Khao San: After the hype comes the reality - once "billion baht" street" deserted in the daytime

[ChaiyaTH]

3 hours ago, the green light said:

these places are pricy . I can't see Thai people will be interested to go to restaurant..

Khao san is quite famous for students in the area as well people from Pinklao and Nonthaburi. They would actually have typical Thai places on the riverside area too as well hidden among all the tourist spots. 

Edited December 5, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[cheapcanuck]

The street is done like last years turkey.

It was distroyed before the pandemic from all the new regulations.  The pandemic was just a magnifier and put the final nail in its coffin.  It will take years for this street to recover to just a shadow of its former self.

Edited December 5, 2020 by cheapcanuck

[Nout]

On 12/4/2020 at 9:33 AM, sweatalot said:

exactly - without the foreigners -even backpackers - Thailand's  future will be dark

How many backpackers is the worth of a "quality tourist" ?

I doubt there will ever be enough quality tourists the way TAT is dreaming of.

 

btw. The word "quality tourist" is an assault created by greedy people taxing other people only by the amount of money they can press out of them

Back packagers are quality tourists. Cash and credit heavy, frequently returning. Cash going direct to to SME and family businesses. They are more emotionally invested in Thailand society and culture than posh white golfing types and their asain counterparts.  The KSR GOT wealthy from economy travellers as did Ibiza and many holiday locations with routes based in counterculture and economy travel

[the green light]

6 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Khao san is quite famous for students in the area as well people from Pinklao and Nonthaburi. They would actually have typical Thai places on the riverside area too as well hidden among all the tourist spots. 

not really, student and young thai people gathered in pub and restaurant and other monkey business on the other side of the river... .I visited the area with my thai friends many times.  they do not care about Khao san road.. it has been established for a long time before the pandemic. 

 

Khoa San road has always been label a Farang nightspot .May be few Thai visited it but it is not a  hangout place for Thai people.

 

There are other areas in Bangkok where Thai people hangout way out of the business and tourist areas. It is where they live.  

 

Sorry to say. Any Khao san business to survive needs a lot of traffic..

without the Farangs it is dead.

[the green light]

1 hour ago, Nout said:

Back packagers are quality tourists. Cash and credit heavy, frequently returning. Cash going direct to to SME and family businesses. They are more emotionally invested in Thailand society and culture than posh white golfing types and their asain counterparts.  The KSR GOT wealthy from economy travellers as did Ibiza and many holiday locations with routes based in counterculture and economy travel

The reason they are called backpackers is not about how they spends their money. It is referred to easy mobility. They will stay few days here and move again. They come to Thailand to see as much as they can and move to another country. and spend as little as they can to extend their stay in Asia. The Khao san tourist turnover is about the backpackers. they are not long residents of neighborhood or hotels. Therefore Khao san needs this flow to survive. 

 

The basic trajectory of backpackers is Bangkok, the beaches, chiang Mai then off to Laos Lat Krabab.  or perphaps Myamar.

They do not spend all their time and money in one place. 

To replace them with Thai local people is a hard sell. There is nothing in Khao san to attract them.. To them Khao San is just  over price restaurants geared for the farangs. so they will not visit it. or shop there.

 

The attitude of Thais businesses who used to gouge tourists is gone.

they can't be geared to lower their prices for the local population. 

 

 

[Susco]

2 hours ago, Nout said:

Back packagers are quality tourists. Cash and credit heavy, frequently returning.

 

Seems post count is all that matters to you, because you have not the slightest idea what you're talking about.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(travel)

 

Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, often staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has since become a mainstream form of tourism.^[1]

While backpacker tourism is generally a form of youth travel, primarily undertaken by young people during gap years, it is also undertaken by older people during a career break or retirement. Backpackers tend to be from Europe, the English-speaking world and Asia.^[2]

[Nout]

On 12/4/2020 at 8:50 AM, Pottinger said:

Well, cry me a river; many traders made huge profits in such tourist spots around Thailand during the good times, which extended for years. If they did not have the foresight to save and plan for the future then my sympathy only extends to those at the bottom of the food chain, who never had the chance to establish themselves.

