Preparing for a trip to Thailand

[cardholder]

Anyone seen the OP ?

Anywhere ?

No ?

[Pui]

Get a Lonely Planet guide (or similar) for Thailand.

Come back when you have some more specific questions.

Bring plenty of socks, the ones for sale here are not so good and too small for foreigners.

[Goompa]

OP maybe hanging out with Neo ?

[BruceSmith]

Bring plenty of money and plenty of condums, that way you will do just fine, whatever you decide to do or wherever you og.

Bon voyage

[sirchai]

Honestly, you should bring a functioning brain and not leave it at the airport.

Be aware that it's easy to "fall in love" with a bar girl, as they "play being your wife/gf", as you pay them for, plus the bar fine.

( Different to other countries, people still believe the " I love you too much nonsense.")

If you're female, don't walk around almost naked.

Don't believe girls when they're asking for their sick mom, who needs expensive medicine for her, some new buffaloes and more.

Treat people they way you want to be treated. Be aware that you'll meet loads of foreigners, who think they know this country, but they don't.

For a holiday, please look up "Ban Krut", in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. A nice village at the ocean. Avoid places where too many foreigners are.

Don't use rude words when talking to Thais. Even when upset, smile.....don't rent a big bike when you'd never driven one before. Use common sense.-

"Honestly, you should bring a functioning brain and not leave it at the airport.

Be aware that it's easy to "fall in love" with a bar girl ..."

..."don't rent a big bike ..."

It is a female from Sweden. Dorotea is located in Sweden.

Good advice about the functioning brain. Could apply to those handing out advice as well.

Do me a favor and don't use parts of my post. My opinion might differ from yours.-

[iamanisland]

 

 

For a holiday, please look up "Ban Krut", in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. A nice village at the ocean. Avoid places where too many foreigners are.

 

 

Please please please never mention BK.. please please....... one of the last few unspoiled places left. Just left yesturday back to bkk and to my horror and for the first time ever I see a falang leave arcadia resort without a shirt (by taxi of course) to the train station.

When I arrived at the train station there he was minus the shirt still with his bkk tempory gf all looking bangkok style dyed brown hair and high high heels checking her phone and looking pissed off as there was no one to take notice of her in the right way. And him...... still minus shirt!!

Disgraceful. ....... fine at beach but in hotel and taxi and then train station.

Im not happy with this. We i.e. regular users of bk do not want it spoilt by ignorant falang.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Goompa]

Got me a new destination in mind ! got that Ban Kruk feeling right now , sorry to digress and I know that condoms are cheaper-less expensive in LOS

[iamanisland]

Hahahaha.....

You need to find Baan Grood or was it Ban Krud???? Not sure think its near songkhala.

Good luck but please just wear a shirt....

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[stoli]

Please , please, please select another source to find information about Thailand rather than the rants above. It is a beautiful country, with very warm people, and extremely enjoyable. I have not figured why so many Thai Visa people feel that they were sent here to live in a prison like atmosphere. You will enjoy this country with an open mind, rather than from people that came here expecting to escape the laws in their countries. Possibly their countries kicked them out? May they be extradited soon. Come and enjoy. Pattaya has a great offering, whether you want to party or not, your choice. Bangkok is fun. Koh Chang is beautiful and fun. So much to see here.

[iamanisland]

Please , please, please select another source to find information about Thailand rather than the rants above. It is a beautiful country, with very warm people, and extremely enjoyable. I have not figured why so many Thai Visa people feel that they were sent here to live in a prison like atmosphere. You will enjoy this country with an open mind, rather than from people that came here expecting to escape the laws in their countries. Possibly their countries kicked them out?  May they be extradited soon. Come and enjoy. Pattaya has a great offering, whether you want to party or not, your choice. Bangkok is fun. Koh Chang is beautiful and fun. So much to see here.

Well said.

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[Goompa]

I do agree and I do apologise if my rants were offensive , sincerely Goompa.

[jpinx]

2 pages of wasted advice -- the OP never came back

[iamanisland]

I know what I very funny.................

41 posts and OP still sleeping.......

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[iamanisland]

At least one less person in baan krud or grood or krut or what ever it is called again...... cant remember...........

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[Goompa]

Yeah you the funny man , Goompa not serious ,still looking for Ban Kruk

[iamanisland]

Fewwwwwwww..........

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[DoroteaMei]

There are a lot of information here. Thank you so much. I appreciate you all for a good information and advice. Also, I apologize for replying late.

