Thailand is a hugely popular tourist destination, and has something to offer for almost everyone. The major advantages are obviously the amazing scenery across the whole country; clear blue water, powder white-sanded beaches, and seemingly endless islands. There are many other things though that attract visitors from worldwide, including an alluring history and civilization, masses of culture, and a surprisingly friendly population. Obviously, the low cost of living, lively nightlife, and great food will also have its convincing benefits each to their own.

The vast majority of Thailand is land stretched to the north, but the peninsular to the south, that is bordered to Malaysia, is where the real diving and exploring opportunities lie.
On the west side of this peninsula lays Phuket, ‘the Jewel of the Andaman’.
Phuket is the largest Thai island. At approximately 49 km. in length and 21 km. in width, the island nestles in the tropical zone, off the west coast of mainland Thailand, approximately 860 km. south of Thailand’s capital Bangkok.
In this prime spot, Phuket has something for everybody! Rocky limestone cliffs, lush green hills blanketed in tropical rainforest, powdery-white beaches and serene, tranquil turquoise bays. Fine dining, quality shopping, exclusive villa resorts to budget guesthouses, endless activities. All of this, and of course access to some of the world’s top diving destinations, means visitors keep returning year after year!

For up to date tourist information see the Official Site for Tourism in Thailand.

Known as the land of smiles, Thailand is a very safe place to travel around, as demonstrated by the high volume of young backpackers flocking here every year. The police keep a very high profile, with dedicated Tourist Police in all tourist areas designated to looking after the rights of foreign visitors.

As in almost all countries, pick-pocketing happens in crowded areas such as bus and rail stations, tourist spots, and busy gatherings (festivals and bars), so watching your belongings in these above-mentioned areas would be a wise choice. It is not unknown for things to go missing from hotel rooms, but by the same token it IS very unusual. Thai staff is very polite and honest. By taking sensible precautions however, you should have no problems at all while in Thailand.

It is also worth noting that drugs are very much to be avoided in Thailand. The government has a very vocal and well known harsh system for dealing with people it considers to be involved in this business (including their infamous ‘shoot now ask later’ system from several years ago), and penalties are very strong.

If you are involved in any kind of incident, then the police must be informed (ideally at the tourist police). As stated in ‘Simple Etiquette’ below, when dealing with the police, at all times it is advised to remain calm and polite in order to get the best help and cooperation possible.

There are two airports in Bangkok, with all international flights arriving to the new international airport of Suvarnabhumi (airport code BKK). Most major airlines fly direct to at least Bangkok, and often to Phuket.
Phuket Island also has an International airport, with at least five flights a day (this varies from high-season to low-season) arriving from Bangkok year-round. Phuket also welcomes planes from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and even Europe to its airport.

If you have a connecting flight to Phuket, then it can depart from Suvarnabhumi, or from the old international airport of Don Mueang (airport code DMK, which is now purely domestic). Please check your tickets, transfer times, and lay-over times between flights as passage between the two airports can be time consuming.

Thailand has a number of discount and budget domestic airlines which can be good, as long as you don’t want to change your travel plans. You can save 50% or more using these carriers, if you book early but keep in mind that they usually limit your luggage weight to 15kg or 33lbs. For many guests this is simply not enough and by the time you pay the overweight fees, they may not end up saving any money at all.

To check flights with the main carriers into, and out of Phuket, check the following links:

• Thai Airways
• Bangkok Air
• Air Asia
• Emirates Airlines
• Qatar Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• China Airlines

Note: It is strongly advised that you arrive in Phuket at least one day prior to boat departures in order to avoid potential problems, and to allow you time to acclimatize before heading out on the trip. Also remember the ’24 hours after diving’ rule when booking your return flights.

It is recommended that you arrive at least one day prior to your cruise. Servicecorp Co., Ltd. can arrange accommodation for you based on your needs. If you require a longer stay either before, or after your trip we, of course, can be of assistance with that as well.

All travelers to Thailand must have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the Kingdom. Although nationals of most countries in Southeast Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania are granted visa on arrival for up to 30 days, some are only granted 15 days, and others must have visa prior to arrival. Please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your respective country for an up to date list of what is required. If in doubt, please contact the Thai embassy in your country for more information.

In Thailand 220Volt/50Hz is standard with sockets mixed between 2 and/or 3 pin flat and/or round pins. To avoid confusion or disappointment we suggest guests bring at least one travel adapter.

The Baht (Thai: บาท, sign: ฿; code: THB) is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang (สตางค์). You can pay in cash and with credit cards.

No matter what your gastronomical tastes there is something for everyone in Phuket with worldwide fast food outlets, street carts, fine international restaurants, and wonderful traditional Royal Thai Cuisine.

There is a wide variety of Thai food available almost everywhere, and contrary to popular belief, it is not all that spicy. There are many curries available and they can be spicy, though a simple request for “not too spicy” will make it more than bearable to the western palate. Northern curries tend to be milder, with ‘Massaman’ being a particular favorite.

Seafood is also a very popular choice when in Phuket, and that for obvious reasons. Seafood in Thailand is very reasonably priced compared to western standard. Most seafood is generally fresh and well-cooked. You may however want to take the sensible precaution and stay away from shellfish, if you have lots of traveling to do the day after.

Thailand’s tropical climate is influenced by the southwest and northeast monsoons. There are three basic seasons: Dry (November to February), Hot (March to May) and Rainy (June to October).
Daytime diving is possible all year round, though the Charter season is restricted to the ‘dry’ and ‘hot’ seasons; often referred to as high season. Below is an example of a typical high season’s weather in the Phuket area.

