Thailand = Scamland?

jumperabv3

About 3 weeks from now - I'm planning to go with my wife and our baby (7.5 months) to Thailand, we haven't booked anything inside Thailand yet, but we have our flights booked and the hotel for the first night which is by the airport. We're going to be there for about 3 weeks.

I read online as well as watched on Youtube warnings from many people to be careful in Thailand because everyone there can be a potential scammer, you can go to the palace there and someone would try to lie to you and tell you it's closed and many other scams like that, including TukTuk drivers who never take you to your own destination and some Taxi drivers too (and you need to be careful not to yell on the scammer, or definitely don't go violent because if you do you will find yourself surrounded by 10+ Thais would beat you up)...

So that's the negative part of it, there are also lots of positives of course ... my wife was the one who wanted to go there, I'm considering purchasing tickets for ourselves to go to Hong Kong for most of the time whilst we're there because I think Hong Kong is a far better place for tourists and more welcoming ...

If you were in my shoes what would you do? We haven't booked anything yet, I understand it's okay because there is no need to book things there like 3 months in advance, the hotels there are cheap anyway (but better take 4+ stars to ensure no thief is gonna walk freely in your room etc.) - do you have any suggestions for a couple + baby what to do there?

dj1471

You've read the horror stories but it's all greatly exaggerated. Taxis and tuk-tuks are sometimes an issue but you get that almost everywhere as a tourist. Uber is available at least in Bangkok, so when you get overcharged (you will) you can get your money back from Uber. The only scam I've experienced is the palace one, but like you I'd heard about it in advance.

There's at least a week of things to do in Bangkok, after that I'd suggest heading down to Phuket (NOT Patong, pick one of the other beaches along the West coast), stay on the Pi Pi islands for a few days, maybe head up to Chiang Mai for the final week. Internal flights are really cheap.

It would be silly to fly to Bangkok then spend all your time in Hong Kong! Go and enjoy it.

PompeyPete

Here's a few common scams...

http://www.bangkokscams.com/

...but don't get paranoid about them. You've done the hard bit by making yourself aware of them.

Tourists in Bangkok are easy victims for scammers because most tourists are only in the city for a couple of nights or so, will have made long flights, and won't have settled into the heat and unfamiliarity of a v.busy SE Asian city.

If you decide to stay in Bangkok the public transport is excellent, Skytrain [BTS], Underground [MRT], and Chao Phraya river ferries.
It'll make life easier for you if you choose a hotel close to one of the stations.

Thailand is a beautiful welcoming country, but if you've soon got 3 weeks on your hands there then you need to have some sort of plan. Three nights max in Bangkok is a good start, but the rest really depends on you, what interests you, and stuff like that.

My favourite area is Kanchanaburi, close to Bangkok, and easy to reach on your own by train...

http://www.seat61.com/Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai.htm

If you want a bit of beach, then have a look at Hua Hin, which is only 3 hours away by train, less by taxi...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Hua_Hin

If you want to go up country then Chiang Mai and the surrounding countryside is very popular. It's easy to reach by short internal flight, or my preference is to get there by overnight sleeper train.

Thailand is popular on this forum, so no doubt you'll get a few more ideas, but don't worry too much about scams. Everyone has been scammed somewhere in their life, and if they say that they haven't, then that's because they never noticed.;)

PompeyPete

dj1471 wrote: »

There's at least a week of things to do in Bangkok, after that I'd suggest heading down to Phuket (NOT Patong, pick one of the other beaches along the West coast), stay on the Pi Pi islands for a few days...

Time of year might be an issue. Best to have a look on the Trip Advisor Phuket forum for the current weather outlook.

PompeyPete

The Wikitravel page for Bangkok is worth a read...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok

Public transport in Bangkok [click on the blue band at the top of the page]...

http://www.transitbangkok.com/

Chiang Mai...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chiang_Mai

Doshwaster

Yes, you have to keep your wits about you but, as above, don't get overly paranoid about it and don't let it spoil your holiday. Charging tourists more than locals is a fact of life in SE Asia but when it does happen it's unlikely to amount to much money and really isn't worth making a scene over. Getting angry should be avoided as it is very unlikely to end well. Losing a few pounds really isn't worth spending hours trying to explain the situation to the police.

In Bangkok I would really avoid the Tuk Tuk drivers but the taxi drivers tend to be more honest - though be prepared to get out the the car if they refuse to put the meter on or give you a reasonable fixed price. The problem is that if it's your first visit and you are jetlagged then you have no idea what "reasonable" is...

