Anything new or interesting in Phuket?

[sekmet]

I used to travel to Phuket every year for a decade, but stopped coming about five years ago. The tuk-tuk folks were terrible, beaches polluted, prices increasingly more expensive while service diminished.

 

Has anything changed? Are there still group tour throngs? Have Africans started showing up?

 

Did they finish the water park? Is the dolphinarium still running? Any major infrastructure projects completed?

 

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

 

 

[hkt83100]

Come and see. Lots of changes in the last 5 years. I guess even in the 6 months since I fled the island.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, hkt83100 said:

Come and see. Lots of changes in the last 5 years. I guess even in the 6 months since I fled the island.

Where did you move to? And why?

[Mysterion]

No major changes in the last five years, except more chinese tourists each and every year.

 

They have the Grab taxi app here. So you dont need to negotiate with mafia anymore.

 

Few sub-saharan africans. Lots of north africans, but they mostly stay patong.  Chinese are now probably the largest single ethnic group of tourists and they frequent all parts of the island.

 

With the exception of patong beach, the beach polution on most west coast beaches is not any worse than any popular beaches anywhere in the world. You will need to find a desolate unpopulated island  if you want truly clean beaches.

 

Most food prices are still cheap compared to the west. Service is as good as anywhere in asia.

 

There is a new mall and aquarium opposite to central festival now.

 

Have you found a much better place to go over the last five years? Please share.

Edited October 27, 2018 by Mysterion

[Old Croc]

2 hours ago, Mysterion said:

You will need to find a desolate unpopulated island  if you want truly clean beaches.

Good luck with that.

 

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/henderson-island-pitcairn-trash-plastic-pollution/

Edited October 27, 2018 by Old Croc

[fanjita]

4 hours ago, sekmet said:

I used to travel to Phuket every year for a decade, but stopped coming about five years ago.

You definitely won't be pleased five years on but you already know that.  

[Old Croc]

5 hours ago, sekmet said:

I used to travel to Phuket every year for a decade, but stopped coming about five years ago

Your posting history shows this statement appears incorrect. It seems you were in Phuket in 2017.

Bus/Shuttle Bus, Patong to Airport?

in Phuket Forum

Posted June 28, 2017 · Report reply

---

 I took a metered taxi to Patong last week. Came out

to about 770B.
 

 

Edited October 27, 2018 by Old Croc

[Guest]

29 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Your posting history shows this statement appears incorrect. It seems you were in Phuket in 2017.

Bus/Shuttle Bus, Patong to Airport?

in Phuket Forum

Posted June 28, 2017 · Report reply

---

 I took a metered taxi to Patong last week. Came out

to about 770B.
 

 

Good fact checking. Than you. 

 

While there is nothing wrong with trying to create interesting topics to talk about, these fake stories as personal experiences are actually rather offensive. 

 

Should we take this forum as a joke? Perhaps. That works for some time.

 

When a real person, with real question asks a question, should we treat that question as well as a joke? That's when things become more complicated. 

 

 

[NamKangMan]

12 hours ago, Mysterion said:

No major changes in the last five years, except more chinese tourists each and every year.

 

They have the Grab taxi app here. So you dont need to negotiate with mafia anymore.

 

Few sub-saharan africans. Lots of north africans, but they mostly stay patong.  Chinese are now probably the largest single ethnic group of tourists and they frequent all parts of the island.

 

With the exception of patong beach, the beach polution on most west coast beaches is not any worse than any popular beaches anywhere in the world. You will need to find a desolate unpopulated island  if you want truly clean beaches.

 

Most food prices are still cheap compared to the west. Service is as good as anywhere in asia.

 

There is a new mall and aquarium opposite to central festival now.

 

Have you found a much better place to go over the last five years? Please share.

 

"No major changes in the last five years, except more chinese tourists each and every year." - correct. Nothing good been done here for the locals, expats, and tourist.

 

"They have the Grab taxi app here. So you dont need to negotiate with mafia anymore." - false.  The mafia just use the app to collude and rip off people.

 

"Few sub-saharan africans. Lots of north africans, but they mostly stay patong." - correct.

