Travel tales and tips for warnings in Thailand by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Advise for travellers in Thailand

Heed our handy tips on safe travel in Thailand. You may read about travel warnings, health, what to wear, travel with kids, travel with pets, local weather, local government, medical information and traffic information in the area.Also, you might want to read our Bangkok city guide, Chiang Mai city guide, Hua Hin city guide, Koh Samet city guide, Koh Samui city guide, Krabi city guide, Pattaya city guide, and Phuket city guide.

L Inman-hoffert	13 November 2001
Stayed at Baiyoke Sky Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
We hired a guide for a day of touring. Bangkok is not easily accesible to those in wheelchairs. Some of the skytrain stations do not have lifts. The few places that have ramps are too steep. The people of Thailand are wonderful and welcoming!
A Carmona	13 November 2001
Stayed at Royal City Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Ko Samed: we went to Ao Wai resort. Beach is wonderful but the resort is not worth at all: dirty, expensive and not espoiled. We were looking for a peacful beach and after three nights of being eaten by the bugs of our matress, we decided to go to the north (even knowing that there were a lot of people). They didn't want to give the money of the fourth night back!!! I would never recomend any of my friends to go to that place.
N Alladina	11 November 2001
Stayed at Amari Boulevard Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Watch out for mini-bus driver (MARTIN) across from the hotel. Very pushy and dishonest. Someone else had the same experience with him. Best place for food is Spicy Restaurant .When you come out of the hotel, turn right, walk half a block and turn left into the alley. The restaurant is on the left side. Excellent food and very very cheap. Keep away from Bukhara (Indian Restaurant) on Sukhamvit. Expensive, lousy food and terrible service. Book the excursion for the temple and palace at the airport, with Tour East (I think that's the name of the tour operator.) For 500 Bahts I had a car pick me up at the hotel and a tour guide was included.
D Clarke	07 November 2001
Stayed at President Hotel, Bangkok (UNDER RENOVATION) - Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok exceeded my expectations and provided a wonderful mixture of different cultured in an easily accessible city. Some Trok Trok drivers are still partaking in a scam to get tourists to buy worthless gems.
B Mcclure	07 November 2001
Stayed at Airport Sirida Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok was very loud smelly and hectic but still an enjoyable experience. We got around in taxis as they are cheap and mostly reliable. Be careful of tuk tuk drivers trying to take you on a 'tour' because it is just a scam to presuure you into buying things from their friends shops. Patpong has a great nightlife and market.
F Brunaut	25 October 2001
Stayed at Felix Karon Phuket - Phuket, Thailand.
I don t like Phuket, it s not really nice, the people are not so friendly as in the other parts of Thailand, they only want your money. There is some interesting excursion to do but it s not the travel worth, I didn t stay a long time.
R Andersen	18 October 2001
Stayed at Baiyoke Suite Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand is an inexpensive exotic country. The first day we arrived we had a tour company show us the city, but they wasted our time taking us to those shops that they get a commission on if you buy something.
H Elliott	16 October 2001
Stayed at Pathumwan Princess - Bangkok, Thailand.
My first visit to Bangkok was an enjoyable one. The weekend market was wonderful. However, the city must do something about the air pollution.
J Abram	02 October 2001
Stayed at Airport Sirida Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Taxi Drivers in Bangkok are the PITS.... They are sharks and crooks who want to take you for a ride...LITERALLY! Walk short distances and take the sky train. It is safe, reliable and doesn't harrass and rob you of your money...... The Sirida Airport Hotel, was tasteful,clean and the staff friendly. My room was bright, cool and airy and a welcome retreat from the heat and my six weeks of travels. My only regret was there was no pool available in which to cool off. My FIRST criticism was that there was conflicting information apparently, in the brochure of the hotel, which I picked up in the foyer, and the small pocket map that was given to me by the Hotel male receptionist. The confusion of "actually" where the Hotel was situated became apparent in a very distressing way... Let me explain..... I arrived at the Airport Sirida Hotel after getting into a Taxi, where the driver refused to turn on the meter, telling me HE would do it cheaper.....BT300. I had already asked the airport staff how much the fare should cost and was told BT200. I argued with the taxi driver but he just laughed and smiled at me thru the rearview mirror, telling me that he was doing me a good turn...... He then began soliciting a fare from me for that afternoon. When I refused, he badgered me to agree that he come back to the hotel next morning in order to take me back to the airport to catch my connecting flight. THAT WAS MY FIRST DISTURBING ENCOUNTER WITH TAXI DRIVERS IN BANGKOK, MORE WAS TO COME.... After checking into the Hotel, and freshening up I went to the reception desk to get information to travel to the area known as Pat Pong, to shop in the night markets. I got a pamphlet which showed me the way to the sky train station and walked the few kilometers to the station. I then bought a zone six ticket to take me to the appropriate station, then changed trains to get me to the area known as Pat Pong. After finishing my shopping, I returned the way I had come, via the sky trains and exited at the station I had got on at. This is when the NIGHTMARE REALLY BEGAN..... It was raining heavily when I got off the train so I decided to get a taxi back to the hotel..... Three Taxi drivers in a row flatly refused to take me to the Airport Sirida Hotel....I don,t know the reason for their refusal, but assumed at the time it was not a Big enough fare and were hoping the next customer had further to travel. SO, I had no option but to walk in the rain back to the hotel. After walking for 20 