Dos and Don'ts Archives - Page 2 of 2

Like any other place, Thailand has its own share of hazards. While the locals are warm and welcoming, there's also a shady bunch who will try to dupe you. So if you’re planning to visit, I decided to put up this guide on how to be safe in Thailand to serve as your guiding light while traveling. From being hopelessly lost to being a victim of scams, I compiled my experiences and advice from friends living in the country. I consider myself a cautious traveler, so I always look up safety guidelines before visiting a place. And as someone who’s been in Thailand for quite some time, I feel compelled to do my part of keeping other tourists safe. To ensure that the Land of Smiles won’t put a frown on your face, you should read this guide before you hop on the plane. My survival guide on how to be safe in Thailand I divided this safety guide into six different parts. Read on to have a hassle-free stay in Thailand. Part I: Choosing where to stay. Photo Credits - Unsplash When it comes to booking accommodation in-person, there’s one strict rule to follow: never trust easily. Thailand has many upscale hotels to choose from, but cheap hostels and homestays are often the common options for backpackers. Try to avoid: For starters, you should try to avoid the Khao San Road in Bangkok. Sure, it has a line of cheap bars and accommodation, but opportunists also prowl its corners. They prey on naïve tourists, especially those who are traveling alone. But if you think that you’re careful and experienced enough, Khao San Road can still offer cheap finds. Still, you have to practice extra caution. Also, you should avoid the red light districts. These places are all over Bangkok, and it has a nasty reputation due to robbery and sex work. If you want a quiet staycation, you should stay away from these areas as much as possible. Go here instead: Overall, I recommend staying where most tourists do, but you shouldn’t put your guard down. I recommend booking an Airbnb or a hotel room before you arrive. This way, you can avoid on-site scams and dubious charges. For specifics, I recommend Siam Square. It’s one of the main districts in Bangkok, where you’ll be closed to tons of amenities. This is also one of the best places for shopping in the capital, so you’re hitting two birds with one stone. For those who want vibrant nightlife, Sukhumvit is the place to go. The night is bustling here, but not as rowdy and unsafe as those in red light districts. But since many people flock to this area, you should still be careful when going alone. When it comes to backpackers, many of my local friends recommend Soi Ngam Dupli. This is an old backpacking neighborhood in Bangkok together with Soi Sribamphen. Part II: Taking public transport Photo Credits- Pixabay Public transport is quite tricky in Thailand and many Asian countries I’ve visited. It takes a lot of grit to go around a busy street, especially in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Like any other country, there are also scams going on here when it comes to public transport. Based on my experience, here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do: Always insist on using the meter. One of the biggest mistakes I made when I stepped on Thailand was haggling with the airport taxi driver. It’s a guaranteed way to be ripped off with a much higher price. Instead, you should insist that the driver use the meter in charging your fare. Also, watch out for drivers who claim to have broken meters just to rip you off. Book GrabTaxi or UBER if possible To save yourself from taxi scams, it’s wiser to book your transportation in ride-sharing apps. This way, you’ll know who your driver is, and you can report them in case they try to rip you off. Choose your tuk-tuk wisely. Tuk-tuk drivers are often licensed in Thailand, so it’s a good thing that they are also regulated. However, if the driver seems pushy and demands an inflated rate, you should look elsewhere. Also, you may want to avoid riding tuk-tuks during rush hour because it will expose you to a serious amount of pollution (it’s the fastest choice, though). Know the BTS route Nope, I’m not talking about the Korean boyband, I was pertaining to the BTS Thailand Train. This will let you navigate Bangkok cheaply and fast. However, it’s important to know the routes because it’s easy to get lost with all the stops. Beware of motorbike scams. If you plan to rent a motorbike in Thailand, make sure that you take photos of every dent and damage on the vehicle. Otherwise, shady rental shops will ask you to pay for the damages that were already present before you even booked the bike. Also, there are rental places that will ask for your passport to book a motorbike. Never, ever bite this offer. This is one way for tourists to lose their passports. Part III: Thai entertainment and mingling with locals Photo Credits - Pixabay Thailand has one of the best nightlife experiences I’ve ever seen during my travels. However, Thai entertainment is often a two-edged sword. To ensure that you’ll have a good time, here are a few times to keep in mind: Avoid the ‘large bar tab’ scam This is one of the most notorious scams in Thailand, which is pretty common in red light districts. With this scam, someone will lure you into an upstairs bar then that person will give you ‘free