Visa on arrival is no cost and requires no paperwork in advance. You get 30 a day visa when you arrive by air and a 15 day visa when you arrive by land. (30 day visa when you arrive by land for United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Japan or Canada passport holders only)
A 60 day visa from the Thai embassy before we leave Canada. $50
Money:
The Thai baht is pretty much always somewhere around US$1 = 33-35Bt. ATMs abound all over Thailand (always a $5 ATM fee in addition to your own bank fees). Credit cards are also widely accepted in all but small businesses.
Taxis:
Bangkok: metered A/C taxis are the way to travel. (2015 - 35Bt for the first 2km... next 2-12 is 4.5Bt per Km. Traffic jams cost a little extra.) If you want to travel by tuk-tuk be prepared to bargain hard. Traffic all over Bangkok goes into grid lock from 2pm-8pm. Taxis' just won't go anywhere except down the block. Make sure you are where you want to be between those times.
Chiang Mai: metered taxis are few... Red pickup trucks with seats inside the covered back are the regular mode of travel. Lean in the passenger window and ask if the truck will take you to where you want to go. If yes, then hop in the back. The fare is just (20Bt/person 2016) anywhere in the main part of town. We always look at a map to find a Wat (temple) or market to use as a landmark nearest our destination. The drivers don't read maps but they all know where the Wats and markets are.
- Take the phone number of where you are going the driver who will have a phone can call for directions if there is some confusion-remember it's the journey not the destination.
don't brush your teeth with tap water anywhere... keep your mouth closed in the shower... no crushed ice in drinks… you can normally trust ice with a hole as purified water.
drink more water that you think you need. When you first arrive in Bangkok the humidity and jet lag will take you a few days to get over, so don't overdo it.
Misc:
Take a business card from your hotel so you know how to get home.
DO NOT pack any important stuff like prescription drugs, important papers or anything you can't live without in your checked luggage, bring it in your carry-on.
Lonely Planet Travel Guides are still a good overview source to compare to the internet for more current data.
When you go to the Grand Palace in Bangkok dress appropriately. These following clothes are strictly NOT ALLOWED: Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, and tights, See-through shirts and blouses, as well as quarter length trousers,Sleeveless shirts or vests, Sandals (without ankle or heel straps), Rolled-up-sleeved shirts, Sweatshirts and sweatpants, wind-cheaters, and fisherman trousers.