By the way, I am not a native speaker. If there are some confusing since my English is not quite good, I am sorry for that.

The information I asked is not specifically for me. I want to investigate some information so that I can describe it to my friends and invite them to join my trip to Thailand.

[pomchop]

There are a lot of information here. Thank you so much. I appreciate you all for a good information and advice. Also, I apologize for replying late.

By the way, I am not a native speaker. If there are some confusing since my English is not quite good, I am sorry for that.

The information I asked is not specifically for me. I want to investigate some information so that I can describe it to my friends and invite them to join my trip to Thailand.

You REALLY need to do some research on your own and THEN maybe come back on this forum and ask more specific questions. Otherwise you are going to get way more opinions and advice on places you know nothing about. I would start out by spending several hours on http://www.travelfish.org/ .....while this site is really directed more to young backpackers it has a lot of information that would apply to most anyone.

You never did say what age group or gender or budget which can make a big difference in what some might recommend.

[Mossfinn]

2 pages of wasted advice -- the OP never came back

Would you? After reading the above advice. She is going to be raped, smiled at by a grinning assassin, thrown off a balcony, ripped off at every turn, Sun bathe on filthy beaches, get killed in a car, taxi, coach or bike or probably all four at the same time. Clapton it is then

[cardholder]

2 pages of wasted advice -- the OP never came back

Would you? After reading the above advice. She is going to be raped, smiled at by a grinning assassin, thrown off a balcony, ripped off at every turn, Sun bathe on filthy beaches, get killed in a car, taxi, coach or bike or probably all four at the same time. Clapton it is then

CLACTON might be better.

No jet ski scams there...............

[Mossfinn]

It would be much better to give further info in regard to ages, interests, preferred activities or things you really want to cross off your to do list. That way advice can be more accurately directed to suit your designs and hopefully describe the country in a more constructive manner, to counter balance the negativity, and give you a balanced view point. Good luck

[Mossfinn]

2 pages of wasted advice -- the OP never came back

Would you? After reading the above advice. She is going to be raped, smiled at by a grinning assassin, thrown off a balcony, ripped off at every turn, Sun bathe on filthy beaches, get killed in a car, taxi, coach or bike or probably all four at the same time. Clapton it is then

CLACTON might be better.

No jet ski scams there...............

[iamanisland]

Im tired now sleepy sleep.....

56 posts of drivel which I hold my hands up too that I participated in. However enough is enough.

Wake up children, everywhere in the world is dangerous and I mean everywhere including thailand. Sorry thai ppl but thats fact.

But let me tell you one thing about the world. You can find trouble danger in every country and it will affect you if you choose to put yourself in that danger.

If you try not to go there and use your mind then on the whole you will be fine.

Im not going to exspand on this anymore unless ppl want me too?????

And before someone asks for experience.......... im 41 years old and i think im quite well travelled although i always think theres room for more. And I mean travelled not transit through, i have travelled around 79 countries in the world and im still here to tell the tell so to speak.

Now for all those world wide travellers there is around 246 recognised countries in the world depending on which list you want to read and I have been travelling for nearly 25 years and i have till not seen half of the world???? Just think on that ..........

Thailand is no more dangerous than some other countries in the world I promise you that.

Try arriving on the overnight train from bam to quetta now thats spine tingling when police insist on escorting you all the time your there. That dangerous you dont get that on the suk road.

If ppl need to see my ex passport visas or my flickr account for proof then I will willing supply to anyone.

So lets close this stupid thread and stop the my penis is bigger than yours contest. My penis is quite large.

So for the uneducated thailand is no more dangerous than any other country in the world and death in all is just one step away just one wrong turn anywhere not just here.

Btw I choose to stay in thailand because I actualy like it here.

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[Baloo22]

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

what a crazy statement

Until u state ur age and what you enjoy doing, no one, I repeat, NO ONE can make any suggestions on where to go or what you should do

I don't consider it a "crazy statement" at all. It is a very accurate statement!

Here is one of the latest events in the Phuket paradise: "Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident"

I found this comment to be very enlightening. You can find many more accounts of the pitfalls visitors to the sewers of Phuket and Pattaya have endured.

[phuketrichard]

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

what a crazy statement

Until u state ur age and what you enjoy doing, no one, I repeat, NO ONE can make any suggestions on where to go or what you should do

I don't consider it a "crazy statement" at all. It is a very accurate statement!

