Fact Sheet
When to Go : The weather in Thailand is always hot and humid, although the northern highlands are generally 10 degrees F/5 C cooler. The best time to go is November-February, when the days are milder and the nights are cool. March-May is very hot, with temperatures reaching into the low 100s F/38 C. Avoid mid May through October, when it’s humid and rainy (the streets of Bangkok flood easily), though those willing to chance it will get better rates at hotels.

Do's and Don'ts : Do attend a Thai kickboxing match. Traditional music and rituals accompany the fast-paced sport, a combination of boxing and karate...Do learn at least this word in Thai, if nothing else: Sawadee. It’s easy to pronounce and means hello and goodbye...Don’t be surprised to see elephants wandering the streets of Bangkok ... Do ride in a tuk-tuk...Do have a ready smile—in Thailand, its the best way to get along...Do take a canal taxi to the back canals of Bangkok... Do stand when you hear the national anthem (usually at 8 am and 6 pm). The national anthem is even played before movies in movie theaters, when the whole crowd stands...Do show respect for Buddha statues, which are considered sacred...Don’t go shirtless or in shorts, and don’t wear beach attire anywhere except on the beach. Also dress modestly (long pants or skirts) and behave soberly when visiting temples, and remove your shoes before entering. (If you forgot to bring long pants, you can rent them from shops across the street from the Grand Palace!)... Don’t touch the heads of Thais (not even children!), and don’t sit so that your feet point at anyone. Women should avoid touching monks...“Don’t take candy from strangers.” This motherly advice is particularly apropos when on a train or bus in Thailand. If a “friendly” person on a train or bus hands you a soft drink or piece of candy, be wary: It could be drugged. If so, after you’ve lost consciousness, thieves will make off with your baggage, wallet, etc... Don’t sunbathe nude on the beaches. It’s illegal, and though they’re too polite to tell you, the Thais find it very offensive and disrespectful...Do visit a celadon-pottery factory. As the glaze cools and cracks, the air is filled with hundreds of musical pings...Although Bangkok has a reputation as a sin capital, Thai women in general are very modest, and are likely to be offended by attention from Western men...Do wear wash-and-wear clothing in mid April, when the Thai-Buddhist New Year tradition calls for throwing water on anybody who passes by... Do be careful of the con games in Bangkok; some even include Westerners posing as tourists. Don’t buy gemstones from stores you are taken to by people you meet on the street. Don’t accept free tours or boat rides, or you really will be taken for a ride...Do be careful when eating bananas. Some Thai varieties have large, hard, tooth-cracking seeds...Do be aware of the dangers of buying marijuana, hashish, opium, etc.: Although drugs are readily available, many drug dealers turn around and report the buyer to the police to get a reward (especially in Chiang Mai)—and the Thais do prosecute foreigners)....

Tipping : Tip waiters 10% if no service charge is added to the bill. Don’t tip the cabbies they don’t expect it but if traffic is particularly bad or if they drive especially carefully, they’ll appreciate something extra.