 

"Chinese are now probably the largest single ethnic group of tourists and they frequent all parts of the island." - correct, and in BIG numbers in big buses.

 

"the beach polution on most west coast beaches is not any worse than any popular beaches anywhere in the world."' - possibly, but the beach here used to be nice, not so now. 

 

"You will need to find a desolate unpopulated island  if you want truly clean beaches." - true, and that's not Phuket.

 

"Most food prices are still cheap compared to the west." - true, but the prices for farang food, between Phuket and the west, is narrowing, rapidly. 

 

"Service is as good as anywhere in asia." - rubbish.

 

"Have you found a much better place to go over the last five years? Please share." - well, I'm still here, but not hard to see where the western market now holidays in South East Asia, and it's not Phuket, anymore. 

[NamKangMan]

9 hours ago, oilinki said:

Good fact checking. Than you. 

 

While there is nothing wrong with trying to create interesting topics to talk about, these fake stories as personal experiences are actually rather offensive. 

 

Should we take this forum as a joke? Perhaps. That works for some time.

 

When a real person, with real question asks a question, should we treat that question as well as a joke? That's when things become more complicated. 

 

 

 

I think it's quite "real" and well known that the lack of proper land transport on Phuket is the single biggest thing that changed the demographic of tourism on the island. 

[madmitch]

57 minutes ago, NamKangMan said:

 

I think it's quite "real" and well known that the lack of proper land transport on Phuket is the single biggest thing that changed the demographic of tourism on the island. 

In your mind we know this is "fact" but for most of us it's one of a number of reasons: overdevelopment, more direct flights from China and Russia, new tourist facilities aimed at Chinese only, traffic, pollution, negative publicity, strong baht.

 

My belief is that Thailand has lost its attraction to many Westerners as an exotic destination. It's become mainstream and no longer appealing. And Phuket's is one of the places seeing the result of this.

 

 

[Mysterion]

4 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

well, I'm still here, but not hard to see where the western market now holidays in South East Asia, and it's not Phuket, anymore. 

Where is it????

[Mysterion]

4 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

Service is as good as anywhere in asia." - rubbish.

Why? Where is better?  Please share information rather than just posting lazy troll remarks.

[NamKangMan]

On 10/28/2018 at 4:03 PM, madmitch said:

In your mind we know this is "fact" but for most of us it's one of a number of reasons: overdevelopment, more direct flights from China and Russia, new tourist facilities aimed at Chinese only, traffic, pollution, negative publicity, strong baht.

 

My belief is that Thailand has lost its attraction to many Westerners as an exotic destination. It's become mainstream and no longer appealing. And Phuket's is one of the places seeing the result of this.

 

 

 

Whilst I do not disagree with the reasons you have also put forward, from past experiences, meeting new tourists, their biggest complaint about Phuket was the price of the tuk-tuks, with some commenting to me they would be spending more on tuk-tuks / transportation on their holiday, than the cost of their hotel.  Yes, this may cross over into the currency exchange reason, but people know when they are getting ripped off, and Phuket transport creates this impression from the moment a tourists walks out the airport arrival hall, until they walk back into the departure hall.  Is it little surprise they do not return, and tell all their friends and family of their Phuket experience, not to mention, social media.

 

The tuk-tuk "issue" has been around for decades, prior to a strengthening baht and the emergence of developing economies. 

 

Indeed, how many people have either died, were seriously injured, or did jail time or pay big extortion money because they rode / drove whilst intoxicated, due to the lack of proper public transport on Phuket.  

 

There is a reason why Phuket has the highest road fatality of any Thai Province - yes that is a "fact" which in turn makes Phuket one of the most dangerous places in the world to be on the road - yes, that is also a "fact."

 

This transport situation created yet another "fact" that the majority of tourists to Phuket now are in coach buses as part of their package holiday.

 

The transport situation here repelled a big part of the independent western tourism market. 

 

A quick Google will tell you whether it is a "fact" or just my "opinion."

 

If it's the single biggest complaint of a lot of independent western tourists, than it surely impacts on that segment of the market.

Edited October 29, 2018 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

22 hours ago, Mysterion said:

Where is it????

