Thailand FAQs

The expiry dates of your passports must be at least 6 months after your arrival.

UK passport holders can enter Thailand without applying for a visa in advance, and you’ll be allowed to stay for up to 30 days. On arrival, each member of your family will need to present a valid passport with at least one blank page, as well as evidence of onward travel (e.g. your return flight ticket).

You can always check the latest UK travel conditions on the FCO website.

Yes, we would always recommend taking out comprehensive family travel insurance when travelling. This should cover any medical services you need, lost property and other common claims.

We would strongly suggest buying a policy as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, as most insurers will cover you for cancellation before departure at no extra cost (e.g. for medical problems or close family members passing away).

With a hot, humid climate we would advise loose clothing made of natural materials like cotton and linen to keep you cool. Swimsuits are essential for a cooling dip in the pool or sea. The majority of the population in Thailand and Laos are Buddhist so we would advise to dress more conservatively than you would in Europe, and covering shoulders and knees is essential when visiting religious sites.

 

Some other family packing essentials include;

Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats or caps, sandals, mosquito repellent, plug adaptors (for type A sockets), charger cables for any gadgets, reading materials, refillable water bottles, small first aid kit, any specific medicines (clearly labelled).

Also your bank card and emergency helpline numbers, your driver’s license if you are going to drive, a small first aid kit, copies of important documents and a money belt to keep them in.

It is always best to get the advice of a GP or travel nurse before travelling overseas to check which vaccinations you might need or if any boosters are required. The Fit for Travel website provides a comprehensive guide on all the vaccinations you should consider.

We know heading off on holiday is always a little bit stressful, especially on the day you leave, so we would advise doing these things before you depart:

• Check you have all your necessary documentation, including your passports!
• Take a photo of your documents and email it to yourself and travelling partners. Having a copy on your phone always comes in handy too.
• Ensure you have all your chargers and converters for any phones, cameras, tablets you are taking. A portable battery pack is a handy item to have in your hand luggage.
• Take snacks and a refillable bottle for your flight.
• Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we advise arriving 3 hours prior to your flight departure.
• Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage and take a photo of your checked bag in case it goes missing en route.
• Sit back and relax knowing we have your holiday sorted!

Thai is the most commonly used language in Thailand and English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas. Here are some key phrases to remember:

Hello/goodbye: Sa-wat-dee krap (masculine)/ka (feminine)
Yes: Chai/krap/ka
No: (Mai) Chai
Please: Ga-ru-nah
Thank you: korp khun krap (masculine)/ka (feminine)
I’m lost: Chan/phom-long-tang
How much is this?: An-nee-tao-rai
No problem: Mai-mee-pan-ha

In a word; delicious.

You’ve likely had some form of Thai food before travelling there, as dishes like Pad Thai and Thai Green Curry are popular in Europe. You can expect fresh ingredients, plenty of rice and noodles and a varying degree of spice depending on the dish. Chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes are widely available throughout the country.

If your kids are going through a fussy phase of just fancy a change, western options will be available on many menus and you’ll even find pizza joints, burger restaurants and other such establishments in tourist areas.

If any of the family have allergies, we recommend creating a little card with the allergies translated into Thai. This way you can be clear and avoid any confusion at restaurants.

Although very open and friendly., Thailand is also very traditional and fairly conservative in many ways. Here are few things to be aware of during your travels:

• Locals don’t generally shake hands but instead put their hands together and bow their head.
• It is seen as rude to raise your voice as people largely regard it as intimidating or threatening, politeness and a calm demenour will get you a lot further.
• Thai nationals have a massive respect for their monarchy, so make sure you don’t insult the royal family as this is a serious offence in Thailand and can even lead to imprisonment.
• If you are visiting temples make sure you dress modestly – make sure you cover your shoulders, back, legs and stomach as much as possible.
• As a way of showing politeness and to abide by local customs, remember to remove your shoes before entering a person’s home, sometimes you will see a collection of shoes outside a shop or restaurant so follow suit.
• If you are away with your partner be aware of public shows of affection, depending where you are in the country it may cause offence to local people.
• Try not to point your finger as this could be seen as rude gesture and if beckoning someone do it with your palm facing down.
• It is very important not to touch anyone on their head as this is the most sacred part of the body in Thai culture.
• As feet are seen as dirty, don’t point the soles of your feet at another person or a Buddha statue, avoid stepping over people or food and don’t stand on seats.

Thailand is generally a safe country to travel in, especially for families. Crime involving tourists is, for the most part, limited to petty theft and scams.

In terms of health, the medical services in Thailand are of a good standard and most common medicines are available from pharmacies. Of course, it’s always a good idea to take any specialist medicine you or your children need along with you (clearly labelled in case of airport checks).  Also, be aware that the sun can be strong here and there are bugs about too, so take some good sunscreen and repellent. We’d also recommend sticking to bottled drinking water and regularly washing hands.

In case of emergency, you’ll have a 24/7 telephone number for our local partners who can help and advise in almost any situation. In more extreme cases, 191 is the national emergency services number and you can speak to the dedicated Tourist Police on 1155 or (+66) 2308-0333. You can also reach the British Embassy on (+66) 2305-8333. Make sure you have good family travel insurance to cover any costs that arise.

P.S. We’d recommend making a couple of copies of your passport photo page before travelling – this will make things much easier if something happens to your actual passport.