Travel Safety Tips
Here are a few Travel Safety Tips for your journey to and from as well as in and around Thailand. Deciding what to take or what not to take with you before you leave home. Although I have never had anything stolen myself whilst on any of my trips to Thailand, one can never be too cautious. It is best to leave all the expensive jewellery including your favourite family hair-loams at home. For the best part, you do not need them here and besides, it's far too hot most of the time to be wearing all that bling bling stuff. You surely don't want your expensive items stolen by some local pick-pocket while strolling around the
markets
around Thailand so it's advisable leave them at home. There is also no need to wear your Rolex or Breitling watch here unless of course you absolutely need to impress.
Travel Safety TipsNeed to travel as light as possibleFor the best part of the year in Thailand it is mostly hot, so you don't want to be carrying around any unnecessary heavy clothing which you will never wear here anyway. Leave the heavy stuff at home as this will allow you to move around with far better ease and you will also be freer in mind as well as body.Travel Safety TipsNeed to keep money safe while on the moveTake a little foreign currency in cash with you after which you can use the ATM for further withdrawals. Carry only small amounts of cash especially at night and never place money in your back pocket. If need, you can find other places on your body to hide your money. There are loads of ATM machines all over Thailand with some even in places further afield.Draw enough money to last a few days and the rest of your purchases can be done with the one or two credit cards you should also carry with you. Let your bank know of you impending destination so as to avoid any unpleasantness as you wouldn't want to be denied any access. All the usual suspects apply with the safe keeping of you PIN number etc etc. If you need to carry a hand bag when shopping then you would want to keep a close eye on it and make sure that it stays close to your person at all times. Let a friend or family member hold on to your bag should you need to use your hands while viewing any item for a closer inspection. Any other cash may be stored in the mini safe in most good hotels and resorts or at least downstairs at reception. Whatever you do, do not flash your cash around especially in girlie bars unless you want to buy the whole house a round of drinks which could leave you running back to the ever present ATM machines. While on the subject of bars, always pay up front for every round of drinks and never keep a bar tab anywhere.
Need to get through customs smoothlyShould you are taking medication of any kind then it is best to leave your prescriptions in their original packaging and or containers. If your medicine is of an unusual or narcotic nature then you might consider bringing a letter from your doctor. If you have any queries relating to any medicinal drug that you might or might not be allowed to bring into Thailand then it is best to contact your nearest Thai Embassy or consulate beforehand.
Please do not bring any hard drugs into Thailand.
Travel Safety TipsNeed to bring extra passport photosIt is advisable to carry a few extra recent passport size photos with you as you never know when they might come in handy. Thailand is a short distance away from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos should you decide to visit any of these countries whilst in this part of Asia. Cambodia is only one hour of flight from Bangkok to the capital Phnom Pehn. One passport photo will be required upon arrival. Although close, Burma may not always allow entry at any given time. Also make a photocopy of the page that has your photo on your passport and keep it separately from your main passport.
Travel Safety TipsNeed to be away from home for some timeBest to let family members know where you might be from time to time. Leave your complete itinerary including photocopies of your passport, identification papers, drivers license, airline tickets any other such information with family or friends. Should you need to keep in contact, most hotels and resorts have internet access, if not in your room then you will find connections downstairs in the lobby. You will also find plenty of internet cafe's in all the tourist locations around the country except perhaps in the remote areas of the north and northeast.
Travel Safety TipsNeed to understand a few Thai words or phrasesLearn to speak a few words of the local Thai language. It is always appreciated by the locals if you know how to speak even a few simply words like Hello, Thank You and Too Expensive. You can go to my Phrase Book page or you could browse the internet to find out more.Yes! I do realize that it's not going to be that easy but a good suggestion would be to simply ask the hotel receptionist to teach you a few words or phrases upon arrival. Write them down and then practice them in you room later. It may take a short while but it will be well worth it at the end of the day.
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