Planning a Visit to Thailand?
We've designed this page to offer tips and
leads you are unlikely to find on other Thailand travel websites, much like the
unique contents in our maps. Scroll down or click on one of the below to jump
ahead. Enjoy!
Top Ten Things to do in Thailand
Recommended Reading for Travelers
Recognizing a Tout When You Meet One
Tips on Using Thai Meter Taxis
If You Must Use A Tuk Tuk During Your Visit
Advice for Female Travelers
Top Ten Things to do in Thailand
We know you're planning to tour the temples,
ride an elephant, visit the weekend market, and take a Thai cooking course. You've
read about these in guidebooks, on travel websites, and your friends have told
you all about them. Below, however, are some things to do that you may not have
considered and that can be done in almost any city you visit in Thailand. We know
they will add to your special memories of your time in Thailand!
1. Go to the Movies.
Pick a film you've already seen: You'll find the experience
of watching it in a theater packed with Thais much more interesting as you note
which jokes they laugh at loudest and which they miss due to cultural differences.
Pick a theater that offers added value (and great people-watching): Bangkok, Chiang
Mai, and Pattaya all have multiplex theaters with bowling alleys, restaurants,
game rooms, etc. When buying popcorn, pay attention: Thais love caramel-coated
popcorn, but you might not. Last but not least, when the national anthem comes
on, stand, hands at your sides. (Visit www.movieseer.com to find out what's playing where.)
2. Read the Daily Newspaper
There's always a few interesting ongoing 'sagas' in Thai news worth picking up and following
during your stay. The Nation offers more 'sensationalist' headlines, the kind
you'll want to slip into your scrapbook back home. The Bangkok Post always has
at least one odd Thai tale to tell each day as well.
3. Visit any of the World's Top Hotels
Thailand can proudly claim some of the
world's top hotels and resorts. If you are a backpacker, visit at least one, even
if that simply means putting on clean clothes, nice shoes, and doing a slow wander
through the lobby to the gift shop and out. For those who can afford it, try tea
time in the Author's Lounge of the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, a drink by the poolside
at the Sofitel Hua Hin, or a meal overlooking the exquisite setting of the Regent
Resort Chiang Mai. If you're in the mood, splurge on dinner: Many of Thailand's
top restaurants are in top hotels.
4 .Try the Sweet Corn sold by Roadside Vendors
We know you are concerned about getting sick, but if you're daring (we're not
assuming responsibility here), sweet corn is a pretty safe bet. The vendor will
grill it in front of you, then slather on as much butter and salt as you like
before handing it to you on a stick. Enjoy!
5. Connect with People with Similar Interests
If you are into stamp collecting, visit the Weekend Stamp Market at the General
Post Office in Bangkok. If you are into bowling, visit a local bowling alley (but
be forewarned, some host trance nights for the local teen population late at night).
Enjoy poetry or stand up comedy? Check out the next Bangkok Poetry night
and/or Punchline comedy night schedules.
See the index that comes with Nancy Chandler's maps for other connections
in Bangkok and Chiang Mai or scan the web for more information.
6. Plan a Sunset on the River in Bangkok
Rent a private boat from one of the
piers on the Chao Phraya. Book the two-hour tour of Bangkok Noi for around 4:30pm
when the air is starting to cool. You'll watch rush hour on the river, enjoy some
of the back canals that make up old Bangkok, stop to buy drinks from a riverside
vendor, and you'll have a completely different experience on return, when the
lights come on inside small riverside homes, giving you a glimpse of what life
is like along the river.
7. Book a Night at the Cabaret!
These performances by some of the world's most beautiful transvestites include flamboyant Las Vegas
style song and dance routines and great slapstick comedy. Women will leave with
a few new moves. Men will leave wondering if they can ever trust their instincts
again! Pattaya's cabaret's - Tiffany's and Alcazar - are the most famous, followed
by Bangkok's Mambo and Calypso. Chiang Mai and Phuket have similar shows.
8. Make a Difference in Someone's Life
Buy from shops that support good causes
(refer to the indexes that come with Nancy's maps for lists of charity-linked
shops selling quality Thai crafts, textiles, baskets, and more). Donate time to
an orphanage or other special project
(see Volunteer Opportunities in our map indexes).
Get a traditional Thai massage from the local School for the Blind. Or simply slip a few extra Baht
into an official collection box for charity, which you can find in many hotels and convenience stores.
9. Visit a Local Hairdresser or Barber
We are talking about the simple little salons you can find on almost every street and side-soi.
You'll find them all over Thailand and we recommend them for
one reason: There's nothing like a Thai head massage during your shampoo! Staff
are personable, the decor usually amusingly chaotic and you'll find flipping through
Thai fashion magazines equally entertaining during your cut. Cost is usually only
about B 200.00-300.00. For a more upmarket experience, try any of the luxury spas
opening in every major city and resort, easily researched on-line.
10. Buy at least one thing you will treasure forever.
Recommended Reading for Travelers
Assuming you have found the right
guidebook for you (each is different), we've listed the below as other books you
may want to read before or during your travels. All are available at www.asiabooks.com unless otherwise stated.
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For the Curious Visitor
Very Thai , by Philip Cornwell-Smith, will open your eyes to a host of things Thai you might otherwise overlook, from the prevalence of little pink napkins at roadside stalls nationwide, fairy lights on trees and poodle-shaped bushes. Once you’ve adapted to the writing style, you will find it an illuminating and entertaining guide. Our only warning: It will change the way you experience Thailand! Wonderful photography too. Available at www.riverbooksbk.com.
