Thailand is one of the most popular Asian tourist spots. Thailand previously known as Siam and even earlier Ayutthaya has a long-running history. The country is famous for many things among which are the Wats which are scattered throughout the entire country. Thailand is also famous for its Elephants and the masses of tourists these gigantic mammals attract. The country is predominantly Buddhist, seeing scores of monks dressed in orange robes is a common sight.

Traveling info

All tourists traveling to Thailand must have a valid passport. There are 55 countries which are exempt for the requirement of a visa. Citizens of these nations may enter Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. This exemption is only for tourist purposes. Those who travel without a visa must have a return ticket from Thailand and a proof of at least 10 thousand (THB) per person for the duration of stay. According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

Traveling hazards

Driving in Thailand may be very challenging. Traffic in cities is extremely congested, in addition, traffic moves on the left, therefore, driving in Thailand for tourists coming from right lane traffic movement is particularly difficult. Locals often disregard the rules, not stopping for traffic lights is practically casual driving. Moped drivers and motorized carts are particularly dangerous drivers as they even often driving against the traffic flow and often try to slip between the curb and stopped or slow-moving cars, and they collide with doors that are being opened. Most highways are properly built and maintained roads, major roads in cities are usually 4 lanes and are also well maintained. Rural roads, however, may be in much poorer condition. In additions to ill-repaired roads in the country, there are also landmines left over from the previous conflict.

Environmental hazards

Although large predators such as tigers and behemoths of herbivore kingdom known as elephants roam Thailand these are not considered particularly dangerous. Instead, there are venomous snakes which cause more harm to people than any of the mentioned above. Dangerous snakes may be found anywhere in the country and this applies to even small shrubs in city parks so do not be surprised to see people jamming sticks into bushes to scare the snakes away. Beware however that not all will try to slide away and instead you might get a nasty bite. There are over 7000 thousand bites yearly in Thailand and below 30 deaths. This is due to the supply of antivenom all over the country. If you get bitten, do not attempt to identify the snake, instead of rush it to the hospital. If you get treated within an hour or two, you should be safe. Scorpions are very common in Thailand, although not lethal their bites may be extremely dangerous to allergic, elderly or children. Dogs are common as house pets in Thailand however there are many wild dogs stalking the streets of Thai cities. These are usually avoided by people especially at night where they run in packs. This is particularly a problem due to the large portion of these animals being infected with rabies. This also applies to wild monkeys which became bolder in tourist areas begging for food or even bullying it off of people. These animals are capable of unzipping bags and stealing it contains. These animals may also bite and infect their victim with rabies. Safety in Thai waters varies from safeguarded beaches to saltwater crocodile infested. Incidents on guarded and designated beaches are extremely rare whilst most take place outside of these whilst diving etc. Saltwater crocodiles kill roughly 30 people each year. Sharks are also responsible for attacks however there are very few attacks in the past decades.
Apart from the worst Tsunami to hit the country and its many neighbors in 2004, Thailand suffers from floods, tropical cyclones, and earthquakes. All of these are extremely dangerous particularly for smaller settlements which are not as well prepared as large urban areas.

Health hazards

There is no outbreak of yellow fever in Thailand however the Thai government requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from visitors who are traveling from countries with a risk of contracting that disease. There are several other vaccinations which are not required but recommended and should ensure a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines also known as the MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and typhoid vaccine. Malaria is present in Thailand and unfortunately, there is no approved vaccination against it. There are drugs prescribed against malaria. A good way to protect against malaria is to buy mosquito repellant and install mosquito nets in the windows of your accommodation. Thailand has a well established public healthcare which provides for the Thai citizens. Expats, however, must pay for their services. Private clinics provide excellent medical services. Plastic surgery has been particularly popular among tourists arriving in Thailand for their surgeries from countries where the same quality of service is considerably more expensive. Most specialists in private clinics speak English and have English speaking staff.
In case of an emergency dial 110.

Crime

Thailand although infamous for nightlife and not necessarily the bright side of it is relatively safe. This said, it does not mean people should feel too relaxed, petty crime affects mostly tourists and most obviously those who expose signs of wealth by being indiscreet with money or wearing expensive clothing and jewelry. Bag snatching, pickpocketing, and theft of unattended goods are most common. Although violent crimes such as murder or rape do happen, it rarely affects tourists. When they do occur, such crimes typically happen at night, often when victims have been drinking or are separated from their companions. These crimes are most common in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and in tourist areas in southern Thailand, including Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Krabi. Drugs in Thailand are treated very seriously. Possession of smallest amounts may lead to prison sentence whilst more serious offenses may even result in the death penalty.

Summary

Thailand is a very popular and cheap destination attracting millions from all over the world to try the real Thai food which outclasses any local takeaways. It is worth to visit and witness some of the local Muay Thai which is an incredible show of endurance and raw human power. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/changes-visa-exempt.php
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/thailand