 

I have stated before that Vietnam is Thailand's main competitor in the region, and if it is not now, it will be in the future. This does not even take into account Vietnam has casinos. 

 

As madmitch stated, Phuket doesn't feel like an "exotic destination" anymore, whilst Vietnam is offering just that experience, and at a much lower cost.

 

Take a look at the below link. 

 

I draw your attention to this line: "Total international arrivals in 9 months reached 11,616,490 arrivals, increase 22.9% over the same period last year."  I suggest that 22.9% increase will grow, exponentially, over the next few years.

 

http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/cat/1501

 

If you look at the below table, you will see Vietnam also gets their share of Chinese and Russians, but in my opinion, Vietnam has picked up many of the "high end tourists" that Phuket / Thailand now lacks.

 

http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/items/13302

 

In my opinion, Phuket no long offers a pleasant, value for money holiday, for independent middle class western tourists.

 

Also, I see Spain has once again become popular with Europeans, particularly Brits, and Bali is packed again with Australians, after the terror attacks. 

 

In my opinion, Thailand, but particularly Phuket, relied on it's reputation, whilst doing NOTHING to attract new tourists, Chinese / Russian / Indian package holiday tourists aside, whilst retaining repeat tourists.

 

I have asked the question before, yet to receive an answer:  "Name one positive thing that has been implemented on Phuket, in recent time, to benefit tourists, expats, and locals?"  

 

How can Phuket remain competitive when their competition is building it bigger, better, and faster????

 

Phuket failed to move, when their competition was moving forward, rapidly, which in the tourism industry, that's has good as falling behind. 

Edited October 29, 2018 by NamKangMan

[Psimbo]

22 hours ago, Mysterion said:

Why? Where is better?  Please share information rather than just posting lazy troll remarks.

Don't worry about him- he's a one trick pony best stuck on iggy.

[stuarty]

1 hour ago, NamKangMan said:

 

I have stated before that Vietnam is Thailand's main competitor in the region, and if it is not now, it will be in the future. This does not even take into account Vietnam has casinos. 

I have just returned from my first-ever week long trip to Vietnam. Hoi An via Danang.

I was just astounded by how cheap everything was, and Hoi An is a fairly popular tourist centre.

 

- Cheap and plentiful METERED taxis (I am talking 40 baht for 6 Km), happy to do short distance or any length of trips. Polite drivers.

- Cheap food and drink. Wine about same as HKT but local beer and cocktails even in top hotels about 70 Baht max. Outside, much less, about 30 - 40 baht up.

- Happy hours (2 for 1 drinks everywhere)

- Cheap hotels and sightseeing trips. Hotel standards exceptional in all departments. I stayed in 3 different classes of hotel. All excellent.

- Standards of English from taxi drivers, waiters, hotel staff, people in street/market, shop assistants etc. universally truly excellent. I must say I did not expect that to be the case.

- Beaches like Phuket 25 years ago (at least the smaller ones). Free loungers (not excessive in number) clean sand, and very cheap food and drink with service. Not busy. Toilets and showers at the back of the beach, and taxi stands.

- Everyone I had interface with, incredibly polite and smiling, at all levels.

- Only downside, old town full of coachloads of mainland Chinese down from Danang, all day and night. Just too many of them, but localised in the central old town/night market area. Traffic on street perhaps another drawback. Must be a nightmare in bigger cities.

 

Overall I was genuinely gobsmacked by how easy, cheap and friendly the place was. No longer the poor cousin to Phuket/ Thailand for mass tourism. Thai food has the edge of course as expected, but that's the only area I could honestly say that for. Will take time for other trips to more quieter southern beaches, and Phu Quoc. Can't wait.

 

Phuket will need to pull its socks way up. I am not holding my breath.

 

Edited October 29, 2018 by stuarty
*To say taxis are METERED taxis

[NamKangMan]

22 hours ago, Mysterion said:

Why? Where is better?  Please share information rather than just posting lazy troll remarks.

 

You will see my "lazy troll remark" was part of a longer post, so hardly a "lazy troll remark."