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Local Travel Magazines
Keep an eye out for Bangkok 101 , a monthly travel guide with exceptional photography and art alongside up-to-date listings of the top hot spots in town for shopping, sightseeing, dining and more.
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For Serious Shoppers
The Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand teaches
you how to select and bargain for quality Thai products. Skip ahead to the How
to Shop chapters and learn how to work the different 'shopping cultures' in Thailand.
There's no guide like it. For more information and to order, visit www.ishoparoundtheworld.com
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True Stories
You must visit Jim Thompson's house in Bangkok, a true treasure
and all the more interesting if you've read Jim Thompson; The Unsolved Mystery by William Warren, one of Thailand's best authors.
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For those interested in Buddhism, Phra Farang by Phra Peter Pannapadipo is an interesting read, covering the experience of a middle-aged Englishman who has chosen to become a monk in Thailand.
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In Fiction
For those into detective novels, Bangkok Eight by John Burdett is not only highly recommended as an entertaining read, but it is also insightful, the main character a wonderful mix of Thai and western values and ways of thinking.
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SP Somtow's Jasmine Nights is the tale of a young boy's adventures growing up in Thailand. Caron Eastgate James' The Occidentals is a historical novel covering three generations of an expatriate family that moved to Thailand in the mid 1880's. You'll find many more novels available, most
written by men of varying talent. We leave it to you to select those that interest you.
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For Those Intrigued by the Nightlife
Check out Patpong Sisters, But,
I Don't Give A Hoot!, or Hello my Big Big Honey. The first addresses
prostitution from a western female sociologist's personal experience; the second
the history of prostitution in Thailand through the biographical story of an 'infamous'
columnist; the third is an enlightening read proving many Thai women are much
more intelligent than the foreign men who seek them out!
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"Two 'must buy' resources"
Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand
 
Nancy Chandler's Maps
of Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Read reviews, updates, customer comments, and/or order on-line.
Click the link above to order both now.
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Send a Card to
Family and Friends
Email has its time and place, but there's nothing like receiving
a special card in the mail.
Available online,
by mail order catalog, and in major bookstores and hotel gift
shops throughout Thailand, Nancy Chandler's Thai greeting cards
are often saved for framing or display by those who receive
them.
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Warning!
Thai Touts are Among
the World's Best
They're clean cut, well-mannered professionals, working top
tourist attractions and intersections near major hotels, looking
out for the lost traveler or the curious tourist. Posing as
helpful students, bureaucrats on their 'lunch hour', or very
friendly 'tuk tuk' drivers, they may ask where you are from,
and if you need help going somewhere. They'll tell you the temple
or shop you are going to is closed. They'll befriend you and
offer to take you to a special gem shop or tailor. Their brother
or cousin may work there and he can get you a great bargain.
Or perhaps today is a special 'one day only' sale with huge
discounts to be had. Don't be fooled. They get 'tea money' just
for walking you to the door and commissions on anything you
buy. Then again, you can work this to your advantage: Clever
friends got free transport around the city once in exchange
for 'browsing' in a few select shops!
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Tips on Using
Thai Meter Taxis
One of the most common mistakes we know visitors make regard
the use of meter taxis. For this reason, we're expanding below
on the tips you'll find on Nancy's maps:
Pack reading material if you must be on the road during rush
hours (7:30-9:30am or 3:30-7:30pm). You may have plenty of time
to finish a short novel enroute!
Never take a taxi from the line waiting outside your hotel.
They are looking for gullible tourists and if you've found
this site, we'd like to think you're not one of them! Walk
up the street instead and wave a moving taxi down.
Before you get in a taxi, ask the driver if he will turn on
the meter "Bai meter, mai?" If he nods, watch him
turn it on.(Starting fare is B 35.00 in Bangkok. Don't let
him fool you by pointing to a radio station when you reach
your destination!) If he won't turn it on, politely close
the door and wave the next taxi down.
If a driver refuses to take you where you wish to go it may
be because he has to return his taxi within the next half
hour. It is not because you smell!
Some taxi drivers are new in Bangkok as well. For this reason,
keep a map handy in case you suspect your driver does not know
where he is going. You may have to provide directions (some
cannot read city maps).
If a driver is going too fast, say "cha cha" politely
(slowly, slowly). If he doesn't slow down, ask him to stop,
pay your bill with a smile and get out.
Chatty drivers who speak some English are rare and very special.
Allow the conversation to develop. If he's a good driver with
a good car, you may want to hire him by the hour as your tour
guide/driver! (But read above on touts first!)
It is polite to pay a tip of B 10.00 over the meter fare but
not required.(The only official extra charges are for expressway
tolls and taxis picked up at the airport.)
Always look behind for oncoming motorcycles before getting
out of your taxi.
Always get out on the curbside of the taxi. No one expects
you to get out on the roadside and therefore no one will slow
down when passing your taxi.
Taxis upcountry are still new and rarely turn on their meters,
so forgo them for the songtaews or other local transport instead.
Ask your hotel what going rates are.
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If You Must
Ride in a Tuk Tuk
Don't rent a tuk tuk for a long distance trip or by the hour.The
fumes will get to you long before you reach your destination
and leave you exhausted the rest of the day. Only use tuk tuks
to go short distances during non rush hour periods. They are
indeed fun, but they are no faster than airconditioned meter
taxis and they often cost twice as much if you do not know how
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For Female Travelers
Read more tips from us at
www.journeywoman.com
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