The Grand Palace in Bangkok, where the former Royal Family used to live many years ago.

The Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Laos and Myanmar, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Thailand is Bangkok. It is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.

Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world.

Best time to go

The best time to visit most of Thailand is between November and February, primarily because it rains the least and is not too hot during these months. This period is also Thailand’s main season for both national and regional festivals. If you plan to focus on the mountains of the northern provinces, the hot season (March to May) and early rainy season (June to July) are not bad either, as temperatures are moderate at higher elevations. Haze from the burning-off of agricultural fields during these months, however, does obscure visibility in the north. Northeastern and central Thailand, on the other hand, are best avoided from March to May, when temperatures may climb over 40°C during the day and aren’t much lower at night. Because temperatures are more even year-round in the south (because it’s closer to the equator), the beaches and islands of southern Thailand are a good choice for respite when the rest of Thailand is miserably hot.

Costs

Thailand is an inexpensive country to visit by almost any standards. Those on a budget should be able to get by on about 500B per day outside Bangkok and the major beach towns and islands. This amount covers basic food, guesthouse accommodation and local transport but excludes all-night beer binges, tours, long-distance transport or vehicle hire. Travellers with more money to spend will find that for around 600B to 1000B per day, life can be quite comfortable.

In Bangkok there’s almost no limit to the amount you could spend. Because there are so many hotel options, Bangkok is a good place to splurge for recovery from a long flight or as a reward for reentering "civilisation". For under US$100 you can get a river-view room with all the starred trimmings; try finding that in London or New York. In the provinces, guesthouses tend to be better value than the midrange hotels (which are rarely well maintained). Guesthouses also have a built-in community of travellers and lots of tale swapping.

ATMs are widespread and are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but not in family-run guesthouses or restaurants.

Tipping

Tipping is not generally expected in Thailand. The exception is loose change from a large restaurant bill; if a meal costs 488B and you pay with a 500B note, some Thais will leave the 12B change. It's not so much a tip as a way of saying 'I'm not so money grubbing as to grab every last baht'. On the other hand, change from a 50B note for a 44B bill will usually not be left behind.

At many hotel restaurants or other upmarket eateries, a 10% service charge will be added to your bill. When this is the case, tipping is not expected. Bangkok has adopted some standards of tipping, especially in restaurants frequented by foreigners.

Money

The basic unit of Thai currency is the baht. There are 100 satang in one baht; coins include 25-satang and 50-satang pieces and baht in 1B, 5B and 10B coins. Older coins have Thai numerals only, while newer coins have Thai and Arabic numerals.

Paper currency is issued in the following denominations: 10B (brown), 20B (green), 50B (blue), 100B (red), 500B (purple) and 1000B (beige). 10B bills are being phased out in favour of the 10B coin.

Visas

Non-immigrant visas

The Non-Immigrant Visa is good for 90 days and is intended for foreigners entering the country for business, study, retirement and extended family visits. If you plan to apply for a Thai work permit, you'll need to possess a Non-Immigrant Visa first.

Tourist visas

If you plan to stay in Thailand more than a month, you should apply for the 60-day Tourist Visa before arrival.