Tips for first time tourists, especially western teenage girls

[The Legend]

On 2/21/2025 at 9:11 AM, Ben Zioner said:

And be especially wary of western [old] men...

 

I was coming home about 10pm from Cowboy which was unusual. Very few farang get off at my stop but two 20 something women did just that. Also kinda revealing clothes. I immediately thought it odd - but then they continued up the main road which there was nothing up there except maybe trouble. I was better than 25m away from them and called out ... Girls...do you know where you are going?? They turned and then ignored me. I then said... bc there's nothing up there! They walked on.

 

Another time this stupid feminist looking group of young women were squabbling with a tuk tuk. The TT was in my area where zero farang would hail a TT. I asked if they needed help and they too ignored me.

 

Even 60+, Im not an unattractive guy and dress better than 95% of farang in this city. I get glances from Thai women half my age at times = I doubt I look threatening, but I guess all males are seen as threats to farang women these days. Fk em all 555

[Jimmy43]

On 2/21/2025 at 8:08 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

And then I thought about riding apps like Bolt. But I have no idea if they require a local phone number. And then, I don't know if tourists can easily get a local SIM card. And can tourists somehow pay with QR code?

 

And how is the situation at the airport now? Can new tourists rely on taxi-meter from the airport? Or is that still a big scam? 

 

I use grab app with my US phone number.  No need for a Thai number.  The app sends a text when you first install and signup, but they can do that at home before the trip if they want. 

 

For sims, I use e-sims bought online these days.  I would recommend airalo.com.  I'm often traveling to multiple countries in the region, so I get one of their data only regional e-sims good in most of Asia.  If they are using a lot of data, it would cheaper to get a Thai specific sim though.

 

The airport taxis in Thailand are some of the worst in the region.  They like to play the game of hide the meter and try to overcharge new tourists.  Many also don't know how to use gps and can't find smaller hotels.  Better they stay at a decent sized hotel for the first night and insist on the meter.

[fredwiggy]

On 2/21/2025 at 9:11 AM, Ben Zioner said:

And be especially wary of western [old] men...

Be wary of everyone.as there are good and bad in all races and nationalities.

[wwest5829]

Ask her to watch, “Taken” with Liam Neeson. Then talk with her about the need to be careful as trafficking is well known here. After which tell her not to be paranoid … good luck with that! Thailand is great but … 

[Harrisfan]

On 2/21/2025 at 9:39 AM, Lacessit said:

Have any drinks straight out of a can or bottle. Mixed drinks can be lethal, as Laos backpackers found out recently.

 

SIM cards are available at most airports. Taxi services from airports have fixed prices at their airport offices.

 

Transport between Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang is free, aircon bus. Just show ongoing ticket to other destinations.

 

Only take transport that has three or four wheels. Do not rent a scooter. Always ask the price of any taxi, baht bus or tuk-tuk before getting in.

 

Do not eat street food that is not cooked in front of you.

 

Pedestrian crossings should only be trusted when they have traffic lights.

 

Forget the high heels, Thai pavements can be quite uneven. Comfortable sneakers.

 

Do not flash large amounts of cash.

 

Dress conservatively when visiting temples.

 

 

Backpackers dont read this forum

[ravip]

On 2/21/2025 at 7:10 AM, MalcolmB said:

Head down to the party islands for full moon parties etc.

Plenty of booze, drugs and young men for them there. 
They will have a ball. If they are not on the pill then pack some condoms.

And take some sunscreen.

OP asked for "good advice for first time tourists, and especially girls?"

 

Great help, some members are.

[geisha]

On 2/21/2025 at 8:45 AM, frank83628 said:

We all used the 'lonely planet' books back in the day had all the tip, tricks, do's & dont's and safety tips, not sure if the books still exist but guess there must be online versions.

There is the backpackers Thailand FB page, but as with most fb community pages, things can get off topic with everyone thingking their advice  is the best.

 

Hi, on Facebook there are groups specifically for ladies traveling. You just join the group, say where you’re going and ask for necessary tips and advice. 

Me niece is on it and the amount of stuff she’s learnt from the girls is amazing.

 

[geisha]

On 2/21/2025 at 8:08 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

An acquaintance from back home told me his 19 year old daughter and her female friend will visit Bangkok sometime soon. And he asked me for advise.

 

Some thinks came to my mind like be very careful when you cross any road (including with green light), be careful with overcharging drivers and don't get drunk and trust any guy to take care of you.

 

And then I thought about riding apps like Bolt. But I have no idea if they require a local phone number. And then, I don't know if tourists can easily get a local SIM card. And can tourists somehow pay with QR code?

 

And how is the situation at the airport now? Can new tourists rely on taxi-meter from the airport? Or is that still a big scam? 

 

Instead of everybody adding a few tips here, do you know any good websites with good advice for first time tourists, and especially girls?

