Now that things are opening up, many people are looking to take an exotic holiday and there aren’t many destinations as appealing as Thailand is you love a tropical climate. Of course, it makes total sense to be prepared for your holiday and we put together a few mistakes to avoid when planning a trip to the Land of Smiles.
1. Changing money at the airport – Don’t change more than $50 when you arrive at the airport, which is enough to get you into Bangkok. There are quite a few exchange booths (Super Rich offer the best rates) and they won’t accept damaged notes or bill with writing on. Check online for precise locations and get the best rates for your dollars, pounds or euros.
2. Vaping in public – Not all tourists are aware that vaping is against the law in Thailand, so leave that vape pen & juice at home, otherwise you risk arrest. E-cigarettes are illegal only because they do not fall into any category of imported goods and we expect this law to be amended soon. The chances of being caught are minimal if you are discreet with your vaping sessions, but be warned. If you’re staying at a Phuket resort, you can vape on your balcony or in the resort grounds. Here are a few tips for booking flights online.
3. Too much sun exposure – If you are fair-skinned, you are at more risk of sunburn and in a coastal area with lots of breeze, it is easy to burn. Make sure you apply sunscreen before going out, especially when snorkeling and swimming and should you suffer from sunburn, aloe vera is the best skin treatment. Wear polarised sunglasses with a UV rating of 400 in order to protect your eyes.
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4. Visa overstay – If you allow your visa to expire, you will be fined 500bt per day; if you are checked by Thai immigration or police and they see your visa has expired, you could face jail time and even a ban from re-entering Thailand. In the event your overstay is only a few days, you can pay the fine at the airport and that is the end of the matter, however, if you are caught overstaying, this is a totally different matter.
5. Unsuitable social media posts – There have been a few tourist arrests made when people have posted unsuitable images, which are deemed as derogatory to the Buddhist religion. Also, you should know that it is illegal to post images of alcohol, which might seem a bit absurd, but it is the law of the land and we should respect that. Be careful with anything Buddhist when posting images on Facebook or Instagram; it is fine to post a photo of you at a temple, providing you are suitably dressed.
Thailand is a very safe country, so you do not have to worry about being robbed or anything like that; just use your common sense and enjoy the amazing holiday experience in the Land of Smiles.
