Travellers Vent Frustrations Over Soaring Costs, Two-Tier Pricing, and Cannabis Concerns

[falangUK]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

Free market economy....as long as there is true competition, the price for hotels and flights is the price for hotels and flights.

 

Dual pricing.....usually coppers.....don't go or get over it.

 

Cannabis was a huge mistake.

 

Thailand and litter go hand in hand......that will require a generational scale change in education and attitudes.

Most of the hotels are sitting empty and the flights are nearly half full.

[Ben Zioner]

58 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

That was actually the price for a Deluxe Garden Villa for our next visit... 

Koh Chang is not an option though, its too far for a long weekend.

 

The price of 4000 baht is reasonable given the standard of accommodation, quality of beach and pool etc.

Place is ideal for those with kids.

 

The last time we were there it took 7.5 hours to get back to Bangkok - thats just too long.

 

 

Just been there for a week I always spend a night, on the way to/from Surin, at the Soi  Dao Golf club. This morning It took us 3 hours, ferry included, from KC to Soi Dao. Another 4 hours tomorrow. The beach is spotless, just the water is a bit too shallow for my taste, need to go out a couple of hundred meters to find any depth. 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, rough diamond said:

How do you do that when you never leave your house according to you?

 

Obviously...

I rarely do ocean swimming while living in Chiang Mai.

 

Should be obvious.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, rough diamond said:

What an idiotic comment, even coming from you!

Then swim with them and neither you nor them will hit their heads and more importantly will not be swept out to sea by a rip tide or attacked by sea creatures!

 

Pools are dangerous precisely due to the fact that they are perceived, wrongly, as being very safe.

 

[rough diamond]

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Pools are dangerous precisely due to the fact that they are perceived, wrongly, as being very safe.

 

This is a serious subject you  !!!!!!!

Go swim with the sharks in that case but please leave the kids behind..

 

[richard_smith237]

22 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Pools are dangerous precisely due to the fact that they are perceived, wrongly, as being very safe.

 

 

This sort of idiocy belongs in an 'off the beaten path - flat earther' thread... 

 

To 'imply' that pools might be more unsafe than open water due to perception is utterly preposterous.... 

 

To 'imply' that pools are dangerous because one might bang their head into the side is beyond preposterous... its truly astonishing that an idea even enters the mind... yet it offers an insight as to the deluded nonsense of some.

 

 

[KannikaP]

On 4/27/2025 at 10:14 AM, hotsun said:

Thats one of the perks of having a thai partner. You just let her deal with everything alone. They cant rip you off if you arent there

I would guess that the majority of members on here would have áccess' to a Thai partner, but that still will not get you into a National Park for Bht 40, especially if you are not there!

[richard_smith237]

23 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I would guess that the majority of members on here would have áccess' to a Thai partner, but that still will not get you into a National Park for Bht 40, especially if you are not there!

 

The dual pricing at National Parks is on that gets my goat, not because of the prices, but because of the message it sends out to the rest of Thailand that dual pricing is not only accepted, but the Thai government advocates for it.

 

IMO - tiered pricing should never impact residents, neither should it be a mainstay of a country that covets tourists so heavily... 

 

Japan is now employing state sanctioned dual pricing more and more...  Over the past 15 years I've seen attitudes towards tourist deteriorate - the double edged sword of more tourist and and such attitudes, leads to a more tainted experience - Thailand relies heavily on 'repeat tourists' it's industry can't afford to ostracise those who visit.

 

 

[rough diamond]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Obviously...

I rarely do ocean swimming while living in Chiang Mai.

 

Should be obvious.

 

It is not obvious, just like most of your posts.

When and where did you last swim in an ocean with your children/grandchildren etc?

[blaze master]

On 4/26/2025 at 11:07 PM, CharlieH said:

Some feel the cannabis culture is attracting a different type of tourist, altering the country’s traditional charm.

 

Would that be one of the world's most open brothels charm  of yesteryear. 

 

I would rather be known for cannabis than whoring. 

[GammaGlobulin]

19 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

It is not obvious, just like most of your posts.

When and where did you last swim in an ocean with your children/grandchildren etc?

 

Belize reefs

Naples FLA

Guam

HK

Key West

Other places, and all very safe...except for Belize....

Belize is not a very safe city.

 

 

Very low cost there, though.

Cheaper than Thailand.

And, even more beautiful.

 

[rough diamond]

7 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Belize reefs

Naples FLA

Guam

HK

Key West

Other places, and all very safe...except for Belize....

Belize is not a very safe city.

 

 

Very low cost there, though.

Cheaper than Thailand.

And, even more beautiful.

 

With children was the question?

