Postal Services
Thailand's mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Bangkok's Central G.P.O. on New Road is open from 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM, Mondays through Fridays, and from 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Telegrams may be sent at any time of the day or night. Upcountry post offices maintain similar hours, except that they close at 4.30 PM.

Telex, Fax and email
All better hotels will offer complete telex, telegraph, facsimile and email services. The GPO offers telex service around-the-clock. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities; most often in conjunction with translation services.

Church Services
Christian churches are found in Bangkok and most provincial capitals. Services are mostly in Thai, with certain services in English, French and German. Local English-language newspapers provide comprehensive listings of services in Bangkok.

Car Hire
Those possessing valid International Driving Licenses may prefer to hire automobiles. English- language road signs and maps are commonplace. The Bangkok Yellow Pages list local and international automobile rental companies. Visitors are advised to shop around since most companies offer different conditions. Self-drive and chauffeur-driven automobiles are widely available. International car hire companies such as Avis, Hertz and Budget also operate in Pattaya, Hat Yai, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui Island.

Film and Photography
Major international film manufacturers maintain excellent photo-finishing laboratories. Instant developing can be done within one hour. Popular films are available countrywide at reasonable prices. Still photographers are free to shoot almost everything. Movie cameras are not 'allowed without permission in Bangkok's Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Chapel complex. Photography is also prohibited in certain branches of the National Museum.

Newspapers and Magazines
Thailand's English-language newspapers, the Nation, the Bangkok Post and Thailand Times keep readers abreast of local and international events. Major English language magazines and newspapers such as International Herald Tribune, Wallstreet Journal, Newsweek, Time and Asiaweek are readily available at hotel newsagents, supermarkets, department stores and leading bookstores.

Tourist Police
In 1982, the Tourist Police was set up to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in providing safety for tourists. Its responsibilities are receiving and acknowledging claims and complaints; to conduct investigations and acting as coordinator of tourist security protection. At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Phatphong and Lumphini Park. Bi-lingual Tourist Police are attached to Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Bangkok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Surat Thani, Phuket and Songkhla to provide speedy assistance to visitors. In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Center Unicohouse Building Soi Lang Suan Ploenchit Rd., Bangkok Tel: 6521721-

Medical Services
All tourism destinations and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses. In case of emergencies, ambulances can be summoned from any private hospital.

Radio and Television
AM radio is heavily commercial – – there are some 200 stations nation-wide – – and appeals to popular taste. FM radio offers popular music, classical music, jazz, English-language news broad- casts and the original soundtracks of certain imported film shows shown on local television's five channels. Leading hotels have color televisions in each room, offering either video features, satellite and / or cable television or tourism-related English- language programmes.