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| Thursday, February 09 |
FREELANG Magazine - TravelFreelang's Travel Guides: facts in short and practical advice for travellers.
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Depending on how you look at it, you can say Thailand is a fairly modern country where everything is quite well organized, or you could also say that it is still a third world country where nothing seems to be organized at all. So it's probably a bit of both. Thai people are said to be nice and welcoming, and they probably truly are, but don't expect anything much in touristic areas. Thais have a great sense of service, but they can also be shy or have a different idea of what a job should be. For instance, foreign managers often complain that their Thai staff don't take responsibilities and can act carelessly. As a tourist, you can only expect a great level of service in five star hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, don't be surprised if strange things happen, like you ordered some fish and you get some chicken because the waitress didn't understand you (even if she acted like she did) or because there is no fish anymore and they didn't tell you. It's no big deal and it's Thailand, so go the Thai way: relax, smile and have some fun!
What should I be concerned with while preparing my trip?
Most tourists (check the exact list of countries) are given a permission of stay of 30 days. So if you want to stay more, you should obtain a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in your country. Make sure you never overstay, as it is a very serious matter and you can be thrown in jail for overstaying.
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date, but there is no need for other special vaccination. There is no need for anti-Malaria treatment either, unless you're planning to spend a lot of time in very remote areas.
Booking a hotel in advance is always a good idea, at least for the first two or three nights. But if you are on a budget, you can easily go to the backpackers' area and look for a guesthouse there.
What kind of accomodation should I book?
Thailand is a popular destination because it caters for all sort of tourists: families with young children, teenage "backpackers", or lonely older men (who tend not to stay lonely after a few days, mind you). It also has a whole range of accomodation, from cheap guesthouses to five star hotels. The most important, assuming you begin your stay in Bangkok, is to choose your location first. If you are the backpacker type (no need to go on a trek, dreadlocks and tatoos do nicely), then head to Banglamphu area, where the infamous Kao San road is. Families will probably prefer Silom road or Sukhumvit, within walking distance of a skytrain station. For naughty nightlife, avoid Patong like plague and stay on Sukhumvit road, between Asoke and Nana.
I arrive at the airport. Then what?
You can take a bus or a taxi to your hotel. Taking a taxi is easier, of course, and not too expensive. Just ignore all the touts trying to sell you a "limousine" trip or to get you into a non official taxi, and go to the public taxi stand. Make sure the taxi driver understands where you are going and that he turns on the meter. There is an extra charge because you are at the aiport, and you are also supposed to pay the toll if you take the expressway.
How do I get around in Bangkok?
The BTS (skytrain) and MRT (subway) are great to get around in Bangkok. Taxis are not expensive and there are plenty of them. If you want to avoid problems, always hail a moving taxi with its red light on (the light says "free" in Thai) and avoid all taxis that are parked in touristic areas with their drivers asking you where you are going. These kinds of taxis will overcharge you, lie to you saying that such temple or market is closed today, and they will take you to places you don't want to go (like shops where they have a commission on sales). Worse than taxis are the tuk-tuks, but a ride in a tuk-tuk is a kind of must-do, so you can go for it and see how it goes. Buses are hassle free and very cheap, though it's not easy to know which one goes where. The moto-taxis are usually hassle free too and very convenient to avoid traffic jam. You just need a good insurance!
How do I travel to another province?
You can go almost anywhere by plane, bus or train. Obviously it depends on your budget, the distance and the time you have. Just a piece of advice concerning buses: always take the bus from a real bus station, like Ekamai or Sai Tai. It's where Thai people go when they go somewhere by bus. Booking a bus from an agency in Kao San road, for instance, is not a good idea. If you do, though, make sure you don't keep any valuables in the luggage hold.
Dangers, problems, scams I should be aware of?
Just beware of anyone walking up to you from out of the blue, even if (or especially if) he is nicely dressed and says he works, say, for Thai airways. Anyone coming to you with a proposition or an offer of some sort, it's probably a scam. Don't get paranoid, but use some common sense. Thai people may be nice and friendly, but they usually don't just walk up to strangers in the street.
You should also read the "Dos and don'ts" in Thailand, to learn about the cultural taboos. Don't show any disrespect towards religion and monarchy, and don't yell at a Thai are advice that you should keep in mind.
Top places I shouldn't miss?
A typical combination in Thailand would be Bangkok, of course (shopping and nightlife), then Chiang Mai in the north (elephant ride, hill tribes) and a nice island in the south, for the beach. Then again it depends on your budget, how much time you have and what you like to do. If you do some research on the web to prepare your trip, you should also check Kanchanaburi. It's not a typical backpacker or family destination, but it's famous for its historical past (the bridge over the river Kwai, Hellfire Pass...). It's a beautiful area, with plenty of things to see and to do, it's not far from Bangkok and it's a nice change from the classic Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Ko Phangan circuit.
Top things I should do?
The most famous attractions in Bangkok, apart from the shopping malls, are the Grand Palace and the temples near the river (Wat Po, Wat Arun). To discover the city, take a boat ride on the river and along the klongs (canals), go for a walk in the small streets of Chinatown or fly above the city in the skytrain. At night, you can have a drink on the top of the Banyan Tree hotel (Satorn road), the highest building of the city. Then you can check out Patpong night market. If you want to see what the infamous go-go bars are like, head to soi Cowboy (Asoke). Thailand is also famous for its delicious food and the traditional oil massages, so don't be afraid to try it.
Any original ideas, off the beaten track?
Basically, apart from some areas in Bangkok, classic tourist destinations like Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the other islands of the south (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, Ko Tao...) the whole rest of the country is off the beaten track. Even near Bangkok, there are markets (like Sanam Luang 2), as well-stocked as the famous Chatuchak week-end market. You can even find floating markets with almost no tourists at all (like Amphawa, google it).
Have a nice stay in Thailand!
