CLIMATE
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with 3 distinct seasons - hot from March through May, wet from June to September, and cool from October through February. The average annual temperature is 28o C (83o F), ranging from in Bangkok, for example, from 30 C in April to 25 C in December.

WHAT TO WEAR
Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during the cool season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas or national parks. Jackets and ties are required in a few restaurants and nightclubs. Neat clothes are required for entering temples or palaces.

BUSINESS HOURS
Most offices open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, except on public holidays. General banking hours are Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

CURRENCY
There are 100 satangs in 1 baht. (B=baht) Notes are issued in denominations of B1000 (gray), B500 (purple), B100 (red), B50 (blue), B20 (green), and B10 (brown). There are 10, 5 and 1 baht coin, and 50 and 25 satang. Most foreign currencies and traveler cheques are easily changed at banks, hotels or moneychangers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the kingdom.

VOLTAGE
The electric system is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles). There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit.

TIPPING
Tipping is not a usual practice in Thailand although it is becoming more common. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not require a tip, but the gesture is appreciated.

BARGAINING
Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected. Generally, you can obtain a final figure of between 10-40% lower than the original asking price. Much depends on your skills and the shopkeeper's mood. But remember, Thais appreciate good manners and a sense of humor. With patience and a broad smile, you will not only get a better price, you will also enjoy shopping as an art.

LANGUAGE
Thai is a tonal language belonging to the group of Ka-Tai languages, the five tones are monotone, low, falling, high, and rising. This can be a rather complicated language for the visitor; however, English is quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language.

Here are a few Thai basic greetings and phrases to try. Just click on the Thai versions to hear a native speaker pronounce each phrase:
Hello (male speaker) - sawatdee krup
Hello (female speaker) - sawatdee kaa
How are you? - sabai dee reu
Fine thanks - sabai dee
Thank you - kop koon
Never mind - mai pen rai
I can't speak Thai - phoot Thai mai dai
I don't understand - mai kao chai
Do you understand? - kao chai mai
May I take a photograph? - tai ruup dai mai
Where is the restroom? - hong nam yoo tee nai
How much does this cost? - nee tao-rai
What is this ? - nee arai
Very expensive - paeng maag
The bill please - gep taang
Good-bye - la gon
See you again - laew phob gan mai
Good luck - kor hai chok dee
Sorry/excuse me - kor thoad
Who sells chicken eggs? - Krai kai kai kai

THE MONARCHY
Thai people have a deep, traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and the Royal Children.

RELIGION
Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire. It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept.

Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect.

Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.

SOCIAL NORMS
Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who returns it. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude. Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.

BUYER BEWARE
The Tourism Authority of Thailand receives over 1,000 complaints a year about fake jewelry purchases. To avoid being a statistic, you must stay alert to the warning signs of a swindle at work. Heeding our warning could help you stave off unpleasant surprises and make your vacation what it should be - full of sparkle.

The following are valuable pointers for your protection:

• Be wary of any encounter that ends up requiring your presence in a gem shop. Most probably it is a scam.
  
  
• Buying gems or jewelry to resell at double or triple the purchase prices is an impossible proposition under any circumstances. Buy jewelry only for personal satisfaction for your own use or for loved ones.
  
  
• Make price comparisons in various shops before deciding to buy. Never be in a hurry.
  
  
• Never mail sapphires or other precious stones. Carry valuable items with you.
  
  
• Do not believe special (jewelry) sales of any kind. Reputable dealers hardly ever offer sales and never send touts to lure tourists to their stores.
  
  
• There are no promotions, shows or special sales on jewelry authorized by the government or any official agencies at any time of the year.
  
  
• The government does not own, operate, subsidize, or authorize any jewelry stores.
  
  
• As far as you can, take time to verify all claims. Words, promises, personal guarantees, unchecked documents, unauthorized verbal or written statements, casual references, encounters and the like do not constitute verification. Remember, you are your own best protection.
  
  
• All Thai embassies, consulates or any delegations abroad are neither bound nor responsible for refunding goods that are bought in Thailand.