Here is a list of all the little things you should know before you go.
Time Zone
GMT + 7 hours
Language
Thai is the official language, with various dialects spoken in the North, Northeast, and Southern regions. English is also spoken quite commonly in shops, hotels and service industries.
Currency
Baht (THB) is the currency of Thailand and comes in the following denominations: 10 (coin), 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000. Currency can be exchanged at banks or designated exchange stores. Rates will vary between banks and stores; additional charges may apply.
Electrical Standard
220 volts. Universal adaptors are available
Shopping Hours
Monday to Friday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Banking Hours
Monday to Friday: 08:30am-3:00pm, some shopping centre branches will open until 8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed, although some shopping centre branches will open until 8:00pm
Local Facilities – City Centre
The Oriental, Bangkok is located in the City Centre. Silom Road is five minutes’ walk away; Sukumvit Road is 20 minutes away by Sky Train, Siam Square is 10 minutes away by Skytrain.
Shopping
There are many shopping centres easily reached from the hotel, including 3 that provide anything you might need: Siam Paragon, 10 minutes by Skytrain; Central Chidlom, 15 minutes by Skytrain; and Emporium, 20 minutes by Skytrain.
Medical
There are two nearby medical facilities: Bangkok Nursing Home, which is a 10 minute car ride away, and Bumrungrad Hospital, which is 2-30 minutes away by car.
Banking
Bangkok Bank Oriental Branch, Siam Commerical Bank and Bank of Asia all have branches nearby the hotel. They are each open from 08:30am to 3:00pm on weekdays.
Tips on Tipping
Service charges are added to hotel bills, where additional tipping is not required. Tipping is practiced in restaurants and for such services as spa treatments and car driving. There is no standard amount or percentage for tipping.