 

In my opinion, and personal experience, many of the "service" hospitality staff here are minimum wage employees who appear uninterested, and certainly unmotivated, which effects their professionalism.  You know the ones, always on their phone, mess up the order, and in general, appearing unfriendly.  I would expect, and even understand this from  7/11 check out staff, for example, but this "attitude" seems to have spread to the hospitality industry.  

 

I used to accept a messed up order, because I know in many cases it comes out of the staff member's salary, but in recent times, I find myself unwilling to accept what is becoming an all to common occurrence, particularly in nice establishments, with expensive prices, by Thai standards.  I am not fussy, but when the food delivered is so far removed from the actual order, it's difficult to let it slide.  I reconfirm the order with them, so not sure what happens, but I am noticing more errors. 

 

Perhaps it's just the younger generation, and their sense of entitlement, that makes them disinterested in hospitality work, as it is not high paying.

 

As mentioned in a previous post, this is a far cry from enthusiastic employees, who thrive on the responsibility, and eager to practice their English and chat and learn from  foreigners, that you will see in Vietnam, where I frequently visa run to. 

 

Thai business 101 - maximum money in, for minimum money out, and this includes staff salary, so if you pay "peanuts" I guess that's the staff you get. 

[NamKangMan]

24 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

Don't worry about him- he's a one trick pony best stuck on iggy.

 

Do you have anything of substance for the forum, Psimbo?

 

Perhaps you would care to answer the question I asked in a later post.

[NamKangMan]

37 minutes ago, stuarty said:

I have just returned from my first-ever week long trip to Vietnam. Hoi An via Danang.

I was just astounded by how cheap everything was, and Hoi An is a fairly popular tourist centre.

 

- Cheap and plentiful taxis (I am talking 40 baht for 6 Km), happy to do short distance or any length of trips. Polite drivers.

- Cheap food and drink. Wine about same as HKT but local beer and cocktails even in top hotels about 70 Baht max. Outside, much less, about 30 - 40 baht up.

- Happy hours (2 for 1 drinks everywhere)

- Cheap hotels and sightseeing trips. Hotel standards exceptional in all departments. I stayed in 3 different classes of hotel. All excellent.

- Standards of English from taxi drivers, waiters, hotel staff, people in street/market, shop assistants etc. universally truly excellent. I must say I did not expect that to be the case.

- Beaches like Phuket 25 years ago (at least the smaller ones). Free loungers (not excessive in number) clean sand, and very cheap food and drink with service. Not busy. Toilets and showers at the back of the beach, and taxi stands.

- Everyone I had interface with, incredibly polite and smiling, at all levels.

- Only downside, old town full of coachloads of mainland Chinese down from Danang, all day and night. Just too many of them, but localised in the central old town/night market area. Traffic on street perhaps another drawback. Must be a nightmare in bigger cities.

 

Overall I was genuinely gobsmacked by how easy, cheap and friendly the place was. No longer the poor cousin to Phuket/ Thailand for mass tourism. Thai food has the edge of course as expected, but that's the only area I could honestly say that for. Will take time for other trips to more quieter southern beaches, and Phu Quoc. Can't wait.

 

Phuket will need to pull it socks way up. I am not holding my breath.

 

 

Recently, I did a visa run to Nha Trang, via The Thai Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.  

 

Yes, also many Chinese and Russians there.  No doubt, for all the reasons you mention. 

 

Hoi An is a UNESO World Heritage site, so not surprised it was rammed with tourists.

 

As Phuket used to do, using your tourism industry is a great way to advertise the destination as a future place to retire to.  With a rapidly falling western tourism market, I expect to see rapidly falling expat numbers here in the future.  

 

Now, compare that to Vietnam, and you can make an educated prediction about the future, and where many expats will chose to reside. 

 

You post reminds me of the "boiling frog" saying.  Question:  "Have we just got used to all the BS on Phuket and accepted it????"

 

Phuket still "ticks all the boxes" for me, but as you say, they really do need to pull their socks up here, because their competition are starting to realize what "boxes" they need in order to attract tourists, and therefore, potential retirees / expats, and they are luring them away from Thailand, rapidly.

 

 

Edited October 29, 2018 by NamKangMan

[Mysterion]

 

1 hour ago, NamKangMan said:

 

I have stated before that Vietnam is Thailand's main competitor in the region, and if it is not now, it will be in the future. This does not even take into account Vietnam has casinos. 

