Thailand is home to some of the most welcoming people in the world, but you need to be trip savvy to enjoy ‘the land of smiles’. Here’s our essential tips:
Customs:
- point at a Buddha statue or a monk, especially their feet
- take a photo with your back to a Buddha
- disrespect the King, or Royal Family, Thailand’s lèse-majesté law can land you in prison
- touch a Thai’s adult or child’s head, as it is insulting.
Street Food:
The most delicious and cheapest food is often at street stalls. Stay safe and only buy from the busiest stalls, for turnover, and those the locals go to – as they are in the know.
The weather:
Research the weather before you go and plan round it. Thailand has two monsoon seasons which hit opposite sides of the country at different times.
- the South-West Monsoon hits the West Coast from May to October effecting Phuket, Krabi, Phi-Phi, the Similan Islands and Koh Kood.
- the North-East Monsoon hits the East Coast from November to March effecting Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
Transport:
Safety standards are variable and beware scams:
Tuk-tuks – check prices with your hostel or hotel and then agree your price first and haggle. Beware of drivers insisting you visit a ‘friend’s” shop.
Taxis – as above, find out the going price in advance and haggle. In tourist areas like Phuket it can be worth organising your journey through your accommodation to get the best price.
Scooters – they look cool and sound practical, but remember the accident rate is lethally high. Plus, most insurance won’t cover you if you are in an accident.
Scams:
- fake gems are sold in many markets and beware locals offering to take you to “genuine” stores, often owned by a “relation”.
- jet-ski scam where you can be blamed for pre-existing damage. It’s worth filming the exterior of the jet ski before you use it.
- scooter scam – operates in the same way as the jet ski scam. Record any scrapes and dents on your scooter before you use it.