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Thailand Branch FAQ

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1. Research before asking a question. It will help you get better, more detailed and useful answers from the community if you've already done some homework. It's also polite. The community is here to help, but we're not your personal search engine. Invest some preliminary time and we'll happily help you fill in the gaps.

2. Explore Lonely Planet's Destinations online, which has a wealth of key info and tips.

3. Have a good look around the Thorn Tree before asking your question - quite often your question (or one very simila... more »

VISA CHANGES For people entering Thailand by land

Thailand has changed the rules for people entering the country via land borders. If you are planning a trip to Southeast Asia, or are on the road now, then read this and prepare to either alter your plans or get better acquainted with your local Thai consulate.

So what's the deal?
While the official English translation of the order has yet to be published (and is unlikely to appear before next week due to today's holiday for the King's birthday), a combination of an unofficial translation and reports from various borders suggest the speculation is accurate. The headline change is that anyone crossing into Thailand by land, who doesn't already have a visa from a Thai embassy or consulate, will be ALLOWED TO STAY ONLY 15 DAYS, not the previous 30.

This does not apply to people flying into Thailand, who can still get 'stamped in' - or in official parlance enter under the 't... more »

Is it Important to pre-book somewhere to stay?

My partner and i are traveling in the Krabi region in January and want to make sure we have somewhere nice to stay (as well as inexpensive). is it worth it to make the call to these places and pre book or just to wing it when we get there? another option i guess is to call a few days before we head to the next place with help from the desk of the hotel we are staying with at the time and other travelers? what do you think? im not a worrier by nature but i just dont know how busy it is there... places we hope to hit are Ko Jum, Ko Siboya, and Ton Sai.

Thanks everybody.

Krabi in rainy season

Hi there,

I have airpoints to use on an internal flight from Bangkok to anywhere in Thailand and was thinking of flying to Krabi for a week and hanging out on one of the Andaman islands. Problem is that it is the last week of Sept and seems that most of the boats and ferrys don't operate during this time because of the rainy season. I was thinking of Koh Lanta or Koh Jum but should I be looking at somewhere different because of the rainy season?

Its a pain that we have to book so far in advance but the airpoints will expire by the end of this year, and the last week of sept 2010 is the only time we can do it. So thats just the way it has to be.

Any suggestions? All we want is 7 days on a nice beach where we can swim all day and chill, preferably without too many people, tourist resorts or party-goers around. Also want to go somewhere we havent been before and that we can... more »

How strict is Thai Airways on excess luggage?

How strict is Thai Airways on excess luggage?

I will fly from Mumbai to Bangkok, overnight and then continue the next day to Manila with Thai Airways (Economy class).
I will be carrying 2 heavy luggages (each less than 30 kg). And also two laptop bags.

How much would I need to pay for overweight?

How probable is it that I will need to pay for the overweight?
When I flew from Stockholm to Istanbul to Mumbai with a Turkish Airline, there was no problem.
No problem on the domestic flight in India either with Kingfisher from Mumbai to Trivandrum.

US blacklists Thailand over child, forced labour

From: The Nation November 27, 2009 excerpts...

"The US has pushed forward a law allowing tough measures on manufacturers who reportedly use children or forced labour, a senior official said yesterday. Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Amporn Nitisiri said the US Labour Department had issued a list of countries, which says that Thailand uses child or forced labour in the productions of shrimps, textiles, sugar cane and pornographic materials...

Meanwhile, the (Thai) labour protection department is consulting with the Foreign and Commerce ministries on how to respond to these accusations and get Thailand removed from the list, she said...

Amporn confirmed that under Thai law, children under the age of 15 are prohibited from employment, and that those between 15 and 18 years of age can o... more »

More Dong

Good news you'll get c 27-8 more Dong per baht
For folks heading to Nam good news

3 new air routes

Just in time for Americans afraid of colour riot
Nok has re-launched former PB Air routes
see their website for prices

Press release Nok Air, the low-cost airline, will inaugurate three new routes linking Bangkok and the northeastern provinces of Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and Buri Ram on December 3.
Speaking at a news conference with executives from Thai Airways International (THAI) and Nok Air, Civil Aviation Department director-general Wuttichai Singmanee said Nok Air is assuming flights replacing the three destinations revoked by PB Air, another domestic Thai carrier.

There are three kinds of people those who can count and those who cannot

Samak Sundaravej , 1935-2009

was the sikrong kai tomfuk really all that bad?