Thailand...a little worried

[kelley182]

Hi ladies,

Thank you so much for the input on Thailand that you've given me thus far. I really appreciate it!

As our departure date draws closer, i'm becoming more nervous about this trip, partly because of comments that my friend who is going with us keeps making. Are there common threats that we need to be aware of and keep our eyes out for? Any precautions that we should take from avoiding any particular situations?

TIA!

[emilyinchile]

Have you found anything that worries you on the US State Dept website (which tends to be pretty conservative in terms of its recommendations of whether US citizens should travel or not), news sites, blogs of people who've been recently, etc?

If it's just the comments of one friend, I wouldn't worry. I haven't been to Thailand, so I can't give you personal advice, but I know many, many people who have been and loved it and had no problems, some even during the unrest in Bangkok a few months ago.

[mdgirl]

When I did my research for our trip most of the problems I saw tourists having invovled stupidity -- getting drunk/high to the point of being incapacitated and having stuff stolen, being injured by renting mopeds for dirt roads on islands that are very far away from a decent hospital, etc. It's a Buddhist country that depends on tourism a great deal -- as a whole I found the people very nice and helpful.

[definitelyO]

I haven't been in a long time - but at that time we just followed the same precautions as traveling in any big city. copies of passports with you - actual passports in a safe. don't have all your money on you at once. wear cross body bag with bag in the front of your person - DH wallet in front pocket.

don't take a ride with an unmarked car.

you're a good traveler I don't think you'll have any problems

[lahoagie]

I just got back from Thailand. Never felt unsafe the whole trip. Enjoy!

[sillygoosegirl]

There is nothing to be worried about in Thailand... except maybe not wanting to leave.

A few things you should avoid, but should have no difficulty doing so:

- Taking food from strangers (not including people running restaurants or food carts)
- Wearing red if a protest is going on
- Automatically trusting white people just because they are white (supposedly Thailand is one of those places that attracts white con artists with excellent English skills from all over the world)
- Tap water (but Thai people don't drink it either, and there is plenty of safe drinking water available dirt cheap even by Thai standards, so don't worry about the ice or the water in your smoothy)

Also:
- If you take the ferry in Bangkok (which I highly recommend), use caution as you step from the dock to the boat and back. The movements are weird, and since it's a public bus, everyone else is moving at speeds to make you think there is nothing to worry about (because they are used to it).
- Make sure your sunscreen is waterproof (if you aren't on the beach/in the water, it's way too hot to be in the sun long enough to get burned, but the tropical sun will burn you faster than you are used to)
- Bring a hat (you'll want your own shade for darting between patches of it on the street--I'm not kidding or exaggerating here.)

I hope none of that scares you, because overall, I'd say Thailand felt safer than NYC or San Francisco...

[basilosaurus]

The people in Thailand are so freaking friendly. Unless there is political unrest (and I don't think there is now), I wouldn't be the slightest bit concerned. Even then, my impression is that they try really hard to keep it from affecting tourism.

Just have your normal traveler wits about you, and you'll be fine.

[iamali]

I haven't been to Thailand in many years, but very safe while I was there.

Have you checked the State Departments websites for warnings/advisorys?

[chicago]

Ditto everyone else. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else in the world. We had one irritating encounter with a taxi driver leaving the airport (we couldn't see the meter, it was blocked by some flowers and we thought it was on, but it wasn't...had to be pretty firm with him to turn it on and we had already pulled out of the airport), but that could have happened anywhere. I felt extremely safe. Don't let this worry ruin or overshadow your excitement. Thailand is the most amazing country I've ever visited. I'd go back tomorrow if I could! Have an amazing trip!

[kelley182]

Thank you so much ladies! None of these things sound much different that I would worry about when traveling anywhere else. )