Muang Kaew Golf, Bangkok
More than 50 international airlines serve the country with daily direct flights to Bangkok from most major cities in Europe, USA and Australia. There are also direct flights from all over South East Asia to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Koh Samui, with other destinations planned for the future.
You can drive into Thailand from Malaysia and Laos – the latter journey takes you over the famous Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong, at Nong Khai. If you are coming into the country from Singapore or Malaysia – and if you have a great deal of money to spare – think about the 34hr journey on the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express, sister to the legendary Orient Express.
People of most nationalities can obtain visa-free entry, valid 30 days, on arrival at Bangkok International Airport and other entry points; these will be issued only if you have a current passport and ticket to take you out of the country at the end of your stay.
Longer-stay visas are available, for a fee, from Thai embassies and consulates around the world: specify whether you want a transit visa (valid 30 days), a tourist visa (valid 60 days) or a non-immigrant visa (valid 90 days and difficult to obtain). If you have a tourist visa you can, once in Thailand, apply for a 30 day extension.
If you plan to leave Thailand temporarily during your stay, you must obtain a re-entry visa, available from the Immigration Department in Bangkok. These rules are subject to change so best check current regulations prior departure.
Customs are usually no trouble, unless you are carrying pornography, political propaganda, firearms, large amounts of cash (over $10,000), or illicit drugs – for possession of which the penalties are draconian. The allowances for the usual luxury goods – perfume, alcohol and the like – vary, so check them before departure. Please note that you are required to bring a minimum amount of currency into the country which varies depending on your visa.
For longer distances air travel is the easiest option and not prohibitively expensive. Nok Air and Thai Airways International both have extensive domestic networks, while Bangkok Airways has a smaller one serving some routes exclusively.
Recent years have seen deregulation of air travel in Thailand and a number of new low-cost domestic carriers. Reliability may be factor.
Thailand has a good rail service: the fares are inexpensive, timetables are usually adhered to, and the trains themselves are comfortable and clean – with four classes covering four main lines; Northern, North-eastern, Southern and Eastern – so that you can choose between economy and airconditioned luxury. One pitfall to avoid is that of not booking early enough: on the trunk routes you should book at least a month in advance. The main railway station in Bangkok serving all destinations is Hua Lumphong Railway Station.
Long-distance buses are a cheaper alternative, but you take your life in your hands on one of these; the driving is often atrocious. If you decide to risk it, opt for an air-conditioned service; the comparatively small cost difference is worth it. In remote areas you may be able to go to the opposite extreme – from air-conditioning to just plain air – by travelling on a Songthaew. This is essentially a pickup truck with a couple of wooden benches in the back.
Taxis, Tuk tuks (three-wheeled scooters) and pedal-tricycles operate in most parts of Thailand. You use these much as you would use a taxi at home, except that they require you to negotiate a price before setting off – and remember to bargain. Do note that in many areas the drivers may not speak English, so, to avoid confusion, get your hotel receptionist to write down your destination in Thai so that you can show it to the driver. Ask at your hotel what a reasonable fare to the destination might be.
As the majority of golf courses are located between 30 minutes to an hour from the main areas of accommodation, getting to and from facilities is best done by employing a taxi or chauffeur-driven limousine which can be arranged through hotels. Drivers will generally remain at the course for the return journey. Alternatively, self-drive is an option and by law, an International driving license will need to be produced.
The unit of currency is the Thai Baht, which comprises 100 satang. All major credit cards are widely accepted. If you prefer travellers’ cheques, obtain them in Sterling, Euros or US dollars.
Currency exchange can be done either at banks or, in the major tourist areas, at currency exchange counters. The larger hotels will also change money, but usually give a poor rate of exchange. Daily exchange rates are published in two English language newspapers — the Bangkok Post and the Nation.
