An Introduction to Thailand

By Chris Backe

Reader, meet Thailand – get introduced and arrive several steps ahead of other tourists.

An Introduction to Thailand is your way to leapfrog other tourists and know what's really going on. It's written to be read quickly (like on the plane!) and be a reference guide once you've arrived.

A few highlights:

• Can you get a visa on arrival? Learn which visa is right for you
• Get a SIM and stay connected to the internet
• Food, glorious food! Where to go and what to try
• The unwritten rules of temple etiquette
• Drinking, the nightlife, the markets, staying safe, and plenty more.

Last updated: January 2020.

Buy now and start exploring the awesome side of Thailand.

About the author

Chris Backe (rhymes with hockey) has written about travel since 2008 and has been around the world a couple of times. He's written over 30 books, and has been seen in Atlas Obscura, io9, Mental Floss, Everything Everywhere, Perceptive Travel, Travel Wire Asia, and many other publications. When not traveling, he loves tabletop games and a glass of white wine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Worthy Go
• Release date: Jan 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781516381838

Book preview

Other itineraries in the Worthy Go series

Cities: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Bogota, Bucharest, Budapest, Chiang Mai, Istanbul, Lima, Medellin, Quito, Seattle, Seoul, Tallinn, Toronto, Vientiane, Zagreb

Countries / regions: Laos, Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, South Korea

More info at worthygo.com.

Other guidebooks by Chris Backe

48 Daytrip Destinations From Seoul

Becoming a Digital Nomad

An Introduction to Thailand

Korean for Tourists

Korean Made Easy

Offbeat Korea

Offbeat Thailand

What the Florida

Table of Contents

Warning / Disclaimer

Map

Visas

Getting started

Get a SIM

Get powered up

Other things to know

Getting around

Around Bangkok

Around Thailand

Thai language

Glossary

Food

Restaurants

Street food

Food courts

What to eat?

Drinking and nightlife

Buddhist temples

Markets

Life and culture

The monarchy and the current leadership

Scams and warnings

Destinations

Bangkok

Central Thailand

Northern Thailand

Eastern Thailand

Southern Thailand and the islands

Common mistakes to avoid

Conclusion

What's next?

Warning / Disclaimer

Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at publication time (© January 2020), the author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Be aware that traveling in a foreign country has inherent risks, and seemingly anything can change overnight. Places may close, admission fees may rise, drivers will drive crazy, and public transportation routes can be altered. Stay aware of your surroundings, employ street smarts and common sense, and in general be suspicious of locals that approach you speaking English.

Unless otherwise noted, all material in this book is the legal property of the author and may not be reprinted or republished without the author's express written consent, with the exception of short quotes for academic or review purposes.

Introduction

Thailand: home of pad thai, ladyboys, and tuk-tuks. The country retains the crown as Southeast Asia's best-known tourist destination, yet the vast majority of tourists only see a handful of Thailand's 77 provinces. For every well-known destination (like the Grand Palace), there's an offbeat secret like the Amulet Market just across the street.

An Introduction to Thailand is more than just a collection of information. It's a first-hand, honest look at Thailand from a guy who traveled Thailand for years. It's short, breezy, and aims to cut through the fluff. Read this book all the way through, and you'll be several steps ahead of other tourists well before you arrive.

One of Thailand's strongest selling points is your ability to visit on virtually any budget. Pay $200 US a night to sleep and dine like a king or queen, or get by at a $10-$15 US a night at a small hostel. Eat lavish steak dinners or buffets in five-star hotels or some simple noodles from a street stall. Get around via tuk-tuk or taxi driver by the day or the local bus or songthaew. Drink cheaply by heading to the local 7/11, or take back the night by discovering Bangkok’s wild nightlife.

Thai remains the language of the land, but English is quite common at most tourist attractions, mainstream shopping centers, and in many menus. The average tourist need not speak any Thai, though a few words of Thai can come in handy. Look for Thai words in italics inside parentheses (like this).

While the vast majority of Thais are Buddhist, head to southern Thailand to see an appreciable number of Muslims. While Buddhism isn't an official state religion, you'll find Buddhist holidays are the ones most celebrated, both by the masses and the tourists. Thailand lives on the Buddhist era, which started 543 years before 'B.C' became 'A.D.' — the year 2015 to most Westerners is 2558 to Thais.

Statistically, Bangkok has the highest average yearly temperature in the world, so you probably won't be wearing jeans or a jacket while there. If you're visiting northern Thailand during the winter months (November to February), you may find a pair of jeans or a light jacket to be necessary. Southern Thailand, much like Bangkok, rarely gets cold enough to need much more than shorts and t-shirts. The weather turns hot from March to June, while wet season (June to October) adds in some stickiness and humidity on top of that. The actual rain comes in fits and starts, so it's wise to keep an umbrella or poncho with you.

The high season runs from November to April, roughly, while October and May are 'shoulder' seasons — the weather is still mostly nice, but the high-season rates have likely come down. Book ahead or avoid traveling during Thailand's three major holidays: the Solar New Year, the Lunar New Year, and Songkran, Thailand's major water festival and new year celebrations.

Even during the height of the rainy season, it's unlikely to rain the whole day. Some clouds may linger in the sky, and it's wise to keep your plans flexible, but hotel rates drop by 30-50% and deals can come out of the woodworks to convince you to stay another few days.

Recent times

The 2014 military coup has been a mixed blessing — on the one hand, the coup overthrew a (nominally) democratic government. On the other hand, it ended months of sometimes-violent protests in pockets of Bangkok, and has sparked clean-up efforts across the country. Thailand's history shows a cyclical pattern between military control and democracy — thankfully, the country political situation will have little impact on your trip to Thailand. You may see an occasional military tent, but that's about all — you may find it more difficult to get travel insurance as a result of the coup. Martial law was lifted in April 2015, but was replaced by Article 44 of the interim constitution, which preserves the military's broad powers over the country.

The much beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej (also known as King Rama IX) died in October 2016 at 88 years old, and the country held a one-year mourning period. His son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, was made King Rama X shortly thereafter, and was officially coronated in May 2019