Thailand = Scamland?

globetraveller

just to add. First day you should start with the tourist boat. You can learn a lot and many of the main sites are on the route.
http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/tourist/

NiftyDigits

It's ridiculous and insulting to suggest that "every one there can be a scammer".
Scammers are scammers.
The best advice I can give to you, is to dismiss politely any stranger who speaks to you before you speak to them.
'Thai people' like the British, are remarkably conservative, contrary to the image presented. That's why Brits like to drink. Helps them to break out
Decent Thai people wouldn't dream of disturbing you. So anyone who speaks to you without being spoken to, is trying to sell you something, good or bad.
So just ignore or dismiss them, politely.
As to transport....never utilise a Taxi, Tuk Tuk or Songtheaw that is static, unless part of an official Taxi rank, such as at the airport. They are just waiting for the big payoff. So ignore anything that sounds too good to be true, like a 20 baht tour.

Hong Kong is no substitute for South East Asia.

Just post here for advice on specifics.

jumperabv3

PompeyPete wrote: »

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

Yes, Vietnam looks nice, there also seems to be cheap flights to the Philippines (Manila) and with 1 stop to Perth but my wife is not so excited to take them with a baby ... I also don't think there are lots to do in Perth, right?

So would try to focus on Thailand although I'm not too excited about it ....

NiftyDigits

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Yes, Vietnam looks nice, there also seems to be cheap flights to the Philippines (Manila) and with 1 stop to Perth but my wife is not so excited to take them with a baby ... I also don't think there are lots to do in Perth, right?

So would try to focus on Thailand although I'm not too excited about it ....

I loved my trip to Perth. It exceeded my expectations. Bumped into a kangeroo on a walk. It almost jumped out of it's skin. Had some wild dolphins swim around me. Went out whale spotting. Had a pleasant time all round.

NiftyDigits

globetraveller wrote: »

just to add. First day you should start with the tourist boat. You can learn a lot and many of the main sites are on the route.
http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/tourist/

I would absolutely avoid the Tourist Boat. That is a 'scam' in itself. The normal Orange Flag Express Boat goes to the same destinations and more and costs around 14 baht for as far as you can go.
http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/services/index.aspx
Tourist Boat costs 150 baht for the day. So you'd need to take at least ten trips each to get value for money. More fun to travel with everyone else. Though perhaps there may be more space on the Tourist Boat for a baby. Perhaps.

pjcox2005

Another who spent three weeks in Thailand and thought it was brilliant with great customer service and friendly locals.

We booked a tour guide for Bangkok who took us round the city for the first day or two. Really friendly, gave us a sense of the city and also proved invaluable on culture/history of areas so you were looking at the right places.

The country then offers everything if you travel out from luxury beach areas to in land in the rainforest.

NiftyDigits

Agree that the east would be better at this time of year.

https://samui-weather.blogspot.co.uk/

globetraveller

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I would absolutely avoid the Tourist Boat. That is a 'scam' in itself. The normal Orange Flag Express Boat goes to the same destinations and more and costs around 14 baht for as far as you can go.
http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/services/index.aspx
Tourist Boat costs 150 baht for the day. So you'd need to take at least ten trips each to get value for money. More fun to travel with everyone else. Though perhaps there may be more space on the Tourist Boat for a baby. Perhaps.

The normal boats are fine once you have some idea of the places you want to see. However, they dont give you very long to jump off the boat before they leave and are also really crowded. Not best when you have a baby in your arms. You do realise that you are saying £3 for a days unlimited travel in a far less crowded boat and a guide to give you details is a scam?:rotfl:

jumperabv3

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I loved my trip to Perth. It exceeded my expectations. Bumped into a kangeroo on a walk. It almost jumped out of it's skin. Had some wild dolphins swim around me. Went out whale spotting. Had a pleasant time all round.

Would you say splitting the trip to 10 days in Thailand and 10 days in Perth is a better experience?

jumperabv3

Another question - my wife wants to buy a new breast pump - is it worth buying it in Thailand or this would come with germs and insects in the box? (or simply comes as a FAKE product which is highly likely, right?)