Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November. They can be uncomfortably, unpredictably sticky. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June. By far the best time to visit is from February to March when the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.

The peak seasons are August, November, December, February and March, with secondary peak months in January and July.

If your main objective is to avoid crowds and take advantage of discounted rooms and low-season rates, you should consider travelling during the least crowded months (April, May, June, September and October).

On the other hand it's not difficult to leave the crowds behind, even during peak months, if you simply avoid some of the most popular destinations (e.g., Chiang Mai, islands and beaches). This is also the prime time for diving in terms of visibility and accessibility.

It may be best to avoid bringing too much money into Thailand, or even carrying it on you while travelling around Thailand. You can get Thai baht from the ATM machines using your major credit card, ATM machines around located just about everywhere, from shopping malls to small towns and villages.

The exchange rate is automatic and roughly as good as you will find anywhere.

MasterCard and Visa are most commonly accepted, but other kinds of major credit cards are commonly accepted as well. Some carry a sizeable surcharge per withdrawal, e.g., $ 1, so check with your credit card company beforehand if this is bothersome to you.

There are also Currency Exchange outlets, particularly in tourist areas. These are especially useful if you forget your PIN number or if you can't find a working ATM near you which will accept your particular card for some reason.

You should always keep a small amount of cash on you at all times, one reason for this is that the ATM machines often crash late at night and aren't reset until the morning. Another reason is in case your credit cards are stolen or lost. While Thailand is a relatively safe country, theft can happen anywhere in the world.

Not all ATM machines take all kinds of cards. Many will not take Visa or MasterCard or will take one but not the other. You have to look for the credit card logos on the ATM signs. There are also the credit card groups such as Plus and Cirrus. If you look around, you will usually find a machine with your insignia on it.

ATM machines offer both Thai and English language.

You may be better off paying cash than using a credit card. While it's technically against the law for the Thai vendor to pass onto you the fee that the credit card company charges them (approximately 2.25% to 3.5%, depending upon card type), it's quite common for them to do so and it's usually not negotiable -- you either pay the surcharge or don't use your credit card. They often want to charge 4 or 5% instead of the 2.25% to 3.5%.

You should also be aware that many vendors use a third party to bill your credit card. Thus, your credit card number may not be safe. Any time your credit card number goes down on paper, you could possibly be at risk.

If you lose your credit card or have other problems, you can reach the credit card companies in Bangkok on the following numbers.
MasterCard (02) 260-8572
Visa (02) 273-1199 or (02) 273-7449
American Express (02) 273-0022 or (02) 273-0044
Diner's Club (02) 238-3660

A myriad variety of accommodations is available throughout Thailand, ranging from 5-star luxury hotels to simple tents and bungalows. The price and type of lodging facilities on offer is associated with location, with Bangkok and major tourist cities boasting some of the best hotels in the world, while rudimentary rooms are more common in rural areas.

Regardless, all types of accommodations in Thailand are known for being clean, efficient and friendly. World-class service and unbeatable hospitality comes naturally for all Thais as an integral component of the culture. Prices vary depending on the time of the year. Nationwide, they are at their highest during the cool season (Nov-Feb) and are less during the hot season (Mar-May) and rainy season (Jun-Oct). The only exception is Bangkok, where occupancy rate is high throughout the year and prices remain relatively fixed. Hotels in Chiang Mai and Phuket are fully booked during the cool season. From Dec 15-Jan 15, prices will increase even further as this is the peak time for tourism.

Remember the song “One night in Bangkok” Well, one night simply isn't enough! You’ll definitely want to stay here longer than just one night, perhaps a week, or even a month if you can spare the time. There is always something for everyone here. If you like clubbing, Bangkok’s the place or perhaps if you’d like to enjoy a beer watching your favorite sport, you can find few places in the Bars section – Sports bars.

