Fast Facts

American Express-- There is no specific agent that handles American Express services in Thailand anymore, but they have an American Express office at 388 Pahonyothin Rd. in Bangkok. You can reach the office at tel. 02273-5296 during business hours (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm) or call their customer service hot line (tel. 02273-5544) with any problems or questions.

Banks-- Many international banks maintain offices in Bangkok, including Bank of America, next door to the Hilton at 2/2 Wireless Rd. (tel. 02251-6333); Chase Manhattan Bank, Bubhajit Building, Sathorn Nua Rd. (tel. 02234-5992); Citibank, 82 Sathorn Nua Rd. (tel. 02232-2000); National Australia Bank, 90 Sathorn Rd. (tel. 02236-6016); and Standard Chartered Bank, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV Rd. (tel. 02636-1000). However, even if your bank has a branch in Thailand, your home account is considered foreign here -- conducting personal banking will require special arrangements before leaving home.

Bookstores-- You'll find a number of bookstores offering a wide variety of English-language books. One of the best for an extensive selection of books on Thailand and Asia is Asia Books, with a main branch at 221 Sukhumvit Rd. between Soi 15 and 17 (tel. 02252-7277). Asia Books has outlets all over Thailand (even sponsor small racks in retail stores) and in Bangkok at the following locations: The Emporium on Sukhumvit at Soi 22, Landmark Plaza Building on Sukhumvit at Soi 4; on the third floor of Thaniya Plaza off Silom Road; second floor of Times Square on Sukhumvit Road between Soi 12 and 14 (tel. 02250-0162); and in the Peninsula Plaza mall near the Regent Hotel on Ratchadamri Road, south of Rama I Road (tel. 02253-9786). All are open daily from 10am to 8 or 9pm.

You'll find a good selection of English-language paperbacks at Bookazine, in Patpong on the 1st floor at CP Tower, 313 Silom Rd. (tel. 02231-0016); in Ploenchit on the 3rd floor at Amarin Plaza 494-502 Ploenchit Rd. (tel. 02256-9304); and Siam Square, 286 Siam Square opposite Siam Center, Rama I Road (tel. 02619-1015).

Another large and gorgeous bookstore, Books Kinokuniya has shops in Pathumwan at Isetan Department Store, 6th floor, World Trade Center, Ratchadamri Road (tel. 02255-9834), and on Sukhumvit at Emporium Shopping Complex, 3rd floor, 622 Sukhumvit Rd. Soi 24 (tel. 02664-8554).

For secondhand books, visit Elite Used Books, 593-5 Sukhumvit Rd. (tel. 02258-0221). Almost every international-class hotel has a newsstand with papers and a few books.

Business Hours-- Government offices (including branch post offices) are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, with a lunch break between noon and 1pm. Businesses are generally open 8am to 5pm. Shops often stay open from 8am until 7pm or later, 7 days a week. Department stores are generally open 10am to 7pm.

Currency Exchange-- Most banks will exchange foreign currency Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm. Exchange booths affiliated with the major banks are found in all tourist areas, open daily from as early as 7am to as late as 9pm.

Dentists & Doctors-- Thailand has an excellent medical care system. Most medical personnel speak English, and many were trained overseas. Most of the better hotels have doctors and/or nurses on staff or on call who can treat minor maladies. Check first with your concierge for assistance, and then contact your country's consulate if you need further help.

Embassies & Consulates-- Your home embassy in Thailand can help you in emergencies -- medical and legal (legal, to an extent), and is the place to contact if you've lost your travel documents and need them replaced. The following is a list of major foreign representatives in Bangkok: Embassy of the United States of America, 120-22 Wireless Rd. (tel. 02205-4000); Canada Embassy, 15th floor, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV Rd. (tel. 02636-0540); Australian Embassy, 37 South Sathorn Rd. (tel. 02287-2680); New Zealand Embassy, 93 Wireless Rd. (tel. 02254-2530); and the British Embassy, 1031 Wireless Rd. (tel. 02253-0191).

Emergencies-- In any emergency, first call Bangkok's Tourist Police -- which is a direct-dial four-digit number tel. 1155 or call 02678-6800. Someone at both numbers will speak English. In case of fire, call either tel. 199 or 191, both of which are direct dial numbers. Ambulance service is handled by individual private hospitals; see "Hospitals," below, or call your hotel's front desk. For operator-assisted overseas calls dial tel. 100.

Eyeglass Repair-- You'll find optical shops in all the major shopping areas of the city, most of which can provide replacement glasses within 24 hours at reasonable prices. For eye problems, try the Rutnin Eye Hospital at 80 Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Soi Asoke) (tel. 02259-0812).

Hospitals-- All hospitals listed here offer 24-hour emergency room care and ambulance service. Be advised that you may need your passport and a deposit of up to 20,000B ($446) before you are admitted. Bills must be settled before you leave. Your domestic medical insurance policy will probably not be accepted for payment, though major credit cards are. The best facility going is luxurious Bumrungrad Hospital, 33 Soi 3, Sukhumvit Rd. (tel. 02667-1000), which is, for some, the destination of choice in BKK for cosmetic surgeries and affordable, high-quality procedures. BNH Hospital (formerly the Bangkok Nursing Home) is at 9 Convent Rd., between Silom and Sathorn roads, south of Rama IV Road (tel. 02632-0052).

Hot Lines-- There are regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in Bangkok and around Thailand. Check their regional website at www.aathailand.org or call the AA hot line at tel. 02231-8300.

