Accommodation
The British Council will pay for you to stay in a hotel for two weeks in your posting while you look for accommodation. In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to extend this if you are having trouble finding accommodation.
Local project staff and your Thai Ministry Centre Manager may be able to help you find accommodation.
Landlords often expect to give contracts for 6 or 12 months. However, you should be able to negotiate a contract for a shorter period. Short tenancies may be a little more expensive than year tenancies, which is why we provide a generous settling in allowance for those on short contracts.
Landlords will usually ask for two months. rent in advance and for a deposit as insurance against damage to furniture, though these can sometimes be negotiated.
Settling-in allowance
A single payment of 25,000THB for newly recruited trainers not currently resident in Thailand will be provided to assist in settling in.
Information about Thailand
Airport - Bangkok has 2 Airports:
Most international flights arrive at (1) Suvarnabhumi Airport. Some airlines (including Air Asia and Nok Air) and other domestic flights arrive at (2) Don Mueang Airport.
From the Airport
Airport Rail Link
From Suvarnabhumi Airport - the cheapest and fastest way to travel into the city is by train.
(1) The Airport Rail Link Express Line runs every half hour and takes only 17 minutes from the airport to Phaya Thai terminal (Taxi: at least an hour during the day). Price as of March 2013 is 90 THB one-way or 150 THB return. From Phaya Thai you can change onto the BTS (Sky train) system (Sukhumvit Line), or take a taxi to your final destination.
(2) The Airport Rail Link City Line leaves every 15 minutes, takes 25 minutes for the whole distance because it makes 6 stops in between, and costs half as much (45 THB single). From Phaya Thai you can change onto the BTS (Sky train) system (Sukhumvit Line), or from Phetchaburi station you can change onto the MRT (subway) system (Blue line), or take a taxi to your final destination.
Taxis - At Suvarnabhumi airport, public taxi stands are located on level 1 (one level down from Arrivals). When you leave the customs area and enter the arrivals hall, follow the signs. If you are approached by taxi touts as you enter the arrival hall, politely ignore them.
Join the queue(s) at the Public Taxi desk (where English is spoken), state your destination and collect a voucher to give to the driver. A taxi driver will then be assigned to you. Make sure the taxi-meter is switched on (i.e.showing a red light ‘35’ at the start) when you set off. Do not go with any driver who approaches you himself, or who suggests you can shortcut the queue.
From April 2017 a taxi must have rear seat belts and you must wear them. If you don’t, the driver will be fined. They can’t explain that to you. They earn very much less than you do. Do respect them and this law. Obvious, if the taxi doesn’t have functioning seatbelts, there’s not much you can do about that.
The meter starts at 35 Baht and increases for time and distance. When you reach your destination, you pay the driver the amount shown on the meter, plus an extra airport fee of 50 Baht. You will also be expected to pay any expressway toll fees en route or at the end of your trip.
A typical metered fare from Suvarnabhumi airport to the centre of Bangkok would be 300 - 400 THB (plus expressway fee), and rounding up your payment with a 5 or 10 Baht tip is appreciated. Make sure you have small 100 THB notes handy as the driver may not have change for larger denominations.
Other Airport Transport - Other bus services between airports and to downtown areas operate from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Information on these services can be found at airport websites:
Suvarnabhumi: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/transportation
Don Mueang: http://donmueangairportthai.com/en/381-public-transport
Transport around Bangkok
Skytrain (BTS) overhead rail - The Skytrain (BTS) is convenient and the 2 lines run through the main shopping areas of Sukhumvit and Silom. http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/main.aspx
Metro (MRT) underground - The Metro only runs along one route, with two interchange stations between the underground and the Skytrain systems. http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/Index.aspx?Lang=En
Tuk-Tuks - If you use tuk-tuks or motorised tricycles, bargain your fare before setting off and beware of having to stop and shop on the way. Taxis are often cheaper and more comfortable.
Buses - Buses are very cheap, but usually crowded and uncomfortable.
Public taxis - In Bangkok, licensed public taxis all have the sign ‘Taxi-meter’ on the roof. Although all taxis are metered, it is usually best to hail a moving taxi, as stationary taxis or those outside hotels may expect you to pay more and bargain a price with you off-meter. Taxis which have a visible red illuminated sign in the windscreen are available for hire.
If you use a public taxi, get a note from the British Council office or hotel reception stating your destination in Thai, as this will help to reduce possible misunderstandings, and before you start your journey, ensure that the taxi meter is switched on. Look for ‘35’ in red on the meter.
Traffic is very heavy in Bangkok, so allow plenty of time to get to an appointment.
Transport outside Bangkok
Tuk-Tuks – An open-air, three-wheeled carriage attached to a motorcycle chassis. Fares vary depending on the distance travelled, the time of the day, the traffic, and the mood of the drivers. Normally a very short trip will cost around 60 THB. That is often more than a comfortable taxi.
Songteaw (minibuses) Songthaews are used both within towns and cities and for longer routes between towns and villages. Those within towns are converted from pick-up trucks and usually travel fixed routes for a set fare. They are used as shared taxis for passengers traveling in roughly the same direction.