If pool is your cup of tea, the list of pool bars will show you the way, and you will find some very good players to test your skills with. Though Bangkok offers very interesting nightlife, there are plenty of other places to visit as well. There is always something for everyone here, be it shopping, sightseeing, experiencing the vibrant Bangkok nightlife or tasting the best Thai food here.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s premier international air travel gateway and a regional centre for aviation, links all aspects of air travel and transport. It also supports the country’s travel and tourism development, as befits its auspicious name, "Suvarnabhumi." The name, which means "Golden Land" was bestowed upon it by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was built on 3,100 hectares of land in the Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan Province, about 25 kilometers east of Bangkok. The main access road is an elevated 10-lane highway connected to the outer ring road network. It also connects directly to the Bangkok-Chon Buri (Pattaya) Motorway. The beach resort of Pattaya is an hour and a half’s drive away.

Designed by Murphy/Jahn Architects, the airport has the world’s tallest control tower (132.2 meters) and the second largest single building as an airport terminal (563,000 square meters), slightly smaller than Hong Kong International Airport’s 570,000 square meters.

It replaces the old Don Muang International Airport which was Asia’s fourth busiest airport for passenger traffic in 2005 (Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong were the first three).

Built at an estimated cost of 155 billion baht, Suvarnabhumi has two parallel runways and two parallel taxiways accommodating simultaneous departures and arrivals. It has a total of 120 parking bays, five of them capable of handling the Airbus A380. The main passenger terminal building can handle 76 flight operations an hour and 45 million passengers & three million tonnes of cargo per year.

Above the future underground rail link station and in front of the passenger terminal building is the 612-room Novotel Hotel, a member of the Accor Group. Between the hotel and the terminal building are two five-storey car parks with a combined capacity for 5,000 cars.

Plans for runways and two terminals capable of handling up to 100 million passengers and 6.4 million tonnes of cargo a year are on the drawing board. The second phase of airport expansion, the construction of a satellite building south of the main terminal, should begin from 2011.

A 26.6 km high-speed rail link from the airport to the City Airport Terminal in Makkasan is currently being built. The City Airport Terminal network is connected to BTS Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Sukhumvit Line and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Blue Line at Phaya Thai and Phetchaburi stations. The total journey to the airport will take approximately 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) provides a suburban commuter train service between Hua Takhe, the nearest station to Suvarnabhumi on the East line and the northern suburb of Rangsit through Bangkok and the old Don Muang Airport. The train also connects with the BTS at Phaya Thai station and with MRT at Phetchaburi station. Passengers pay a flat fare of 30 baht.

A shuttle bus service linking the airport with Hua Takhe railway station is provided by the Bangkok Mass Trasit Authority (BMTA) for 15 baht. The train service is less popular than the bus service as it requires a shuttle bus connection and it will be phased out when the Airport Express Link is completed.

Departure tax: International travellers departing the airport must pay a 500-baht tax levied by the airport operator, Airports of Thailand. The tax is not included in the price of airline tickets. It is paid to airport staff before queuing for immigration processing. On February 1, 2007, the international departure tax has been raised to 700 baht.

Airport Hotel: Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the airport along a 300-meter underground walkway. The hotel has 612 rooms, 4 restaurants, 2 bars, a swimming pool, business centre, fitness centre and health spa.

Traffic in Thailand drives on the left side of the road.

Most drivers are well mannered, almost polite, be it up to a certain level. You will hardly ever hear a car honking or a display of anger. Despite this, traffic is rather hectic in and around busy Bangkok where calm driving is not really appreciated.

On many rural roads or even in Bangkok's small alleys, you will find motorcycles, cars and occasionally your 12 wheel trucks maneuvering against (one way) traffic. This situation is complicated by the fact that many of Bangkok's roads change their one-way direction at certain hours of the day.

Driving around Thailand's country side at night is considered to be extremely hazardous, especially on holidays and long weekends. Many cars have broken, or there are no lights at all and public busses like to race one another through steep hills and around dangerous curves, supposedly just to stay awake.

