Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [633]
A typical meal at a street stall should cost 25B to 40B; a meal at a typical mum-and-dad Thai restaurant for one should be about 80B to 150B. Guesthouses and restaurants catering to foreigners tend to charge more than local restaurants. Click here for thorough descriptions of the cuisine and the kinds of restaurants you’ll find in Thailand.
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GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
Thai culture is relatively tolerant of both male and female homosexuality. There is a fairly prominent gay and lesbian scene in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. With regard to dress or mannerism, lesbians and gays are generally accepted without comment. However, public displays of affection – whether heterosexual or homosexual – are frowned upon. Utopia (www.utopia-asia.com) posts lots of Thailand information for gay and lesbian visitors and publishes a guidebook to the kingdom for homosexuals.
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HOLIDAYS
Government offices and banks close on the following days.
January 1 New Year’s Day
April 6 Chakri Day, commemorating the founder of the Chakri dynasty, Rama I
May 5 Coronation Day, commemorating the 1946 coronation of HM the King and HM the Queen
July (date varies) Khao Phansaa, the beginning of Buddhist ‘lent’
August 12 Queen’s Birthday
October 23 Chulalongkorn Day
October/November (date varies) Ork Phansaa, the end of Buddhist ‘lent’
December 5 King’s Birthday
December 10 Constitution Day
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INSURANCE
A travel-insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a good idea. Policies offer differing medical-expense options. There is a wide variety of policies available, so check the small print. Be sure that the policy covers ambulances or an emergency flight home.
Some policies specifically exclude ‘dangerous activities’, which can include scuba diving, motorcycling or even trekking. A locally acquired motorcycle licence is not valid under some policies.
You may prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later make sure you keep all documentation.
Click here for recommendations on health insurance and Click here for details on vehicle insurance. Worldwide travel insurance is available at www.lonelyplanet.com/travel_services. You can buy, extend and claim online anytime – even if you’re already on the road.
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INTERNET ACCESS
You’ll find plenty of internet cafes in most towns and cities, and in many guesthouses and hotels as well. The going rate is anywhere from 40B to 120B an hour, depending on how much competition there is. Connections tend to be pretty fast and have been sped up with the proliferation of wireless access, which is fairly widespread throughout the country including the rural northeast. Only Bangkok has been slow to make wi-fi affordably accessible. Most guesthouses will offer wi-fi for free while high-end hotels offer it only in lobbies for a usage fee.
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LEGAL MATTERS
In general Thai police don’t hassle foreigners, especially tourists. If anything they generally go out of their way not to arrest a foreigner breaking minor traffic laws, instead taking the approach that a warning will suffice.
One major exception is drugs, which most Thai police view as either a social scourge against which it’s their duty to enforce the letter of the law, or an opportunity to make untaxed income via bribes.
If you are arrested for any offence, the police will allow you the opportunity to make a phone call to your embassy or consulate in Thailand, if you have one, or to a friend or relative if not. There’s a whole set of legal codes governing the length of time and manner in which you can be detained before being charged or