Thailand holidays

Yes, the Thai Royal Family respected above anything else and open criticism of them could lead to you being arrested. The King and Queen are particularly revered and you should avoid discussing them unless speaking in the highest terms.

Thai food is one of the hottest you may eat but you can say ‘mai pet’ which means ‘little heat’ when ordering. Choose a busy stall and see what the locals are ordering. The food is usually cooked fresh in front of you and take it to small plastic road side chairs and tables. Avoid the dried chilli’s on the table as they are very fiery indeed, unless you want extra heat! In Bangkok a good idea is to have a private guide for an evening to show you some of the delicious street food on offer so you can order with confidence during your holiday.

When sightseeing in Bangkok and other major cities such as Chiang Mai wear shoes you can take off easily as when visiting a temple you must be barefoot. Light cotton clothes as it can get hot and sticky.

Yes, never touch a Thai person on the head as it is sacred and the feet are considered dirty. If visiting someone’s house take your shoes off and never allow your feet to point at a statue of Buddha, also avoid putting your feet up on chairs in places you are eating. Be careful not to touch a monk, especially for woman.

From the 1st February 2018, Thailand has imposed a smoking ban across a number of popular beaches including beaches in Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Hua Hin and Koh Phi Phi. This is to maintain a clean and safe environment for all to enjoy.

Please note that being in possessionof e-cigarettes in Thailand is illegal.

Thailand is full of wonderful festivals and you are likely to stumble across one during your travels. Songkran is very popular and in theory should be a gentle water festival in April, however it has been taken over by water pistol tooting locals and backpackers so if you don’t want to get a soaking it is best avoided in Bangkok. Loy Krathong is a wonderful and charming festival in November – gentle floating baskets (Krathong’s) laid in the rivers with offerings and candles.

The cheeky way is to go in with an offer half that of the suggested price and work up from there. The Thai’s are shrewd bargainers and you’ll have to be strong to get a good deal. Be friendly and treat it as fun, rather than taking it too seriously. Don’t expect to bargain in a standard shop – it is only for markets and street vendors.

Thailand is seven hours ahead of GMT. Due to its position close to the equator, it does not observe daylight saving time.

Direct flights between London and Bangkok take approximately 11 hours.

First of all, don’t expect to bargain in a shop — only street stalls and markets offer negotiable prices. Thai salesmen are often shrewd business people and negotiating a good deal may take some willpower. One approach is to offer half the suggested price, then work upwards. Be friendly and treat haggling as a fun part of the experience; try not to take it too seriously.