Thai Driver's License
If you would like to apply for a Thai Driver's License you need to provide the following documents:
Passport with Non-immigrant visa
Present a letter of current residence certified by an Embassy of your country Medical Certificate
2 Photos, 1 X 1 inch

* International Driver's License or Local Driving License Fee:
Car 105 Baht, Motorcycle 55 Baht
* Not Required

Hours of Operation: M - F, 8:30AM - 12:00AM, 1:00PM - 4:30PM
Applications will be accepted daily until 3:30PM

Tel: 272-3615, 272-5416, 272-5322

International Driver's License
If you would like to apply for an International Driver's License you have to provide the following documents:
Passport with Non-immigrant visa
Present a letter of current residence certified by an Embassy of your Country.

* Thai Driver's License (Private Motor Car). If you don't have a Thai Driver's license please refer to the previous instructions on getting a Thai driver's license.
2 Photos, 2 X 2 Inches
Fee 505 Baht
* Not Required

Hours of Operation: M – F: 8:30AM - 12:00AM, 1:00PM - 4:30PM
Applications will be accepted daily until 3:30PM

Tel: 0272-3615, 0272-5416, 0272-5322

Yes. For more information, please contact:
Thailand Visa Application Centre
8-11, UGF, Tolstoy House, Tolstoy Marg,
Jan path Connaught Place,
New Delhi 110 001
Ph: 011-32554444
Fax: 011-41522335
Web: www.vfs-thailand.co.in/

Yes.

Please visit: http://thailandfilmoffice.org and www.mfa.go.th/web/830.php for detailed information.

No. TAT doesn’t provide tours and packages to Thailand. For this, you should contact any travel agent or tour operator.

For this, you should contact Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) at:
TCEB
30, Hauz Khas Village
2nd Floor, New Delhi – 110016
Ph: 91-11-1 41704396, 26510423
Fax : 91-11-26511412
E-mail : urvashi.tceb@srm-india.com; urnashi.tceb-india@airtelbroadband.in
Web: www.tceb.or.th

Travelling to Thailand presents several health issues. Several months before you leave home, see a doctor preferably specialising in travel medicine, to get vaccinations and prescriptions. No inoculations are officially required when entering Thailand, unless arriving from a contaminated region.

Yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria and Japanese encephalitis are all transmitted by mosquitoes, so protecting yourself against these little devils cuts down the risk considerably. Mosquitoes commonly bite between dusk and dawn, so wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers when going out at night. Colognes, perfumes, after-shaves and dark clothes attract mosquitoes, so avoid these and use insect repellent creams whenever possible. The dengue mosquito however bites during the day, so never let down your guard. Use a mosquito net -- check for tears -- with the edges tucked under the bed. Increased protection can be obtained by impregnating the net with Permethrin. You might consider using mosquito coils in your room. Another option is to take a bungalow with a share bathroom, as this will remove one source of water from where you sleep.

If you require medical attention in Thailand, you will be expected to pay cash even if you have medical insurance. Keep all your receipts and claim the cost from your insurance company when you return home.

The golden rule is: If you cannot peel it, boil it or cook it -- do not eat it. Generally, try to avoid fresh salads or raw vegetables as they may be washed with contaminated water and avoid eating raw shellfish, raw crab and cold cooked meats.

In large cities, the tap water in hotels and restaurants is fine but otherwise it is best to stick to bottled water, even for brushing your teeth. Purify all water by boiling for ten minutes. Purifying tablets are not as effective as boiling, but some protection is provided by adding iodine or Puratabs. Use four drops of iodine to one litre of water and let it stand for forty minutes. Do not use iodine for extended periods or if you have thyroid problems. Otherwise drink bottled water, which is much more affordable than in the west and make sure the seal is not broken.

You may come across crushed ice in your drink and live to tell the tale, but be aware that ground up ice, although manufactured with clean water, is open to contamination when it is transported as the large blocks come into contact with the ground. Ice cubes with holes through the middle should be safe.

Generally, no. Most pharmaceuticals are available over the counter in Thailand, though you may need to buy generic drugs if the brand you are after is not available.

