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Information on Chiang Mai is readily available; the city
has seen an economic boom in recent years and a sound infrastructure
has grown up to support it. There are world class hospitals,
communication facilities and financial institutions to assist
you with any questions you might have or problems you might
run into.
Voltage
Voltage in Thailand is 220-240AC, 50 Hertz. Plug types are
not standard but round or flat two prong styles are the most
common. Adapters are common and can be purchased prior to
your visit or in any population centre. Electricity is 24
hour, but short blackouts do occur, especially during the
rainy season.
Currency
Thailand uses the baht as its currency which can be readily
exchanged in most countries of the world. Coins come in 1,
5 and 10 baht denominations. There are also smaller coins,
called satang, in .25 and .50 denominations. However, satang
are generally not accepted in most places. As a rule they
usually end up as souvenirs. Bank notes come in 20, 50, 100,
500, and 1,000 baht denominations. Important Note: Each bank
note bears a portrait of the King and thus should be treated
with respect. Keep your bills in a neat and orderly manner
and do not rip or deface them in any way. Above all, remember
not to step on a bill that is being blown away by the wind.
Better to lose the money than commit a grave faux pas by treading
on the Royal Portrait.
Banking Hours
Banks in Chiang Mai are open Monday to Friday from 08:30
to 15:30 and are closed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as
on national holidays.
ATMs
ATM machines are widespread in Thailand and can be found
even in very rural areas. All of them offer instructions in
English and most are connected to international networks.
Many people find it convenient to simply leave their money
in a bank account at home and withdraw cash from the ATMs
in Chiang Mai. It's a good idea to check with your bank to
make sure that they don't charge exorbitant fees for this.
The maximum withdrawal amount is 20, 000 baht per day. Although
the ATMs theoretically work 24 hours, they usually shut down
for an hour or two from 00:00 to 02:00 or so as they reset
for the next day.
Changing Money
Businesses in Chiang Mai certainly don't want to put any
stumbling blocks between you and your cash so changing money
is a fairly simple process. All banks can readily exchange
most forms of currency. They all have their own rates (inclusive
of their commission) but the difference is only a few satang,
which you probably can't spend anyway. The exceptions to this
rule are airports and luxury resorts. Their exchange rates
are usually very unfavourable and it is advisable to avoid
dealing with them unless out of necessity. Those exchanging
traveller's cheques will be charged an additional fee of three
to five percent. Most Thai banks offer money changing windows
which are usually open seven days a week from 10:00 to 22:00.
A passport is required ID for all money changing transactions.
Vaccinations
There are no vaccinations required to enter the Kingdom of
Thailand and very little to fear from disease. STDs are somewhat
of a concern but condoms are readily available. Occasional
malaria cases are reported, most often affecting people trekking
in the jungle, but there are numerous over the counter medications
you can take to deal with the problem.
National Holidays
Thailand has 15 national holidays, most of which are celebrated
on the same day each year. A few, such as Songkran (the New
Year and water festival) are based on the lunar calendar and
the exact dates change slightly from year to year. All banks
and most businesses are closed on public holidays and the
sale of alcohol is prohibited on a few (like the King's Birthday).
Thailand Public Holidays :
- January 1 - New Year's Day
- February 13 - Makha Bucha Day
- April 6 - Chakri Memorial
- April 13 - 15 - Songkran
- May 1 - Labour Day
- May 5 - Coronation Day
- May 12 - Visakha Bucha Day
- July 11 - Buddhist Lent Day
- August 12 - H.M. The Queen's Birthday
- October 23 - Chulalongkorn (Rama V) Memorial Day
- December 5 - H.M. The King's Birthday
- December 10 - Constitution Day
- December 31 - New Year's Eve
Important phone numbers
Note: Phone numbers are listed in the following format:
+66 (0)1 777 7777. This means that from outside Thailand you
would dial 66 1 777 7777 but within the Kingdom you would
dial 01 777 7777.
