Thailand is a mystical country located in the Far East. The official currency of Thailand is the baht. Each baht is sub-divided into 100 satang. The responsibility for issuing the currency rests with the Bank of Thailand.
Until 1939 Thailand was known as Siam however, it was again to adopt the name Siam between the years of 1945 and 1949. The current decimal system where 1 baht is equal to 1 satang was introduced in 1897. Prior to this the system was not decimal.
The sating is the main coin base for the baht, with coins of various denominations in current circulation. These are the 1 satang, 5 satang, 10 satang, 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht coins.
However, the 1, 5 and 10 satang coins are not really in circulation, because they are worth so little. They continue to be legal tender, but in effect many shops and bars or restaurants will not accept them.
Some of the old coins in circulation only have Thai numerals, but many of the newer ones have Arabic numerals as standard.
Banknotes in circulation are the 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht notes.
One of the most interesting aspects to the currency of Thailand is that many people, particularly older people, consider it rude to place bank notes in your wallet if you then place the wallet in your back pocket and sit on it. This is because you would be sitting on an image of the keen of Thailand and culturally this is considered to be quite rude and disrespectful.
It is also considered quite rude to stand on a bank note or even a coin, because again this shows a lack of respect.
When you are in Thailand you may find in some of the shops, particularly in country areas, some bank notes displayed. This is done to attract wealth into the life of the shopkeeper, but also to demonstrate respect for the King of Thailand.
It is really easy to get Thai bahts because ATMs are prevalent throughout Thailand and you'll find an ATM machine located almost everywhere from a very busy shopping centre to smaller towns and villages. However, in the very rural areas you would be wise to ensure that you have some money on your person because it can be hard to find ATM machines in the very small villages.
You should also be aware that sometimes ATM machines can crash at night. When they do crash, they are not operational until the following morning. This means that if you go to an ATM machine at night and it has crashed you won't be able to get any money at all until the next morning. Thus it makes sense for you to carry some cash around with you at all times.
You will also find that you can use your credit card almost everywhere, but you may also find that you incur a surcharge every time you use your credit card, so check if this will be the case prior to travelling to Thailand.
In addition to being able to use your credit card or an ATM machine you also find that there are numerous currency exchange bureaus, which will allow you to exchange money or a cash travellers' cheques. This can be really helpful if you cannot find an ATM that is working.
Many people fear travelling to Thailand because they're concerned about their personal safety. However Thailand is actually a very safe place to visit and violent crimes are actually very low. Recent events have shown that there is an increase in terms of more violent crimes towards young women in particular, but given the number of people to visit Thailand each year and the number of young people who spend time in Thailand, the numbers to experience violent crime are actually very low.
Yet within some of the major cities such as Bangkok or tourist areas such as Phuket, there are incidents of pickpocketing and bag-snatching. As a result it is important to make sure that your money and valuables are safe at all times and use a money belt or even store money in your hotel safe just to make sure that if the worst happens and someone tries to pickpocket you, you will not lose everything.
Credit card fraud is a big problem in Thailand and you may find that a replacement card cannot be sent to you in Thailand, due to this problem, so be sure to always have sight of your credit card, never let someone take it away. You should also be careful not to sign for anything if you have not seen the slip come out of the machine.
One significant problem, which seems to be on the rise especially in cities such as Bangkok, is people being sold jewellery which is not worth the money that is demanded for them. For example, you may be offered a ring with a gem or stone that is reputed to be worth say, £500 and contain half a carat of a gem, which you buy. But when you return to the UK, you then find out that the stone is practically worthless. So unless you are an expert, then resist the temptation to suddenly make a fortune in the jewellery business because the reality is that you may have been subjected to a scam.
You should also beware of anyone offering you the opportunity to go and visit Buddhist monks unless it is an organised tour. Otherwise you may find that you go on a trip but there is very little to see and you are charged a great deal of money.
In Bangkok just beware of drinking too much and ending up placing yourself in a vulnerable position, whether you're male or female this rule applies.
Otherwise Thailand is still a safe place to visit. It is a very mystical country with a long tradition of politeness and people are able to welcome travellers and make them feel at home and yet make each person feel special.
One thing that you do need to bear in mind is that Thailand really does have a zero tolerance policy towards drugs and that means drugs of any kind, including what Westerners may terms 'soft' drugs, are also not tolerated. Possession of even the smallest amount of soft drugs will merit you a big fine, time in custody (which is not a place that you want to be) and deportation. So unless you wish to avoid the potential of being in custody or prison, avoid drug use or carrying any kind of drugs into or out of Thailand and also when in the country. The police are not kindly disposed to anyone who is found with drugs, so be aware of this and bear it in mind.
Thailand offers a variety of different experiences for travellers and it really is possible to have very different holidays, all in the same country. You can experience the hustle and bustle of major cities such as Phuket or Bangkok or go to some of the smaller resorts which are nestled all along Thailand's quite fabulous coastline. Or for the more adventurous you can head off inland, to some quite exciting and relatively exclusive areas, which are filled with exotic temples and huge mountain ranges. This area feels very far removed from the sun drenched beaches in the south and is almost a country in its own right.
Bangkok is certainly busy and has a very definitive culture and way of life, which can almost seem frenetic. People say that you either love Bangkok and all it has to offer or you hate it and to some extent this is true. However, even if cities are not necessarily 'your thing' there are some great treasures to be seen here. Shoppers come from near and far to hunt for bargains at Bangkok's fantastic markets and shops and others simply come to soak up the atmosphere. Even getting around Bangkok, on one of the 3 wheeled tuk-tuks is an experience and some may say, not for the faint hearted!
Thai food now enjoys a worldwide reputation as being not just food, but an international cuisine, that is sophisticated and extremely delicious. The range of places to eat and the types of food available is simply quite amazing and you can find almost any kind of food on offer here, from very chic and elegant fine dining, to the most basic of street stalls, which somehow still manage to serve up some astounding dishes.
Tipping is usually expected, particularly in the larger hotels and restaurants, but is also generally welcomed in the smaller ones too. Most restaurants in tourist areas will have menus available in Thai and English, but you may find that sometimes the translation is not quite accurate, but with a little imagination, you can usually ascertain what it is that you are about to order.
Negotiating for some kind of discount and entering into sometimes lengthy discussions and negotiations with traders is quite commonplace in Thailand. In some of the larger or more Western shops prices will be displayed and you will find that haggling doesn't take place in these, but when at the market or street stalls, then it is commonplace to ask for some kind of discount. There may be problems with being sold counterfeit goods, particularly in Bangkok, so if you are offered designer goods at prices that are simply too good to be true…. The reality is they probably are too good to be true and you are being offered goods that are counterfeit.
So, with all its different experiences on offer, its friendly and respectful people, as well as some truly stunning beaches, scenery and tranquil countryside, Thailand really is a dream destination and one that will linger in your memory for a long time to come. It is important to be careful and be aware when visiting Thailand, but also just relax, unwind and simply enjoy this truly exotic destination and its people.