by Bradlley Mckoy
In a recent survey of the most traveled places in the world, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that made it to the top five, and very rightly so. Thousands of tourists from all over the world flock to the Kingdom all year round to frolic on the stunning beaches, explore the many mountains and rivers, and of course, take advantage of one of the world's most blatant sex industries.
Visits vary from a few days to a few years. Many visit on holiday and never leave, and understandably so. The country is gifted in more ways than one, the people are friendly with foreigners, and the cost of living is amongst the cheapest in the world. Indeed, there's a lot to be said about the mysticism of Thailand, how it reels you in with its beauty until you find yourself never wanting to leave and succumbing to its will.
Visa Runs
Barely a year ago, Thai immigration laws were relaxed and tourist-friendly. Though it varies for some countries, most foreign nationals are automatically given a 30-day grant to stay in the Kingdom upon entry. However, 30 days is grossly insufficient to explore the wonders of Thailand. Border runs were common and most foreign nationals can do as many as he or she chooses, the popular destinations being the neighboring countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. You simply needed to take a trip to the border, bearing your passport in its passport holder, and you get another 30 days.
With the ousting of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, however, immigration laws have since been tightened. Border runs are now limited to 2 instances, after which, a foreign national has to leave the country, passport holder and all, for at least 100 days. An alternative is getting a proper visa, which is a seemingly easy process that actually gets tedious as you go along.
Tourist Visas
For a fee, Thai consulates abroad provide tourist visas for foreign nationals seeking to stay in Thailand for a few months. If you are already in the Kingdom, you'll have to take a trip to a neighboring Asian country (or your own country) to get the tourist visa from a Thai Consulate.
It's a quick and painless procedure. Simply visit the consulate with your passport, safely stored in your passport holder, provide a couple of photographs, fill out a form, and pay the fee. You then get a 60-day tourist visa and you may apply for an extension of 30 days within the country.
Non-immigrant Visas
Non-immigrant visas are trickier. These are provided for foreign nationals seeking to stay in the Kingdom for a long period of time for employment, business, etc. Non-immigrant visas range from 90-day single entry passes to 1-year multiple entry passes. It's not as simple as walking into the consulate with your passport holder. You would need to be able to provide several documents, justifying your stay in the Kingdom.
For example, if you are an English teacher employed at a Thai school, you need to provide letters from the school declaring their intention to hire you, your school documents, criminal clearance records from your home country, and of course, your passport in your passport holder. As long as all documents are available, there should be no hitch in getting a non-immigrant visa.
There are more options to getting visas for extended stays in Thailand. However, the Thais are changing the rules quite frequently these days so nobody is really secure. It's important to keep on top of the latest Thai immigration news at all times. After all, you wouldn't want to leave the beautiful country in a hurry, passport holder and all.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=596331
Showing posts with label stay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stay. Show all posts
2007/08/14
Spice up your holiday in Thailand - adventure activities abound
Looking to add some spice to your stay in Thailand? There's a lot more to do than just sun, sea and sand or visiting temples. More and more visitors combine their beach holiday and shopping tour with something more adrenalin pumping to really etch their stay into their long-term memory. Southern Thailand and the islands are famous for sea canoeing and game fishing, while the northern provinces abound with adventure choices, including trekking, caving, rafting, mountain biking and even hot air ballooning.
The longest running and best known soft adventure choice for visitors to Thailand is surely hill tribe trekking. Chiang Mai is the best base for this, with ever more tour agencies offering a plethora of organized treks to choose from. Treks range from one day to a week and typically include elephant riding and bamboo rafting. Overnight stays in hill tribe villages can provide for a wonderful cultural experience or be more like a trip to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, depending on the operator. Be prepared for some heavy walking and lots of spectacular nature.
River rafting has gained in popularity in recent years. The Nam Wa River near Nan sees lots of Thai tourists, as does the Mae Klong near Tak. The Pai River in Mae Hong Son Province is bordered by lush forests and widely untouched. The abundant birdlife and monkeys crossing the river are some of the attractions here. Nearer Chiang Mai is the Mae Cham River, popular for one-day rafting tours.