 

As madmitch stated, Phuket doesn't feel like an "exotic destination" anymore, whilst Vietnam is offering just that experience, and at a much lower cost.

 

Take a look at the below link. 

 

I draw your attention to this line: "Total international arrivals in 9 months reached 11,616,490 arrivals, increase 22.9% over the same period last year."  I suggest that 22.9% increase will grow, exponentially, over the next few years.

 

http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/cat/1501

 

If you look at the below table, you will see Vietnam also gets their share of Chinese and Russians, but in my opinion, Vietnam has picked up many of the "high end tourists" that Phuket / Thailand now lacks.

 

http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/items/13302

 

In my opinion, Phuket no long offers a pleasant, value for money holiday, for independent middle class western tourists.

 

Also, I see Spain has once again become popular with Europeans, particularly Brits, and Bali is packed again with Australians, after the terror attacks. 

 

In my opinion, Thailand, but particularly Phuket, relied on it's reputation, whilst doing NOTHING to attract new tourists, Chinese / Russian / Indian package holiday tourists aside, whilst retaining repeat tourists.

 

I have asked the question before, yet to receive an answer:  "Name one positive thing that has been implemented on Phuket, in recent time, to benefit tourists, expats, and locals?"  

 

How can Phuket remain competitive when their competition is building it bigger, better, and faster????

 

Phuket failed to move, when their competition was moving forward, rapidly, which in the tourism industry, that's has good as falling behind. 

I have travelled extensively in Vietnam over the last several years, and I love it.  

 

Vietnam suffers from allot of the same pollution, corruption, and infrastructure problems that all developing countries face.

 

Taxis are indeed nice and cheap in major cities in Vietnam. The colonial buidlings in hcmc and hanoi are very charming. The war history is also very interesting to many. 

 

However IMHO, Thailand offers much better beaches, far greater choice of entertainment, and more famous(and arguably better) ethnic cuisine.

 

Vietnam deaerves to get a bigger piece of the expanding tourist pie in SE Asia, but it could be many years(or never) before they can truly rival Thailand.

 

 

 

 

[Mysterion]

1 hour ago, stuarty said:

I have just returned from my first-ever week long trip to Vietnam. Hoi An via Danang.

I was just astounded by how cheap everything was, and Hoi An is a fairly popular tourist centre.

 

- Cheap and plentiful METERED taxis (I am talking 40 baht for 6 Km), happy to do short distance or any length of trips. Polite drivers.

- Cheap food and drink. Wine about same as HKT but local beer and cocktails even in top hotels about 70 Baht max. Outside, much less, about 30 - 40 baht up.

- Happy hours (2 for 1 drinks everywhere)

- Cheap hotels and sightseeing trips. Hotel standards exceptional in all departments. I stayed in 3 different classes of hotel. All excellent.

- Standards of English from taxi drivers, waiters, hotel staff, people in street/market, shop assistants etc. universally truly excellent. I must say I did not expect that to be the case.

- Beaches like Phuket 25 years ago (at least the smaller ones). Free loungers (not excessive in number) clean sand, and very cheap food and drink with service. Not busy. Toilets and showers at the back of the beach, and taxi stands.

- Everyone I had interface with, incredibly polite and smiling, at all levels.

- Only downside, old town full of coachloads of mainland Chinese down from Danang, all day and night. Just too many of them, but localised in the central old town/night market area. Traffic on street perhaps another drawback. Must be a nightmare in bigger cities.

 

Overall I was genuinely gobsmacked by how easy, cheap and friendly the place was. No longer the poor cousin to Phuket/ Thailand for mass tourism. Thai food has the edge of course as expected, but that's the only area I could honestly say that for. Will take time for other trips to more quieter southern beaches, and Phu Quoc. Can't wait.

 

Phuket will need to pull its socks way up. I am not holding my breath.

 

I strongly suggest skipping phu quoc bro. It is overrated bigly. Beaches are not so good , and  there is absolutely nothing else to do there. 