Motorbike taxis operate across Thailand. These are often only lightly regulated (if at all) and care should be taken when selecting a driver/vehicle. It is advisable to wear a helmet at all times when using motorbikes. You should check in advance whether your travel/medical insurance covers you for using this form of transport.
Thailand’s Climate
Thailand’s climate is tropical, with daytime temperatures averaging 30-40°C. The hottest temperatures and highest humidity (80-90%) are experienced from March to May.
Monsoon Season May/June to October is the rainy season. Heavy rain throughout this period can cause localised flooding, with September and October being the height of the monsoon season. Torrential rain and widespread flooding often result in flash floods and mudslides in Thailand. You should exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities.
November to February is the coolest time of the year, though temperatures may still be as high as 30°C. Visitors should drink plenty of water, and apply sun cream when outdoors.
Temperatures are generally cooler in the north, so much so that warm clothes may be necessary in the evenings during the winter months. However, most hotels, restaurants, cars and offices are air conditioned and visitors should be aware most indoor places in Thailand can be quite cool (around 20-25°C).
In the South The rainy season in Koh Samui and the southeast of the Thai peninsula runs from November to March. Flooding also affects the southern tourist areas of Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui.
Official advice The Mekong River Commission, an international organization, posts official updates on the Mekong River on their website at http://ffw.mrcmekong.org.
The Thai Meteorological Department (www.tmd.go.th/en) also issues up-to-date information.
Thai Culture
The cultures and traditions in Thailand are significantly influenced by those of India, China and many western countries.
Greetings Thais do not shake hands with one another, but bring their own hands together in a form of praying gesture known as the ‘wai’. The ‘wai’ is a significant and respectful gesture, and should be used carefully. The height at which this is performed indicates the relative status of those greeting each other, but the best general advice is to return a ‘wai’ made to you, by raising your hands to a similar height as your host.
However, Thais expect foreign visitors to shake hands and on the whole much prefer to do so with them. Thai men will expect to shake hands before and after a formal meeting. In Bangkok, most Thai women will also shake hands, but some Thai women, particularly outside Bangkok, will not be used to handshakes and will prefer to nod and smile instead or to ‘wai’.
Note that hotel and restaurant staff often ‘wai’ to you as a respectful greeting. In these cases, you do not have to ‘wai’ in return, but a slight nod and a smile will be appreciated.
Dress Thais are scrupulously neat people, and conscious of cleanliness and personal appearance. A visitor who is in any way slovenly in appearance will give a bad impression. Most Thais in a work context dress smartly at all times, and visitors are advised to overdress if in doubt.
For business and professional meetings, Thai men wear a shirt, often with a tie and if the weather permits, a jacket too. Male visitors should dress in a similar way. Traditionally, Thai women wear a smart dress or skirt/jacket, with sleeves and a modest neckline. Younger women, particularly in Bangkok, now dress more in line with western and Japanese fashion but as a rule smart, conservative dress is the norm, particularly in provincial and rural areas of Thailand.
Manners Thais attach great importance to courtesies, and these are normally expressed before rushing into core business. In addition one must take into account the respect paid by a junior to a senior. This may mean that the junior, who may have much to contribute to a meeting, may not feel able to do so. Similarly, the senior person present may also be wary of expressing a view or an attitude which contradicts that held by the visitor. Thais will try to ensure that no-one loses face by being put down unexpectedly, by speaking out of turn, or by being contradicted. This may lead someone to appear to agree to do something out of courtesy without necessarily having any intention of acting upon it. Strong feelings are seldom expressed and Thais may be shocked or surprised by outbursts of irritation or temper.
Social customs The main ones to be noted relate to the sacredness of the head and the baseness of the feet. In Thailand you should try not to point your foot at anyone. Similarly, it is impolite to touch someone on the head or upper body; and to stand higher than someone or talk to a seated person while standing: you thereby look down on that person’s head, thus demeaning it. In private houses, even in those of many western residents of Thailand, shoes are usually removed before entering.
Respect for the Royal Family The Thai royal family is held in high esteem in Thailand and Thailand’s ‘Lèse majesté’ laws protect the most senior members of Thailand's royal family from insult or threat. Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code says anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent" will be punished with up to 15 years in prison. You can find more information about Thailand’s Lèse majesté’ laws here.
Working in Thailand
- Thais prefer working and doing business with people they respect. Relationships develop slowly and do not flourish after one meeting; it may take several meetings.
- Always be respectful and courteous when dealing with others as this leads to the harmonious relationships necessary within a work environment.
- Thai communication is formal, and non-verbal communication is often more important than verbal communication.
- Rank is always respected. The oldest person in the group is revered.
- It is difficult for most Thais to say no, so you must be aware of their non-verbal communication.
Watch your body language and facial expressions, as these will be believed over your words.
Food and Drink
Food Standards for food preparation and hygiene are high in Thailand, and international and Thai foods are readily available. Most visitors to Thailand should not miss the opportunity to try ‘street food’, which many consider the only way to sample authentic Thai cuisine.
Water As a visitor it may not be advisable to drink tap water. Many hotels and restaurants provide filter or bottled water as a matter of course or these can be purchased cheaply from convenience stores or supermarkets. It is also quite safe to take ice in most establishments, but we suggest you avoid ice in drinks in small restaurants and from roadside vendors.