Mid-June to end of January is the best time, when water levels are not too low or too high. August and September see the most water and some rivers are too dangerous to negotiate at this time. Make sure the tour operator provides basic safety equipment such as helmets and life vests. A plunge overboard is a common occurrence while rafting.
If you want to keep your feet dry, try some mountain biking among the verdant peaks of northern Thailand. Plenty of tour operators organize trips from Chiang Mai with bikes, overnight accommodation, food and even back-up cars transporting supplies and luggage. You can also rent a bike and set off on your own. This is particularly easy for short, one-day trips.
Northern Thailand boasts some of the most spectacular cave systems in Asia, with many caves having already been developed, while others take more of an effort to explore. Possibly the best choice of caves is in Pang Mapha district between Pai and Mae Hong Son.
Here the famous Cave Lodge offers a prime base for exploring the vast network of pristine caves, many of which were first discovered by the lodge's Australian owner. If you decide to set off on your own just armed with a map and supplies, be sure to notify someone as to your destination and intended itinerary.
Down south, many caves can be explored by means of sea canoe. Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket are particularly popular with boating fans. Here you can easily book guided tours lasting from one to several days. Hidden lagoons, only accessible by canoe or kayak, make for prime camping spots.
Another option is game fishing for those who want to test their hunting skills. Phuket is the preferred base, with many operators offering tours including all equipment. A strict catch-and -release policy is enforced, so dinner will have to be in a restaurant. Adventure seekers are spoilt for choice no matter where they go in the Land of Smiles.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=505712
The longest running and best known soft adventure choice for visitors to Thailand is surely hill tribe trekking. Chiang Mai is the best base for this, with ever more tour agencies offering a plethora of organized treks to choose from. Treks range from one day to a week and typically include elephant riding and bamboo rafting. Overnight stays in hill tribe villages can provide for a wonderful cultural experience or be more like a trip to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, depending on the operator. Be prepared for some heavy walking and lots of spectacular nature.
River rafting has gained in popularity in recent years. The Nam Wa River near Nan sees lots of Thai tourists, as does the Mae Klong near Tak. The Pai River in Mae Hong Son Province is bordered by lush forests and widely untouched. The abundant birdlife and monkeys crossing the river are some of the attractions here. Nearer Chiang Mai is the Mae Cham River, popular for one-day rafting tours.
Mid-June to end of January is the best time, when water levels are not too low or too high. August and September see the most water and some rivers are too dangerous to negotiate at this time. Make sure the tour operator provides basic safety equipment such as helmets and life vests. A plunge overboard is a common occurrence while rafting.
If you want to keep your feet dry, try some mountain biking among the verdant peaks of northern Thailand. Plenty of tour operators organize trips from Chiang Mai with bikes, overnight accommodation, food and even back-up cars transporting supplies and luggage. You can also rent a bike and set off on your own. This is particularly easy for short, one-day trips.
Northern Thailand boasts some of the most spectacular cave systems in Asia, with many caves having already been developed, while others take more of an effort to explore. Possibly the best choice of caves is in Pang Mapha district between Pai and Mae Hong Son.
Here the famous Cave Lodge offers a prime base for exploring the vast network of pristine caves, many of which were first discovered by the lodge's Australian owner. If you decide to set off on your own just armed with a map and supplies, be sure to notify someone as to your destination and intended itinerary.
Down south, many caves can be explored by means of sea canoe. Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket are particularly popular with boating fans. Here you can easily book guided tours lasting from one to several days. Hidden lagoons, only accessible by canoe or kayak, make for prime camping spots.
Another option is game fishing for those who want to test their hunting skills. Phuket is the preferred base, with many operators offering tours including all equipment. A strict catch-and -release policy is enforced, so dinner will have to be in a restaurant. Adventure seekers are spoilt for choice no matter where they go in the Land of Smiles.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=505712
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