At a Glance
Thailand has a land area of 513,115 sq.km.(approx. 127,008 acres) bordered by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East) and Cambodia (Southeast). The country's east coast borders the Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the Andaman Sea.

Thailand is divided geographically into four main zones-the fertile central plains, dominated by the Chao Phraya River; the 300-metre-high northeast plateau, the kingdom's most barren region; the mountainous North; and the tropical southern peninsula.

Population & People
The total 63,525,062 (end Dec 2009), comprises approximately 31 million males and 32 million females. Of the total, 9.3% live in Bangkok. **Note** The total population only includes permanent residents.

Thailand comprises 75% Thais, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malays, and others are Mons, Khmers, Burmese, Laotians, Indians and a variety of hill tribes.

Climate and Weather
Thailand's weather is tropical, with seasonal monsoons. As in many tropical regions, the weather here is fairly predictable

May/June to October is monsoon season, with hot, humid weather throughout the country.
November to February is consistently much drier throughout the country, and are the most popular time for travel.
March and April are drier but hotter throughout the country, continuing that way until the monsoons begin.
South and Central Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket) are quite warm year-round, with temperatures well into the 80s. In the more mountainous north (Chiang-Mai) temperatures drop in the winter (Dec. to Feb.) but rarely fall below the 50's. Be prepared for cooler winter nights if you're in the mountains of the north.

On the Peninsula - a long, narrow piece of Thailand stretches south on a peninsula. Weather for the west coast of the peninsula follows the patterns described above. However, some of the seasonal changes are reversed on the east coast, which is affected by the northeast monsoons. Here, on the east coast, the May-to-October season tends to be drier than the rest of Thailand, while November to March is rainy.

Currency
The Baht: About 43 baht = 1 U.S. dollar (January 2003 rate). ATM machines, readily available in cities and tourist areas, are easier than traveller’s checks. Break large notes as soon as you can, and accumulate small bills.

Merchants often cannot make change, and small bills are useful for tips. Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and department stores, but not by smaller merchants and at street markets and bazaars.

Drinking water
Don't drink the tap water. Bottled water is widely and inexpensively available, but not always at the instant you want it, so try to always have a little on hand. Most hotels will give you one or two complimentary bottles of water each day. The easiest time to forget this precaution is when brushing your teeth. You probably won't suffer any ill effects if you forget and rinse your mouth with tap water, but why take a chance?

Health, malaria, and vaccines
A month or two before departure, consult with your doctor about what medical precautions are appropriate, based on your own situation, and the areas you'll visit. The information given here is intended as a general overview, and could change. Malaria requires some special consideration. Malaria is rarely a problem in the more populated areas, but persists in remote regions of the north. There are no perfect malaria vaccines at this time: they all include potential side-effects that must be weighed against the risks.

Malaria is carried by mosquitoes, and many authorities now recommend prevention — avoiding mosquito bites — as the best tactic if you travel into infected areas. That means wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, sleeping under mosquito netting at night, and using repellent.

Language
The national language is Thai, a tonal language with a unique script. Thai proves challenging for most foreigners to learn well, but a rudimentary understanding of Thai will make your trip more enjoyable. Most Thais do not speak English, but those you're likely to encounter — hotel clerks, waiters, guides — will know enough English to get their job done.

In return, it's helpful if you follow certain guidelines (see link below) for being understood. Note that cab drivers may speak no English; it's best to have a card or advertisement showing where you want to go; have someone write it out in Thai, or have a dispatcher translate your instructions to the driver. In airports, major cities, and resort areas, most signs will be in both Thai and English.

Religion
About 93% of Thais practice Theravada Buddhism, the national religion. Just as Christian religions inspired Europe's grandest architecture, the cathedrals of the Middle Ages, so has Buddhism inspired Thailand's most impressive structures.

Bangkok alone has over 400 temples, and there are some 25,000 throughout Thailand, representing a fascinating variety of styles.

Telephone system
To call Thailand from the U.S.: Dial 011 (to establish international connection) + 66 (Thailand's country code) + the city or area code (Bangkok is 2) + the local number. Within Thailand, you'll generally dial a 0, followed by an 8-digit number.

Time difference

From U.S. Eastern Time:
Add 12 hours to your time in the USA to get the time in Thailand

From U.S. Central Time:
Add 13 hours

From U.S. Mountain Time:
Add 14 hours

From U.S. Pacific Time:
Add 15 hours

Tipping
Tips are not generally expected in Thailand, although that is changing as more Americans visit. A small tip is fine to reward service that genuinely goes beyond what was expected. A cab fare is often rounded up by 5 or 10 baht or more if the driver has spent considerable time sitting in traffic; 3-5% (20 to 50 baht) added to a restaurant bill; 10-30 baht per bag for a hotel porter.

Essential Items

• Sun block
• Raincoat
• Small umbrella
• Small Torch
• Insect repellent
• Sun hat
• Hand sanitiser – about 50ml to 100ml
• Anti-bacterial wipes (useful at all times)
• Comfortable strong walking shoes