Taxis from the airport are the most honest as they are so worried about losing their licence to operate. On arrival you can get the Skytrain into town but if you are tired, don't know where you are going and have a lot of luggage (and a baby!) then I would always get a taxi.

jumperabv3

Doshwaster wrote: »

Yes, you have to keep your wits about you but, as above, don't get overly paranoid about it and don't let it spoil your holiday. Charging tourists more than locals is a fact of life in SE Asia but when it does happen it's unlikely to amount to much money and really isn't worth making a scene over.

Yes, I am not too worried about 'over'-spending in Thailand, that's the last thing I'm worried about (as you can see I'm also willing to spend around additional £230 for the 3 of us for roundtrip to Hong Kong, non-stop whilst we would be in Thailand, I'm thinking maybe going there for 4-5 days at least, it's a beautiful place and much more peaceful, been there once, although never been to Thailand b4).

Anyway I'm not worried about paying to a taxi driver 200 THB instead of 100 THB ... I am worried about him taking us to the wrong place, on purpose, or taking us to a shady place, where we would be forced to buy jewelry, suits or things like that ... I want to avoid these people ...

My wife also suggested to rent a Jet Ski there, I told her just google the word "Jet Ski Thailand" and see it for yourself ... I mean we could hypothetically speaking do that, but I would have to settle an agreed amount with the renter in first place that will include full insurance for any scratches whatsoever because even if I take photos with my phone I think they will find a way to scam us so gotta do it with full agreement and perhaps even in writing which is so non-typical to these types of people ....

So all in all I am not worried about spending money there, I just don't seem to like the people there even before I got there, and it might be a nice place and everything but this place go the word SCAM attached to itself so much ... when I was in Hong Kong I did enjoy everything there, nobody scammed me, the quoted price was always the final price, taxis take you from A to B, I even got my wedding suit in Hong Kong, was amazing price and was made so well that I still have it several years later and it looks like new.

Perhaps you guys can convince me Thailand is not so bad and my wife is right that we should go there?

PompeyPete

Millions of folk visit Thailand every year, and millions of folk keep returning.

You're aware of some of the potential scams, and some popular places to visit, so what convincing do you need?

Personally I wouldn't go to Hong Kong, as relative to most other places in SE Asia it's expensive, and far too built-up, ie there must be a reason why there are zillions of skyscrapers. Same as Bangkok in a way, which is why many people simply use Bangkok to top and tail a visit to either Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia.

Have a look at Vietnam and Cambodia as an option to Hong Kong, both easy to reach, both beautiful countries with v.friendly people.

I wouldn't rent a jet ski or a motorbike/scooter either.

Alice_Walker

Have you asked your wife if she wants to go to Hong Kong? If I wanted to go to Thailand I would be mightily disappointed if I was then told I was going there!

Hong Kong is fine if you're looking for a more polished experience, with a faux friendliness (they'll be nice to you because you're paying them to). You'll get a far more genuine experience in Thailand, especially if you go to some of the less commercial resorts.

pmramsay

I have similar concerns with my november trip, mainly with bangkok. But with reading up and knowing what to avoid I think im comfortably with it. As has been said users ubers or insist on meter. Or as I am doing over the couple of days I am there I will be taking private tours so will be with a local guide who will deal with the transport side of things.

If you need a diversion from thailand there is always vietnam on a relatively short flight and right now it is visa free Enjoy, i have got 4 months to wait but looking forward to it

globetraveller

I would never describe Hong Kong as peaceful!
Bangkok is an easy place to get around, provided you pick a hotel close to the sky train. When using a taxi have a card from your hotel with the name in Thai. As said, make sure they have the meter on.
We have been umpteen times and never been scammed.
The Grand palace as far as i remember shuts at 3.30. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. I also dont think you can wear flipflops, but not sure on that. Go there as early in the day as possible as it can be really hot. Take a brolly for shade.
Personally i wouldn't pick Phuket at this time of year- it can have a lot of rain. Koh Samui or Hua Hin would be better. Chiang Mai may also have a fair bit of rain, although i am going there for a few days this month.
I have to say that you are very brave going with a baby and not much planned. Also if you go for last minute flights , the cheaper fares are likely to be gone. Walk in prices for hotels can also be expensive. You still have 3 weeks - so I really think you should have some plan and decide where you would like to go.
It sounds like you don't really want to go.