Can I trust the Thai police? 

  Thai Police is worth trusting as since 1982, the Tourist Police was set up to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in providing safety for tourists. Its responsibilities are receiving and acknowledging claims and complaints, to conduct investigations and acting as co-coordinator of tourist security protection. At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace , Pat Pong and Lumphini Park . Bi-lingual Tourist Police are attached to Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Bangkok , Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Surat Thani, Phuket and Songkhla to provide speedy assistance to visitors.
To contact at emergencies:
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155,
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844,
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672,
Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10

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Will I be robbed? 

  Like anywhere in the world, Thailand has thieves. Robberies happen, though they tend to be snatch and grabs rather than muggings. The golden rule is don't take anything out with you that you can't afford to lose, and keep copies of all important documentation such as your passport, credit cards and travelers cheques. Keep a list of important phone numbers somewhere too. Most guesthouses and hotels offer safety deposit boxes. Use them. As well, it's wise to use a money belt. Avoid leaving your mobile phone or camera while sitting on a restaurant table or bar.

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Should I buy gems I've been offered by a really convincing person I've met/been introduced to? 

  Before deciding to buy gems, you should be aware of the criteria to judge gems known as the '4 Cs'
1. Color: To buy gemstones with their colors as the main criterion, customers should look for those with medium shades, not too light or too dark. You can also seek experts' advice before making a decision.
2. Clarity: This concerns the level of contamination inside a gemstone. The less contamination and fewer defects a gem has, the more expensive it is.
3. Cut: This concerns the shapes and balance of a gem's facets. A quality cut creates a glittering reflection inside a gem.
4. Carat: weight Quality gems are priced by their carat weights while inferior ones are priced by unit tagged with a fixed price. One carat weighs 200 milligrams.

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Can I use drugs in Thailand? 

  Thailand takes drugs very seriously and is trying to eradicate unlawful drugs entirely. Don't either partake or trade in illegal substances. Clubs and places of entertainment are sometimes raided and people made to put forward urine samples. If you test positive, penalties will be harsh. Trading in drugs will lead to the death penalty or likely decades in prison.

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Is Thailand a safe place to travel alone to? 

  As with just about anywhere in the world, you are safer travelling with others, but as long as you use your common sense, travelling alone is generally perfectly safe -- tens of thousands of people do it every year. Take all the usual precautions, have copies of all your documentation and try to keep in touch with family or friends overseas. There's no shortage of internet cafes across the country, so there's not really any excuse for not occasionally dropping an email in to placate the worriers at home. Better still; send a postcard as some people still use those. If you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, don't hesitate to ask a local for assistance -- by and large Thais are very helpful people.

Thailand is a relatively safe country but nonetheless everyone is advised to keep constant vigilance and street smartness as danger may happen and could happen anywhere. Here are some tips you can practice for a safe vacation: -Do not leave your valuables unattended anywhere.
- Dark alleyways are not for wandering alone and thieves may be lurking everywhere. Always be on-guard with your safety and valuables.
- Thais are indeed very friendly but be wary of seemingly friendly strangers offering cigarettes, food and drink as these may be spiked or mixed heavily with sedatives or other dangerous/ illegal drugs.
- Beware of unauthorized people offering services as guide.
- Do not get yourself involved with drugs. Penalties for drug offenses are severe in Thailand.

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Are legal drugs cheap in Thailand? 

  They are often reasonable than in the west, though not always. Generic malarias for example are a fraction of the cost of a similar product in the west, while migraine medication is a very similar cost. Insulin is very expensive in Thailand when compared to the west. However, some types of drugs are Thai made, some are imported by neighbor countries and some are imported from west countries. So the price differs according to the origin of the drugs.

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Do I need a prescription? 

  Generally, no. Most pharmaceuticals are available over the counter in Thailand , though you may need to buy generic drugs if the brand you prefer is not available. However, there are some types of drugs that are not legal to be sold at the pharmacy without the doctor's prescription.

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Do I need malarial medication in Thailand? 

  Medical help should be taken immediately if malaria is suspected. Without treatment malaria can rapidly become more serious and can be fatal.

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HIV/AIDS? 

  Promiscuous sex anywhere can be dangerous. For travelers, local sex workers, either of explicit or concealed types, are potential sources of STDs and HIV/AIDS. All casual sex should be avoided or strictly protected with the use of condoms. Danger from intravenous drug use with sharing of needles and syringes cannot be overemphasized. However, blood transfusion at all medical centers in Thailand are considered safe as intensive screening of donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis is implemented nationwide.

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What general food and water precautions should be followed? 

