Page 113 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

Practical Information ❮❮ 111

to or from Europe or the attractions tend to open Weather
US take at least a week to 9am–5pm daily. Depart­
arrive. For important doc­ ment stores open daily at The best time to visit is
uments, use the Express 10am and close at 9 or November–February, with
Mail Service (EMS) or pay 10pm. On public holidays, clear skies and cooler
a fee to register the letter. govern ment offices, post temper atures, generally
offices, and banks are around 80° F (26.5° C).
Media closed, but most shops, However, hotel rates tend
bars and restaurants to be higher, and tourist
Some guesthouses and remain open. attractions more crowded.
many hotels offer satellite The hot season (March–
TV with English channels. Time Difference May) is fine for a beach
There are also a few radio holiday but not for sight­
stations that broadcast in Thailand is seven hours seeing. The rainy season
English, such as Eazy FM ahead of Greenwich Mean (June–October) can be
and Radio Thailand. Two Time, 12 hours ahead of pleasant, and storms
English dailies, Bangkok US Eastern Standard usually blow over quickly.
Post and The Nation, carry Time, and three hours The tropical monsoon
news and listings. Copies behind Australian Eastern climate means that spring
of international papers Standard Time. is hot, followed by sum­
such as the UK’s The Times mer rains. Loose, breath­
and USA Today are sold in Electrical able clothes are best, and
some bookshops, though Appliances layering a long­sleeved
prices for these are steep. top over a T­shirt also
The electric current in provides sun protec tion.
Opening Hours Thailand is 220 volts AC, Bangkokians see short
50 Hz, and most plug pants as beach wear, but
Most government offices sockets are of the two­pin visitors are given latitude,
are open 8:30am–4:30pm variety. Adaptors are except in temples. During
on weekdays, but many readily available in the rainy season umbrella
close for lunch. Tourist department stores. vendors are everywhere.
DIRECTORY
PASSPORTS AND UK Foreign and BANKING
VISAS Commonwealth Office Bangkok Bank
Australian Embassy ∑ gov.uk/foreign-travel- § 1333, +66 (0) 2645
∑ thailand.embassy.gov. advice
au US Department of State 5555 (from abroad)
∑ bangkokbank.com
Immigration Office ∑ travel.state.gov
∑ bangkok.immigration. Thai Military Bank
go.th HEALTH § 1558, +662 299 1558
Thai Ministry of BNH Hospital (from abroad)
Foreign Affairs ∑ bnhhospital.com ∑ tmbbank.com
∑ mfa.go.th
UK Embassy Bumrungrad Hospital MEDIA
∑ bumrungrad.com
∑ gov.uk/government/ Bangkok Post
world/organisations/ Dental Hospital
british-embassy-bangkok ∑ dentalhospital ∑ bangkokpost.com
US Embassy bangkok.com Eazy FM
∑ th.usembassy.gov ∑ eazyfm.becteroradio.
Medical Hotline
TRAVEL SAFETY § 1669 com
ADVICE PERSONAL SECURITY Radio Thailand
Australian Department ∑ hsk9.org
of Foreign Affairs and Tourist Police
Trade § 1155 The Nation
∑ dfat.gov.au ∑ thailand touristpolice. ∑ nationmultimedia.
∑ smartraveller.gov.au com com

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