Generally speaking, yes. Using common sense means you’ll probably get out of Thailand in one piece. Violent crimes against foreigners occasionally take place, but overall it's safe and women in particular find more secure than in the west.

Some sensible actions to take:

• Wear helmets when riding motorcycles or bikes
• Don’t stray into higher crime areas
• Don’t get drunk and pick fights with bar staff
• Don’t travel on the roads during the Thai New Year break, Songkran, in April

In a word, yes. One of the best/worst things (depending on your viewpoint) is how easy it is to meet other travellers while exploring Thailand. If you're travelling by yourself, chances are you'll meet even more people and, when you come to leave the country you'll realise you've developed a collection of friends from all over the globe (Thailand included) - that's one of the great things about travelling.

It’s rare indeed for a lone traveller to not hook up with others for at least a part of their trip. When this is combined with the very gregarious nature of Thais, it is actually pretty difficult to stay alone for long periods.
As with just about anywhere in the world, you are safer travelling with others, but as long as you use your common sense, travelling alone is generally perfectly safe -- tens of thousands of people do it every year.

Take all the usual precautions, have copies of all your documentation and try to keep in touch with family or friends overseas. There's no shortage of internet cafes across the country, so there's not really any excuse for not occasionally dropping an email in to placate the worriers at home. Better still, send a postcard -- some people still use those.

If you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, don't hesitate to ask a local for assistance - by and large Thais are very helpful people and even if they don't speak your language, they'll be able to help you find someone who does.

Thailand is a great country to travel in -- alone or with others. If you come here alone, you'll most likely leave with a stack of new friends and already be planning your next trip together!

With accommodation, you get exactly what you pay for. Generally, Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Phi Phi have the most expensive backpacker accommodation. On the islands, Ko Pha Ngan is probably amongst the cheapest.

Under 100B (baht): Gets you a dorm room with a fan or a very grotty single room with a smelly mattress, noisy fan and share bathroom. The sheets, if there are any, will only be changed when you leave. Expect thin walls and dreary drapes and plan on spending as much time as possible elsewhere.

The following applies to Khao San Road.

Under 100B (baht): Gets you a dorm room with a fan or a very grotty single room with a smelly mattress, noisy fan and share bathroom. The sheets, if there are any, will only be changed when you leave. Expect thin walls and dreary drapes and plan on spending as much time as possible elsewhere.

100B-250B: Gets you a typical budget room. The higher end of this range should get you a room including your own bathroom that will be moderately clean. The room will be big enough for a clean bed with sheets and a couple of bags, plus maybe a chair or two. It may have either a large ceiling fan or a small desktop one.

250B-500B: Gets you a decent fan or basic air-conditioned room, which should be clean, well kept and includes a good bathroom. Your bed will have a clean mattress and sheets. Generally larger than the lower price range, these rooms often have a desk and chair. You might even get something tasteful.

500B-1,000B: Gets you a spotless room with reliable air-conditioner, a comfortable bed and a clean, well-equipped bathroom. The room will be spacious and may have a few extras such as a bar fridge and TV with limited cable.

1,000B+: As the price rises from here, expect more extras, such as TV with full cable, DVD player, a mini-bar, balcony, breakfast and so on.

A smile and a friendly attitude. The point of bargaining is not to make sure the merchant loses money but rather to get a price that you are both satisfied with. Be warned that in popular tourist areas, such as say Chaweng Beach on Ko Samui, the mark-up can be as much as 600-800%. In cases like these it's almost impossible to get a reasonable price compared to what you may pay in Chatuchak market in Bangkok, for instance. The simple solution is not to shop at Chaweng! But if you must, do bargain hard. Often bargaining in Thai - all you really need to know are the numbers, cheap (thuuk) and expensive (phaeng) - will reap greater rewards.

A typical budget in Thailand is around US$15-20 a day. You can get by on less or a lot more, but for $20 you'll get a decent room and three meals, with some left over for transport. If you are planning on travelling a lot then $20 probably will not cut it as the cost of transportation will push it up. Likewise, if you are going to very few places, then you can get away with less.

