The Rough Guide to Bangkok offers an expert, "tell it like it is" guide to the Thai capital, covering top sights like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Chatuchak Market, alongside hidden gems and practical tips. It includes detailed, full-colour maps, honest, independent, and comprehensive reviews of places to eat, drink, and stay for all budgets.
Travellers may experience sexual assault, other assault and robbery. Be extra careful in tourist spots such as Khao San Road and Sukhumvit in Bangkok, as well as the night-time entertainment areas in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Don't leave food or drinks unattended.
The Rough Guide to Thailand is the most comprehensive and informative guide available to this spectacular country. This new edition is in full colour, with clear and appealing maps and vibrant photography that brings Thailand to life.
While Bangkok generally ensures visitor safety, it's wise to steer clear of certain areas for personal well-being. Patpong Night Market is synonymous with its red-light district, Khao San Road surroundings can get rowdy at night, and Sampeng Market is known for pickpocketing.
Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code currently reads as follows: "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years."
Try to avoid stepping over anyone, especially in crowded places. Stepping over someone is seen as disrespectful and can cause offense, as it implies disregard. Don't Touch or Sit on Buddha Statues: Avoid touching, climbing, or sitting on Buddha statues or sacred items.
Many travelers also benefit from taking probiotics before and during their trip, as studies from Harvard Health Publishing (2022) suggest probiotics may help strengthen gut health and lower the risk of traveler's diarrhea.
The amount you tip should vary with the service and length of time the tour guide is with you. For great guides who have been with a group the whole day, it's not unusual for them to be given upwards of 1,000 baht – a large amount for someone who will only earn around 15,000 per month.
According to WPRO, an overweight person has a BMI of ≥ 23. An obese person has a BMI of ≥25. Obese male with a BMI of 52.8. Obesity levels have been on the rise in Thailand.
Thais usually wash with water first, then use paper to dry. You'll miss it when you go back to your home country! 🚻 SQAUT VS WESTERN TOILETS: In big cities, you'll mostly find Western sit-down toilets.
Thailand is no different and the list of antiquated ways to stray foul of the law in Bangkok includes: It is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear. It is illegal to drive a motorised vehicle bare-chested.
Drug use and corruption make up the majority of the crime in Thailand and due to this, many Thai administrations attempted to curtail the drug trade, most notably Thaksin Shinawatra with the 2003 War on Drugs.
When visiting Thailand, do respect the monarchy, dress modestly (especially at temples), remove shoes before entering homes/temples, use the wai greeting, keep voices down, and embrace the "mai pen rai" (no worries) attitude; don't touch people's heads, point feet at people or Buddha images, show public affection, raise your voice, disrespect Buddha images, or get into taxis without a meter.
Thailand uses the Thai solar calendar as the official calendar, in which the calendar's epochal date (Year zero) was the year in which the Buddha attained parinibbāna. This places the current year at 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. The year 2026 AD is indicated as 2569 BE in Thailand.