The KSR was not a tourist  Hotspot until the the innovative Thais created and developed the area.  Something a government could NEVER do

[Nout]

11 hours ago, Susco said:

 

Seems post count is all that matters to you, because you have not the slightest idea what you're talking about.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(travel)

 

Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, often staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has since become a mainstream form of tourism.^[1]

While backpacker tourism is generally a form of youth travel, primarily undertaken by young people during gap years, it is also undertaken by older people during a career break or retirement. Backpackers tend to be from Europe, the English-speaking world and Asia.^[2]

I don't need cheap inaccurate on lin research.  I watched the wealth around the KSR transfer over the decades from the wealthy  middle class back packers to local families who bought land and built hotels. The success of the KSR was also found on great criminal fun.

[Nout]

On 12/4/2020 at 9:33 AM, sweatalot said:

exactly - without the foreigners -even backpackers - Thailand's  future will be dark

How many backpackers is the worth of a "quality tourist" ?

I doubt there will ever be enough quality tourists the way TAT is dreaming of.

 

btw. The word "quality tourist" is an assault created by greedy people taxing other people only by the amount of money they can press out of them

Too true. The whole idea of quality tourists is ignorance and misunderstanding. Where else in the world would should a phrase be used? The economy travellers of London's yesteryear are now renowned artists,  poets and philosophers

[3NUMBAS]

the backpackers are unwaged and potless attending food banks for their meals

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/5/2020 at 5:14 PM, teacherclaire said:

Obviously the area needed to rebrand itself for the Thai only market as its previous main customer base - foreign tourists - were all gone.

 

The road was once a meeting and melting point for foreigners from all around the world. From various Hula Hoop people to Fire Spitting Dragon like foreigners, you coyuld see them all.

 

The "fake Rasta hair shops" that you'd later meet in Pai, the backpackers had plenty of places to book the next destination.

 

It was not only a meeting point, it was good business for so many years. Unbelievable that anybody would not want such an attraction where Thai people went to sightseeing. 

 

The street had so many small hotels and rooms for rent that a lot of Thais had employment. 

 

It will never be as it once was. They're killing their own holiday industry.

 

1996

 

 

 

  

Thanks for that link. I had just finished in Saudi and spent a lot of time in Thailand in '96.

 

Those really were the best of days to be in LOS. Still sanuk and Thaksin had yet to wreak havoc. Once he became PM it all changed for the worse, IMO.

 

I often visited Sanam Luang area and ate in KSR. I could even be in that VDO somewhere.

 

Seems to me that whenever things are OK, someone comes along and stuffs it up, as happened with many places, but including KSR.

Who knows what will happen, but I very much doubt KSR will be The Place again for western bagpackers.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Nout said:

Too true. The whole idea of quality tourists is ignorance and misunderstanding. Where else in the world would should a phrase be used? The economy travellers of London's yesteryear are now renowned artists,  poets and philosophers

IMO "quality tourist" is code for "rich tourist" I doubt they would be "quality" in the true sense of the word.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/6/2020 at 5:13 PM, Nout said:

The KSR was not a tourist  Hotspot until the the innovative Thais created and developed the area.  Something a government could NEVER do

I doubt anyone "created" KSR before the developers trendified the place. More likely it evolved. As more bagpackers used it it became more famous, and would have been recommended in such as Lonely Planet. Like Topsy it just grew, IMO. As more bagpackers stayed there, more businesses catered for them, etc.

Once it became popular, the developers moved in, kicked the cheap places into the back alleys, put the prices up, went up market and it became more for trendy Thai youth than the traditional bagpacker. Certainly the prices put off anyone not well heeled.

The bagpackers were still there but off KSR, not staying in it, IMO.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/6/2020 at 5:18 PM, Nout said:

I don't need cheap inaccurate on lin research.  I watched the wealth around the KSR transfer over the decades from the wealthy  middle class back packers to local families who bought land and built hotels. The success of the KSR was also found on great criminal fun.

and it was "fun" back then. With increased wealth, the fun went out of it, IMO, and it became all about making money.