Absolutely, but you'll need to look around a bit to find it sometimes. Chiang Mai is particularly good for vegetarians, though Bangkok also has a reasonable selection. It’s not unusual to see items in a vegetarian section such as "Vegetarian salad with pork/chicken/beef." They mean meat, not a soy substitute. A fair directory of Thai vegetarian restaurants is here.

Mostly. Ferries to a number of Thai islands have sunk in the past and overloading remains a problem, particularly with longtails. If you feel a boat is overloaded, don't get on it. The tickets are not that expensive. Boat traffic is generally frequent enough that you will only need to wait one more day for another.

Yes. Occasional thefts happen, but mostly train travel is uneventful. Many travellers inexplicably decide to get roaring drunk on the trains. This isn't a great way to protect you from being robbed and/or falling out a train door. (The doors are often open and smokers sit on the steps.)

Yes. You'll be expected to leave your passport or a copy of your passport, in return. The insurance you get with these is generally not worth the paper it is written on.

Thailand has a comprehensive train and bus transportation system. It has one central train station (Hualamphong) and three bus station hubs - Morchit (Northern bus station), Ekamai (Eastern bus station) and Sai Tai Mai (Southern bus station). Ekamai can be reached by sky train, Hualamphong by the subway while Morchit and Sai Tai Mai are best reached by bus or taxi.

For long distance travel, train is generally the best option as the seating is more spacious with ample legroom and you can get up, walk up and down the train, sit in the dining car to eat (when available) and relax on your own bed (if you're on a sleeper). Buses are generally faster than the trains but they do have more accidents and depending on the class of bus can be very cramped. For short trips (up to four-five hours) they are ok, though for anything longer, when available, train is a better option.

Security on both trains and buses is ok, though petty thefts remain a small problem on the trains - keep your valuables with you at all time and don't get raging drunk on the trip and you'll be fine.

Where your destination is not served by train, it will be faster and cheaper to get a bus the whole way rather than try to do a train/bus combination.

Many tourist destinations also offer private bus and minibus transport. While often cheaper than the public system, these buses should be avoided at all costs. The agents who sell tickets on these often use false promises of the length of trip, quality of bus and number of passengers most particularly for the notorious Bangkok to Siem Reap buses. If you are paying 100B for a trip that costs 500B at a public bus office, rest assured you will receive 20% quality, comfort and timeliness of the public service. Despite this, people continue to catch these buses and continue to be ripped off.

The sleeper trains have two classes, 1st and 2nd class and each then has the option of a fan or AC carriage. Personal preference is 2nd class fan. We find the AC too cold and you can't open the window during the daylight portion of the trip. 2nd class is also considerably cheaper.

It is a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it it's simple to use, cheap as chips and very comprehensive.

Air-con buses are the best option for long trips as they are cooler and generally in far better condition than the non-air-con buses. The latter are either red or white and are generally rundown, belch large amounts of exhaust and are poorly driven -- though they are not quite as bad as the smaller green buses. They’re fine for short rides though.

Air-con buses are priced by distance, while non air-con is mostly flat rate.

Despite the fact that the authorities have made efforts to make tap water meet World Health Organisation standards, very few people drink tap water in Thailand, even the local population. Bottled water is widely used instead.

Some people actually boil tap water before use, but this will not remove chemical toxins or remnants of whatever else was there before boiling. You should also be careful with ice, as freezing does not protect you from bacteria, viruses or chemicals. Brushing your teeth with tap water is considered to be safe, although those with very sensitive stomachs may occasionally experience problems.

In restaurants, you will find the water to be generally safe. You can always buy small bottles if you like but make sure the seal has not been broken.

However, you should be very careful with street vendors and street food stalls. The biggest risk is actually from the cleanliness of the glasses themselves. You can become very ill indeed if you are not careful. Drink directly from the bottle if you are in any doubt.

Don't worry too much about the ice that is served in cafes etc., as they usually have the ice delivered to them from government inspected ice factories.