Airport Departure Tax and other Thailand General Tips

Favorite Thing: This is important to remember if you are leaving Thailand internationally through one of the international airports. There is an international airport tax of 500 Baht in cash. This is a bit steep, but you have to pay it, so I'd put away 500 Baht at the beginning of your trip for the airport departure tax.

It is also important to note that if you are staying in Thailand for 12 hours or less (long stopover) you can get an airport departure tax voucher so you don't have to pay it, just ask for it at the airport.


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Favorite Thing: The north of Thailand (Bangkok up) has three seasons and the south (below Bangkok) only has two. Each season has its benefits and drawbacks...

Here are my descriptions and times of the seasons:

Rainy Season: The southwest monsoon comes from the Indian Ocean with rain-laden clouds, from about June to October. Not every day rains so there is still plenty of sunshine, and the rain rarely lasts all day anyway (commonly overnight and in the afternoon). The humidity makes it feel hot and sticky. This season is very green, as all the plants turn the scenery bright green.

Cool Season: The northeast monsoon from central Asia usually blows from November to February, bringing relatively cool, dry conditions to Thailand. This is one of the best times to visit Thailand, especially the south, where this particular season doesn't exist and it is still very warm there.

Hot Season: Between the two monsoons, March to May, the land heats up, creating an area of low pressure above it. Eventually the high pressure over the Indian Ocean moves inland, and the monsoon cycle begins again. This is the hottest time of the year so the school closes for a two month long break.


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Favorite Thing: The currency of Thailand is called Baht. When you get to Thailand you will have to exchange your national currency into the Thai Baht. Travelers cheques are exchangeable at any bank as well as at many exchange centers. Credit cards may be a bigger problem outside Bangkok, so I'd stick with travelers cheques and cash. Note that in exchange centers you get a better rate for big bills, I'm not sure why. Average exchange rate is about 40 Baht p/ 1 US$

Baht come in several different variations, but they all feature the King:
25 Satang / 1/4 Baht (little tiny coin)
50 Satang / 1/2 Baht (little brass coin)
1 Baht (small white coin)
5 Baht (mid-sized white coin)
10 Baht (bi-metal coin)
10 Baht (brown bill)
20 Baht (green bill)
50 Baht (blue bill)
100 Baht (red bill)
500 Baht (purple bill)
1000 Baht (gray bill)


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Favorite Thing: Thailand's nickname is the "Land of Smiles" and the name is well deserved. The Thai culture is happy. People are interested in talking, kids love to play games and interact with everyone, including foreigners. Smiling goes far in Thailand, people love to see happiness! Thai is why Thailand is referred to as a "smiling country".

Fondest Memory: Some of my favorite times in Thailand are just speaking with the people; from kids to monks everyone has some story to tell. Even if you don't speak Thai you can still have just as much with interaction. Language barriers do exist, but friendship barriers don't!

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