Flight and Visa Tips for Thailand

Thailand may very well be a shining beacon in the world of tourism. However, like every famed travel destination, the country has its own set of rules and regulations. Here are some practical tips on the destination.

• Most airlines operating international flights to Thailand normally connect at Bangkok.

• Thai Airways is the national airline of the country and operates a number of flights to Thailand from UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

• Bangkok is the hub for Thai Airways and conveniently connects other neighbouring popular resorts and destinations through domestic and regional airlines selling cheap tickets.

• It is easier to come by cheap flights to Thailand during July to September due to monsoons in the main travel areas like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Ko Samui.

• Sometimes visitors, who save hard to fund tickets for cheap flights to Thailand, end up shelling out a lot more due to ignorance of rules. For instance, British passport holders taking a flight to Thailand can stay for 30 days without obtaining a visa in advance. However, a stay beyond this period requires an extension of stay or a valid visa. Failure to adhere by this law can lead to a fine of 500 baht per day for every day of overstay except the first day and can go up to 20,000 baht.

• With Thailand’s popularity as a tourism destination some unscrupulous visa shops and travel agents lure travellers with cheap visa deals. Note that cheap visas taken from non official and legal sources can land the buyer in jail.