  Many travelers suffer heat exhaustion and dehydration when travelling in Thailand during the warmer months, so keep up the fluids throughout the day. Tap water may be used for cleaning oneself but not recommended for drinking. Travelers are advised to drink bottled water that is sold everywhere.

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What general health advice is there for Thailand? 

  No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from 14 following countries; Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Angola, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Zaire. Many travelers suffer heat exhaustion and dehydration when travelling in Thailand during the warmer months, so stay sun smart and keep up the fluids through out the day. Although, Thailand is indeed a modern city, it is still advisable to watch out for the following local and common diseases:
- Malaria
- Japanese B encephalitis
- Rabies
- Dengue fever
- AIDS

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What should be in a traveler's medical kit? 

  Generally you will be able to get medical attention and medicine throughout Thailand for most minor ailments, at local hospitals, medical clinics or pharmacies. But, you are still recommended to have a medical kit at time of emergency. Assemble a first aid kit. As well as plasters and antiseptic cream, take a thermometer, water sterilization tablets, Ibuprofen, paracetamol, steroid-based creams and antihistamine tablets (such as Perryton) for insect bites, and anti-diarrhea tablets.

For younger children, pack dehydration sachets made with cooked starch rather than glucose (ask your pharmacist for details). For three-year-olds and older use Lucozade.

Children are particularly prone to traveler's diarrhea. If you're not breastfeeding, take some ready-made cartons of formula milk for infants.

Choose insect repellents with DEET (N-diethylmetatoluamide) as these offers the best protection - look for Repel or the Boots Soltan range. Use a solution of no more than 20 per cent DEET on infants and children. It is not suitable for babies under two months.

If you are camping or trekking in areas with few facilities or poor sanitation, MASTA recommends emergency medical travel kits. These contain sterilized equipment such as syringes and needles, and are available from pharmacies.

Take a double supply of your routine medication - put one in your luggage and the other in your hand luggage. Note the generic names of medicines in case you need more while you are away.

See your GP

If you are going to a developing or tropical country, see your GP six weeks beforehand to discuss vaccinations and tablets. You need to start taking malaria tablets four to six weeks before going on holiday.

Get an international vaccination cards signed and stamped, and take it with you. You need this to claim on health insurance for treatment for these diseases.

Avoid last-minute deals to destinations such as Africa and the Far East unless you have had the vaccinations for another recent trip.

Cardiovascular diseases account for half of all travelers' deaths overseas. If you might be at risk, have a thorough examination before you travel.

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Will I get diarrhea? 

  To prevent diarrhea avoid uncooked food and take standard bottled or boiled water. When you get diarrhea and/or vomiting, the most important thing is to avoid dehydration. The usual doctor's prescription is a drug to stop the symptoms (diarrhea and/or vomiting), an antibiotic to help your body deal with bacteria, and electrolyte beverages to rehydrate. In more severe cases, you will feel better after an intravenous infusion of fluid. When given an antibiotic, it is important to finish the treatment, not stop when the symptoms go away. This is because you will usually feel better before all the bacteria are fought off. The small amount of surviving bacteria will be the toughest strain. If you don't fight it off, then you will get a relapse of tougher bacteria. It's simple natural selection. This is called drug resistance.

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Where should I go when I need to see a doctor? 

  Thailand can provide some of the best healthcare available anywhere in the world at a price that will pleasantly surprise you as Thailand's private hospitals are of very high standard while the fees are surprising low compared to those on the West. And the expertise, friendliness and caring support provided by the doctors and nurses is world renowned. The most popular medical treatments in Thailand that tourist often visit for are cancer, cardiac procedure, stem cell treatment, heart transplant, dentistry, Hip Replacements, cosmetic surgery, eye surgery, elective surgery, hearing loss, kidney transplant and lots more. Whilst, the leading hospitals in Thailand are Bamrungrad Hospital , Bangkok International Hospital , Bangkok Nursing Home and Samitivej Hospital.

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Are there any poisonous animals in Thailand? 

  Mostly, poisonous animals are found in forests. While going through adventurous trip in forest or near by forest, be aware of the dangerous animals. Otherwise none are found on roads or public place in Thailand.

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What kinds of helps are available in the case of injury or other medical emergency while traveling? 

  At time of accidents, the nearest hospitals' ambulances are always ready to approach the spot. While, Thai people are kind enough to help you call the nearest police or nearest ambulance or they would even provide hands to comfort you.
To contact at emergencies:
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844

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What should I do if a bag is stolen from my room or dormitory? 

  Firstly, you should inform the hotel's staff to help you to find out your stolen belongings. Moreover, you may also call the tourist police and have them assist.

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Emergency happens, such as: luggage loss, theft or damage? 

  In case of such emergencies, approach tourist police or nearest police. The following phone numbers will be helpful either:
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844