I’m assuming you’ve not been here before and that you’re arriving in Bangkok airport – Suvarnabhumi. I know what I’m about to say is like teaching granny to suck eggs, but just for a minute, be granny. It never hurts to re-read the suggestions. Here’s a few do’s and don’ts to help you get through the initial shock easily and quickly.
First things start while you’re still ON the plane. Make sure you wear suitable clothes for your arrival in Thailand. Shorts and a short sleeved or tee shirt are best for the climate. As soon as you get out that door the heat will hit you. Remember though that you’re still travelling, still have some important check points to get through, and so don’t go too casual! The swimming trunks can wait for the beach!
Make sure you have your passport, custom’s form and arrival’s card handy, and that they are fully filled in (including the back of the arrival’s card).
OK – leave your seat, get your hand luggage and the adventure begins. As you step through the door to the concourse, the heat will hit you. Savour it. This is one reason why you’re here.
Follow the signs to immigration, baggage reclaim etc. Don’t get sidetracked by the sign that says “Visa on arrival” and will try to pull you to the left – if you’ve come from the West, you don’t need this and can go straight to passport control. You get a “Permission to stay stamp”, at the airport. It’s simple. If you’re from Western Europe, Australia or America and have a valid passport with ample time before it expires, just go to immigration at the airport and you’ll get a stamp for 30 days. No fuss, no bother, simple. As I said this is not a Visa, but gives you permission to stay for 30 days. It’s issued through a Visa Waiver Programme. For stays of more than 30 days – see our article on Thai Visas.
When you get to passport control, look for the signs that say “Foreign Passports” – yes we are foreigners! Queue up and wait your turn. There may be a long queue, but stay patient. Don’t lose your temper whatever happens. It doesn’t impress anyone. If the booth you’re queuing for closes, merge to another line. If someone pushes in, that’s their shame. Stay cool. When you get to the front, be polite; answer any questions and above all CHECK YOUR PASSPORT when you get it back. Check the entry date and the departure date stamped in it BEFORE you leave the desk. The officials are not infallible, and many future problems can be saved by a quick glance at this point.
OK that wasn’t hard. On to baggage reclaim and get your bag. Ignore all the taxis callers and porters at this stage. Get your luggage and through customs – normally a breeze – and you’re in Thailand.
A word of caution. Don’t be tempted to bring in drugs of any sort. Poppers, pills and smokes (apart from prescribed medicinal ones) are all illegal here. The penalties are stiff, and can include death. At a minimum you’d get some years in the Bangkok Hilton, which is not nice. If you don’t think you can go a few weeks’ holiday without that kind of stimulation, maybe you’re coming to the wrong place.
Sorry for the lecture, but on with the tips. Now we have two things pressing us – getting to our hotel and money. I’ll deal with the latter first. Thai Baht are not a restricted currency. It would be a good idea to get some before you come. How much depends on you, but at least enough for a taxi ride to the hotel (depending where it is say 2,000B max) and the first night’s accommodation and spending money. There are many ATM machines all over Thailand and the banks will all change traveller’s cheques and foreign currency. Don’t change money at the airport, the rate is lousy.
OK now for transport. Maybe you’ve booked a taxi from the hotel, or arranged to meet someone at the airport. Most drivers and collection agents will be at the meeting point which is by exit door 4. The exit doors from the airport have small numbers over them and 4 is quite a long way to the left when you come out of baggage reclaim. So don’t panic if you can’t see your driver waiting at the barrier. There are after all 3 different exits from customs and a driver will not know which one you’ll come out of.
If you’ve not booked a taxi, there will be many people trying to get you to use their services. Tell them the city you’re going to and get a price before going with them. Bangkok should be around 500 – 1000B. Pattaya may be up to 1500B, but that would be high. Ask if it includes tolls, or you will fork out another 100B on the way. And be aware that these drivers will not know where your hotel is in the city you’re going to. So if possible get some directions sent to you before you arrive IN THAI. Thai’s can’t read maps generally, so these are useless. But the driver would be quite able to ask locals when he gets to the area – it just might delay you a bit.
Most people in Thailand speak a tiny bit of English, but one habit they have is never wanting to appear they are wrong or ignorant. So if you ask someone something, they will say yes, or agree, even though they might not have understood anything you said. Don’t think that using the same words over and over and getting louder and more indignant each time will impress or make you understood. Losing your temper just lowers you in their estimation. Keep cool, try using different words, and put it a different way, and eventually you’ll probably get them to understand. It’s part of the fun in being abroad.
OK. Get to your destination by whatever means and settle in the hotel. Remember you will be jet-lagged and sore and tired. But be ready to enjoy. The best holiday of your life is about to start. So go for it.
