Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Etiquette
The best way to win over the Thais is to smile - any visible anger or arguing is embar-
rassing; the locals call this 'loss of face'. Never disrespect the royal family with dispar-
aging remarks, and also treat objects depicting the king (like money) with respect.
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Temples
When visiting a temple, dress neatly and conservatively with shoulders to knees covered.
It's expected that you remove all footwear. When sitting, keep your feet pointed away
from any Buddha images. Women should never touch a monk or a monk's belongings.
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At the beach
Avoid public nudity; in fact, most Thais will swim fully clothed. Away from the sand,
men should wear shirts and women should be appropriately dressed (no bikinis).
Language
Don't know a lick of Thai? In most places, you won't need to. Bus drivers, market
vendors and even taxi drivers tend to know at least basic English. In small, less touristy
towns, it helps to know how to order food and count in Thai. With a few phrases, you'll
be rewarded with big grins.
Thais have their own script, which turns Westerners into illiterates. Street signs are al-
ways transliterated into English, but there is no standard system so spellings vary widely
and confusingly.