 

 

 

 

Thanks

Hi , tell your friend to get the girls on the FB group Travel for ladies . It’s amazing the amount of advice and tips you can get. You just join the group, say where you’re going and and ask for advice and tips. It’s for females of all ages .On FB there are a few different group for travel for females. 
yes, they need good advice, not to accept drinks, keep your own drink in your hand. Careful at night. Don’t believe everything you’re told. Get a Thai SIM card and always let the family know where you are. Stick together !!!!!!!

[Bohemianfish]

On 2/22/2025 at 7:31 PM, The Legend said:

 

I was coming home about 10pm from Cowboy which was unusual. Very few farang get off at my stop but two 20 something women did just that. Also kinda revealing clothes. I immediately thought it odd - but then they continued up the main road which there was nothing up there except maybe trouble. I was better than 25m away from them and called out ... Girls...do you know where you are going?? They turned and then ignored me. I then said... bc there's nothing up there! They walked on.

 

Another time this stupid feminist looking group of young women were squabbling with a tuk tuk. The TT was in my area where zero farang would hail a TT. I asked if they needed help and they too ignored me.

 

Even 60+, Im not an unattractive guy and dress better than 95% of farang in this city. I get glances from Thai women half my age at times = I doubt I look threatening, but I guess all males are seen as threats to farang women these days. Fk em all 555

That's how the ladies act in the States. It is really odd. Every man seems to be a creep to them and you just have let them be. It's not even worth it to talk to them in any capacity for whatever reason.

[fredwiggy]

On 2/21/2025 at 8:49 AM, frank83628 said:

Haha, Mr Paranoia, Thailand is the opposite of that, I've met and  known tonnes of chicks travelling, some alone, all have said how safe Thailand is compared to their home countries.

Yes, be careful when out drinking, but no need to be scared of the boogyman.

It isn't paranoia wanting to be safe in a country not your own, especially teen girls who are targets everywhere.  People take chances and sooner or later they'll pay. A woman is a lot more of a target than a man and needs to understand there are millions of bad people out there that are predators. Some Thai islands are known for tourists being targeted and better to be safe than sorry. Meeting "tons" of chicks that said they felt safe is a fraction of those that travel yearly and none of the ones who died or were raped on holidays. A woman traveling alone isn't using her head and just asking for trouble, especially when predators find out she's alone. Not trusting anyone leaves you safer period.  Many people that live here don't know the extent of crime that happens, how many are trafficked and disappear every year.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Many people that live here don't know the extent of crime that happens

There is certainly lots of crime which is not reported anywhere.

 

[fredwiggy]

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

There is certainly lots of crime which is not reported anywhere.

 

Western countries have a more developed news output. News time here is wasted on things that would never make news in the west. Crime stats are kept everywhere and are easy to research as many here only look at the news or word of mouth what happens and never hear most of what goes on here.

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Western countries have a more developed news output. News time here is wasted on things that would never make news in the west. Crime stats are kept everywhere and are easy to research as many here only look at the news or word of mouth what happens and never hear most of what goes on here.

 

I get more the idea that media here have some kind of "advice" not to report too much crime, especially against foreigners and tourist. 

[fredwiggy]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I get more the idea that media here have some kind of "advice" not to report too much crime, especially against foreigners and tourist. 

That's what happens because it would kill more tourism  Problem is, as the years go by, more and more news gets out by expats to their families and friends back home and time will do a number on the country eventually. Also, things here are getting worse as far as violent crime using guns and knives.

[frank83628]

28 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It isn't paranoia wanting to be safe in a country not your own, especially teen girls who are targets everywhere.  People take chances and sooner or later they'll pay. A woman is a lot more of a target than a man and needs to understand there are millions of bad people out there that are predators. Some Thai islands are known for tourists being targeted and better to be safe than sorry. Meeting "tons" of chicks that said they felt safe is a fraction of those that travel yearly and none of the ones who died or were raped on holidays. A woman traveling alone isn't using her head and just asking for trouble, especially when predators find out she's alone. Not trusting anyone leaves you safer period.  Many people that live here don't know the extent of crime that happens, how many are trafficked and disappear every year.

 

Yes, of the millions that have travelled, how  many in last 10 years, 20 years even, have been attacked? By comparison Thailand is miles safer than many western countries.

I live here over 15yrs, can you elaborate on the crime I am unaware of, no tourists have disappeared or been trafficked otherwise we'd know about it very quickly, just  like the few guys gone  missing the last few months..

Of course be cautious have have you wits about you but to trust no one and be fearful is nonsense.

[it is what it is]

 

a few years ago i was sitting in cool style restaurant and this 17/18 year old NZ girl came and sat with me and started chatting, we had a great chat. eventually, she said her parents were coming and they were heading back to NZ, did i want her unsmoked spliffs? thank you very much i replied. cool kid.