Consulates
Australia
165 Siri Mangkhlachan Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 321 9726, +66 (0)5 340 0232; Fax: +66 (0)5 321
9726
Austria
15 moo 1 Huay Kaew Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 340 0232, +66 (0)5 322 1002; Fax: +66 (0)5 340
0231
Canada
151 Chiang Mai - Lamphun Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 385 0147
China
111 Chang Lo Rd
Phone: +66 (0)5 320 0424; Fax: +66 (0)5 327 4614
Finland
104-112 Tha Phae Road
Phone: +66 (0)5 323 4777
France
138 Charoen Phrathet Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 328 1466, +66 (0)5 327 5277; Fax: +66 (0)5 382
1039
Germany
199/163 Moo 3, Baan Nai Fun 2, Kan Klong Chonpretan Rd
Tel & Fax: +66 (0)5 383 8735
Email: dekonsul@ loxinfo.co.th
Great Britain
198 Bamrung Rat Road
Tel: +66 (0)5 326 3015; Fax: +66 (0)5 326 3016
Email: ukconsul@loxinfo.co.th
India
344 Charoen Phrathet Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 3066; Fax: +66 (0)5 324 7879
Japan
8 Wat Khet Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 330 2042, +66 (0)5 330 2043; Fax: +66 (0)5 320
3368
South Africa
2nd Floor Chiang Inn Hotel, 100 Chang Khlan Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 0070; Fax: +66 (0)5 327 4299
Email: Swaeng@loxinfo.co.th
USA
387 Wichayanon Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 325 2629; Fax: +66 (0)5 325 2663
Website: http://usa.or.th/consulcm/consulcm.htm
Hospitals
Chang Phuak Hospital
1/7 Chang Phuak Rd Soi 2
Tel: +66 (0)5 322 0022 Fax: +66 (0)5 321 8120
Email: info@changpuek.com
Chiang Mai Central Memorial Hospital
186/2 Chang Khlan Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 7090; Fax: +66 (0)5 3271624
Chiang Mai Dental Hospital
1/42 Moo 3, Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway
Tel: +66 (0)5 341 1150 Fax: +66 (0)5 321 8867
Email: chiangmaidental@cmnet.co.th
Chiang Mai Ram 2 Hospital
99 Moo 5 Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway
Tel: +66 (0)5 385 2590 Ext 3600; Fax: +66 (0)5 385 2999
Chiang Mai Ram Hospital
8 Bunruangrit Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 322 4851; Fax: +66 (0)5 322 4880
Email: cmram1@chmai.loxinfo.co.th
Chinda Hospital
14 Charoenrat Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 4140, +66 (0)5 324 1712; Fax: +66 (0)5 324
3673
Dr. Wong Hospital
11/10 Charoen Muang Rd Soi 3
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 7519; Fax: +66 (0)5 324 362
Lanna Hospital
1 Sukkasem Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 335 7234, +66 (0)5 335-7235; Fax: +66 (0)5 321
8402
Maharaj Hospital
110 Suthep Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 322 1122; Fax: +66 (0)5 321 7144
McCormick Hospital
133 Kaew Nawarat Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 326 2200; Fax: +66 (0)5 324 1177
Email: mohosp@payap.ac.th
Nakornping
159 Moo 4 Chotana Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 389 0755; Fax: +66 (0)5 322 2152 Ext 158
Rajavej Chiang Mai Hospital
316/1 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 380 1999; Fax: +66 (0)5 380 1440
Ruam Padh Hospital Chiang Mai
21 Nantaram Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 3576, +66 (0)5 327 0144; Fax: +66 (0)5 327
9256
Email: rhuampah@chmai.loxinfo.co.th
St Peter Eye Hospital
150 Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 322 5011; Fax: +66 (0)5 322 5016
Travel and Airlines
Chiang Mai Railway Station
473 Charoen Muang Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 5363, +66 (0)5 324 4795, +66 (0)5 324 2094;
Fax: +66 (0)5 324 5363
Arcade Bus Station
Chiang Mai-Lampang Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 2664
Chiang Mai International Airport
60 Moo 3 Airport Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 0222; Fax: +66 (0)5 327 7284
Air Mandalay Ltd.
Doi Ping Mansion, 148 Charoen Phrathet Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 381 8049; Fax: +66 (0)5 381 8051
Email: amlpa@chmai.loxinfo.co.th
Angel Airlines
2nd Floor, Airport Terminal 60 Moo 3 Airport Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 392 2295; Fax: +66 (0)5 392 2297
www.angelairlines.com
Bangkok Airways
60 Moo 3Airport Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 328 1519, +66 (0)5 399 2257; Fax: +66 (0)5 328
1520
Email: reservation@bangkokair.co.th
Malaysia Airlines
Imperial Mae Ping Hotel 153 Sri Donchai Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 6523, +66 (0)5 327 6538, +66 (0)5 376 766;
Fax: +66 (0)5 327 6753
Email: tariffin@cmnet.co.th
Mandarin Airlines
4th floor, Standard Air Services Co, Ltd 414/20-21 Chang Khlan
Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 320 5185; Fax: +66 (0)5 320 5184, +66 (0)5 320
5188
Silk Air Singapore Private Limited
Imperial Mae Ping Hotel 153 Sri Donchai Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 327 6647; Fax: +66 (0)5 327 6549
Thai Airways International
240 Phra Pokklao Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 321 0210, +66 (0)5 321 1044; Fax: +66 (0)5 321
0042
Law Enforcement
Chiang Mai Main Police Station
169 Ratchadamnoen Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 381 4313; Fax: +66 (0)5 327 7477
Chiang Mai Traffic Police
28 Prisanee Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 325 2787, +66 (0)5 323 4051, +66 (0)5 323 3890;
Fax: +66 (0)5 323 4051
Highway Police
1/1 Moo 4 T. Tha Sala
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 2441; Fax: +66 (0)5 324 0289
Chiang Mai Tourist Police
Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd.,
Tel: +66 (0)5 324 8130, +66 (0)5 324 8974; Fax: +66 (0)5 324
8974
Tourist Police: Airport Office
60 Moo 3 Airport Rd
Tel: +66 (0)5 392 2191, +66 (0)5 327 0222 Ext 191
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