Thailand Guide
Thailand Guide
• Population: 65.5 million
• Capital: Bangkok
• Religion: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity
Thailand, the wondrous kingdom, the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia, and the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized by a European power. With endless attractions for visitors of all budgets and interests, Thailand is the paramount beacon beckoning travelers from all over the world to Southeast Asia.
For those wanting to learn more about Thai culture, take a stroll through the impressive Buddhist temples, and join a cooking class to learn Thai culinary arts. More of a nature person? Explore the spectacular islands and bask on world-class beaches, see some exotic wildlife, and tour the country’s landscapes. Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui offer life in paradise with their miles of pristine sand and crystal water. Looking for a more modern experience? Shopaholics will find Bangkok a heaven with its millions of product types, brand names and prices at every corner, either at an affordable market or a luxury mall. The nightlife is also guaranteed to please the party crowd. Most importantly, everywhere you go, you will be warmly greeted by the Thai locals, whose dazzling smiles established Thailand as the ‘land of smiles’.
From five-star pampering, adrenaline-fueled activities, shopping in stylish boutiques, sun tanning on some of the best beaches in the world, to tasting fantastic cuisine, Thailand has something for everyone. At Style Travel, let us help you tailor your dream vacation. Our experienced travel specialists offer you suggestions and sample itineraries built on research and real experiences collected over 10 years, all at the right price for an unforgettable memory.
Popular Sites
• Bangkok – visit temples by day and bar hop by night
• Pattaya, Phuket Island and Koh Samui Island – relax on beaches with white sands and crystal-clear waters
• Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai: Hill tribes in the north – trek with the locals
Popular Foods
Tom Yam Goong: As the essence of Thai cuisine, Tom Yam Goong is a classic soup made of shrimps, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, spice, lime leaves, and fish sauce. It is such an appetizing fish that can fit in any meals since the unique smell reminds one of exotic perfume, making one can’t help sipping and want to cry out “Thailand”!
Kuay Tiew: This is a popular noodle soup served in different ways for different vendors. The broth boiled for hour poured over tender meat with noodles is the best option for breakfast or lunch. Beef, pork, chicken or seafood is changeable depending on your choice.
Som Tam: It is a fresh salad made of papaya, tomatoes, peanuts and green beans, which are spiced up by garlic, peppers, lime juice, and palm sugar. Seafood sometimes is included in some regions. Fish sauce is dispensable upon your request.
Pad Thai: The Thai-styled fried noodles enjoy an international fame due to its delicious taste that visitors hardly skip it during their Thailand tours. The stir-fried rice noodle dish comes with ingredients like peanuts, shrimps, tofu, pepper, green onions, and lime juice, etc.. Being the most famous dish outside Thailand, it is served as a street food and at casual local eateries around the country.
Green Chicken Curry: You can make it a vegetarian curry using eggplant or nuts instead of chicken meat, which quite suits vegetarians who also want a culinary experience in Thailand. The sauce used includes green chili paste, lemongrass, garlic, galangal, and Thai basil.
Guay Teow Lui Suan: It’s called ‘Thailand spring rolls’ that are stuffed with pork, carrots, lettuce and wrapped with huge, think rice noodles. Dipping sauce for the dish is a mixture of sweet, sour and chilly flavors, which makes the food more refreshing.
Language
Thais have their mother tongue which is Thai. In addition, there are a number of people who also speak English or French.
Weather & Climate
The peak tourism season of Thailand is the cool season lasting from November to February when the weather is coolest and driest. During the cool season, the temperature ranges from 18 to 32°C in Bangkok (the south-central), while the temperatures of the Northern Thailand and the Northeast Thailand becomes cooler in the morning and evening.
The hot season is from March to June. At this time the average temperatures in Bangkok is 34°C, but can reach a maximum of around 40°C. This is the time for holding festivals (such as Songkran and Rocket Festival) to mark the coming of the rainy season. April seems to be the hottest month across the country so the best course of action would be to avoid it.
The wet season takes place from July to October, when the country sees most of its rainfall. The weather is quite muggy and overcast in this time and daily hours of sunshine decreasing to about six hours.
Currency
The Baht (THB) is the currency of Thailand and it is divided into 100 satangs.
it is very easy to find currency exchange services in Thailand. Exchange offices are located everywhere and in every bank in the country. You also can exchange your currency at the airports which are available 24 hours a day.
ATMs are widely available which is convenient for you to withdraw some Baht wherever and whenever you want.
Credit and debit cards are accepted in large businesses, hotels and restaurants in Thailand. However, you might find that smaller stores and cafes don’t take cards or in the other case, your card is blocked by anti fraud software; therefore, these unpredictable circumstances certainly cause serious inconvenience while traveling. The best course of action would be to carry some cash on you at all times.
Exchange rate:
1 USD = 32 Baht (THB)
1 EURO = 37 Baht (THB)
Getting Around
1. Air: Extensive domestic flight routes are available in Thailand airports which connect most major cities.
2. Train: As for the long journey from north to Chiang Mai or south to Surat Thani, train is the most convenient way to travel. And the rail network in Thailand covers four main lines: the northern, southern, northeastern and eastern lines.
3. Bus: The whole bus system in Thailand is well organized, cheap and efficient. As the most convenient way of getting around the country, there are four categories buses in Thailand and the costs depend on the destination and type of bus.
4. Long-tail Boat: As the main transportation on rivers, the long-tail boat in commonly seen in Bangkok and neighboring provinces. It is the motorcycle taxis on water with fast speed taking you to cross the river and get to an island.
5. Songthaew: Its a kind of open-ended vans equipped with bench seats in the back. It is the most important ways to travel within towns in Thailand. The charges start at 10 Baht for a local transfer and about 20 Baht for a longer trip.
6. Motorbikes: Motorcycle rental service is available in major towns and many tourist centers. It is easy to rent a motorcycle and is an ideal way to travel in the countryside for independent tourists.
