As it stands, 3 out of my last 5 vacations have been in Thailand, so as far as I am concerned, there is really never a bad time to visit. Most people will tell you that from May till September it’s the rainy season and so not a good time to visiting that particular region. I disagree, because rainy season in Thailand means maybe an hour of or less of rain/day – which is not likely to really ruin your day. I admit that when it rains it rains quite hard, but if it’s for just an hour or so, than what’s the big fuss. As far as I am concerned you can visit Thailand whenever you feel like it – as long as you are well prepared to cope with the changing weather patterns that you are likely to experience. The peak tourist season begins from October to April, which is supposed to be the coolest and driest season, but around this time hotel rates are also at their peak, as are the volumes of tourists coming to the country.

Another great reason to visit Thailand apart from the peak tourist season is that, the rainy season is quite territorial in nature. Since it is the annual monsoon it moves east and northward in the first half and south and west in the second half of the year. So if it’s raining in Phuket in May, it would be perfect in Koh Samui and even better in Chiang Mai.

Holidays & Events in Thailand

But if you’ve taken my advice and decided that any time is good time to visit Thailand, do make sure that you are aware of the national holidays or festivals during that time so you know what to expect from your trip. Although all major tourist attractions stay open during public holidays, there is the exception of a shutdown on New Year (1 January) and Songkran (13 to 15 April). In fact if you happen to be in Thailand during Songkarn, which is the traditional time for Thais to hit the road, you will find Bangkok a little empty, but hotels outside of Bangkok will be booked full for months in advance.

Visas

Before you book your trip, check if you do need a visa. Since tourism accounts for a major chunk in Thailand’s GDP (Gross domestic product), getting 60 or 90 day visa is an easy process from most Thai embassies and consulates. It can also be done by mail if there’s no consulate in your city.

Money and Financial Matters

Thai currency is called the “Baht”. After your arrival in Thailand try to get currency exchanged from one of the currency exchanges at Bangkok’s international airport or around major tourist areas. The current exchange rate is approximately 40 Baht to the US Dollar. Avoid changing currencies at your hotels as you will get a much lower rate there. All major credit cards are also accepted in Thailand.

Packing – What to Bring

When packing for Thailand, remember that it is a tropical country where warm clothes are rarely needed. However, spending your entire vacation in shorts is also not a good idea, since not only are you in danger of sunburn and mosquito bites, but lots of religious sites insist that you to dress in a respectful manner. Besides this, do remember to pack your camera, and bring an inexpensive rain poncho for the moment that you are caught in the tropical storms.

Susan is a travel writer working for tropicalsky.co.uk and has never really lost her passion for backpacking around Asia and South America.

Photo: archer10 (Dennis)

Vietnam

While the Vietnamese are an incredibly friendly and polite people, they place a high regard on proprietary and modesty. It is a good idea to dress modestly while you’re visiting spiritual places in Vietnam, as a sign of respect. Also, physical displays of affection between couples in public are frowned upon. Do what you like in the comfort of your own hotel room of course, but in public try to keep it G rated. Anger and losing your temper in Vietnam immediately lose the respect of whomever you’re dealing with. Keep a cool head, and you’ll keep their respect, and therefore have much more chance of getting what you want.

Thailand

In Thailand, there are an entirely different set of cultural norms and therefore a few more things to consider when you’re travelling there. Like the Vietnamese, the Thais are incredibly friendly and helpful people, but respect is also very important to them, so don’t take their hospitality as an invitation to treat them in a disrespectful way. Buddhism is the national religion in Thailand, and therefore it is essential you respect it. Don’t wear skimpy clothing into temples or holy places, and if you want to be photographed next to an image of the Buddha, sit in front of it, not on top of it. It would be the equivalent of someone sitting on a crucifix or statue of the Virgin Mary for a Christian.

Cambodia

While its land and its people might still be recovering from a devastating war, Cambodian tradition and culture has remained intact. Respect is central to Cambodian culture, and etiquette is an important part of daily life. Business is usually conducted with the right hand only in Cambodia, as the left is reserved solely for use in the bathroom! Also, the head is considered the most sacred, clean part of the body and the feet the dirtiest. For this reason, you must never raise your feet higher than someone’s head in Cambodia. Cambodians always remove their shoes before entering a home or place of business, so make sure you do the same. Also, it is considered rude to point with your index finger, so make sure you use your whole (right) hand, with your palm up, and never touch someone with your left hand, for the reasons stated above.

Whether you’re having a drink in a hotel in Malaysia or lounging on a beach in Thailand, you’re (hopefully) going to encounter local customs and culture at some point. For this reason, doing a bit of research into how best to be culturally sensitive will make your holiday all the more enjoyable for all involved.

Photo: whl.travel

Adventure-seeking individuals have been heading to Thailand for years now, trying to explore the mountainous and diverse landscape around the south-east Asian country.

The time of year you choose to visit Thailand can have quite a big bearing on where you’re able to explore, however, as when it rains, it pours and you’ll definitely need some waterproof trousers and waterproof jackets to keep you nice and dry.

In the north, you’re likely to be hit by the south-west monsoons from May to November, so it’s best to be prepared for the weather if you’re going to the country during those months.

One of the most popular trekking destinations in the north is the river area around Maetang. It’s only about an hour away from Chiang Mai, so you won’t be too far from civilisation, but spectacular jungle, some waterfalls and wild rivers will await you there. If you trek around this part of the country you’ll also see Thailand’s third-highest mountain – the Doi Chiangdao – which will form an amazing backdrop for your walks.

Photo: AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

There are numerous different tour companies operating in Thailand to offer you a truly authentic trekking experience, without being dragged to too many tourist attractions en route, so finding one of those makes most sense.

You’ll just need to take some suitable hiking shoes or trainers with you, as well as plenty of mosquito repellent, sunscreen and of course, the rest of your clothing and you’ll be ready and raring to go!

First, you have the banner stand. Banner stands offers a lot of advantages, because they are lightweight, portable, and very reusable. You have many types of banner stands to choose from. You have the retractable banner stand, the tension pole stand, the x stand and the cable display stand. All you have to do to make it reusable is to remove the tarpaulin on the banner stand and place a new one. A good way for you to make sure that you still have a good display is to have a high quality print and tarpaulin.

Second, you have the eco-friendly fabric displays. These are usually used for the backwall display in booths and huge spaces in airports, malls and other events. The fabric is used as a backdrop for the display you will be using and then it is mounted on top of a frame. The frames are usually made up of aluminium alloy. What they do is to light up the fabric well to bring the dye to life and so effectively attract clients and potential customers to the booth.

Last but not least, you can have table top displays. These types of displays are very good for the budget. They are also very portable and very lightweight. They are usually like big folders made out of tougher material of course. You can have them customized depending on the size, color and theme that you have for your booth. You can use table top displays in case your booth is not that big. It is a good idea if you can use table top displays for those booths with long tables. This way you can maximize the table and the small area that you will be assigned to.

Those are some of the things you need to know about trade show displays. Selecting your own banner stands will depend on the type of booth that you have as well as your preference. All of these are very excellent to use though.

For all your trade show needs see us at our Portable Trade Show Display business. We have had many successful clients use our banner stands company.