drinks’ and ‘free shows’. And for a naïve foreigner, this may seem like an innocent act of hospitality. However, the catch happens when it’s time to go. You’ll be slapped with a hefty bill – the drinks weren’t free and what they claimed to be cheap is actually expensive. The bar often has nothing to do with the scam most of the time. Instead, it’s the person posing as a ‘promoter’ who stages the plot. To prevent this, you should avoid any shows or just stick downstairs at all times. My rule of thumb is to stay where the crowd is. Beware of fake tourism officials. With this scam, someone (or a group of people) will introduce themselves as tourism officials from the Thailand government. Often, they will tell you that your preferred accommodation or transportation is already fully booked. Then, they will offer a ‘better’ alternative for a lower cost. It turns out such an alternative is non-existent, and the fake officials will be nowhere to be found once they get your money. Keep an eye on your drink. Thai nightclubs can get pretty rowdy during happy hour. In some clubs, many foreigners report being drugged and robbed while partying. With this, it’s important to hold your drink at all times. Also, it’s best to go clubbing with your trusted friends or locals. Above all, never accept drinks from strangers, no matter how polite or welcoming they appear to be (remember the large tab scam, okay?). Don’t talk about the king. Thai people respect and revere their king, with some viewing the royal as a god. Also, they have one of the strictest Lese-majeste laws in the world. The Lese-majeste law considers any form of defamation, threat, or insult to the royal family a serious crime. Talking badly about the king can land you in jail and serious trouble. To be safe, it’s better not to bring up the king at all. Being nosy about the royal family will not do you any good. Eat where the queues are Remember this wherever you go: restaurants with long lines always have the best food. But, aside from the excellent taste, you’re also safer in restaurants or establishments where people are willing to wait just to eat. Locals know where the food is good and where you could likely contract the worst diarrhea of your life. Simply follow their lead if you don’t have anyone to ask for guidance. Never do drugs Here’s the truth: there are plenty of illegal drugs in Thailand. But no matter how adventurous it is, never try to do drugs in this country. There’s a reason why it’s called ‘illegal drugs’. In some cases, drug peddlers will sell you some, report you to the police, and they will ask for a large bribe to get you out of jail. Take note that Thailand has the death penalty as the maximum sentence for serious drug offenses. Never go to Ping Pong shows. In Thailand, there are so-called Ping Pong shows. And no, it’s not related to the table tennis sport. Instead, Pong shows are a type of sex show offered in Phuket, Bangkok, and Pattaya nightclubs. During these shows, scantily clad women will put objects in their vaginal cavity, which will be ejected using their pelvic muscles. The show got its name from the fact that the women often use ping pong balls for this bizarre entertainment. The Walking Street in Phuket is notorious for this, with promoters approaching you holding ad materials. They will even make popping noises in their mouths. For your safety, just say no and walk away. Don’t point with your feet; don’t touch someone’s head In Thailand, pointing with your feet, especially toward a sacred item, is extremely disrespectful. In Thai culture, feet are seen as dirty, so using them to point to someone or something is insulting. Also, it’s more polite to point with your hand than your finger. Aside from that, you should never touch someone’s head, even if it’s just playfully ruffling a child’s hair. This is because Thai people consider the head a sacred part of the body. Touching it is very inappropriate and deemed rude in this country. Part IV: Shopping and spending your money Photo Credits - Unsplash Thailand has bustling night markets and shopping malls. But if you want the best deals, you can try going around alleyways with small shops. However, you have to remember the following points: Never flash your cash. This is something I always practice when traveling abroad. It’s not wise to show other people that you have wads of cash. There are thieves everywhere, and the sight of your money is an invitation for robbery. Also, some merchants will inflate their prices once they know that you can afford to pay more. I suggest keeping a few bills all over your pockets. You should get the money from your bag if you're shopping instead of showing your entire wallet. Don’t get me wrong, though: Thailand is NOT a land of snatchers. This is a fairly safe place, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. Don’t haggle too much. Sure, it’s normal to haggle in Thailand, but you shouldn’t cross the line. Excessive haggling is rude and even insulting to merchants. Just be modest and be happy to save a few hundred bahts. Also, never haggle for food – it’s just plain desperate. Also, never lose your cool when haggling with the merchants. Thailand is known to be the ‘Land of Smiles’, but it’s frowned upon to be rude to locals. If you’re not happy with the seller’s price, just say thank you and move along. There’s