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 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.
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| T Granger |
17 May 2003 |
Stayed at Nai Lert Park Bangkok, Raffles International Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
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Avoid the cheap Tuk Tuk offers (eg. 5 Baht per person) who are hell bent on taking you to shops (to get "coupons" from the owners for money/fuel for escorting you there). They are generally harmless but it gets annoying having multiple stops on way to tourist sites. Plus they usually run off near the end (even before you pay them the agreed fare! obviously no more shops left on your route) leaving you stranded and having to find a meter taxi home.
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| J Moore |
16 May 2003 |
Stayed at Panwaburi, The - Phuket, Thailand.
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Patong is very commercialized but there is a long stretch of beach and the kids loved playing in the sea. However you do get bothered by the locals trying to sell you a massage of some sorts. The tuk tuk drivers are a pest too, always asking if you want a taxi - be wary of the prices and try and get a bit of local knowledge on how much you should pay, we got ripped off, no wonder he was so friendly and accommodating, he probably made his daily quota out of us alone!
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| N Chan |
10 May 2003 |
Stayed at Tai-Pan Hotel Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
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Watch out for taxi drivers and tuk tuk drivers who want to take you to jewelry and souvenier shops. They get free gas for every tourist they bring to the shop. Often times they will tell you that the destination that you want to go to is closed but they can take you to someplace else.
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| D Nabutovsky |
28 April 2003 |
Stayed at Riverfront Residence - Bangkok, Thailand.
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In Bangkok:
1. Don't take tuk-tuks - RIPOFF! (2 times of 2). Take only normal taxis.
2. In the airport, reject all suggestions of excursions. The excursion will be short and boring, and then the agent will take you to a shop, and then to a second shop, and then to a third shop, until you demand to GO HOME!
3. In and near major tourist attractions, esp. temples, reject all suggestions to buy anything (souvenirs, boat trips, anything). If somebody in a temple approaches you and starts to talk with you, refuse talking with him. (He is a guide which will demand money for his services.)
4. Visit Thai kickboxing.
5. Don't visit more than 2 temples. If you saw one of them, you saw all of them.
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| H Nelson |
27 April 2003 |
Stayed at Eastin Hotel, The - Bangkok, Thailand.
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We got around mostly by tuk tuk when it was too difficult to bothersome with taxi drivers (who never wanted to turn the meter on). But be careful of the tuk tuk drivers because even if you give them 1 destination they want to make lots of stops where they collect points for gas or make a commission from a store. They can get very angry when you don't accept this. Dealing with them became exhausting. And basically everyone is trying to scam you all the time so you can't trust anyone's advice about what to see, how to get there, where to eat, etc.
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| J Jordi |
23 April 2003 |
Stayed at Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
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Take a dinner boat from the hotel to get to know the quiet part of burstling Bangkok. Be aware of importunate street sellers when visiting tourist spots such as Golden Temple.
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| D Smith |
09 March 2003 |
Stayed at Grand China Princess - Bangkok, Thailand.
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Don't believe any of the strangers and touts on the street about venues being open for locals only or closed for other reasons. Go and see for yourself and 99% of the time, it was an attempt to get you to their choice of shops or somewhere else.
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| C Lotz |
09 March 2003 |
Stayed at Quality Suites Airport Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
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Bangkok is a very modern and interesting city. The Thai people are warm and friendly. A Thai massage is highly recommended. Just be careful to show proper respect: dress appropriately to visit the wats (long pants, shirts with sleeves, no thong sandals); learn how to say hello (sawasdee krup/ka) and thank you (kop koon krup/ka) in Thai, avoid holding hands; etc.
Also, avoid the usual scams: pickpockets; non-metered taxis; uninformed tuk-tuk bidding; overpaying during negotiations for the purchase of goods from street vendors; falling for "the wat is closed today" storylines; etc.
Stay at a riverside hotel, if possible, to maximize transportation options. Alternatively, stay at a hotel within walking distance to a Skytrain stop. And don't forget the 500 Baht per person international departure tax collected at the airport. Enjoy.
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| G Claeys |
03 March 2003 |
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
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The location is very good. You can walk in the skytrain (most efficient transportation) from the hotel. Never book a taxi from the hotel, they are charging too much. Go out of the hotel and walk 20 meters and you can hire a taxi with taxi meter. Be careful when hiring a tuk-tuk for a low price. Always ask them where they are taking you. You can end up in stopping several times in tailor shops or jewelry shops.
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| M Zatz |
17 February 2003 |
Stayed at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya - Pattaya, Thailand.
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Pattaya itself it really not very nice. The beach is overrun with vendors and the water was only recently declared "safe for swimming" by the Thai authorities. We are residents in Bangkok though, and so it does make a quick and easy escape from the air pollution and crowds of Bangkok. However, when we do go, we make sure to stay at a nice hotel with good facilities and an excellent pool, since that is where we do our swimming. I wouldn't even bother visiting the beach.
There are some decent restaurants around, but my preference is to make sure the hotel has good food, and just avoid getting out into the sleaze that is Pattaya at night. If you're into the go-go bars and beer bars, then this is place for you. If you're travelling with kids, go to the Hard Rock Hotel or else avoid Pattaya altogether.
One thing that is a must-do though is the Tiffany show. It's really almost impossible to believe those are "men" up there on stage.
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