Money, passports and valuable documents or travellers' cheques are best left in the hotel safe. Almost all the hotels booked by Thailand Travel Plan have one. Avoid leaving valuable documents or travellers' cheques behind in your room. There's always cleaning staff who have a key to your room. We also advise against taking all your valuables and money with you on the streets in the evening.
In Thailand you barter at markets and small shops. The larger shops have fixed prices. Nearly all taxis in Thailand work on a meter basis. Bartering is therefore unnecessary, and make sure the meter is running when you get in. Tuk-tuk drivers don't have a meter of course, so haggling is part of the experience. Keep a smile on your face; otherwise you can have an adverse effect. We almost always take a taxi for our trips, inexpensive, nice and cool (airco) and clean air.
You can trust the food cooked on the street stalls, it's tasty and easy on the pocket. Make sure that the meat is well cooked (soek-soek), and that there are lots of customers is high. If the food is too spicy then you can always take a mouthful of rice or a little bit of sugar to soothe your mouth. Menus are nearly always written in English and Thai.
Drinking water is readily available to buy on the street and in shops. Tap water is not drinkable, however there's no problem cleaning your teeth with it. Ice cubes in the larger cities are certainly OK, but make sure that they're not chopped off from a large block, but are moulded small cylinders or cubes from an ice machine.
Special discounts will be offered on jewellery. Don't go for them! Some tuk-tuk drivers might offer to take you, for as little as 10 baht, to small shops for special offers. At these shops you're sometimes put under tremendous pressure to buy. The tuk-tuk driver receives a commission.
Don't make jokes about the King of Thailand. The King is a real hero in Thailand. You'll see him portrayed everywhere in the streets and temples. If you go to the cinema (for example, in the ‘expat’ part of Siam Square) the main feature will only start after the national anthem and the King’s promotion film have finished. Everybody has to stand whilst the national anthem is played. It's a very different experience. We often heard the national anthem when we arrived at a railway station. Everybody stands still, and it was expected of us too.
The Thais greet each other with a courtesy: hands with palms together, brought up to the forehead and a slight bow. You're expected to return the gesture, but not to small children. For children a smile is enough and usually return as a broad grin. You must not touch a young child on the head. According to Thai beliefs, the spirit is in the head and therefore you mustn’t stroke someone’s head. Pointing at something with your foot is impolite. Before you enter a house or a temple, you must remove your shoes.
Clothing has to be clean, that the most important thing for the Thai people. It's not important for you to dress in the latest fashion. Men in shorts sometimes attract funny looks, as really only small boys wear shorts, but shorts for men are slowly becoming more acceptable. Women in very light (i.e. semi-transparent) clothing (it's hot!), or without a bra are also likely to attract strange looks as the wearing of a bra is compulsory in Thailand! In temples or official buildings it’s completely inappropriate to wear shorts or a sleeveless shirt (there must be no exposed shoulders or knees). Sandals are also taboo then.
Women may neither give anything to, nor touch, a monk directly. Men may do so, but only with both hands.
Photographs can be taken almost anywhere in Thailand. The Thais are like posing for you. If you're not allowed to take photographs that this is usually very clearly indicated. If you’re at all uncertain about whether or not you have permission, always ask first.
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