Guide · Thailand ·
Thailand holiday for Australians: a first-timer's plan
Thailand holiday for Australians is simple to start: you do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 30 days if you fly in on an Australian passport. Your passport must have at least six months left on it. This guide covers the entry rules, the best months, a three-part plan for your days, and the safety advice Australians should read before they book.
Dates and rules below are as they stand at the start of June 2012. Rules change, so check with the nearest Thai embassy or consulate before you go.
Sources for this section: Smartraveller (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Travel Advice for Thailand, issued 18 May 2012.
Entry rules in plain words
Australian tourists who arrive at one of Thailand's international airports can stay up to 30 days without getting a visa first. This is called a visa exemption. If you cross a land border instead, the stay is shorter, at up to 15 days.
- Passport: at least six months of validity must remain. Airlines can refuse to board you if it does not.
- Longer stays: a visa is needed if you plan to stay past the limit, to work, or to travel for any reason other than tourism.
- Overstaying: the fine is 500 baht a day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. People who overstay can also be held in detention and blacklisted.
- Visa agents: do not use anyone who offers visa extension services. Fake or illegal stamps can lead to arrest.
The Australian Embassy cannot get visas or entry permits for you. Deal only with Thai immigration or a Thai embassy or consulate.
Sources for this section: Smartraveller (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Travel Advice for Thailand, issued 18 May 2012.
When to go
Thailand is hot most of the year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand splits the year into three seasons for the central, northern and north-eastern regions. November to February is cool and dry, March to May is hot, and May to November is the rainy season.
The cool season is the most popular time to visit. Even then, Bangkok may only get two or three weeks of truly cool weather, in late December or early January. The real cool air is in the northern mountains.
The coasts follow their own pattern, which helps with beach plans. On the Andaman coast, home to Phuket, Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands, heavy storms come from April to October. On the Gulf coast, home to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, the most rain falls from September to December. That means you can often find a sunny beach somewhere in Thailand nearly all year.
Sources for this section: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Weather.
How to split your days
A first trip works well in three parts: Bangkok, the north, and the islands. The table is a starting plan for a two-week trip. Shorten or stretch each part to suit you.
| Part | Suggested days | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok and nearby | 3 to 4 | The capital, markets, temples and the airport you arrive at |
| The north, around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai | 4 to 5 | Cooler hills, culture and a slower pace |
| The islands | 5 to 6 | Beach days, with the coast chosen by the month |
Start in Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is about 25 kilometres east of the city, in Samut Prakan Province. Service counters at the airport can tell you how to get into town and to your hotel.
Put the north in the middle and the beach at the end, so you finish with rest. In the cool season the north is the best choice. In the rainy season, pick the island coast that is drier for your month, using the seasons above.
Sources for this section: Smartraveller (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Travel Advice for Thailand, issued 18 May 2012; Tourism Authority of Thailand, Weather.
Getting around safely
Take care with taxis and tuk tuks, which are three-wheeled motorised taxis. The Australian Embassy has helped several Australians who were robbed or assaulted by drivers. Some drivers take passengers to shops where the driver earns a commission, and the goods can cost more or be poor quality.
In Phuket and some other places, taxis and tuk tuks have no meters. Agree the fare before you get in.
Motorcycle accidents are very common, including in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui. Thai law requires riders and passengers to wear helmets, but hire shops often do not supply them. To hire a car or motorbike legally you need a valid international and Australian driver licence of the correct class. Ask your insurer before you go, because cover can be refused for a rider who holds no motorcycle licence at home in Australia.
Sources for this section: Smartraveller (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Travel Advice for Thailand, issued 18 May 2012.
Safety advice to read before you book
In May 2012 the Australian Government asked travellers to take great care in Thailand because of the threat of terrorist attack. It advised against travel to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla. The Bangkok, northern and island plan above does not need you to visit those four provinces.
- Protests: large political demonstrations have taken place in Bangkok and elsewhere in recent years. Avoid rallies and any security deployments near them.
- Drugs: penalties are severe and include the death penalty. Even small amounts of so-called soft drugs can bring long jail terms.
- Drink spiking: it occurs around popular backpacker areas such as Khao San Road, in the night-time zones of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, and at the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.
- Jet skis: Australians have reported harassment and threats from some jet ski operators on beaches in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
- Weather: storms and flash floods can strike without warning, especially from May to October, and can disrupt transport.
Register your travel plans with the Australian Government before you leave and arrange comprehensive travel insurance. The government's advice is blunt: without travel insurance you should not travel to Thailand at all. This is general information only, so ask a travel doctor or your insurer about your own trip.
Sources for this section: Smartraveller (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Travel Advice for Thailand, issued 18 May 2012.
Sources
- Smartraveller, Travel Advice for Thailand (issued 18 May 2012): smartraveller.gov.au
- Tourism Authority of Thailand, Weather: tourismthailand.org