Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MONEY
Regular bank hours in Bangkok are generally 8.30am to 3.30pm, although branches in
busy areas and shopping malls are open later. ATMs are common in all areas of the city.
Many Thai banks also have currency-exchange bureaus; there are also exchange desks
within eyeshot of most tourist areas. Go to 7-Eleven shops or other reputable places to
break 1000B bills; don't expect a vendor or taxi to be able to change a bill 500B or lar-
ger.
POST
Main Post Office
( 0 2233 1050; Th Charoen Krung; 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 1pm Sat & Sun; Tha Orient-
al)
Near Soi 35, Th Charoen Krung, services include poste restante and packaging within
the main building. Branch post offices throughout the city also offer poste restante and
parcel services.
TOILETS
Public toilets in Bangkok are few and far between and your best bet is to head for a shop-
ping centre, fast-food restaurant, or our favourite, a luxury hotel (just waltz in as if you're
staying there). Shopping centres might charge 2B to 5B for a visit; some newer shopping
centres have toilets for the disabled. Despite what you'll hear, squat toilets are a dying
breed in Bangkok.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Official tourist offices distribute maps, brochures and advice on sights and activities.
Some private travel agencies incorporate elements of the official national tourism organ-
isation name (Tourism Authority of Thailand; TAT) into their own name to mislead tour-
ists.
Bangkok Information Center
( 0 2225 7612-4;
www.bangkoktourist.com
; 17/1 Th Phra Athit; 9am-7pm
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Sat-Sun; Tha Phra Athit (Banglamphu))
City-specific tourism office that
provides maps, brochures and directions. They also operate 26 sporadically staffed tourist
information booths
( 9am-5pm Mon-Sat )
in touristed areas.
Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT; nationwide call centre 1672;
www.tourismthailand.org
)
Head Office
(
0 2250 5500; 1600 Th Phetchaburi Tat Mai;
Phetchaburi exit 2)
; Banglamphu
(
8.30am-4.30pm;
Tha Phan Fah)
;
0 2283 1500; cnr Th Ratchadamnoen Nork & Th Chakrapatdipong;
8.30am-4.30pm;
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
(
0 2134 0040; 2nd fl, btwn Gates 2 & 5, Suvarnabhumi Interna-
24hr)
.
tional Airport;
