boohoo100

Hi,

Wondering if someone could clear this one up for me. Are 3 quarter length shorts and a short sleeve tshirt ok to wear?

I will be wearing flip flops a lot which are easy to take off before going into the temples but I'm a bit unsure about the do's and dont's of for clothing.

I certainly don't want to be prevented from (not sure how strictly enforced the dress code is??) entering a temple and I certainly don't want to cause offence for wearing the wrong stuff but given my body runs hot at the best of times I don't want to dress in long pants if I don't neccessarily have to either.

Thanks for reading and thanks a lot in advance for taking time to reply.

rhkkmk

it depends on the temple. so called royal temples are more strict.

generally long pants would be safer. the grand palace will require this.

short sleeve shirt is fine. not sure about flip flops, so suggest some regular shoes.

its all about respect.

thursdaysd

You can't wear flip-flops to the Grand Palace, but otherwise footwear shouldn't be a problem. (Although you may get by if you wear socks with them.)

boohoo100

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like I am going to boil but if that what it takes then that's fine with me.

Am I not right in saying you have to take off your footwear before entering the temple?

So footwear is not really an issue?

Thanks

thursdaysd

Footwear is an issue for the Grand Palace, not otherwise. However, if you're walking around you may well want more support and coverage than flip flops will provide.

You will not boil if you wear light weight cotton. You will boil if you wear synthetics.

MissGreen

I am sure I wore thongs/flip flops to the Grand Palace 6 months ago.

We both wore long linen pants.

People were sent to the gift shop or somewhere if they were dressed inappropriately and they could hire (I am sure it was hire) sarongs that covered themselves up.

Hanuman

"thongs/flip flops" for women should be OK as long as it's not the very cheap stuff. I see that MissGreen had pants on along with her thongs so that will make it OK IMO.

thursdaysd

Maybe they have changed the policy. The last time I tried to visit the Grand Palace, a couple of years back, I wore sandals - NOT flip flops - and was told I had to have my heels covered. (And I was wearing trousers.)

Hanuman

Fit flops, not the cheap ones, are like these IMO: http://www.fitflop.co.uk/womens/women,en_GB,sc.html

thursdaysd

This site - which seems official (?) - http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-a...and-Palace--52 lists the dress code and the no-nos include:

"4.Sandals (without ankle or heel straps)"

Hanuman

IMO It will depend on your general appearance and if you overall outfit + shoes (sandals) look respectful then there will be no problem IMO! Wearing cheap fit flop sandals along with equally disrespectful outfit then you might be kept out.

For example: http://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2011/...angkok-photos/

TC

When we were in Thailand, on several occasions we were <u>given</u> covering at the entrance to wear in the temples. If the men had on short pants, they were given a sarong to wrap around. The ladies were given wraps for our shoulders if we had on short sleeves. I don't recall shoes being an issue. But then we were all wearing KEENS (a shout out to your other post).

boohoo100

Thanks all for the replies. A few different opinions there.

Do they at most temples hand out or have available to hire the coverings if you are deemed to be dressed inappropriately? (I personally wouldn't want to be dressed so offensively from the outset anyway but would hate to be considered disrespectful by wearing a certain bit of footwear or 3/4 length shorts)

Still a little confused with the footwear policy though. Before entering a temple you take your footwear off is what I thought was the norm. Therefore, why is footwear an issue?

TC....another steer for Keens(I'm now very keen on Keens)

thursdaysd

Footwear is not an issue at temples. It is an issue at the Grand Palace where you will walk through the grounds.

i have never noticed temples handing out coverings, but I always wear full length pants and cover my shoulders. This also means I don't need loads of suntan lotion.