Traveling to Thailand for first time next month and would like some advice

[thedancerman]

I am coming there next month around the 12th arriving Bangkok will stay maybe 2 days there and then would like to see some more of the country maybe few days at beaches and then head north any advice would be welcomed,also where to stay and what to see in Bangkok thanks

[Suradit69]

That's a pretty broad statement and would generate different answers if you were a 30 year old male who likes night life & bar hopping, a 70 year old woman who wants to visit temples & wats or you're into wildlife (of the animal variety) or shopping for Chinese antiques or scuba diving or ...

Two days in Bangkok may be insufficient to see much, but again it would depend in part on how long you intended to be in the country in total. Beaches could mean Pattaya, which is fairly close to Bangkok or Phuket, which would be bit further, or Hua Hin which is a little more laid back ...

Heading north could mean Chiang Mai or rural Thailand or National Parks or ...

Where to stay depends on your budget and whether you're only looking for a place to sleep or a resort with spa and other pampering.

Suggest you plug Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin and whatever else comes to mind (one at a time) in the search field near the upper right of the page and read some previous threads.

[thrilled]

Just do internet searches.Or else be more specific.You are way to broad

[Torrens54]

Google: Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Then follow your heart!

Who knows, you may be like thousands of we Expats from "somewhere" who fell in love with Thailand and now live here....even if we sometimes have a bit of a grizzle about things.

ENJOY!!!

Edited February 9, 2015 by Torrens54

[gk10002000]

hear hear redandyellow. The woman are great. I have been in Thailand during the 2004 Tsunami, one week after the Thaksin overthrow, the BKK airport sit in shutdown, the Bangkok riots and temporary curfews, etc. Roll with the punches.

As for Bangkok few days, take time for Wat Po and the grand palace, and the national museum. Take a ride on the BTS monorail and get a look out the window at the layout of Bankgok. After that, you're on your own.

[Thunderbirds20]

You do not mention how long you will be here in Thailand, so it is difficult to tell you what to see! You also do not mention what you like to see and do? Bangkok is huge and takes a long time to get anywhere or see anything because of horrendous traffic jams! One day I took a tour to see the big gold buddha and the Grand Palace. I got picked up in a van,at my hotel, at 8 a.m. and proceeded to spend the next 3 hours, picking up people at their hotels and then getting to our first stop. We spent a whopping 15 minutes at the Golden Buddha then back in the van. We spent about an hour at the Grand Palace. Then they took us to the gem and jewelry factory, hoping we would buy over-priced jewelry for another hour. The rest of the time I was in the van, (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

I like markets so I went to Pratunam good for buying clothes and Chatuchak, which is only open on the weekends, but sells virtually everything from pets to artwork! Khaosan Road is a fun place to spend an afternoon/evening and you can get pretty much anything you want there for a price, ..even diplomas from virtually any university in the world! Lumphini Park is a huge oasis with a small lake in the midst of Bangkok! Then of course there are things like the Floating Market, which is too geared to tourists now for my liking, .. not natural any more and not always open either. We went there one day to find it boarded up and closed.

Beaches? ..... there are several, ..... Krabi - (Great natural setting), Pattaya - (Sin City), Hua Hin - (The Kings favorite place), not to mention islands like Phuket, Phi Phi (very small), Samui (expensive) Tao ( small but great diving), Phang Nga, ... the problem is most decent beach towns are now full of Russians! I live in Jomtien Beach, near Pattaya, and there are more Russians here than all the other nationalities combined.

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north are worth a visit. You can see hill tribe people villages, ... elephant training centers, lots of handi-craft factories, the Golden Triangle near Chiang Rai, .... Tons of Temples to see, some archeological sights like Ayuthaya, and Sukothai, .... but most single guys come here for the women! Don't fall in love! They are like ATM Cleaners! They will suck you dry! They will have stories of woe,... like sick parent, school fees for their kid, the buffalo died, the wheel fell off the car, ..... one girl did not speak English well and said to me ...The wheel fell off the buffalo! Buyer Beware!

[Duvidl]

The wheel fell off the buffalo. I LOVE it!

[steven100]

Just get a taxi who will probably rip you off. Tell him you want to go to Nana, find a bar, get sloshed and meet an honest Thai girl that has never been with a farang. Then get married and live with mama & papa in the village.

[The manic]

The only reason to come here is for the women really. Then a few days in Pattaya and Bangkok should suffice.

[SoiBiker]

Judging by the replies so far, I guess the OP would be better off looking elsewhere for advice.

Shame.

[mrfaroukh]

Best advise for you, whatever you do and where ever you go don't fall in love with a bar girl and hold your money tight.

[rotorbreeze]

The only reason to come here is for the women really. Then a few days in Pattaya and Bangkok should suffice.

A nice BLEND in your first visit to Thailand is to visit is Pattaya.

Many places to stay..suggest FairTex sports club..I have been member for 7 yrs now..here is the web site

http://fairtexpattaya.com/

You will experience Mua Thai Training..meet others whom share this sport...weight room..many more activities Tennis badminton..rock climbing..etc...you also have others patriots whom visit variety of entertainment sites and ask for ratings.

Take small steps as I know you will want to see more of this country..also be aware of the dangers...rips offs..con-women...you know by others whom post..let keep positive ok..

Enjoy and see you at FairTex ask for Mr. Ron...will give you more tips on visiting or touring by motorscooter..again no rental bikes unless you have experience...cheers mate!

