Page 110 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

108 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Practical Information

Passports and Visas the US Department of crowded areas such as
State, and the Australian street markets, and snatch
All travelers to Thailand Department of Foreign thieves on motorcycles
must possess a passport Affairs and Trade. will grab a shoulder bag
valid for six months from or purse – a day pack
the date of entry. Many Travel Insurance carried against your chest
passport holders are is the most secure option.
given tourist visa exemp­ Comprehensive travel Keep expensive smart­
tions for no cost, valid insurance is essential. phones safely out of sight.
for 15 days, and most Medical care in Thailand Women should not walk
Western visitors are given is generally inexpensive, alone at night or on
a 30­day tourist visa if but insurance will cover isolated beaches, and
arriving by air. For longer any unexpectedly large topless sunbathing is not
visits, apply at the nearest claims. Keep receipts and advised. Jet­ski operators
Thai embassy for a tourist documents to file with the are known to discover
visa, which must be used insurer when you’re home. “damages” and insist that
within three months of you pay, and the seedier
issue. Non­immigrant Health sex bars are notorious for
90­day visas are available inflating checks. If you
if there is a good reason Thailand has excellent, have a problem, call the
for an extended stay. For affordable healthcare, and Tourist Police Hotline.
a fee, 30­day visas can be is a popu lar medical tour­
extended by 10 days, and ism destina tion. Bangkok Currency
60­day visas by 30 days at Hospital Phuket and the and Banking
the Phuket Immigration Phuket International
Office. If you overstay your Hospital are the best for Thailand’s currency is the
visa, there is a B500 fine serious issues. For minor baht (B), divided into 100
per day. These regulations problems, local clinics are satang. There are B1, B2,
are subject to change, so also hygienic and reliable, B5, and B10 coins; notes
check the Thai Ministry of and staff generally speak are available for B20
Foreign Affairs website. the required English. (green), B50 (blue), B100
Many countries, including Pharmacies are usually (red), B500 (purple), and
Australia, the UK, and the well stocked, and pres­ B1,000 (brown).
US have consular repre­ criptions are not needed Most banks are open
sentation in the country. for antibiotics. Dental care 8:30am–3:30pm Monday–
is also good and inex pen­ Friday, but branches in
Customs and sive. No vacci nations are department stores or air­
Immigration required for entering the ports often stay open later
country. While malaria is and on weekends. ATMs
Travelers may bring in up not present in Phuket, are found outside bank
to 200 cigarettes or 8 oz/ dengue fever is, so do use branches, depart ment
250 g of tobacco and a mos quito repellent. STDs stores, and mini­marts
liter of alcohol. Many are also a problem, and (although not on the
goods purchased within protection is essential. smaller islands). ATMs
Thailand qualify for a VAT offer an English­language
refund. Look for shops Personal Security option and accept major
with a “VAT Refund For credit and debit cards, but
Tourists” sign. Crimes against visitors do a service charge will be
take place in Phuket but applied. Cash withdrawal
Travel Safety Advice you can reduce your risk. against credit cards can
ATMs mean there’s no also be done in banks if
Get up­to­date travel need to carry lots of cash, the ATM won’t accept your
safety information from and you should keep your card. Western Union and
the UK Foreign and cards in your hotel room Moneygram offer cash
Commonwealth Office, safe. Pickpockets favor transfers from abroad,

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Streetsmart – practical, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
108-111_Top_10_Phuket.indd 108 16/06/2017 13:02
Date 10th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm