Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Opening Hours
All government offices and banks are closed on public holidays.
Banks
9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday; ATMs accessible 24 hours.
Bars
6pm to midnight (officially); closing times vary due to local enforcement of curfew laws; bars close during elec-
tions and certain religious public holidays.
Clubs (discos)
8pm to 2am; closing times vary due to local enforcement of curfew laws; clubs close during elections
and certain religious public holidays.
Government offices
8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday; some close for lunch (noon to 1pm), while others are open
Saturday (9am to 3pm).
Live-music venues
6pm to 1am; closing times vary due to local enforcement of curfew laws; venues close during elec-
tions and certain religious public holidays.
Restaurants
10am to 10pm; some shops specialise in morning meals and close by 3pm.
Stores
Local stores: 10am to 6pm daily; department stores: 10am to 10pm daily. In some small towns, local stores
close on Sunday.
Photography
Thais are gadget fans and they readily snap pics with cameras or camera phones. Memory cards for most digital camer-
as are generally widely available in the electronic sections of most shopping malls. In the tourist areas, many internet
shops have CD-burning software if you want to offload your pictures. Alternatively, most places have sophisticated
enough connections that you can quickly upload digital photos to a remote storage site.
Be considerate when taking photographs of the locals. Learn how to ask politely in Thai and wait for an embarrassed
nod.
Post
Thailand has a very efficient postal service and local postage is inexpensive. Typical provincial post offices are open
between 8.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays and 9am and noon on Saturdays. Larger main post offices in provincial cap-
itals may also be open for a half-day on Sundays.
Most provincial post offices will sell do-it-yourself packing boxes. Don't send cash or other valuables through the
mail.
Thailand's poste restante service is generally very reliable. When you receive mail, you must show your passport
and fill out some paperwork.
