Thailand Guide

By: Jaclyn Spears/Friends of Niigata Noise
Photos: Flickr Commons - click through to source

As you may have heard, Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations for ALTs. Why is that? It might be because, as far as holiday destinations go, Thailand has everything you could possibly want. The food is amazing, the culture is rich and fascinating, the night life is varied and exciting, and it's just plain beautiful. There's dirt-cheap hostels and five-star resorts. There's trekking and temples, shopping and spas. Oh and one other great thing about Thailand: while it's not the cheapest place to fly to from Japan, once you're there your costs will be extremely low. All in all, it's a great place to relax and recharge.

That being said - I wouldn't personally recommend going to Thailand without doing some research first. There's a lot to do and see, so you may miss out on something if you don't take the time to plan ahead. Also, if you don't have a lot of experience traveling, or have never been to mainland Asia there may be some surprises for you. So I've asked some ALTs to share their experiences in Thailand and what they learned on their trip. Hopefully this post will help you have the best possible experience if/when you make it to Thailand!

General Tips

Everyone had some stories about traveling within cities. One common tip: if you take a taxi, make sure the driver is using the meter. They will often try to over charge you. Be assertive and ask how much it will cost beforehand. Also, watch out for tuk-tuk scams where they force you to go shopping (apparently drivers can get gasoline vouchers for taking you to certain stores) or drop you off before you destination. And don't believe them if they say it's any kind of national holiday. Avoid the most aggressive drivers and agree on price beforehand.

You don't need to worry too much about illness. If you have a sensitive stomach, it may be worth bringing some medicine like Gravol or Pepto Bismal. If you're going to be spending a lot of time in the jungle, you may want to look into Malaria pills. In general you should be fine with a strong bug spray. If there's an emergency, drugstores in Thailand will have what you need.

Remember to exercise caution at all times. Guard your passport, gaijin card and phones carefully! Wikitravel has a very good, in-depth safety guide you should definitely check out.

Thailand is a country that takes Buddhism quite seriously. Unlike Japan, conservative clothing is expected at religious sites. You won't see many girls in mini-skirts and high heels. So if you plan on visiting temples, remember to cover your legs and arms, or bring something with you to cover up - a breach wrap or skirt is convenient. Some places will rent things to you for a small fee.

Experiences You Don't Want to Miss!

Thai massage! Get foot massages or try the full Thai body massages. You will never find them as cheap anywhere else (seriously, insanely cheap!), and it's a great way to relax after a day of sightseeing before heading out for the night. You could also try a foot bath with the little skin-eating fish.

Check out cabaret shows that feature the "lady-boys" of Thailand. The shows are extravagant and unique in Thailand.

Thailand is a great place for snorkling and scubadiving! 

Places

Bangkok

The capital city is huge and offers tons of things to do or see. You will find the most aggressive tuk-tuk drivers and travel agents here. As long as you're assertive, you should be fine! (If not, you'll learn your lesson quickly.)

Some of the best sights in Bangkok are the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (or "Reclining Buddha") and the Wat Arun ("Standing Buddha"). The Grand Palace is beautiful and elaborate, a must-see in our opinion.

Riding the river taxi is an experience you should definitely check out. It's a far-cry from the public transit of Japan.

You can find some crazy nightlife in Bangkok. There is, of course, Khao San road (known as a backpacker district) and surrounding area. You'll find a lot of "gaijin" bars here. Sukhumvit is also highly recommended.

Chiang Mai

 

It can be a little difficult to get to, but is worth the effort. You may have to take a train or overnight bus to get there - it's about 8 hours from Bangkok. It's main draws are: the small-town feel (despite being a good sized city) and friendly people. There are plenty of expat bars and restaurants; and most of all, it's a great base for treks and other activities.

A note about guided tours/treks/classes: make sure to check out reviews of anything you plan to do online. This is especially important for tours involving elephants to make sure the animals are being treated well. One thing we learned is that the "saddle" seats used on elephants is actually quite uncomfortable/painful for them. Look for places that offer bareback rides and that focus on the rehabilitation and conservation of the animals.

Sukhothai

If you're into ancient history, check out Sukhothai. This ancient capital is a great place for a day trip or a place to stop en route to Chiang Mai. You can rent bikes and cycle around the park, or just go for a leisurely walk. Nice hostels and friendly bars in town.

Phuket and other Islands

This island far to the south is a popular tourist destination with beautiful beaches and an active nightlife. However, several of us found it to be a depressing place to visit. It's extremely touristy and slightly more expensive than other places you could go to.

Ko Samui is also highly recommended. You can access Koh Phangan from here for the  famous "Full Moon" Party. If partying is your thing, the Full Moon beach parties are not to be missed.

If you are strapped for time and/or money, Ko Samet is a great island option. It is the closest island to Bangkok, which makes it convenient to get back to the airport for your flight home!

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Have you been to Thailand? Share your recommendations (or warnings) in the comments!