no need to argue with the seller who’s just trying to earn money. Learn a few Thai phrases If you want to get the best deals, you have to learn a few Thai phrases, especially number-related ones. Thai people are very receptive to the friendliness and the tourists’ efforts to communicate. If you can speak a few phrases of their language, they could become happy enough to give you a discount. Part V: Guarding your belongings Photo Credits - Unsplash Regardless of the country you’re visiting, it’s important to keep tabs on your belongings. This goes on from the moment you land at the airport and when you check back in. The following points are general advice, but it’s something that helped me on my Thailand travels. Keep it all in a single suitcase. When visiting Thailand, I highly recommend that you pack as lightly as possible. The more bags you bring, the higher the chance that you’ll forget something somewhere. Also, try to use a small luggage that you can keep by your side at all times. That way, it doesn’t have to go to the taxi’s trunk or the bus compartment. Lock your belongings When staying in cheap hostels or homestays, I highly recommend that you bring a few chain locks. This way, you can lock drawers and your bags while you’re out and about. If you can’t lock it, just hide it. However, this may not always be effective against the most eager thieves. Nonetheless, one trick that I use is an empty shampoo bottle to hide away my keys, money, and other small items. However, just make sure that you note this part as you might forget it in the shower when you go home. Keep it low key When traveling to Asian countries, I always strip down my jewelry and other accessories that could catch the attention of thieves. I don’t mean to stereotype here, but burglary is more rampant in poorer countries. Also, don’t open your entire rucksack in front of strangers. Being a show-off can put you in trouble in the long run. Don’t entrust your belongings to strangers. While this is quite a no-brainer, some travelers can be too naïve when visiting Thailand. Sure, the locals are friendly and caring, but the thieves are much so. They will talk to you to get your trust. But no matter how nice the person is, never ask them to look after your belongings. Overall, theft isn’t extremely rampant, but it’s still highly possible even in the safest places in Thailand. If you need to leave your belongings, you should lock them in your hotel room. Another option is a short-term storage provider. For example, in Bangkok, there are Vertoe locations that cost around 190 baht daily to keep your luggage. Vertoe is a New York-based platform that connects users to thousands of storage locations all over the world. They operate in key cities in America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Hungary, and dozens of other countries across continents. To avail of Vertoe, you need to sign up to their website. This is because the location is only provided once you’ve confirmed your booking. Bonus part: Safety for female travelers As a lady myself, I deem it necessary to give a shout-out to my fellow female solo travelers. Thailand is a great place for solo adventures, but there are a few points I’d want to share: Don’t walk alone at night. This often goes without saying for most females, traveling or not. But in Thailand, I’d prefer not to wander on the beach alone at night. If you want to watch the sunrise or sunset, I recommend doing so with a friend.Cover up appropriately. Thailand is quite conservative when it comes to clothing, especially for women. Never go topless on the beach, and if you’re wearing a bikini, don’t wander off too far from the beach area. This isn’t Miami Beach, after all. In general, you’ll never go wrong with sleeved blouses and pants (not the tight-fitting one, though).Explore clubs in groups. It’s safer for female tourists to go club hopping with a group of friends. This way, you’re unlikely to get harassed or drugged.Check the signs in temples. Take note that many temples in Thailand don’t allow women to enter. This is because monks are forbidden to come close to a woman’s body or touch females. With this, I suggest that you inquire before entering or hire a tour guide instead.Don’t trust easily. Something isn't right if a local approaches you and stays too close. Instead, you should move along and walk briskly. While politeness is great while traveling, it shouldn’t be at the expense of your safety. End note: I still consider Thailand as a safe place As much as Thailand has its ugly side, I still consider it one of the safest places I’ve visited. Besides, murder, scams, and trickery happen anywhere in the world. It’s just a matter of knowing how to avoid it and how to keep criminals at bay. I must admit, the first time I went here, there was a feeling of uneasiness. A foreigner walking around a totally unfamiliar place – who wouldn’t get scared, right? But after meeting the locals and establishing what I can consider friendship, I started to feel more comfortable. In a matter of weeks, I already found myself dancing away in a Bangkok nightclub and being taught nasty Thai phrases by my local friends. In the end, it’s all about being prepared and knowing how to be safe in Thailand. With that, I hope that this blog helps you prepare for your future visit to this country.