Thailand

Visitors must present a passport that is valid six months beyond your date of departure from Thailand. A visa is not required for stays of up to 30 days. Visitors must be in possession of a return or on-ward ticket and may be asked for proof of sufficient funds for your stay.

Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Americans.

Climate:

Thailand is generally very hot, particularly between March and May. The monsoon season runs from June to October, when the climate is still hot and humid with torrential rains. The best time for traveling is November to February (cool season), although the southern islands are best from June to September.

Currency:

The Thai Bhat (THB) is the basic unit of currency. At present, the rate of exchange is THB33.13 to US$1. As exchange rates fluctuate each day, please check the current exchange rate near your date of travel.

Electricity:

The current used in Thailand is the 220V, 50-cycle system.

Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room.

Language:

The official language is Thai. English is widely spoken, especially in establishments catering for tourists.

Health Requirement:

Vaccination certificates are not required of Canadian or American tourists unless they have visited a country where an infection/disease is endemic. If you are from another part of the world, please check with a travel medicine professional for more information on possible requirements.

Airport Facilities and Tax:

The international airport in Bangkok is Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Other airports are in Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui; The departure tax is formulated into your airline ticket.

Shopping:

Thailand is one of the best places in Asia for bargain hunting and visitors will be spoilt for choice with the huge, glitzy shopping malls, department stores, small shops and bustling street markets. Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai have excellent night markets. Good buys include Thai silks and cottons, leather goods, batiks, silver and gold, precious and semiprecious stones (in particular rubies and sapphires are indigenous to Thailand), pearls, dolls, masks, painted umbrellas, lacquer ware, pewter ware, bamboo and wood artifacts and bronze ware. The weekend market at Chatuchuk in Bangkok is a regular cornucopia with hundreds of stalls stocking items ranging from genuine antiques to fighting fish. Tailor-made clothes are also good value and can be made in a matter of days, yet the standard is very high.

Cuisine:

Thai cuisine is distinctive, thanks to liberal use of spicy ingredients. It combines the best of Chinese and Indian culinary traditions while retaining its own very special character. International food in restaurants and food-shops are abundant.

For more information please visit:

www.tourismthailand.org

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Singapore

Entry Regulations:

Visitors must present a passport that is valid six months beyond your date of departure from Singapore. This rule is very strictly enforced. No visa is required for stays of up to 30 days. Visitors must be in possession of a return or on-ward ticket and may be asked for proof of sufficient funds for your stay.

Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Americans.

Climate:

Singapore experiences a tropical climate with hot, humid weather all year round. Temperatures remain high with daytime averages of 86°F (30°C). Humidity is usually above 75%. Singapore has two distinct monsoon seasons, the North Eastern season being from December to March and the South Western season from June to September. November to December is the rainy season. June to August is the best time to travel to Singapore, although it is still rainy and humid and travelers should pack accordingly.

Currency:

The Singapore Dollar (SGD) is the basic unit of currency. At present, the exchange rate is SGD1.38 to USD$1. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely distributed and banks advance cash against the major credit cards. Traveler’s checks can be cashed at banks or licensed moneychangers and at selected hotels.

As exchange rates fluctuate each day, please check the current exchange rate near your date of travel.

Electricity:

The current used in Singapore is the 220/240V, 50-cycle system.

Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room.

Language:

The official languages are English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Most Singaporeans are bilingual and speak English, which is used as the main language of communication.

Health Requirement:

Vaccination certificates are not required of Canadian or American tourists unless they have visited a country where an infection/disease is endemic. If you are from another part of the world, please check with a travel medicine professional for more information on possible requirements.

There is excellent medical care available in Singapore. Payment is often required up-front.

Airport Facilities and Tax:

The international airport is the Changi International Airport. Departure tax is S$21.00, which is usually formulated into the price of the air ticket.

Shopping:

Since Singapore is a duty-free port, prices of many goods such as electronic and electrical products and jewelry tend to be reasonable. Shops all over Singapore with the "Singapore Gold Circle" sign are recommended.

Cuisine:

Singapore is a gourmet's paradise, ranging from humble street stalls to 5-star restaurants. There are over 30 different cooking styles, including various regional styles of Chinese cuisine, American, English, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian and Swiss. Malay cuisine is a favorite, famed for its use of spices and coconut milk.

For more information please visit:

www.singapore-us.com

www.newasia-singapore.com

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Indonesia

Entry Regulations:

Visitors must hold a valid passport that will not expire for six months beyond the date of departure from Indonesia. An entry visa is required which can be obtained at the airport upon arrival for a fee of US$10.00 for a maximum of 7 days stay.

Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Americans.

Climate:

Because it is situated on the equator, all of Indonesia has high humidity, between 60 and 90%. Temperatures range from 26 to 28 degrees Celsius except in the cooler mountain regions. The wet season is from November to March but tropical showers can happen anytime of the year.

Currency:

The basic unit of currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). At present, the exchange rate is IDR9,444 for USD$1. As exchange rates fluctuate many times every day, this rate might not accurately reflect the rate during your trip. Please check exchange rates closer to your date of travel.

Electricity:

The electrical current is 127/230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room.

Language:

The official language is Bahasa Indonesia. Altogether, there are an estimated 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. The older generation still speaks Dutch as a second language.

Health Requirement:

No vaccination certificates are required unless coming from an infected area. For all health requirements and recommendations, travellers should check with their doctors for change in requirements.

Airport Facilities and Tax:

The international airport in the capital city is Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. The international airport in Bali is Denpasar Airport. The departure tax for international departures is $100,000 Rupiahs, payable at the airport.
Shopping:

Favorite buys are batik cloth, woodcarvings and sculpture, silverwork, woven baskets and hats, bamboo articles, krises (small daggers), paintings and woven cloth. At stalls and small shops, bargaining is a might be necessary.

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Malaysia

Entry Regulations:

Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Malaysia. An entry visa is not required.

Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Canadians and Americans.

Climate:

Malaysia enjoys a tropical climate throughout the year with warm, humid days and pleasantly mild evenings. Temperatures range from 21-32 degrees Celsius in the lowlands while being slightly cooler in the highlands.

Currency:

The basic unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). At present, the exchange rate is MYR3.20 to CAD$1 and MYR3.24 to USD$1. As exchange rates fluctuate many times every day, this rate might not accurately reflect the rate during your trip. Please check exchange rates closer to your date of travel.

Electricity:

The current is 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room.

Language:

The official language is Bahasa Melayu, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.

Health Requirement:

No vaccination certificates are required unless coming from an infected area. For all health requirements and recommendations, travellers should check with their doctors for change in requirements.

Airport Facilities and Tax:

The international airport is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the capital city. Other airports are in Penang and Langkawi. There is no departure tax.

Shopping:

Shopping in Malaysia ranges from exclusive department stores to street markets. Bargaining is expected in the markets, unless fixed prices are displayed. Kuala Lumpur is a popular shopping destination, rivaling Singapore and Hong Kong. The islands of Labuan and Langkawi are duty-free zones. Cameras, pens, watches, cosmetics, perfume and electronic goods are available duty-free throughout Malaysia. Malaysian specialty goods include pewter ware, silverware and brassware; batik; jewelry and pottery. Enquire at Malaysian Royal Customs and Excise about claiming cash back on duty-free goods.

Cuisine:

Malaysians love their food with a passion. Malaysia boasts of both local fare and international cuisine, whether you are dining in style at a 5-star hotel or tucking in at the local hawker stall.