Information

Entry and Exit requirements for Thailand can and do change regularly, it is always best to check the current regulations with your local Thai Embassy before you travel. However, below you will find general guide to visa requirements for Thailand.

Short Stay - Visa on Entry - For visitors from many countries, who are only intending to stay in Thailand for a short durations, such as holidaymakers, they will be able to obtain a visa on entry, meaning they will not need to apply for a Thai visa before their holiday. The length of the visa granted on entry depends upon your method of entry in to the country. For visitors entering Thailand via an airp ... Read more...

For people visiting Phuket for the first time, arranging airport transfers for their party when they arrive can be a confusing experience. Unlike modern western airports, where the information desk will always guide you to the most suitable transport for your needs, Phuket Airport is far less welcoming, and visitors are left to find their own solution. There are several options available for airports transfers from and to Phuket Airport, and these are:

Limousine Taxis - The operators of these vehicles can be found loitering around the arrivals lounge of the airport, holding up small boards which detail the prices they charge for a range of popular destinations ac ... Read more...

As with any holiday destination, there will all ways be the risk of your money and valuables being lost or stolen whilst visiting Patong. As a rule of thumb, always carry only just enough money for your needs, leave everything else locked away securely in your hotel room safe, or in the hotel safety deposit box at all times.

When it comes to spending money in Patong, then cash is always the best option. Credit cards are accepted in larger, more upmarket establishments, but most bars, restaurants and shops do not have the ability to process credit card payments. Additionally, credit card fraud is a problem in Thailand, as the security of transaction processing is ... Read more...

The cheapest, usually quickest and the most readily available form of transport in Patong are without a doubt motorbike taxis. However, be warned, they are not for people who scare easily. They are usually perfectly safe, but for your first few rides on a motorcycle taxi you will not believe so. Additionaly, the operator will almost never carry a spare helmet for their passenger to use, if this concerns you, then you may be best to avoid using them.

Finding a motorcycle taxi is very easy. They tend to congregate around the major tourist hubs, at major road junctions and close to large clusters of hotels and resorts. They are easy to identify, look for a motorcycl ... Read more...

No visit to Thailand would be complete without taking a ride in a Tuk-Tuk. These strange little vehicles are the most popular form of transport with Thai people. Part truck, part cart, part motorcycle and entirely Thai.

A typical Tuk-Tuk will look like a small pickup truck, with a covered back and open sides. Usually they are painted in bright colors, most commonly red, with many chrome parts. Passengers sit in the back, on barely padded seats, and grip the bars of the rear cage, holding on as the often crazy Tuk-Tuk drivers winds their way through the traffic, taking advantage of every available opening. A ride in a Tuk-Tuk can be noisy, smelly, uncomfortable an ... Read more...

Road Travel in Thailand, especially in the crowded tourist areas such as Patong, can be far more dangerous than visitors will be used to back home. The test taken by Thai drivers is much less stringent than driving tests in the western world, and most drivers have no driving tuition before they take their test, it is that easy to pass. The concept of road safety in Thailand is almost nonexistent, and for this reason you need to take far more precautions when driving in Thailand than you are used to.

It is advisable to bring an international drivers licence with you to Thailand, as police have been known to detain foreigners who cannot produce such a document, eve ... Read more...

The Tourist Police are a special Thai police force which specialise in dealing with problems either faced or caused by foreigners visiting Thailand. They can be contacted by dialing 1155 from any telephone, and can often be seen patrolling the streets of Patong, especially in the Bangla Road area at night, if you need one then just approach one when you see one. The office of the Tourist Police in Patong is located next to the La Flora Hotel, on Beach Road.

Even though they are named Tourist Police, they are in place to protect the local Thai population as much as any holiday maker, never think for one moment that because they are named Tourist Police they are th ... Read more...

It is an unfortunate fact of life that each year thousands of visitors to Patong become the victim of crime. Anywhere in the world where you take privileged people, who spend more on lunch than the local population earn in a week, there are always going to be people looking to make a fast buck.

Crime in Patong comes in many forms, from simple theft to organised crime. The best way to avoid a nasty situation whilst on holiday in Patong is to be aware of the many tricks and scams that you may fall foul of whilst on vacation.

Theft of valuables is by far the most common crime which visitors to patong become victims of. In most cases the theft could have b ... Read more...

Everyone who visits Patong will encounter monks at some time or another. It has been a Thai tradition for hundreds of years that every male spends at least a little time as a monk. For some this can be just a few days, for others it is years or even an entire lifetime. Whenever you hear tourists speaking about monks in Thailand, you will often hear some very strange facts being bounced around, many of which are unfounded rumours. Such rumours as criminals can escape justice by becoming a monk. They cannot, but a Buddhist Temple sure makes a good place to lay low for a while. Below are some true facts about monks.

Part of the experience of being a monk is that the ... Read more...