The MEGA Thailand Q&A

Find out everything you need to know about living and holidaying in the Kingdom with this Thailand Q&A.

 

Thailand is literally one of the best places on the planet for a holiday and one of the most visited. Did you know that in 2015 alone, almost 30 million foreign visitors holidayed in Thailand? Amazing figure, right? It only goes to prove that no matter what curve balls Thailand needs to swerve, it always comes out smelling of som tam… I mean roses. Here is the MEGA Thailand Q&A so you don’t get your mai pen rai mixed up with your gammy eye.

 

Find Out More with this Thailand Q&A

There is so much to know when it comes to living or holidaying in Thailand. Our MEGA Thailand Q&A should answer most of your questions. But is not, you can email directly for more answers.

Thailand Q&A - Thailand Holidays and Living in Thailand

Find out more about the Kingdom with our Thailand Q&A

Q: Are there poisonous animals or insects in Thailand that I should be concerned about?

A: Yes, unfortunately, there are some poisonous/dangerous animals and insects, but I wouldn’t stay awake at night mulling over the issue. If you are staying in a major holiday destination in Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Samui, and so-on, you won’t really come into contact with any. You might see the odd snake, but they tend to keep themselves to themselves and want no bother, which is great because that is exactly how we feel about them.

 

The Kingdom is home to some dangerous jellyfish, snakes, scorpions, centipedes and so on, but unless you are staying in a jungle environment or are swimming where you shouldn’t, everything will be okay. You might encounter a few snakes and black widows on Walking Street Pattaya or Pattaya Beach Road, but they will likely be of the human variety.

 

Q: Is it safe to walk the streets of Thailand late at night?

A: I would say that you can find trouble anywhere if you are that kind of person or you are looking for trouble! It seems that every time something happens to a Westerner in Thailand, the story always makes the international news, which gives people the wrong impression on the safety of a Thailand holiday. I have lived here for over a decade and have never encountered a problem walking the streets at night. Where I come from in England is much more dangerous than Thailand, and even my home town isn’t that dangerous, especially when compared to the back alleyways of any American city. The unequivocal answer is YES, IT IS SAFE!

Q: Can you drink water in Thailand directly from the tap?

A: If you don’t want to spend a day talking on the porcelain telephone to god, we would suggest that you do not drink the tap water in Thailand. It won’t kill you or anything like that, but with bottled water under 10 THB from the shop, no point in ‘testing the waters’ so the speak! Did you see how I did that? This is why our Thailand Q&A is so informative.

 

Q: What is the voltage of electricity?

A: You thought all these questions would be interesting, didn’t you? WRONG. This one is a very practical Q&A that could save your power adapters blowing up or some other unfortunate electrical incident. The electric voltage in Thailand is 220 volts, 50 cycles per second. In Thailand, you mainly use a two-prong plug, so if you want to bring along your own electrical items such as a laptop computer or some kind of torturing device, make sure you bring a converter along!

 

Important Things to Know in this Thailand Q&A

 

Q: In case of emergencies, are the standards of hospitals any good?

A: Before we talk about standards for hospitals, you really need to ensure that you get a decent holiday insurance plan so you are covered for all unforeseen events, especially medical ones. It’s not that we want to curse your Thailand holiday before you get here or put the voodoo hex on you, but having the appropriate insurance coverage can literally save you tens of thousands of dollars… NO JOKING! Thailand is home to some of the best international hospitals you will ever see that are more akin to 5-star hotels. The Bangkok chain of hospitals have facilities in every major tourist city, but as we said, the prices are pelvis-shattering, so make sure you are covered. This Thailand Q&A can help you with many important issues.

Thailand Hospital and Medical Care

Thailand has some of the best international hospitals imaginable

Q: Is it okay to rent out a motorbike in Thailand?

A: If you do not have an international driving license, we would say NO, do not rent a bike. You can rent one with your passport alone, but if you get caught by the numerous police checkpoints in Thailand without a license, it can get you a fine or even in more hot water depending on how the police feel that day. With taxi prices and car rental prices so cheap, keep away from the motorbikes if possible.

 

Q: What happens if I get in a heated discussion with a local person?

A: Thai people are very friendly and courteous, but if you shout at them in the middle of the street in front of others or make them embarrassed in front of other people, you might end up in a fight. If you get in a heated discussion for any reason, stop what you are doing, smile, and everything should be okay. Do not lose your temper in public when dealing with locals.

 

Thailand Q&A Info You Must Know

Thailand Holiday - Bangkok City Streets by Day

There is so much to know about the country you can find out with this Thailand Q&A

Q: If I want to book a tour, are there trusted agents?

A: If you are staying in a hotel, we would suggest that you use the tour desk kiosk in the lobby for your tours because they can easily organize them for you with a minimum of fuss. If you are staying in a Thailand holiday villa, you can ask the staff for tour guide recommendations. There is a cacophony of tour desks in every major Thailand holiday destination that is, for the most part, truthful and honest.

 

Q: Are supermarkets and shopping malls closed on Sundays?

A: No, not at all. Things in Thailand do not stop on Sundays, and even major banks in shopping centres will be open on Sundays too. So, nothing to see here, move along!

 

Q: Is it okay to use my credit cards in Thailand?

A: Major outlets and shops will all accept credit cards, just like any Western nation. However, many restaurants on the low end of the scale do not accept cards, and will only accept cash payment.

 

Q: Will I need to speak Thai in order to get by on holiday?

A: You will find that in major tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, Samui, Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, and more, you will be able to get by if you speak English. The Thai language is not needed in these areas, which is lucky because it is a difficult language to even master the basics. If you are travelling through local Thai towns and cities, you might need to take along a translation book, just in case.

 

Q: Are the dental services in Thailand of a high standard?

A: They most certainly are. Thailand is known for having one of the best dental tourism scenes in the world. The dental treatment centres and specialists are top-notch and in most cases are actually geared to the influx of foreign tourists. Dental treatment prices in Thailand are approximately 60% cheaper than in Europe, Australia, or America, which is why so many westerners visit the Thai dental tourism scene for dental tourism vacations.

Q: Do I need to haggle every time buy something in Thailand?

A: Generally speaking, only on market stalls. If you purchase goods in an international mall that has standard shops, the prices will be tagged and fixed so bartering isn’t needed.

 

Q: What is the best form of transport to travel around Thailand?

A: We would suggest renting out a taxi driver for 1,000 to 2,000 THB per day for your Thailand holiday or even rent a car of your own for a similar price, but just make sure you have an international driving license.

 

If you have made it to the end of this Thailand Q&A, you will already have lots of info at your fingertips. We hope this FAQ blog has helped you understand more about this Kingdom that we love. Otherwise, find out more in our Thailand Q&A section.