Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
›
Coronation Day
Commemorating the 1950 coronation of the current king and queen; 5
May
›
Visakha Bucha Day
May/June (lunar)
›
Khao Phansa
Beginning of the Buddhist rains retreat, when monks refrain from travel-
ling away from their monasteries; July/August (lunar)
›
Queen's Birthday
12 August
›
King Chulalongkorn Day
23 October
›
Ok Phansa
End of Buddhist rains retreat; October/November (lunar)
›
King's Birthday
5 December
›
Constitution Day
10 December
›
New Year's Eve
31 December
Safe Travel
Bangkok is generally a safe city and violence against tourists is rare. That said, there are
enough well-rehearsed scams that there's an entire website (
www.bangkokscams.com
)
dedicated to them. Don't be spooked by the stories; commit the following to memory and
you'll likely enjoy a scam-free visit:
›
Gem scam
We're begging you, if you aren't a gem trader or expert, then please don't
buy unset stones in Thailand - period. Otherwise, you'll find yourself getting sucked into
a complicated scam in which you'll pay an exorbitant price for costume jewellery.
›
Closed today
Ignore any 'friendly' local who tells you that an attraction is closed for a
Buddhist holiday or for cleaning. These are set-ups for trips to a bogus gem sale.
›
Tu
́
k-tu
́
k rides for 10B
Say goodbye to your day's itinerary if you climb aboard this ubi-
quitous scam. These alleged 'tours' bypass all the sights and instead cruise to all the fly-
by-night gem and tailor shops that pay commissions.
›
Flat-fare taxi ride
Flatly refuse any taxi driver who quotes a flat fare (usually between
100B and 150B for in-town destinations), which will usually be three times more expens-
