Visa and Customs
As a general rule, any foreigner seeking entry into the Kingdom of Thailand for business, investment, study, medical treatment, mass media, religion, employment and other purposes is required to apply for a visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. To do so, a foreigner must possess a valid passport or travel document that is recognized by the Royal Thai Government and comply with the conditions set forth in the Immigration Act B.E.2522 (1979) and its related provisions. Visas and Travel documents can be viewed at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php
List of countries which have concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement with Thailand can be viewed at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#Tourist

Invitation Letter
The invitation letter can be obtained by sending a request together with the following information: Full Name, Nationality, Affiliation, Position, Complete mailing address, Telephone and Fax numbers, and Passport detail (passport number, issued date, expiry date, etc.) to email: sec at interlab.ait.ac.th

The invitation letter will be posted to you within 10 days.

Temperature >> The best period for a visit, is from November to February, when it is possible to see the clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23°C and 33°C.

Average Temperature in winter (November - February) for Bangkok: 20-33 ºC | 68-91 ºF

Time: GMT +7.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; both flat and round two-pin plugs are used.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport: Getting to and from AIT

The trip to or from Suvarnabhumi International Airport takes at least an hour, and the cost of transportation is substantially higher than the short trip from Bangkok’s old Don Muang International Airport.

AIT taxi drivers estimate a fare to the new airport of about 500 baht, and this fare is dependent on traffic. Returning from the new airport stands to be even more costly – and complicated, with no taxis available at the terminal building itself.

Below is information about the return trip from the airport. As many taxi and limousine drivers will be unfamiliar with AIT’s location, maps in Thai and in English are available to print and hand to the driver at the following link:

Suvarnabhumi Airport -- AIT (Thai)
Suvarnabhumi Airport -- AIT (English)

For a simplified map of the airport’s important ground transportation features, click here.

Taxi services

Public taxi service is available at the public transportation center of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, but not at the terminal building itself. To get a taxi, a passenger must take the AOT shuttle bus from level 2 or level 4 of the passenger terminal building (express route recommended - free of charge) to the transportation center.

Tell the taxi driver you would like to go to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) beside Thammasat University Rangsit. Not all drivers on queue at the transportation center may easily recognize AIT but then when you mention Thammasat Rangsit, they can recognize your direction.

A taxi meter starts at 35 baht and adds up 1 baht for every 2 kilometers. It is widely practiced that when a taxi passes through an expressway or motorway, the passenger carries the toll expense. Tolls between the airport and AIT total 60 baht.

An estimated 600 baht amount will be shown on the meter by the time you reach AIT under normal traffic conditions and about 700 baht when the traffic is heavy during busy hours. Always insist on the use of the meter.

Limousine services

Passengers should contact limousine / car rental counters located at the Arrival Hall, level 2 of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport passenger terminal building to get the service. Providers will call a limousine to pick up the passenger at limousine parking lots in front of the passenger terminal building.

Airport limousine drivers are usually trained, certified and know the road and traffic. A limousine service from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to AIT will cost approximately 1,500 baht inclusive of tollway or motorway fees.

Public Transportation

Public buses can be taken at the bus terminal at public transportation center. There are six public bus routes at 35 baht flat rate each route that ply from Suvarnabhumi Airport (SA) to destination below as follows:
  • Bus No. 549 – SA to Minburi and vice versa
  • Bus No. 550 – SA to Happy Land and vice versa
  • Bus No. 551 – SA to Victory Monument and vice versa
  • Bus No. 552 – SA to On-Nut sky train station and vice versa
  • Bus No. 553 – SA to Samutprakarn and vice versa
  • Bus No. 554 – SA to Don Muang (Bangkok International Airport) and vice versa
If passengers are traveling on light baggage, it is cheaper to take Bus No. 554. When getting off at the Don Muang (Bangkok International Airport), you may take local buses no. 29 or 39 and tell the conductor you are getting off at AIT (again say it with “beside Thammasat Rangsit University”). The fare will cost about 16 baht.

Otherwise, you may also prefer to take another taxi when you get off at Don Muang (Bangkok International Airport) and the fare will be about 200 baht (by meter). It is always advisable to insist on the use of the meter.

Personal car

Private cars should be parked at the car park buildings/ lots in front of the passenger terminal building or at long-term parking opposite the public transportation center. (Passengers must take an AOT shuttle bus to the long-term parking).

Note:  Estimated Rate of Exchange: USD1/THB29

Useful Links:

- Tourism Authority of Thailand

- Phuket Destination Guide


Copyright ©2007 intERLab - Last update : 01/08/2007