Thailand is one of the safest travel destinations in the world. Millions of people from all over the globe visit Thailand each year without facing any problems whatsoever.

Your personal safety is taken well care of in Phuket as well - only a few problems occur frequently enough to justify warnings.

Beware of the sun! Do not underestimate the power of tropical sunshine. Always put on sun-lotion (factor 20!) when at the beach or by the pool. Protect your uncovered parts of your body also when driving a motorbike or an open car.

• Traffic is quite dangerous in Thailand. If you are driving, be careful. Be prepared, that situations, you might not expect home (overtaking in curves etc.) occur quite often.
  
• Swimming around Phuket is safe (and wonderful!), but occasionally, the weather makes authorities put out red flags: Don't swim. Respect them! In the monsoon season, the red flags will be up very often.
  
• Thais are flexible of nature, and understand very well, that foreigners can not know the code of behaviour. They are too polite to ever complain about anything you do out of ignorance. But why be ignorant? To help you treat the Thai with the same respect, that they will show you, we have made the following list. It is meant to give you a quick conception of correct behaviour in typical situations:

It is wise...

...to respect the monarchy  in any way. Thai people are very fond of and loyal to their King and Queen.

...to respect religion.
The majority of Thai are devoted Buddhists. Temples, Buddha statues, monks et. al. are to be revered. This also goes for the local spirit and his house. Respect goes to Chinese, Muslim and Christian temples, mosques, churches and grave-sites as well of course.

...to dress properly.
Do not show yourself naked or semi-naked in public places. Topless sunbathing is considered rude, except for tourists at tourist beaches (so as Patong, Kata etc.). Miniskirts are OK. Wearing a bra without a blouse is common for rural Thai women, especially in the house. Showing legs, shoulders, arms, back and décolleté is OK, especially when in Night-life. Tight dresses are OK.

...to keep erotic
or playful tenderness and caresses/kisses to private areas. Holding hands is the limit. Tourist spots like e.g. the bars or the beach of Patong are an exception.

...to keep a "cool heart".
Do not make emotional displays, not even in the face of danger or adversity. Respect goes to him/her, who is always cool, keeps his voice down and always smiles.

...to respect the police.
Thai police officers have greater powers of action than e.g. their European counterparts.

Do Not's

Thai people abide to behavior that is considered normal all over the world. Nobody wants a stranger to tussle his hair or crunch her toes. Besides that, Thai culture has only a few idiosyncrasies of its own:

• Do not point at people. Neither with your hands (fingers) or - even worse - with your feet. Actually the appropriate tool to point with are the lips!
  
• Do not use your feet to point at things or move things around with. Keep your feet (soles) to yourself, that is - out of sight.
  
• Do not tower over people. Crouch a little as you pass sitting Thais so as to show your respect. Do not walk over anybody's outstretched legs.
  
• Do not sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in font of you, when in public or - even worse - when facing a monk.
  
• Do not pat people on the head, except for small children.