Here is one of the latest events in the Phuket paradise: "Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident"

I found this comment to be very enlightening. You can find many more accounts of the pitfalls visitors to the sewers of Phuket and Pattaya have endured.

you,like most people seem to interchange Patong beach with PHUKET island

they are not one and the same an although Patong Beach might have go go bars ( ONLY found at PATONG BEACH) and open air bars and problems, the rest of the island is beautiful and peaceful

[Baloo22]

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

what a crazy statement

Until u state ur age and what you enjoy doing, no one, I repeat, NO ONE can make any suggestions on where to go or what you should do

I don't consider it a "crazy statement" at all. It is a very accurate statement!

Here is one of the latest events in the Phuket paradise: "Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident"

I found this comment to be very enlightening. You can find many more accounts of the pitfalls visitors to the sewers of Phuket and Pattaya have endured.

you,like most people seem to interchange Patong beach with PHUKET island

they are not one and the same an although Patong Beach might have go go bars ( ONLY found at PATONG BEACH) and open air bars and problems, the rest of the island is beautiful and peaceful

No, I do not interchange Patong with Phuket island. What I have done is hear what multiple people who have lived on Phuket Island have told me. Both accounts seen on boards like this one and face to face. They have been remarkably similar to the account by BM pgrin . One person that now lives here in Chiang Mai told me "The mafia and scum used to be pretty much limited to Patong, but now have spread throughout the island." And that was the reason that, after living more than 6 years on Phuket island, he was fed up with it and moved to Chiang Mai.

If you like living there, by all means, continue. I have based my comment above on my observations, in both Pattaya and Phuket, and the large body of evidence that tells of the violent crime and extreme corruption in both places. When asked to advise friends and others, as I have in the past and will continue in the future, I will advise them to stay away from both Pattaya and Phuket.

[flyingdoc]

Thailand is indeed a fascinating and very diverse country.

However it is NOT a Third World country as many think, but a Developing Country, and will be joining the forthcoming ASEAN Community in full, in just over a year's time!

Compared to the West and in particular the U.K, it is relatively class-less. There are rich and there are poor.

Some families in Isaan are living on under $2 per day, then you can go into the new fabulous shopping Malls in Bangkok (BKK), and other cities, and you will find goods there to exhaust any shopaholic! Take Terminal 21 for instance, in BKK.

Thailand is far more conservative than most Westerners believe. Don't be fooled by T.V and other reports that Thailand is a Land of Smiles catering for every whim of the foreigner (farang), and that sex is available everywhere. This is only true of a small minority, though well publicized in the Press, in hot spots like Phuket, Pattaya and other tourist resorts. There they certainly equate farangs = ATM machines, so beware !

To answer your question, you should first get a good but easy to read guidebook. Learn a little about the Thai countryside, culture and outlook on life. If you want to pre-book any hotels in advance, I would always advise securing any accommodation by lodging credit card details only, NOT paying in full in advance ! That way you can always amend your booking on arrival, or change to a more or less expensive room. Hotels are so plentiful, you can always always rely on last minute or on the spot accommodation, if you prefer to look first.

Bangkok is a vibrant City at all times, but it may present a culture shock in the first instance to the uninitiated. Don't visit without reading something up first. Travel is cheap, and if you are on a budget, buses are plentiful to every corner of Thailand, and I am happy to take overnight coaches down to Samui, for instance, some 700 km South by road, and often referred to as the 'Jewel in the Crown' of Thai tourism. Next to Samui, is Koh Phangan, the home of the monthly Full Moon Parties, if that kind of thing attracts! Up North you have the fascinating areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai plus the Golden Triangle, with hill tribes, the mighty Mekong River and lots of elephants !

Lastly, I have trawled relentlessly through all the recent Thai Visa Forum notices, and failed to find the Post I am looking for, by a young traveller who slated almost everything in Thailand, and had to 'make do' on a budget of $20,000 for 3 weeks !!. I have been wanting to reply for weeks, and cannot contain myself any longer. He was dissatisfied with his $300 per night hotel in BKK, disliked Samui but slated nearby Koh Phangan mercilessly, and deprecated Krabi, Koh Lanta and Phi Phi. Poor rich boy indeed! I am a research doctor in Anti-aging Medicine (AAM), and have been coming to Thailand for 27 years, and to Koh Samui for 16 years. I have stayed in excellent brand new hotels near the Airport at Suvarnabhumi for 1,000 baht per night, travelled in luxury a/c coaches overnight to Samui, with meal and drink, full reclining seats and blankets provided for 850 baht, and had fabulous meals out in a plethora of restaurants all over Thailand for 500 - 1,000 baht, though it is possible to eat well for far less!

