PHUKET HOTELS

VISAS FOR THAILAND
Visitors to Thailand must hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of their arrival in the kingdom. Citizens of 41 countries qualify for a 30-day ‘permission of stay’ stamp, which is given out when you pass through immigration at the airport. There is no charge for this. Others are granted only a 15-day ‘Visa on Arrival’.

People who do not qualify for this permission of stay, or who wish to stay in Thailand longer than 30 days must apply for a visa at their local Royal Thai Embassy before departure. The standard tourist visa is a single entry, 60-day permit, which can be extended by one month while in Thailand, on payment of 1,900 Baht.

For a full list of countries that qualify for visa exemption (i.e. permission of stay granted at airport), ‘Visa on Arrival’ and further information about all types of visa, see the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

THAI MONEY
The only unit of currency accepted in Thailand is the Thai Baht, available in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 (notes) and 10,5, 2 and 1 (coins). It is best to exchange money once you are here as rates are much better than those abroad. For the latest exchange rates, click here. Currency exchange booths in Krabi accept cash and travellers’ cheques in most denominations: dollars, euros and sterling being the most popular.

ATMs are another option for withdrawing cash in local currency as you need it from your bank account at home. Machines are widely available in Krabi Town and Ao Nang; however, offshore and in more remote areas you may have problems finding one.

Krabi is slightly more expensive than other areas in Thailand; however prices in general are much, much lower than in the West. So how much spending money to bring? Click here to see our new holiday budget planner.

PACKING ADVICE FOR KRABI
Pack lightweight clothes, unless you’re coming in the rainy season (May - October), in which case you should bring a light (non-woolly) sweater or cardigan. Laundry services are widely available at around 35-40B a kilo.

Sunglasses are a must - the sun is extremely strong. Cheap, original, designer sunglasses can be bought from opticians here. Bring at least one pair of flip-flops or slip-on shoes (or buy them here). As well as being cooler, they are also easily removed before entering a Thai home or temple. A small flashlight can be useful for occasional power cuts or to find your way back to your bungalow at night if you are staying at the beach or at a remote guest-house.

Other holiday essentials such as suncream, most types of camera film, mosquito repellent as well as brand-name toiletries such as Colgate and Nivea are widely available here, so there’s no need to panic if you run out!

If you plan to spend a great deal of time in the water, you might want to bring your own snorkel and mask - although these can also be purchased here. Some people may want to bring their own specialised equipment for diving and climbing.

ELECTRICITY IN THAILAND
The standard voltage in Thailand is 220V with a frequency of 50Hz. Most laptop computers do not require a converter but check with your manufacturer before you come. The type C (two pin, round head) outlet is universal in Thailand. This is the plug used by the majority of Europe, Asia and Africa, and adaptors are not needed for electrical equipment bought in these regions. Most standard sockets also accept flat two-pin plugs. Any other type of plug (UK, US) will require an adaptor.

formations which make it a heaven for rock climbers and a National Park located approximately 40 kilometers outside of town with lakes, caves and spectacular natural scenery.

History of Krabi
Some archeologists claim that Krabi City is one of the older settlements in the country as there is archaeological evidence indicating that this area had been home to homosapiens during the prehistoric times or between 25,000 - 35,000 B. C. The assumption has been strongly supported by the discovery of stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains in the provinces cliffs and caves.

In 1200 A.D., the area was known as Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that had a monkey as the town symbol. During this period of time, Krabi was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ligor, a city better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.

During the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910), the community was known as Pakasai Sub-county and remained under the direct jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Around 1872, King Rama V elevated Pakasai Sub-county to Krabi Province with the provincial administration office situated at Krabi-yai Sub-county (currently, the office is located near the estuary at Pak Nam Sub-district) and in 1875, ordered the separation of Krabi Province from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, merchants, and the people of Krabi and nearby provinces have collectively organized the construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape which is thirty kilometers west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast to be presented to His Majesty the King.

Origin of the name Krabi
There are two legends concerning the origin of the name “Krabi”. The first is that villagers presented a large ancient sword (or krabi) that was discovered by chance to the governor. Later when a smaller, on discovering a smaller one, it was also presented to the governor. Regarded as sacred and auspicious, the governor decided to keep them in the province. As the process for the establishment of the province was still in progress, the swords were placed crossing each other in Khao Khanap Nam cave. Since then, the crossed swords have remained a part of the provincial seal.

The second legend is that “Krabi” was derived from the name of a local tree known as “Lumphi”. The Malay and Chinese merchants mispronunciation of the name to “Ka-lu-bi” or “Kho-lo-bi” finally resulted in “Krabi” (or sword).