Nobody is disputing the wonders of swimming, no matter where! (just!)

What I object strongly to is your assertion that ocean swimming is safer for children than pool swimming.

Please do not bother to reply as your responses are meaningless on this topic and more importantly they are  DANGEROUS for children!

 

[GammaGlobulin]

2 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

With children was the question?

Nobody is disputing the wonders of swimming, no matter where! (just!)

What I object strongly to is your assertion that ocean swimming is safer for children than pool swimming.

Please do not bother to reply as your responses are meaningless on this topic and more importantly they are  DANGEROUS for children!

 

 

I learned to swim in the ocean.

All my friends learned to swim in the ocean

With proper supervision, ocean swimming is safer than pool swimming for children.

River swimming is not safe, however.

 

[KannikaP]

10 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I learned to swim in the ocean.

All my friends learned to swim in the ocean

With proper supervision, ocean swimming is safer than pool swimming for children.

River swimming is not safe, however.

 

Not many rip tides, eddy currents or jelly fish, Richards in a pool, which is much easier to supervise than 'the ocean ' .

Just because you and your friends learned in the Ocean means nothing except that you lived near one.

[steven100]

I want to complain that my beer wasn't ice cold today at 7-11   

[rough diamond]

42 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I learned to swim in the ocean.

All my friends learned to swim in the ocean

With proper supervision, ocean swimming is safer than pool swimming for children.

River swimming is not safe, however.

 

Give up!

Please go and swim in the ocean. (with my favourite sharks, just make sure there are no kids around)

[richard_smith237]

55 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I learned to swim in the ocean.

All my friends learned to swim in the ocean

With proper supervision, ocean swimming is safer than pool swimming for children.

River swimming is not safe, however.

 

Please don't be so ridiculous - with proper supervision (for both) ocean swimming is never safer than pool swimming.... 

 

Your comment is well beyond ridiculous.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

9 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

 

I agree that a pool and air conditioning are a must, but I think all 3-star hotels have air conditioning. There are enough places in most cities to get a good breakfast.

 

 I think most peope choose the 5 star because they do not trust the 3 stars.  I think with websites like Agoda and others that it is getting easier.

360 baht aircon, large room with pool in Udon

 

As good as any 1500 baht room in bangkok

[Krillin]

Honestly, if I had to do it over again, I probably would have chosen China over Thailand. Thailand is utterly broken and seems to have of its own volition declared to the entire world that it now exists only for foreigners to come and abuse it at the cost of its own citizens. There are wonderful citizens here who deserve to live within a country with more self-respect. 

[CG1 Blue]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The dual pricing at National Parks is on that gets my goat, not because of the prices, but because of the message it sends out to the rest of Thailand that dual pricing is not only accepted, but the Thai government advocates for it.

I know mine is not a popular opinion in here, but I quite like the fact that Thai's (the majority of whom are much poorer than your average tourist) can spend time in the beautiful national parks in their own country for free / less. And the upkeep of these areas is funded by (relatively) rich tourists and ex-pats. 

 

The poor in Thailand don't get many breaks. I don't begrudge them this one. 

[rough diamond]

52 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Your comment is well beyond ridiculous.

 

Your comments on this topic are dangerous in the extreme!

 

 

[DonniePeverley]

Forget these backpackers. Thailand does not need them. It adds nothing to their economy. Ban hostels. 

 

As for entry filing they introduced - literally every country has one. Singapore, UK, USA, Malaysia, European Union - why should Thailand be any different ?

 

Ban marijuana. It is one of the reasons we are seeing sordid visitors. They are attracted to this. These aren't old men who used to come to Thailand, but comitted no crime. These are young men, violent, and often will gateway to other drugs here. This turns away tourist. 

 

Thailand is still a developing nation and must protect it's local population. Too many illegal workers here. You see it open and blatant. 

 

Reduce the 60 day visa back to 30. 

 

Ban the DTV, or toughen it up massively. It's being abused massively.

 

Stop the visa free entry for some poorer nations - it's too much too allow masses to enter without any check ups. You have to look at income figure per head, not accumulative - which is what they are doing with Indians. 

 

Toughen up policing. Stop the small fines and get tough. Be like Singapore, Dubai and clean up the country for what was once known as safe. 

 

 

[DonniePeverley]

This talk of a downturn in tourism is utter nonsense. They on course to hit 40 million tourists, which is record breaking. They just had a boom during Songkran. Then a few quiet weeks and they begin to panic in the media. 

 

Tourism is going to be around as emerging markets with middle classes wanting holidays. 

 

You need quality tourists, not cheap mass tourism that ironically turns away quality tourists. 