[tonray]

I recently arrived in Bangkok after a 3 year hiatus in Malaysia. While I enjoyed my time in Malaysia, I was thrilled to be back in Bangkok. There is nothing like it. 2 days here is not enough. But if that is all you have, drop your bags at the hotel (just get one near an MRT or BTS station, download the transit map of Bangkok to your phone and step out. The only real advice will be to take note of what exit (usually 4) of the transit station you enter/leave from, otherwise you will get seriously lost. Transit system is cheap, easy and efficient. If that is not fast enough, grab a motorcycle taxi from just about any corner (guys with orange vests) and just tell them where you want to go. Fast, cheap and thrilling. What you want to see or do (cultural, malls, hot girls is up to you) With transit map, smartphone and a 10K baht you can have a hell of time in 2 days.

[rmacee]

As the ad goes ..'it's more fun in the Philippines. .' and it's true ..more fun and a lot cheaper ..

..Thailand has gone past its sell buy date ...

[Thomas Hannah]

Expect to be ripped off ,everywere you go.My advice is Go pattaya.The new plaza.If your flight arrival is day time, go down stairs to bottom,get bells travel bus 200 baht to pattaya,Night time arrival.go to kiosk and get taxi,not the cheapest,but first time safest.1.500 baht.dont pay anymore.Book on internet,walk in mansion for 3 days.this is right next to the new plaza.In new plaza.there are many expats,Its also the cheapest beer that you will find.there are about 15 bars there.To much to tell on here.But all the expats,will tell you everything .This is the safest way for someone first time.I do not know what your budget is,and your circumstances.Thailand is expencive now.But some things are still cheap.like public transport.Pattaya has everything for the holiday maker.More than anywere else in thailand.Best of luck on your trip.

[tonray]

Expect to be ripped off ,everywere you go.My advice is Go pattaya.The new plaza.If your flight arrival is day time, go down stairs to bottom,get bells travel bus 200 baht to pattaya,Night time arrival.go to kiosk and get taxi,not the cheapest,but first time safest.1.500 baht.dont pay anymore.Book on internet,walk in mansion for 3 days.this is right next to the new plaza.In new plaza.there are many expats,Its also the cheapest beer that you will find.there are about 15 bars there.To much to tell on here.But all the expats,will tell you everything .This is the safest way for someone first time.I do not know what your budget is,and your circumstances.Thailand is expencive now.But some things are still cheap.like public transport.Pattaya has everything for the holiday maker.More than anywere else in thailand.Best of luck on your trip.

That is utter nonsense. If you act like a dirtbag yes you will get ripped off, but if you treat Thais with respect and learn a bit about cultural norms they will treat you with the same respect. I'm sorry but I got ripped off a whole lot more in Malaysia than I ever did in Thailand. If you are talking about trolling for paid sexual adventures then yes that is what you get by acting like a dirtbag.

[ronargo]

Barging with took took drivers for price and by ALL means if you see Russian people automically

Go the other direction. They all are rude, selfish arrogant and evil people.

[losgrad]

Not sure if this is allowed, so excuse me in advance...

Without more specifics of what the first time visitor seeks, I'd recommend reviewing the "Lonely Planet Thailand" for a broad range of suggestions, concerns and explanations. When OP has questions, he can then inquire within this forum for specifics.

Enjoy your first visit to the Kingdom.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand

[Rimmer]

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[laislica]

Get good travel insurance and keep away from motorcycles until you understand it's not so much what you do but what every other road user does!

Cross busy roads via the foot bridges or underpasses. Pedestrians have NO right of anything!

Keep your thinking head on at all times and don't lose control to drink......

Never get into a situation that causes a Thai to lose face or cause confrontation.

Should things turn ugly in a bar, run like hell, keep running and don't look back!

Thais Enjoy A Scrap With At Least 5 Thais To 1 Foreigner (Ferrang) and they like to use weapons like a 4x2, a broken beer bottle or a home made gun.

Be especially aware of what can happen in places like Koh Tao, you have already been warned about Jet Ski scams.

Don't wear flashy gold stuff, a passing motorcycle will have it away before you realise it. You are a cash cow, remember that.

Best bet, leave your money at the airport and get back on the plane.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sorry about that, I was just trying to keep in the spirit of many of the other posts!

No details in your profile, no details in the O(riginal)P(ost)

A bit late to ask questions like this.

Download Stephen Leather's free eBook Private Dancer.

Too late to get hold of Thailand Fever, maybe look on their website.

Outside the centre of Bangkok you can find reasonably priced Guest Houses like the Sananwan Palace run by a Brit and his Thai wife.

They have a nice swimming pool, they have a website.

Also try Trip Advisor.

http://www.gapyear.com/articles/218772/101-things-you-need-to-do-in-thailand

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bangkok-free-travel-guide/id720611633?mt=8

Good luck and enjoy but be safe.

[Suradit69]

Expect to be ripped off ,everywere you go.My advice is Go pattaya.The new plaza.If your flight arrival is day time, go down stairs to bottom,get bells travel bus 200 baht to pattaya,Night time arrival.go to kiosk and get taxi,not the cheapest,but first time safest.1.500 baht.dont pay anymore.Book on internet,walk in mansion for 3 days.this is right next to the new plaza.In new plaza.there are many expats,Its also the cheapest beer that you will find.there are about 15 bars there.To much to tell on here.But all the expats,will tell you everything .This is the safest way for someone first time.I do not know what your budget is,and your circumstances.Thailand is expencive now.But some things are still cheap.like public transport.Pattaya has everything for the holiday maker.More than anywere else in thailand.Best of luck on your trip.

"Expect to be ripped off ,everywere [sic] you go."

Assuming you're not especially bright.

"...there are many expats,Its also the cheapest beer that you will find."

Yes come to Thailand, hang out with losers like yourself and most importantly find the place that serves the cheapest beer.

Reading some of the posts in this thread I'm surprised that the hospital emergency rooms aren't awash in scraped knuckle injuries. I guess some people assume everyone is a drunken sex tourists and penny pincher.