Thailand By Mail

Airmail is the best way to send mail home from Thailand. Aerogrammes, printed sheets that fold into envelopes and travel via airmail, are available at post offices. Write “airmail,” on the front. Most post offices will charge exorbitant fees or simply refuse to send aerogrammes with enclosures. Surface mail is by far the cheapest and slowest way to send mail. It takes one to two months to cross the Atlantic and one to three to cross the Pacific—good for heavy items you won’t need for a while, such as souvenirs that you’ve acquired along the way.

Sending Mail To Thailand

To ensure timely delivery, mark envelopes “airmail”. In addition to the standard postage system whose rates are listed below, Federal Express (Australia ☎+61 13 26 10, Canada and the US +1-800-463-3339, Ireland +353 800 535 800, New Zealand +64 800 733 339, the UK +44 8456 070 809; www.fedex.com) handles express mail services from most countries to Thailand. Sending a postcard within Thailand costs 2฿, while sending letters (up to 20g) domestically requires 3฿.

There are several ways to arrange pick up of letters sent to you while you are abroad. Mail can be sent via Poste Restante (General Delivery) to almost any city or town in Thailand with a post office, and is generally reliable. Address Poste Restante letters like so:

- Geoff CURFMAN
- Poste Restante
- Bangkok, Thailand

The mail will go to a special desk in the central post office, unless you specify a post office by street address or postal code. It’s best to use the largest post office, since mail may be sent there regardless. It is usually safer and quicker, though more expensive, to send mail express or registered. Bring your passport (or other photo ID) for pickup; there may be a small fee. If the clerks insist that there is nothing for you, ask them to check under your first name as well. Let’s Go lists post offices under the Practical Information section.