 

 

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

immigration officers may not be overflowing with warmth, but they’re certainly not ogres either. Like immigration staff anywhere in the world, they tend to be indifferent - which is completely understandable given the mind-numbing nature of the job. Sitting there for hours on end, stamping passports, would drain anyone of the will for small talk.

If they're that unhappy with their jobs, they should be invited to seek work elsewhere. It costs them nothing to be civil and polite.

[rough diamond]

58 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

360 baht aircon, large room with pool in Udon

 

As good as any 1500 baht room in bangkok

And you know all about all the 1500 baht rooms in Bangkok and the 360 baht rooms in Udon?

You must be a Thailand wide travel agency owner/employee with all that knowledge!

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Very low cost there, though.

Cheaper than Thailand.

And, even more beautiful.

 

Yet here you are on a forum for Thai expats, not Belize expats...   

[richard_smith237]

28 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

immigration officers may not be overflowing with warmth, but they’re certainly not ogres either. Like immigration staff anywhere in the world, they tend to be indifferent - which is completely understandable given the mind-numbing nature of the job. Sitting there for hours on end, stamping passports, would drain anyone of the will for small talk.

If they're that unhappy with their jobs, they should be invited to seek work elsewhere. It costs them nothing to be civil and polite.

 

It’s astonishing how many foreigners on this forum labour under the delusion that Thailand’s Immigration officers are somehow not part of the Royal Thai Police, and, more absurdly, that they’re employed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand....

They seem to believe these officials should greet every arrival with open arms and fawning enthusiasm, as if their job were to roll out the red carpet for every wandering sex pest who fancies a warm welcome.... 

 

 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It’s astonishing how many foreigners on this forum labour under the delusion that Thailand’s Immigration officers are somehow not part of the Royal Thai Police, and, more absurdly, that they’re employed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand....

They seem to believe these officials should greet every arrival with open arms and fawning enthusiasm, as if their job were to roll out the red carpet for every wandering sex pest who fancies a warm welcome.... 

 

 

There is no excuse for being impolite to your customers while at work. Be you a general or a shelf stacker.

[richard_smith237]

49 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

I know mine is not a popular opinion in here, but I quite like the fact that Thai's (the majority of whom are much poorer than your average tourist) can spend time in the beautiful national parks in their own country for free / less. And the upkeep of these areas is funded by (relatively) rich tourists and ex-pats. 

 

The poor in Thailand don't get many breaks. I don't begrudge them this one. 

 

While it may seem fair on the surface, dual pricing based solely on nationality rather than income or residency is fundamentally discriminatory and fosters resentment. Not all foreigners visiting or living in Thailand are wealthy; many are budget travellers, students, or retirees on limited means. Charging them significantly more - sometimes ten times the local rate - regardless of income or contribution to the Thai economy (like expats who pay taxes) is unjust.

 

Moreover, conservation and public access to natural beauty shouldn't be framed as a luxury taxed by nationality. A fairer system would base pricing on residency or income, not race or passport.

 

Many countries allow locals reduced rates based on proof of residence or tax contribution - not blanket assumptions about wealth.

 

If fairness and inclusivity are the goals, dual pricing as currently practiced in Thailand misses the mark.

 

In practice, it alienates well-meaning visitors, reinforces negative stereotypes, and undermines Thailand’s reputation for warmth and hospitality. It also discourages long-term engagement with the country - why integrate into a culture that insists on seeing you as a permanent outsider?

 

The justification that “foreigners can afford it” is a generalisation that, applied elsewhere, would rightly be called xenophobic.

 

Dual pricing is a lazy substitute for fairness.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

There is no excuse for being impolite to your customers while at work. Be you a general or a shelf stacker.

 

Then you mistake indifference for impoliteness with the same degree of naivety as someone who travels little.

 

In my experience, no Thai immigration officer has ever been rude or impolite to me and I doubt they have you or anyone else either.

 

Certainly, they’ve been reserved – stone-faced, unsmiling, asked questions of some – but never overtly impolite. ...And that's an important distinction.

 

As mentioned, some foreigners seem to expect immigration officers to greet them with beaming smiles and warm enthusiasm, as though it's their duty to play host rather than enforce border control. That delusion is a detachment from reality.

 

That said, I have been met with a smile or brief polite conversation now and then – usually when it's quiet and queues are minimal. But I don’t expect it. In fact, I anticipate no verbal exchange at all beyond a thank-you when they return my passport.

 

Most immigration encounters, in any country, are silent and procedural - Thailand is no different.

 

Ironically, the most speech I regularly hear from immigration officials is when my wife enters the UK – as part of procedure she’s  asked how long she plans to stay, where she'll be staying, and so on - again, we don't expect the red carpet there either.