Traveling To Thailand

After all of the paperwork and waiting, your trip to Thailand should turn out to be an enjoyable experience.  Once you’re matched with a child, it’s usually two to five months before you can travel to Thailand to pick the child up.  Meeting your new child will definitely be the highlight of the trip, but unless you know you will have the opportunity to visit Thailand again; do not miss your chance to catch a glimpse of your child's birth culture.  For help with your travel plans, I recommend you visit The Thailand Family Vacation page.  It provides lots of advice for things to see and do while in Thailand.

Unless you have time for a long stay, there is no need to apply for a visa before your trip to Thailand.  You will receive an automatic 30 day tourist visa on arrival at your point of entry into Thailand.  If you plan to stay longer, you may choose to apply for a 90 day non-immigrant visa at a Thai embassy before your travel to Thailand.  For up to date visa information, visit the Thai embassy in D.C.  

Thailand has much to offer you as a tourist, from trekking in the north to relaxing on one of the many exotic islands in the south.  I recommend you make plans to spend time in Thailand with your child after your interview with the Child Adoption Board.  If your time is limited, there is much to see in Bangkok alone. 

Briefly, Bangkok's major tourism attractions include the famous Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha Temple) and Grand Palace complex; Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn),- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha),- Wat Saket (Golden Mount); Wat Benchannabophit (Marble Temple),Vimanmek Mansion, favourite residence of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) and the world's largest golden teak building-, the fabulous royal barges-, and the Pasteur Institute's Snake Farm.

If you have more time, a trip north to Chiang Mai is an excellent use of your time.  Of course, I am biased since we live here.  Chiang Mai the principal northern city, some 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, was founded in 1296.  Chiang Mai is famous for historic temples dating from the 1300s, crisp mountain scenery, distinctive festivals and handicrafts, and several formerly itinerant hill tribes of Tibeto-Burman origin.  Wat Phra Sing, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Ku Tao and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep merit visits.  The Bor Sang-San Kampaeng area is particularly rich in cottage industries which produce handicrafts such as parasols, silks, cottons , jewellery, woodcarvings, silverware, ceramics and lacquerware.  Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, lies to the west. A 90 kilometre drive from Chiang Mai brings the visitor to the 8,514 foot summit, passing the beautiful and popular Mae Klang, Wachirathan and Siriphurn waterfalls.

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