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

Yes, of the millions that have travelled, how  many in last 10 years, 20 years even, have been attacked? By comparison Thailand is miles safer than many western countries.

I live here over 15yrs, can you elaborate on the crime I am unaware of, no tourists have disappeared or been trafficked otherwise we'd know about it very quickly, just  like the few guys gone  missing the last few months..

Of course be cautious have have you wits about you but to trust no one and be fearful is nonsense.

Thailand is not safer than any other country. Might want to do research instead of guessing. Wiki is your friend. Many people live in one area, especially in the country and rarely leave their village, so they don't know what goes on all over, and the news only shows a fraction of it, although it's enough to see what goes on.If you trust no one you won't become a victim so easily. It's not about being afraid but smart.

[SMIAI]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Thailand is not safer than any other country. Might want to do research instead of guessing. Wiki is your friend. Many people live in one area, especially in the country and rarely leave their village, so they don't know what goes on all over, and the news only shows a fraction of it, although it's enough to see what goes on.If you trust no one you won't become a victim so easily. It's not about being afraid but smart.

 

If you trust no one, how can you enjoy and appreciate life? @frank83628 makes a sensible point. You should take note.

 

My best experiences and theirs, are created by people who decided to trust each other. 

[OneMoreFarang]

IMHO safety in Thailand has a lot to do with different cultures and misunderstandings.

 

It seems in the west some girls think it is perfectly ok to let a guy spend hundreds of dollars for dinner and drinks for a night and then she sends him home alone. It seems Thai guys have different expectations. And if everybody is drunk then the situation is even worse.

 

Does that give guys in Thailand the right to do whatever they want? No. But don't be surprised if they see things differently. 

[fredwiggy]

Just now, SMIAI said:

 

If you trust no one, how can you enjoy and appreciate life? @frank83628 makes a sensible point. You should take note.

 

My best experiences and theirs, are created by people who decided to trust each other. 

Trust comes from time spent with people,and letting your guard down is how trouble starts. I didn't mean trust no one. I meant for 19 year old girls coming to Thailand, they shouldn't trust anyone because there are predators everywhere that look for victims who will trust them from the get go. It's plain stupid for a girl to trust people she doesn't know in another country. You can have a lot of fun if you travel in groups, never leave with anyone and watch your drinks and drinking if you're going to night clubs. Having a few people in life you can really trust is a blessing, but how many can you really trust in a lifetime? Friends are made over time and immediately, but trust takes time.

[Presnock]

On 2/21/2025 at 8:08 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

An acquaintance from back home told me his 19 year old daughter and her female friend will visit Bangkok sometime soon. And he asked me for advise.

 

Some thinks came to my mind like be very careful when you cross any road (including with green light), be careful with overcharging drivers and don't get drunk and trust any guy to take care of you.

 

And then I thought about riding apps like Bolt. But I have no idea if they require a local phone number. And then, I don't know if tourists can easily get a local SIM card. And can tourists somehow pay with QR code?

 

And how is the situation at the airport now? Can new tourists rely on taxi-meter from the airport? Or is that still a big scam? 

 

Instead of everybody adding a few tips here, do you know any good websites with good advice for first time tourists, and especially girls?

 

 

 

 

Thanks

go someplace else!  Japan  and S. Korea are safe for young western girls but then again, a lot depends of the maturity of the young ladies.  My daughter now 21 has been taking courses at Korean universities during her university term breaks here and says S. Korea very safe for young girl unless they hang out in bars!  Japan I know several friends whose young ladies visited and had a safe and happy time  there.  I have spent many years living and working overseas and not sure about the safety of young folks today as they seem to be a lot wilder than I was but then as a teenager I spent a couple of years in a war zone so I probably might not be a good judge of character for young folks today.  Tell them to avoid Laos too.  My daughter grew up here in Thailand teenage years in CM with no problems though - all depends on the individuals it seems to me.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

IMHO safety in Thailand has a lot to do with different cultures and misunderstandings.

 

It seems in the west some girls think it is perfectly ok to let a guy spend hundreds of dollars for dinner and drinks for a night and then she sends him home alone. It seems Thai guys have different expectations. And if everybody is drunk then the situation is even worse.

 

Does that give guys in Thailand the right to do whatever they want? No. But don't be surprised if they see things differently. 

Many men think they deserve sex because they take women on dates, and that's a boy's thinking. Dating is to get to know others, and that takes time. That's why you don't spend a lot of money on the first few dates. You want sex, you go to tinder.You want a partner, you find her in other ways. Men are the same everywhere and think women owe them, and they're wrong. No one deserves sex unless they treat a woman with respect all the time, and not think buying things gets them the right. Only a fool spends a lot of money on a woman after they've just met. Showing off has them thinking it'll be like that forever, or being too cheap does the same.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Many men think they deserve sex because they take women on dates, and that's a boy's thinking. Dating is to get to know others, and that takes time. That's why you don't spend a lot of money on the first few dates. You want sex, you go to tinder.You want a partner, you find her in other ways. Men are the same everywhere and think women owe them, and they're wrong. No one deserves sex unless they treat a woman with respect all the time, and not think buying things gets them the right. Only a fool spends a lot of money on a woman after they've just met. Showing off has them thinking it'll be like that forever, or being too cheap does the same.

