Thailand 2011 - (Page 31)

FAST FACTS Capital city: Bangkok Getting there: Thai Airways, Thailand’s national carrier, operates international ﬂights from North America to its hub in Bangkok and to a wide range of smaller domestic destinations within Thailand. But it’s far from your clients’ only option when it comes to airlines. In fact, Bangkok is one of Asia’s largest airline hubs. The following also serve Thailand: Air France: airfrance.com Air India: airindia.in British Airways: britishairways.com Cathay Paciﬁc: cathaypaciﬁc.com China Airlines: china-airlines.com Delta Air Lines: delta.com Emirates: emirates.com Japan Airlines: jal.com KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: klm.com Qantas Airways: qantas.com.au United Airlines: united.com Many of these carriers provide service directly into smaller destinations like Chiang Mai and Phuket. Clients can also book ﬂights between smaller destinations on intra-Thai air carriers: AirAsia: airasia.com Bangkok Airways: bangkokair.com Nok Air: nokair.com Orient Thai Airlines: orient-thai.com Entry documents: Travelers must have a passport, and have two options when it comes to visas: apply for a travel visa in advance of their arrival in Thailand, or get a free 30-day visa waiver entry stamp when they arrive in the country. Currency: Thai baht (as of press time, 1 Thai baht= 0.033311 U.S. dollars) Country telephone code: +66 Time zone: UTC+7 Electric current: 220 volts Getting around: Though Bangkok is known for its heavy trafﬁc and defensive driving, much of Thailand is ideally seen from the road. Clients can rent a car from Avis, Budget, or any of a wide range of Thai auto rental companies and strike out on the road. Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are all ideal launching points for a day, a weekend or a full week of touring on the road. In more heavily congested areas such as Bangkok, buses provide transportation from place to place. Travelers unfamiliar with the city’s bus routes should aim to ride the buses with doors that stay open, allowing them to disembark quickly should the bus continue on to an unfamiliar area. Buses also serve longer routes between regional destinations, leaving from one of Bangkok’s three terminals. Services range from local buses that can be crowded, to upscale, air-conditioned VIP buses that include complimentary meals and bottled water. Cultural tips: Tipping is not required in Thailand, but the gesture is usually accepted with thanks. Most restaurants and hotels will add a service charge to the bill. Travelers are often required to take off their shoes in private homes, temples and even some shops. Slip-on footwear like sandals or loafers facilitates this process. Travelers should also take care to avoid touching any Thai citizen on his head, or to touch or point at anyone with the feet, both of which are considered insulting. In some markets and other public places, the National Anthem is played twice a day. During this time, everybody stops and stands still and travelers should follow suit. ❖ T31 http://www.airasia.com http://www.bangkokair.com http://www.nokair.com http://www.orient-thai.com http://www.airfrance.com http://www.airindia.in http://www.britishairways.com http://www.cathaypacific.com http://www.china-airlines.com http://www.delta.com http://www.emirates.com http://www.jal.com http://www.klm.com http://qantas.com.au http://www.united.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Thailand 2011

Cultural Highs
Medical Tourism
Romance, Thai-Style
Think Green
Thailand Tee Times
Muay Thai
A Culinary Feast
All Aboard
Touring Thailand
Fast Facts

Thailand 2011