TELEPHONE
To dial home from Thailand, use the international access
code 001, followed by the destination country code, area code and number you
wish to dial.
For calls to Thailand, the international dial code prefix
may vary depending upon the country from which the call is made, but will be
followed by Thailand’s international number +66, followed by the Thai area
code and local number. When dialling within Thailand, local numbers are
prefixed with 0.
The main emergency number is 191 which is free to call,
and is suitable for use in all types of emergency. Additional free to call
numbers are 199 for fire emergencies and 1554 for an ambulance. The tourist police
number is 1555.
When travelling with Haivenu, you will also always be
provided with an emergency contact number to access our help and assistance.
For mobile handsets, consult your service provider in
advance of departure to activate your handset for use in Thailand and seek
advice concerning roaming charges, which are, however, likely to be expensive.
If your phone is unlocked, another option is to buy a SIM
card locally, from one of Thailand’s many providers, the most comprehensive
coverage being provided by AIS. Other major providers are DTAC and True Move.
The country has wide 3G and expanding 4G coverage and signal problems are only
likely to be encountered in very remote or mountainous areas. You can also
purchase contract free handsets locally, though you will also need to purchase
a SIM card.
INTERNET
Most hotels provide Wi-Fi, which is often free. In
addition free Wi-Fi access is widely available in numerous public spaces
throughout the country.
The 3G network is well developed, and for mobile
internet, buying a SIM locally provides a relatively cheap and reliable
solution, with the added advantage of access to useful navigation and
sightseeing apps.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube are all very
popular platforms in Thailand.
Political censorship and monitoring of Internet use
exists in Thailand, which is most manifested by the blocking of online
published material, including international news articles, deemed as critical
to the Royal family and the authorities in general, and several bloggers have
been arrested for their political comments.
It is therefore highly unwise to indulge in Thai
political commentary, and in particular you should avoid making any comments
which could be construed as disparaging to Buddhism or the Thai royalty on the
internet during your visit.
Despite Thailand’s rampant sex industry, accessing online
pornography is technically illegal and many such sites are blocked.
ELECTRICITY
The electricity supply in Thailand is 220 Volts, at 50 HZ.
A useful visual reference guide to the full range of international
plug and socket varieties can be found at http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/,
which describes the type system in use on this website.
As yet, there is no standardised socket system for
Thailand, and you will likely encounter different socket systems in hotels all
over the country. The majority of connections are variants of two-pin outlets, both
round-pin (type C) and flat blade types (type A). Some sockets are of a three
pin type suited to type B plugs, but which can also accommodate types A and C
without using the ground/earth pin. In many cases, the third pin may in any
case not be actually wired. Another 3 pin socket commonly encountered in
Thailand is the type O round three pin outlet.
For this reason it is best either to carry a range of
suitable adapters or invest in one of the new universal adapters with
retractable pins which are adaptable to differing formats, particularly if you
are travelling to more than one country. Usefully, some models also provide
additional USB connections.
It is helpful to consider your likely needs in advance. If
you will need to charge several items such as mobile phones, tablet computers,
cameras etc, it may be worth bringing a multiple, preferably surge protected,
outlet from your own country to avoid having to purchase several adapters, or
to deal with a limited availability of wall sockets.
In most cases, if your equipment normally runs on a 110
volt, 60 HZ supply, you will additionally need a portable transformer.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Although Thailand has a traditional system of weights and
measures, the model in everyday use is the international metric system based on
the metre and gram.
POSTAL SERVICES
Postal services are run by the state-operated Thailand
Post, with post offices being widespread throughout the country. Opening hours
fluctuate, but services are generally available from 08:00 – 16:30 on weekdays.
In major urban locations some offices additionally open between 08:00 and 13:00
on Saturdays.
Thai Post services are widely considered reliable, though
slow.
Several international operators, such as TNT, DHL, UPS
and Federal Express, also operate in Thailand, which although expensive is best
suited to items of high value.
TIME ZONE
Thailand’s time zone is GMT+7, though it should be noted for
calculation purposes that Thailand does not operate a
daylight saving mechanism.