 

And now explain all that to Somchai.

I know from Thai girls that they are very careful with Thai guys. If they don't accept that they will get f@$@ed, then then don't go with a guy. Problem solved.

[Harrisfan]

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Trust comes from time spent with people,and letting your guard down is how trouble starts. I didn't mean trust no one. I meant for 19 year old girls coming to Thailand, they shouldn't trust anyone because there are predators everywhere that look for victims who will trust them from the get go. It's plain stupid for a girl to trust people she doesn't know in another country. You can have a lot of fun if you travel in groups, never leave with anyone and watch your drinks and drinking if you're going to night clubs. Having a few people in life you can really trust is a blessing, but how many can you really trust in a lifetime? Friends are made over time and immediately, but trust takes time.

19yos dont read old man sites. Most here are 50 to 90.

[Harrisfan]

9 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Many men think they deserve sex because they take women on dates, and that's a boy's thinking. Dating is to get to know others, and that takes time. That's why you don't spend a lot of money on the first few dates. You want sex, you go to tinder.You want a partner, you find her in other ways. Men are the same everywhere and think women owe them, and they're wrong. No one deserves sex unless they treat a woman with respect all the time, and not think buying things gets them the right. Only a fool spends a lot of money on a woman after they've just met. Showing off has them thinking it'll be like that forever, or being too cheap does the same.

Pile of nonsense. I slept with women on night 1 or 2 then dated for years.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

And now explain all that to Somchai.

I know from Thai girls that they are very careful with Thai guys. If they don't accept that they will get f@$@ed, then then don't go with a guy. Problem solved.

There's no careful in most countries, and more so in poor countries where girls are looking more for a man to provide. Problem here is that most won't stick around, especially after a baby is born, and the biggest problem is that they aren't forced to pay child support, so that lets them go with one after another, and the babies end up with grandmas a lot of the time. Girls will never be anything but naive about men, and that has them sleeping with boys just because their friends do, or because they think he's so cute.

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Pile of nonsense. I slept with women on night 1 or 2 then dated for years.

Actually facts as the world's over population can attest, especially with so many single parent families run by moms or grandmas. Are you still with those you slept with on night 1 or 2?

[SMIAI]

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Trust comes from time spent with people,and letting your guard down is how trouble starts. I didn't mean trust no one. I meant for 19 year old girls coming to Thailand, they shouldn't trust anyone because there are predators everywhere that look for victims who will trust them from the get go. It's plain stupid for a girl to trust people she doesn't know in another country. You can have a lot of fun if you travel in groups, never leave with anyone and watch your drinks and drinking if you're going to night clubs. Having a few people in life you can really trust is a blessing, but how many can you really trust in a lifetime? Friends are made over time and immediately, but trust takes time.

 

Nonsense. You are an old man who likely didn't go through that rite of passage..

Backpackers trust each other in the main and through that they make friends for life and have amazing experiences.

It doesn't sound as if you had anything like that in your life and hence, your outlook that comes from your bad imagination.

Yes, there are risks. But that's life. Be careful but don't be a stick in the mud who makes no real friends because they don't trust anyone. That's just silly.

I made hundreds of friends whilst backpacking because we decided to trust each other. That's something you old guys who didn't ever do it, won't understand.

If you could see my Contacts list, you might understand. When you trust, you find a whole other world.

 

 

[fredwiggy]

7 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

19yos dont read old man sites. Most here are 50 to 90.

He's asking for advice so he can tell the girls he's talking about before they come.

[fredwiggy]

7 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

19yos dont read old man sites. Most here are 50 to 90.

He's asking for advice so he can tell the girls he's talking about before they come.

 

1 minute ago, SMIAI said:

 

Nonsense. You are an old man who likely didn't go through that rite of passage..

Backpackers trust each other in the main and through that they make friends for life and have amazing experiences.

It doesn't sound as if you had anything like that in your life and hence, your outlook that comes from your bad imagination.

Yes, there are risks. But that's life. Be careful but don't be a stick in the mud who makes no real friends because they don't trust anyone. That's just silly.

I made hundreds of friends whilst backpacking because we decided to trust each other. That's something you old guys who didn't ever do it, won't understand.

If you could see my Contacts list, you might understand. When you trust, you find a whole other world.

 

 

Maybe it's over your head on what real life is about, but assuming isn't going to help you.