Lived 6 years in Thailand. Always avoided tourist areas. Travelled by motorbike everywhere, literally everywhere in Thailand. Had to return to Canada for medical reasons. Love the country I consider home because my family lives there. If I could get medical coverage cheaply, I would definitely return and stay for4 good. Not perfect: pollution, bureaucracy, difficult language, dangerous roads, religion everywhere. But, I love the country, and it is absolutely safe. Just avoid Phuket and Pattaya, and Bangkok maybe.