Koh Phangan is a lovely Island and deserves exploration. Why otherwise, are the ferries always packed to capacity, and not just for Full Moon parties, when speedboats usually cater for visitors rather than the conventional ferries anyway?

He complained that he got people to do planning for him. Why the hell didn't he do it himself? He might have learned something about the country, and not presented such a jaundiced view of what is one of the most fascinating countries and cultures in the world!

[samuijimmy]

Thailand is indeed a fascinating and very diverse country.

However it is NOT a Third World country as many think, but a Developing Country, and will be joining the forthcoming ASEAN Community in full, in just over a year's time!

Compared to the West and in particular the U.K, it is relatively class-less. There are rich and there are poor.

Some families in Isaan are living on under $2 per day, then you can go into the new fabulous shopping Malls in Bangkok (BKK), and other cities, and you will find goods there to exhaust any shopaholic! Take Terminal 21 for instance, in BKK.

Thailand is far more conservative than most Westerners believe. Don't be fooled by T.V and other reports that Thailand is a Land of Smiles catering for every whim of the foreigner (farang), and that sex is available everywhere. This is only true of a small minority, though well publicized in the Press, in hot spots like Phuket, Pattaya and other tourist resorts. There they certainly equate farangs = ATM machines, so beware !

To answer your question, you should first get a good but easy to read guidebook. Learn a little about the Thai countryside, culture and outlook on life. If you want to pre-book any hotels in advance, I would always advise securing any accommodation by lodging credit card details only, NOT paying in full in advance ! That way you can always amend your booking on arrival, or change to a more or less expensive room. Hotels are so plentiful, you can always always rely on last minute or on the spot accommodation, if you prefer to look first.

Bangkok is a vibrant City at all times, but it may present a culture shock in the first instance to the uninitiated. Don't visit without reading something up first. Travel is cheap, and if you are on a budget, buses are plentiful to every corner of Thailand, and I am happy to take overnight coaches down to Samui, for instance, some 700 km South by road, and often referred to as the 'Jewel in the Crown' of Thai tourism. Next to Samui, is Koh Phangan, the home of the monthly Full Moon Parties, if that kind of thing attracts! Up North you have the fascinating areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai plus the Golden Triangle, with hill tribes, the mighty Mekong River and lots of elephants !

Lastly, I have trawled relentlessly through all the recent Thai Visa Forum notices, and failed to find the Post I am looking for, by a young traveller who slated almost everything in Thailand, and had to 'make do' on a budget of $20,000 for 3 weeks !!. I have been wanting to reply for weeks, and cannot contain myself any longer. He was dissatisfied with his $300 per night hotel in BKK, disliked Samui but slated nearby Koh Phangan mercilessly, and deprecated Krabi, Koh Lanta and Phi Phi. Poor rich boy indeed! I am a research doctor in Anti-aging Medicine (AAM), and have been coming to Thailand for 27 years, and to Koh Samui for 16 years. I have stayed in excellent brand new hotels near the Airport at Suvarnabhumi for 1,000 baht per night, travelled in luxury a/c coaches overnight to Samui, with meal and drink, full reclining seats and blankets provided for 850 baht, and had fabulous meals out in a plethora of restaurants all over Thailand for 500 - 1,000 baht, though it is possible to eat well for far less!

Koh Phangan is a lovely Island and deserves exploration. Why otherwise, are the ferries always packed to capacity, and not just for Full Moon parties, when speedboats usually cater for visitors rather than the conventional ferries anyway?

He complained that he got people to do planning for him. Why the hell didn't he do it himself? He might have learned something about the country, and not presented such a jaundiced view of what is one of the most fascinating countries and cultures in the world!

The most sensible post so far!

OMG !!! ....what a bunch of dribble in most responses! I am surprised I got past the first page....

Some people obviously don't get out further than the nearest bar

[NoshowJones]

agoda.com and agoda app.

Avoid Agoda like the plague, they add extra taxes. look for the small print. The print is small because they hope you will not notice it.

[simonjacq]

Grab the latest issue of Lonely Planet Thailand

I disagree and would say almost all tourist guides will not show the negatives and will promote the country and its people as if they were being paid by someone!

Most people will be very disappointed when believing what they read in a guide book.

I am kind of agree on the comment for a guide book, to me, guide book should be one of the many references that we should read before deciding whether to visit that place or not. Forums on the other hand are good when there is review by travelers who have been there.

Just my 2 cents.

Simon