International Travel: Thailand Travel Planning

These are some simple tips on getting you out the door to Thailand. Hopefully this makes international travel a little easier.

Passports
If you already have a passport, you are no stranger to international travel. Just make sure your picture was taken in within six months of the trip, and that your passport will still be valid for six months after departure from Thailand. You do not need a visa for a short visit (less than 30 days), but it's wise to keep one or two blank visa stamp pages during international travel. If you are a first timer with international travel and are getting your passport for the first time, allow up to two months for processing.

Documents
Make copies of all IDs and leave one set at home. Plan to carry one in a separate place from the originals. It's a good idea, too, to have an official copy of your birth certificate in the instance of a lost passport. Bring a second picture ID along with your passport, but don't carry them together. You should always carry your passport around Thailand with you, as you may be asked to present it at any time. Having the right paperwork at the right time is important during international travel.

Health Insurance
Two months ahead of your Thailand trip, check with your health insurance plan to find out how to handle health issues, both routine and emergency, in Thailand. Also ask at this time about vaccinations. Even policies within the same health plan will differ when it comes to international travel rules.

Vaccinations
Two months before your trip to Thailand, call to make an appointment for international travel vaccinations specific to Thailand. You'll need these shots four to six weeks before you travel: rabies, typhoid, hepatitis A or IG, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and polio vaccines.