 

I recommend Con Dao island. It is incredibly beautiful, better beaches, small and easy to drive in a moped, and quiet with very few tourists(good or bad depending on what u want).

[Mysterion]

1 hour ago, NamKangMan said:

 

Recently, I did a visa run to Nha Trang, via The Thai Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.  

 

Yes, also many Chinese and Russians there.  No doubt, for all the reasons you mention. 

 

Hoi An is a UNESO World Heritage site, so not surprised it was rammed with tourists.

 

As Phuket used to do, using your tourism industry is a great way to advertise the destination as a future place to retire to.  With a rapidly falling western tourism market, I expect to see rapidly falling expat numbers here in the future.  

 

Now, compare that to Vietnam, and you can make an educated prediction about the future, and where many expats will chose to reside. 

 

You post reminds me of the "boiling frog" saying.  Question:  "Have we just got used to all the BS on Phuket and accepted it????"

 

Phuket still "ticks all the boxes" for me, but as you say, they really do need to pull their socks up here, because their competition are starting to realize what "boxes" they need in order to attract tourists, and therefore, potential retirees / expats, and they are luring them away from Thailand, rapidly.

 

 

If vietnam offered foreign freehold property and a decent medical infrastructure they would be overun with expat retirees very quickly. 

[blackhorse]

 
I have stated before that Vietnam is Thailand's main competitor in the region, and if it is not now, it will be in the future. This does not even take into account Vietnam has casinos. 
 
As madmitch stated, Phuket doesn't feel like an "exotic destination" anymore, whilst Vietnam is offering just that experience, and at a much lower cost.
 
Take a look at the below link. 
 
I draw your attention to this line: "Total international arrivals in 9 months reached 11,616,490 arrivals, increase 22.9% over the same period last year."  I suggest that 22.9% increase will grow, exponentially, over the next few years.
 
http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/cat/1501
 
If you look at the below table, you will see Vietnam also gets their share of Chinese and Russians, but in my opinion, Vietnam has picked up many of the "high end tourists" that Phuket / Thailand now lacks.
 
http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/items/13302
 
In my opinion, Phuket no long offers a pleasant, value for money holiday, for independent middle class western tourists.
 
Also, I see Spain has once again become popular with Europeans, particularly Brits, and Bali is packed again with Australians, after the terror attacks. 
 
In my opinion, Thailand, but particularly Phuket, relied on it's reputation, whilst doing NOTHING to attract new tourists, Chinese / Russian / Indian package holiday tourists aside, whilst retaining repeat tourists.
 
I have asked the question before, yet to receive an answer:  "Name one positive thing that has been implemented on Phuket, in recent time, to benefit tourists, expats, and locals?"  
 
How can Phuket remain competitive when their competition is building it bigger, better, and faster????
 
Phuket failed to move, when their competition was moving forward, rapidly, which in the tourism industry, that's has good as falling behind. 

Why would you believe tourist numbers supplied by the tourist authority in Vietnam?
Nobody believes TAT

Why one and not the other?

[Franko666]

On 10/27/2018 at 10:39 PM, hkt83100 said:

Come and see. Lots of changes in the last 5 years. I guess even in the 6 months since I fled the island.

Nope, nothing of interest unless you want to see more building and cool but boring mafia run soulless bars and did I mention its batshit boring!!! Go change your fridge magnets instead.

[Mysterion]

1 hour ago, NamKangMan said:

 

You will see my "lazy troll remark" was part of a longer post, so hardly a "lazy troll remark."

 

In my opinion, and personal experience, many of the "service" hospitality staff here are minimum wage employees who appear uninterested, and certainly unmotivated, which effects their professionalism.  You know the ones, always on their phone, mess up the order, and in general, appearing unfriendly.  I would expect, and even understand this from  7/11 check out staff, for example, but this "attitude" seems to have spread to the hospitality industry.  

 

I used to accept a messed up order, because I know in many cases it comes out of the staff member's salary, but in recent times, I find myself unwilling to accept what is becoming an all to common occurrence, particularly in nice establishments, with expensive prices, by Thai standards.  I am not fussy, but when the food delivered is so far removed from the actual order, it's difficult to let it slide.  I reconfirm the order with them, so not sure what happens, but I am noticing more errors. 

