Welcome To The Land Of Smiles
Things To Know
- Highlights – Bangkok, Gulf Islands, Phi Phi Islands, scuba diving, Chiang Mai, elephant sanctuaries
- Language – Thai
- Currency – Thai Baht (THB)
- Power Outlets – Thailand uses power plug and socket types A and C. The standard voltage is 220 V, with a standard frequency of 50 Hz. I always travel with a universal adapter to ensure I can keep all my devices and batteries fully charged.
- Safety – Thailand is a generally safe country to visit. Stay alert for petty theft and pickpockets in cities and crowded areas.
- Water Safety – It is not safe to drink tap water in Thailand. Drink and brush your teeth with bottled water, which is readily available in hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores. I travel with a LARQ purifying water bottle to be safe.
- Transportation – Uber is not available in Thailand. Grab taxi is available in most cities throughout the country. Taxis and tuk-tuks are also readily available in cities and tourist destinations.
Best Time To Visit
Thailand can be visited year-round, depending on which region of the country you will be visiting. The best time to visit northern Thailand is during the winter months, December through February. The region is lush and green, ideal for trekking. December and January will see the highest number of visitors. If visiting in March through May, you will experience dry weather but extremely high temperatures. The rainy season in Northern Thailand lasts from June through October.
When traveling to southwestern Thailand, especially for diving, you will find the best time to visit is from November through January. This is when you will find typically calm seas and fewer crowds.
Late in December through April is the best time to visit the islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Temperatures are warm, and there is very little rainfall. From May all the way through September, it is still possible to visit and experience great weather. You can get scattered afternoon and evening rain showers during these months, but they usually clear up quickly. October and November are the months in which the gulf islands receive the most rain.