November: Fair weather, end of SW monsoon, pleasant temperatures.
December: Sunny, not much wind, occasional rainfall, generally calm seas.
January: Sunny, a little windy, clear water, pleasant temperatures.
February: Same as January, but getting warmer.
March & April: End of NE monsoon, hot, humid, calm seas, plankton.
May: Hot, humid, start of SW monsoon, plankton, occasional squalls at night.

Please note, the above table is not a forecast!

For up to date weather in Phuket check out the Thai Weather Forecast.

Air temperature: 23°C – 35°C (73°F – 95°F), always warm and can be very hot and humid, nights sometimes a little cooler.

Water temperature in the Andaman Sea averages around 27°C to 30°C (80°F – 86°F), very pleasant although sometimes thermo clines occur. A 3mm short wetsuit is normally enough, though with 4 dives per day you may want to think about a full length suit particularly if you are sensitive to the cold. Please contact the office a week or so prior to the trip for current water temperatures if you are concerned.

Air temperature: 23°C – 35°C (73°F – 95°F), always warm and can be very hot and humid, during nights sometimes a little cooler.

Water temperature in the Andaman Sea averages around 27°C to 30°C (80°F – 86°F), very pleasant although sometimes thermo clines occur. A 3mm short wetsuit is normally advised, though with 4 dives per day, you may want to think about a full length wetsuit, particularly if you are sensitive to the cold.
Please contact us a week or so prior to the trip for current water temperatures, if you should find yourself concerned.

Health services are excellent in Thailand with modern, well equipped hospitals in all major towns. Although Thailand is officially a malarial area, most of the country (including Phuket) is Malaria free, though Dengue Fever is not unknown. We recommend you to check the status of your vaccinations and seek your doctor’s advice on inoculations and medication. Normal sensible precautions with food should keep you out of trouble. Make sure to drink lots of bottled drinking water to prevent dehydration (especially if your best laid plans have still left you with a bout of diarrhea). DO NOT drink tap water in Thailand!
Also, be sure to wash regularly and wear light, loose clothing made from natural fibers as heat rash and fungal infections for visitors are not unusual in this humidity.

Nearly all Thais are Buddhists (somewhere approaching 90%) with a small percentage (some 5%) being Muslim, though the south has a higher proportion of Muslims. The remainder of the country is made up of various religions, with Christianity, Hinduism, and Confucianism making up most of the 5 or 6% left. There is a great tolerance between religions symbolized by the fact that the King is the Protector of All Faiths.

The Thai King is the head of the constitutional monarchy in Thailand and is, along with the whole royal family, held in the highest esteem. The family has the love and respect of the entire nation and showing disrespect can get you into trouble. Joking about the Royal Family is simply prohibited!

Also, do not point your feet at people, especially monks or representations of Buddha, as this seen as highly disrespectful; as is touching adults on the top of their heads.

If you are in a situation that leads you to be in contact with the police for ANY reason whatsoever, you must at all times remain calm and respectful. Raising your voice, displaying anger, and making demands will get you nowhere. In fact, it will probably make matters worse, no matter whether it is your fault or not. Good humor and patience will get you a long way in any situation.

Local time is GMT+7 hours throughout the year. Thailand has no daylight savings time and sunrise and sunset are pretty regular year round with sunrise between 6:00 AM and 6:45 AM and sunset between 6:00 PM and 6:45 PM.

The Thai postal service is mostly reliable, especially if posting abroad, though speed does not seem to be a priority. Post offices in Thailand are open from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM. Important items can be sent by Express Mail Service (EMS) from most post offices which are both faster and more reliable (with a proportionally higher cost). Both DHL and UPS have offices on Phuket if you want to be sure of their international standards.

International dialing is available from almost all major hotels (and many smaller ones), as well as many offices offering travel and/or internet services. To make an international call, dial 001 plus Country Code plus Area Code plus Phone Number. Services tend to be very reliable. Internet is also widely available with everyone from hotels to coffee shops offering computers with internet service and WIFI.

There is a massive amount of shopping opportunities available in Phuket. Regular purchases, such as clothing, perfumes, shoes, sunglasses, souvenirs, computer gaming hardware and software, are all widely available. Be aware, when buying (especially anything designer-made or software-related) that you are buying the ‘real’ thing when paying ‘real’ prices.
Tailors are also very popular in Phuket, and rightly so.
Within 24-48 hours you can have a bespoke dress, shirt, coat, or suits made in the material of your choice at an incredibly low price!

There are also, genuine, traditional Thai wares available outside of the resorts, especially in Phuket City. These include wood carvings, teak ware, porcelain, paintings, and Buddha imagery. Thai silk products are very popular too, with outlets such as the legendary Jim Thompson now available in Phuket. If you want something that is traditionally ‘Phuket’, look out for pearls, tin, and pewter ware.

Jewelry is also very popular in Phuket, with gold, diamonds, and colored gems particularly prevalent. Be aware when buying, since authentic gems should come with a certificate that states the value of the object, and a statement of its value. If this is not present, and you are not in the business yourself, you should be very careful. Servicecorp Co., Ltd. is happy to arrange a trip to a reputable firm for those that requests it, as to ensure that you would deal with a trustworthy business.

Contrary to popular belief most establishments will not engage in bargaining, or ‘haggling’, for goods, and prices are set. This is especially true in such places as pharmacies, bars, supermarkets, department stores, public transport, and restaurants. Elsewhere, in places like jewelry stores, and with street vendors, bargaining is almost part of the game. Simple rules include keeping the bargaining friendly and remembering exactly how much you are haggling over.

Getting angry or drawing the haggling on for too long over small amounts will be met with irritation.
The best way to see if you are getting value for money is to be prepared to walk away.
If you are not followed, then the vendor really isn’t willing to drop his price any further. In that case, have a think and go back later to buy.

We hope that we with this FAQ could answer to the most common question that you have had prior to your trip. Should you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate getting in touch with us!