I count myself lucky to have discovered LOS when it was a sanuk place, as it didn't last long. Thaksin's ascension was IMO the beginning of the long slow decline to where it is now. Can it get lower- to be seen.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/6/2020 at 4:53 AM, the green light said:

The reason they are called backpackers is not about how they spends their money. It is referred to easy mobility. They will stay few days here and move again. They come to Thailand to see as much as they can and move to another country. and spend as little as they can to extend their stay in Asia. The Khao san tourist turnover is about the backpackers. they are not long residents of neighborhood or hotels. Therefore Khao san needs this flow to survive. 

 

The basic trajectory of backpackers is Bangkok, the beaches, chiang Mai then off to Laos Lat Krabab.  or perphaps Myamar.

They do not spend all their time and money in one place. 

To replace them with Thai local people is a hard sell. There is nothing in Khao san to attract them.. To them Khao San is just  over price restaurants geared for the farangs. so they will not visit it. or shop there.

 

The attitude of Thais businesses who used to gouge tourists is gone.

they can't be geared to lower their prices for the local population. 

 

 

You speak truth, IMO.

I used to post on Lonely Planet Thailand forum and the same questions were asked many times.

How to get from the airport to KSR

Where to get onward tickets to the islands- Had Rin or Tao, rarely Samui. A few went to Phi Phi, or Lanta, or big Kho Chang.

 

The bagpacker trail led from Don Mueang to KSR, from KSR to Kho Tao or Phangan ( for the FMP ), from the southern islands to Chiang Mai old city, to Pai, perhaps including the loop.

 

After that, a popular route was to Laos, on the Mekong by overnight boat, or to Burma.

 

Back in the day it was easy to overland to neighbouring countries, and back again before returning home, but I guess that has changed.

[stretch5163]

On 12/4/2020 at 9:38 AM, Neeranam said:

Around 1998, KSR changed to a Thai students' nightlife scene. 

Thailand can survive without tourists, and their over-inflated self-importance. 

LOL tell that to all the hotel owners and businesses that have lost their income and work. Keep telling yourself that and people may believe you. More like Thai over inflated Ego's rather than tourists with over inflated self importance.

[stretch5163]

On 12/4/2020 at 7:04 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Who sez it should be backpackers? They carry a bag around on their backs like a horde of big snails, so I'll continue to call them bagpackers like I've been doing for over 20 years.

Im quite sure if you want to check up Bagpacker then you will find out its actually a mis spelling of Backpacker but your entitled to call them what you like not your fault i suppose cant all understand english the word hasnt even been around for 20 years whereas Backpacker has..

[Expat Tom]

It seems that Thailand never learns. The government leaders ( so called ) want to go back to their Chinese mass tourism model. China the same country that brought the world, Asian Flu, Hong Kong flu, avian flu, swine flu,  SARS and the CCP Wuhan Virus ( Aka Covid 19).  Vietnam, on the other hand, has completed and is becoming the new home for the hundreds of industries leaving China. I wonder which country will fare better. Thailand or Vietnam....my money is on Vietnam. 

[Dan Talus]

Man I barely recognize Khao San .. it appears so sanitized now. I'm well past my Khao San years (was first there ~17 years ago, haven't been back in 14 or so) but before the seediness and nefarious characters are what gave it it's charm.  Now it's about as intriguing as a Starbucks.

[jomtienisgood]

13 minutes ago, Dan Talus said:

Man I barely recognize Khao San .. it appears so sanitized now. I'm well past my Khao San years (was first there ~17 years ago, haven't been back in 14 or so) but before the seediness and nefarious characters are what gave it it's charm.  Now it's about as intriguing as a Starbucks.

Don't you appreciate a good cup a coffee???? 55555????

[Nout]

On 12/4/2020 at 10:42 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Thailand isn't, IMO, a socialist country. Want welfare, go live in a socialist country.

 

Good riddance IMO. Rip off vendors selling stuff to gullible youths at far higher prices than in a market or even MBK.

No ripp off vendors,  quite the opposite.  Some good creative talent designing and marketing unique goods. Very hard working people. As for gullible youth! That's just silly interfering nonsense.  The KSR Travellers frequently in their 30s or 40s are more than caple of making elementary budgeting decisions. Your post is a a demonstration of envy and misunderstanding combined with the usually Thai bashing. One thing is clear: you know little or nothing about the place. It used to be be much wilder in the old days, big fights, police raids, opium,  H and dope for sale. A really great free for all.