 

Perhaps it's just the younger generation, and their sense of entitlement, that makes them disinterested in hospitality work, as it is not high paying.

 

As mentioned in a previous post, this is a far cry from enthusiastic employees, who thrive on the responsibility, and eager to practice their English and chat and learn from  foreigners, that you will see in Vietnam, where I frequently visa run to. 

 

Thai business 101 - maximum money in, for minimum money out, and this includes staff salary, so if you pay "peanuts" I guess that's the staff you get. 

I understand what you mean.

 

They genrally see less tourists in most parts of vietnam, so they tend to take notice of foreigners, and are sometimes more curious, or wanting to practice English.

 

However, overall i cant say i noticed a significant difference between vn and thailand service standards. Its often hit and miss in both places. 

 

The “rubbish” comment was short and extreme. Good that you expanded.

 

[macahoom]

2 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

You will see my "lazy troll remark" was part of a longer post, so hardly a "lazy troll remark."

 

In my opinion, and personal experience, many of the "service" hospitality staff here are minimum wage employees who appear uninterested, and certainly unmotivated, which effects their professionalism.  You know the ones, always on their phone, mess up the order, and in general, appearing unfriendly.  I would expect, and even understand this from  7/11 check out staff, for example, but this "attitude" seems to have spread to the hospitality industry.  

 

I used to accept a messed up order, because I know in many cases it comes out of the staff member's salary, but in recent times, I find myself unwilling to accept what is becoming an all to common occurrence, particularly in nice establishments, with expensive prices, by Thai standards.  I am not fussy, but when the food delivered is so far removed from the actual order, it's difficult to let it slide.  I reconfirm the order with them, so not sure what happens, but I am noticing more errors. 

 

Perhaps it's just the younger generation, and their sense of entitlement, that makes them disinterested in hospitality work, as it is not high paying.

 

As mentioned in a previous post, this is a far cry from enthusiastic employees, who thrive on the responsibility, and eager to practice their English and chat and learn from  foreigners, that you will see in Vietnam, where I frequently visa run to. 

 

Thai business 101 - maximum money in, for minimum money out, and this includes staff salary, so if you pay "peanuts" I guess that's the staff you get. 

Your post has reminded me of a Thai restaurant in Las Vegas.

 

When my Thai girlfriend and I are on holiday outside Thailand, she often gets cravings for Thai food. Almost always it ends in anger and frustration as very few so called Thai restaurants are actually authentic Thai. In fact, often there is not a single Thai person working in the restaurant.

 

That said, we have come across a few authentic Thai restaurants in foreign countries, but they are few and far between.

 

The best one we have found is in Las Vegas; I can't be assed to look up the name. It's huge, famous, packed (a lot of Thai expats) and totally authentic. And it is so authentic that even the service is diabolical, just like your average restaurant in Thailand. Hilarious! Of course, they still expect a minimum 15% tip.

 

And bear in mind, this is in America where service in restaurants is over the top (have a nice day!), 99% of the time.

Edited October 29, 2018 by macahoom

[hithere]

Been away for some years, well everything is getting worse (traffic, very expensive compare with "Thailand") same people complain here ???? only the people have business here say: its OK here!!!!  try driving South to North, my God, More people, more houses, more building, road nearly the same  

[Guest]

2 hours ago, macahoom said:

Your post has reminded me of a Thai restaurant in Las Vegas.

 

When my Thai girlfriend and I are on holiday outside Thailand, she often gets cravings for Thai food. Almost always it ends in anger and frustration as very few so called Thai restaurants are actually authentic Thai. In fact, often there is not a single Thai person working in the restaurant.

 

I have eaten Thai food outside of Thailand few times. The only place, which served authentic Thai food was in Singapore's Golden Mile mall. All other experiences were way off. 

 

The same applies to most of the foods. Pizzas sold in Thailand are not worthy to be called as pizzas. The meatball sold in IKEA shops are not really what meatballs should be. 

[Tofer]

On 10/27/2018 at 9:34 PM, Mysterion said:

Have you found a much better place to go over the last five years? Please share.

Everywhere outside Phuket!!