 750 baht (= 1350 rubles). This includes two fresh grilled fish, salad and drinks.

You can have lunch for 200 baht (soup, drink).

Plus fruits, excursions, souvenirs...

Those. additional expenses for a week per person need about 15 thousand rubles more. (a couple of inexpensive excursions, food, souvenirs)

Total ~60 tr. costs a week of holiday in Thailand per person.

You can go a little cheaper, you can go much more expensive. It's up to your taste and wallet :)

In general, we were satisfied with our holiday in Thailand: it is warm, calm, beautiful and delicious. We recommend:)

Still have questions? Ask!

Have a nice holiday:)

Impressions of the country and useful tips from one of the tourists...

Going abroad for the first time is always scary. And it’s even more scary if it’s exotic eastern country, such as Thailand, although it has long been favored by Russian tourists. And now, having already visited Thailand twice and planning to live there permanently, I would like to help those who are traveling to this wonderful country for the first time.

What is the first thing a tourist needs in Pattaya?

There are several rules that are useful both to people traveling on a tour package and to savages.

Firstly, it should be taken into account that this country has high solar activity. A cream with a protection level of at least 50ph is simply a must. Particular attention should be paid to the shoulders and face, they burn most often. It should be noted that if you burn on the first day, redness and other possible complications will haunt you for more than one day, even if you use special anti-burn products. Therefore, no matter how much you want a beautiful tan and preferably right away, in the first two days it is better to actively use sun protection. Then you can gradually reduce the degree of protection. Coconut oil is also great for an even tan, since there is a lot of it here.

If, no matter how hard you defend yourself, you get burned, there is one good remedy. All small markets (like 7/11 or Family Mart) have Aloe Vera. Usually this is a green bottle of gel, the price is about 100 rubles. You buy it and generously lubricate the burnt areas overnight. Usually only slight redness remains in the morning.

Question two: where to take excursions? Is it worth taking tours from the “streets” and how do they differ from so-called licensed tour operators?

Last year I went abroad for the first time and was quite puzzled when faced with the problem of purchasing excursions. First of all, as an inexperienced person, I was frightened by the information that tours from the streets are dangerous, uninteresting and often save money primarily on quality. This information is distributed by operators from large travel companies. I'm afraid this is not true.

It so happens that I know one of the street tour sellers well. And he explained to me why the price is so different. The fact is that the streets work directly with tourism service providers in Thailand, and in large companies you have to feed the entire corporation, but it turns out that their excursions are no different. Simply put, both street sellers and guides of official tour operators are intermediaries of the same company, but in different price categories. And from personal experience I can say that “street” tours are much more fun. There are a lot of young people there, young and interesting guides. Therefore, you can save a lot of money on tours, but as they say, this is a personal matter for everyone.

Attention! The opinion of the site administration may not coincide with the opinion of the author of this review!

Also sometimes a problem for Russian tourists is food. Thai cuisine is specific; eating in unfamiliar places is scary, especially considering that Thais are not known for their cleanliness. In Pattaya there are several large food courts where you can eat freely without fear of poisoning or Thai spices. One of these is the Central Festival, located on Second Street right in the center of Pattaya. Restaurants and eateries are located on all levels of the shopping center. On the third level, for example, there is a wonderful restaurant with national cuisines not only of Thailand, China, Russia, but also of India, Italy, and Japan. You can sit on the terrace with a wonderful view of the sea.

For risk-taking people who come to Thailand not only for relaxation, but also for acute gastronomic sensations, there is only one piece of advice: eat where the Thais themselves eat and do not neglect the spices. And be sure to try the banana pancakes from the carts on the street: crazy delicious and only cost 20 baht. There is one more point. In Thailand, they are very sensitive to children, so if you say that you are buying food for a child, they will make it exactly as it should be: without spices or other surprises.

The question is also often asked: is it necessary for a trip to have at least an initial knowledge of English?

In fact, English is not needed at all. Many Thais speak Russian well, but Thai English is difficult to understand even for a native speaker. You can learn a couple of phrases in Thai; locals are always happy when foreigners try to speak their native language.

There is one more important point that should be taken into account when traveling to Thailand. The mentality of the local population is very different from the Russian one. Thais are much more relaxed, positive and calmer than Russians. They are in no hurry, love to sleep, and smile often. No matter how hard you try, you will not make the dancers behave differently. Neither shouting nor monetary reward will change this. If you need something from Thais, approach them and politely, slowly, without active gestures, repeating key words several times, explain the purpose of your conversation. It's better when one person speaks, not a crowd. But most importantly, no violence or threats. Not only will it be of no use, but you will most likely have problems with the tourist police. So be careful, attentive and polite.

Follow these simple rules, it will be much easier for you to adapt to the unfamiliar, but so attractive Thailand and get a truly unforgettable vacation experience. Have a nice rest!