Internet-- Most shopping malls and even the smallest hotel these days have at least a few terminals, and you can't take a step in places like Khao San Road, the backpacker area, or along busy Silom Road near Patpong without hearing the screech of a modem (still lots of dial-up). Prices range from 1B to 3B per minute (that's about $1.50-$4.40 per hr.). Big hotels charge exorbitant rates and are not worth it; just take a walk in any direction and you'll find affordable services (as low as 40B/$1 per hr.). Here are just a few: The folks at Bangkok Express (1/18 Sukhumvit Soi 11; tel. 02651-3621) are very helpful (can even set up post-restante service for you -- where your mail is held for you at a post office or GPO until you pick it up) and have good Internet connections for 1B per minute. Time Internet Café (Time Square Sukhumvit Soi 12 at Asok BTS; tel. 02653-3636) is near the city center. In Khao San, Hello Internet has been around as long as the Internet and has good service if you can find their sign out of the many (they're on the 2nd floor). Just a few of the many.

Lost Property-- If you have lost anything or had your valuables stolen, call the national police hot line at tel. 1155. Believe it or not, there have been several reports of lost items being returned to the appropriate consulate by taxi drivers or bus attendants.

Luggage Storage-- Both the domestic and international terminals of Don Muang airport offer luggage storage for 90B ($2.20) a day -- 7am to 10pm in the domestic terminal, 24 hours a day in the international terminal. Most hotels will allow you to store luggage while away on trips in the countryside.

Mail-- If shipping a parcel from Bangkok, take advantage of the Packing Service offered by the GPO (Post and Telegraph Office), Charoen Krung Rd. (tel. 02233-1050), open 24 hours. Small cardboard packing cartons cost from just 10B (25¢) and packing service is available during normal office hours.

Newspapers & Magazines-- Bangkok Post and The Nation, English-language dailies, both cover local, national, and international news, plus happenings around town, TV listings, and other useful information (just 20B/50¢). Metro Magazine (100B/$2.40), found at most bookstores, is a good source of current information about what's happening in Bangkok, especially the entertainment and social scene. Falang spins tales of backpacker debauch and daring-do and, like Metro, has a listing section in the back with advice for travel in Thailand (100B/$2.40). Where, Look East, and Thailand Magazine are slick monthly English-language magazines distributed free and emphasizing events and features about Bangkok, with lesser coverage of other Thai cities and provinces.

Pharmacies-- Bangkok has a great many pharmacies, though the drugs dispensed differ widely in quality. Thailand is notorious for producing generic knockoffs of name-brand drugs and selling them at a discount. Be warned that these drugs are not checked for quality. Bring with you any prescription medications you require. If something new arises that calls for a prescription, the treating hospital or clinic will be able to provide reliable drugs from its dispensary.

Police-- Call the Tourist Police at tel. 1155 or 02678-6801, open 24 hours, for assistance. English is spoken.

Post Office-- The General Post Office (GPO) Post and Telegraph Office, Charoen Krung Road (tel. 02233-1050), is open 24 hours. Telegraph and telephone service are available in the north end of the building. Ask at your hotel for branch offices located closer to you.

Radio & TV-- In Bangkok, 88FM is hip "Radio No Problem"; GET 102.5FM is pop music spun by Western DJs and Smooth 105FM and Easy FM 105.5 plays adult-oriented contemporary music. Every day at 8am and 6pm, every radio station plays the national anthem; at 8pm they broadcast the daily news.

Television channels all broadcast either local Thai programs or English-language programs dubbed in Thai. UBC (United Broadcasting Company) provides satellite programming for the entire country. Most hotels, even those in rural areas, carry UBC channels such as CNN, CNBC, Star Movies, HBO, MTV, and Star Sports, plus other channels.

Safety-- In general, Bangkok is a safe city, but be careful of pickpockets as you might anywhere (especially on public buses). Don't seek out trouble -- avoid public disagreements or hostility (especially with locals), and steer clear of gambling activities. You are generally safe, even alone at night in most parts of the city, but rely on your gut instincts -- if you get a bad feeling about a place or situation, remove yourself from the scene to avoid getting caught up in someone else's drama.

Telephone, Telegrams & Telex-- Beware of hotel surcharges on international calls, usually 25% to 40% (check with the operator before dialing). A credit card or collect call placed from your room also carries a service charge.

The main government telephone office occupies a separate building on the grounds of the GPO (General Post Office) on Charoen Krung Road (New Road) between the Oriental and Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotels and is open daily 24 hours. This office is for international calls.

All post offices and 7-11s sell prepaid phone cards for use with the domestic or international, orange or yellow (respectively) Lensko, or TOT public phones -- usually outside the nearest 7-11. These phones will also charge calls to credit cards and AT&T calling cards. Hatari Phonenet is another prepaid card plan for overseas calls. Buy the cards at 7-11 (in 300B/$7.30 or 500B/$12.20 denominations) and call a toll-free number from any phone for overseas direct (the best deal going really).

Coin phones (either blue or the newer silver in color) are available for local and long-distance calls (with rates from 6B/15¢ per min.). You will need a pile of 5 baht coins and can observe your running total on the meter, putting in more coins as needed. For information within the Bangkok metropolitan area, dial tel. 1133, or find an English-language copy of the Greater Bangkok Business Listing.

Telegraph services, including fax service and telegram service, are offered in the telephone and telegraph office of the GPO, open daily 24 hours. The same services (except for telegram restante) are offered at the telephone and telegraph offices at Don Muang airport. A fax to the United States costs about 400B ($9.75) and must be prepared on the official form.