minitues in the rain and slipping over I had had enough so I flagged down a passing Taxi, jumped in and told him where I wanted to go. I don,t speak Thai, nor did he speak English, so I just handed over the map given to me by the Hotel..... The problem is that the map seemed to make no sense to him. I asked a passing couple who spoke better English to help translate for us. They tried to tell the taxi driver my address, and we set off. Thirty minutes later, after driving around in circles and clocking a considerable fare on the meter, I demanded that he stop the car as I was angry that he had no idea where he was going and was just clocking more money for himself at my expense. I got out and walked into a restauraunt to ask for directions. There was more confusion with the two maps. Nobody seemed to be able to tell me which direction I should head. By now, I was tired, frustrated and crying... Again I went outside to try to get a taxi driver who knew where the Airport Sirida Hotel was, and if they could take me there? I then met a very KIND Taxi driver, who saw my distress and stopped the meter. He then got out to make a telephone call to an english speaking friend working at a local radio station, who listened to my story. This friend, then rang the Airport Sirida Hotel to ask for directions and then relayed them back to the Taxi Driver. Only then was I able to find my way back to the Hotel. Finally, my nightmare was over. I was relieved, but distressed and exhausted that the journey from the train station that should have been no more than a ten minute taxi ride, turned into a two and a half hour ordeal. The SECOND criticism was that I was unable to dial out of the hotel due to not being connected in my room. Nor was my husband able to telephone me because the phone appeared to be left unanswered at the hotel end. He even rang the international operator to check the number and was told that he had the right number but the phone appeared to be ringing, but unanswered.
A Emmerson	16 September 2001
Stayed at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers - Bangkok, Thailand.
I have been to Bangkok many times and I never seem to tire of it. It is a vibrant, buzzing city with massess to offer visitors. Although crowded, hot and a bit dirty this city is one of the most rewarding places to visit since the people are always helpful, smiling and happy and by the end of your visit this warmth has usually rubbed off on you. I am not one for organised trips so I tend to wander around the steets myself and I have never had any trouble although pick pockets abound so be careful with wallets and bags. I always try to make it to the weekend market at Chatachuk since this is an amazing place where you can wander around for hours and pick up massess of bargains. Another site definitely worth seeing is the Grand Palace - it is truly awesome. A trip down the river is definitely a must as well since you see a completley different side to Bangkok form this view. Getting around is better than it used to be but still can take a long time. Everything in Thailand must be done in a laid back fashion. If you are in a rush don't get worked up if you are a little late, it will only spoil your enjoyment and ranting and raving will get you nowhere. Leave a little more time than you would expect in other cities to get places as trafiic jams are frequent and unexpected. The introduction of the sky train which is very easy to use, safe and clean helps cut down the travelling time to some places but the destinations are limited. By far the easiest and reaonably cheapest way to get to certain places is by taxi but make sure when you get in that you ask the driver to turn on the meter and get the hotel staff to tell the taxi driver where you want to go as few speak English. Do not accept a fixed fare as it is often very much more than you will pay on the meter and do not let the driver offer to take you somewhere else first even if he promised you that it will be worth your while. If you are polite but firm the drivers are fine and take you directly where you want to go. As a fun alternative take a tuk tuk which you will have to haggle over the price for but this all adds to the experience. Thais love bartering and as long as you keep things light heartded it can be great fun. However, no matter what the distance Tuk Tuks tend to charge around BHT100 and you have to have a stong sense of adventure because they are definitely not the safest way to travel but brilliant fun! If you have no strong moral objections the girlie bar disticts of Nana Plaza, Patpong and Soi Cowboy are also worth a visit. The entertainment is fairly harmless and women are as welcome in these bars as men. Its a very lively scene for drinking, dancing and partying. However, if this really isn't you scene there are also a lot of traditional bars with music and dancing in the Patpong area, one of my favourites is Radio City in Patpong where you can sit outside and watch the night life pass you by. As far as eating in Bangkok there is no end of choice with everything from the poshist of restaurants to street vendors. I love Thai food and therefore tend to eat local while I'm there but there are also plenty of western restaurants as well. Recommendations for good, traditional Thai food are Mango Tree in Patpong where you can sit outside in a small courtyard. Despite the comments in "Bangkoks Best Restaurant Guide" the food is great and the wine selection is also good although you have to go inside to choses as the wine on the menu is not their full selection. Another great place is Tongue Thai, just around the corner from the Oriental Hotel. Here the food is very anthentic and extemely good and the restaraunt is rairly crowded which can make a nice change after the bustle of the day. Alternatively, if you don't mind splashing out the Terrace Buffet at the Oriental is magnificant with immaculate service and a wide selection of food amid a beautiful setting right on the river but don't go if you are on a budget - the meal for 4 we had there, including cocktails, heaps of wine and after dinner drinks came to around BHT6000 each - but I can sincerely say it was worth it as it was a very pleasant and memorable evening rounded off by cocktails and light jazz music in the nearby cigar bar. Bliss.

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