[ChipButty]

On 12/7/2020 at 12:32 PM, stretch5163 said:

LOL tell that to all the hotel owners and businesses that have lost their income and work. Keep telling yourself that and people may believe you. More like Thai over inflated Ego's rather than tourists with over inflated self importance.

You are right it is effecting people far and wide all the way down to the suppliers I even know people in places like Buriram suffering.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/9/2020 at 4:14 PM, Nout said:

No ripp off vendors,  quite the opposite.  Some good creative talent designing and marketing unique goods. Very hard working people. As for gullible youth! That's just silly interfering nonsense.  The KSR Travellers frequently in their 30s or 40s are more than caple of making elementary budgeting decisions. Your post is a a demonstration of envy and misunderstanding combined with the usually Thai bashing. One thing is clear: you know little or nothing about the place. It used to be be much wilder in the old days, big fights, police raids, opium,  H and dope for sale. A really great free for all.

LOL, that would be backpacker bashing, not Thai bashing.

In the days I used to go there the tourists ( they were not "travellers" IMO ) were in their late teens and early 20s.

Why envious? I had travelled far more than most of them would have, given I was 20 years older and been travelling all my life ( from the age of 3 ). I also didn't carry everything on my back- I had wheels on my bag. Humping one of those bag things is for mugs IMO.

Misunderstanding? Perhaps it is you misunderstanding what I posted- you certainly read  a lot into it that I didn't say, eg knowing little or nothing about the place, which is just flat out wrong.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/6/2020 at 4:42 AM, the green light said:

Khoa San road has always been label a Farang nightspot .May be few Thai visited it but it is not a  hangout place for Thai people.

The Bangkok Post disagrees with you. Can't link to Bangkok Post on TVF.

[GrandPapillon]

Indeed, KSR was basically a hot spot for rich and middle classThais, the real dirty backpackers were all gone or moved to Bali or Cambodia 10 years ago

[Nout]

On 12/4/2020 at 11:08 AM, ChipButty said:

I've lived here 25 years I've been twice

Where else haven't you been?

[Nout]

On 12/8/2020 at 2:16 PM, Dan Talus said:

Man I barely recognize Khao San .. it appears so sanitized now. I'm well past my Khao San years (was first there ~17 years ago, haven't been back in 14 or so) but before the seediness and nefarious characters are what gave it it's charm.  Now it's about as intriguing as a Starbucks.

Spot on. Sanitised, anodyne,  unoriginal,  clichéd. Utterly lacking in charm or character. I loved it when it was rough, seedy, tough and a glorious mish mash of people drinking until sunrise before moving on to the next stage of their life or journey. The KSR won over from Song Nam Dupli another cheap alternative around the Malaysia hotel area. The KSR won out for a number of reasons and SND just faded away

[Albert Zweistein]

On 12/4/2020 at 10:03 AM, ChipButty said:

I've been to Udon 20 odd years ago hardly saw any farang, I think farang did play a big part in putting Udon on the map

I was in Udon 5 years ago and the hotel was crowded with farangs, hand in hand with their girlfriend. Must be a special breed.

[Gandtee]

12 hours ago, Nout said:

Spot on. Sanitised, anodyne,  unoriginal,  clichéd. Utterly lacking in charm or character. I loved it when it was rough, seedy, tough and a glorious mish mash of people drinking until sunrise before moving on to the next stage of their life or journey. The KSR won over from Song Nam Dupli another cheap alternative around the Malaysia hotel area. The KSR won out for a number of reasons and SND just faded away

The same will apply to Pattaya. Seediness and originality was the attraction. Now being changed into another plastic destination with little charm. Look at Ban Saen.It won't be long before Malls lose their attraction for shopping, and only a place for the locals to cool down.

Edited December 12, 2020 by Gandtee
Additional words.

[Nout]

On 12/9/2020 at 10:37 AM, ChipButty said:

You are right it is effecting people far and wide all the way down to the suppliers I even know people in places like Buriram suffering.

Some indirect financial connection maybe including lost jobs for some local staff but the the roads from KSR did not lead to Issan