Jump to content

Traveling to Thailand alone


Recommended Posts

So I know some of you have traveled alone to Thailand. What was it like? Did you have all planned out, all places to stay confirmed?

 

As some of you may know, I was planning to go to Thailand in December or January, a friend said she will accompany me and sightsee, but now these plans start to fall through and I'm facing either giving up on the trip or go alone. I never really traveled alone that far. I never really traveled farther than to the UK and this is a one-connection flight and in a language I speak.

But Thailand? i'm not sure if I can handle it on my own. I wanted to sightsee Bangkok for 2 days and then go to Phuket to train for 2 weeks (Eagle Muay Thai gym), then back to Bangkok and fly back...now I'm scared because I heard so many stories about naive farangs being ripped off and I don't want this to happen to me! And I'm really naive.

 

Do you have some thoughts you can share with me and experiences about a one man (well, woman actually) trip from Europe to Thailand? I really want to go and I think this will be a once in a lifetime experience, but I'm not sure anymore what to do.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Micc,
I think you worry to much and shouldnt hesitate, just do it!
As long you dont go looking for wrong things ,nothing bad will happen. I even think you will get hooked on training/visiting Thailand and will go back :-) It's such a nice place to spend some time. I would advise you to try spending a weekend in Bangkok before travelling to Phuket. That way you might visit Chatuchak Market, maybe Khaosan and visit some Temple and watch some fights (Lumpinee /Radjadernem or for free at Channel 7 near Chatuchak). When going to Phuket  just enjoy training , food, sea, etc
Only "bad" experience I had when going for the first time was getting tricked by the guys in the airport who ask if you need a TAXI.... Dont agree , just go outsite and take a meter taxi, much cheaper and same comfort.
I'm heading off to Thailand in abt 3 weeks and cant wait...
Hope you have a great holiday.
Nick

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always travel alone, so if it were me I'd be there in a heartbeat. Just follow your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, don't do it. I haven't yet been to Thailand, but I've faired well as a lone female in all my workd travels so far. :) Go enjoy!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey,

It's currently my second time in Thailand and both times I was travelling alone. I don't think you need to worry too much, and just like someone else said, as long as you don't go looking for trouble and stay away from things that seem too good to be true you should be fine. The first time I was in Bangkok I did two guided tours (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) through a company called urbanadventures.com - the tours were not expensive and I've seen a lot during those tours so it was definitely money well spent and could be an option for one of your days in Bangkok. When you're going to Phuket, consider contacting the gym you're going to before your arrival and ask them if they can arrange a taxi to pick you up from the airport, at least that way you don't have to worry about trying to explain to the taxi driver where it is you're trying to go and then end up being taken to just any Muay Thai gym (lol, I had that happen when I tried to take a motorbike taxi and the driver assured me that he knows the gym I am talking about)...it is possible that the gym might have a flat rate for arranging a pick up, it might be a bit more expensive but can save you some inconveniences. Also, both times I was surprised by just how many Thais speak at least some English so language may not be as much of a problem either, but i would also suggest picking up a business card from the hotel you will be staying at so that it would have the address written in Thai and you can show it to someone if you get lost. Hope this helps.

Cheers

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi! I am a Swedish girl who has travellwed to Thailand 10 Times, and 2 of the trips all by myself. I have been alone in both Bangkok and Phuket. Dont hesitate to travel alone, thaipeople are always very helpful, and i have never got in trouble. Since you are going highseason i would recommend you to book your hotel in advance so you know you have a place to stay and dont have to go around and look. One thing i bring when i travel alone is a extra ATM card,(just in case of). As long as you dont put yourself in exposed situations as being alone and really drunk out at night and respect the thaipeople i think you are going to have the best trip ever! About Gyms in Phuket my favourite is dragon muay thai.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would not hesitate to travel alone to Thailand either. I can only really speak for Bangkok, but it is quite safe in my opinion. I have been to Phuket as well and felt quite safe; I just haven't been in that area for a long enough time to feel like I could give you a truly educated perspective. If you give me a heads up before you travel and have a little bit of a plan as far as the things you want to do/see in BKK I can give you some advice on common scams I have heard of, and general tips that will hopefully keep you from getting scammed. At the end of the day though usually if you do get scammed it is for a relatively small amount of money, physical safety isn't too big of an issue. If I get some time soon I will try to hammer out a generalized BKK safety guide lol, I am sure it would be useful to many people who are only coming to train for shorter periods of time.

 

Bringing a second ATM card while traveling is an excellent idea. I typically keep some bail out money in one account and use the second account for general spending. Having a business card with the address you are staying at is also a great idea, especially if you can have someone write it in thai on the back as well.

 

Oh yeah almost forgot. You can buy sim cards for quite cheap (they give them away for free at the BKK airport too I think). I highly recommend picking one up so that if you ever are in a situation you feel unsafe, you can call the tourist police which I know operate in Phuket, and I think also BKK. They will speak English and are typically volunteer expats who have been in the area for quite sometime.

 

Don't be afraid, it is fun here!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A big thank you to every one of you for your advice! And thanks to Sylvie for posting about it on FB I also got some information from there! It's all starting to come into shape in my mind. I will have to do a lot of planning, but I will do it. :)

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A big thank you to every one of you for your advice! And thanks to Sylvie for posting about it on FB I also got some information from there! It's all starting to come into shape in my mind. I will have to do a lot of planning, but I will do it. :)

My friend Nell came out to visit me a couple years ago and spent a day or two in BKK before heading up to Chiang Mai to see me. She's a very independent type, lives in New York City and doesn't take nonsense, but she decided to pay a Tuk-Tuk driver to take her around to various locations all day. Like, basically hired him for the day. She had no problem with it and wasn't ripped off, but taxi and tuk-tuk drivers can get "kickbacks" from businesses or coupons for petrol if they take tourists there and the tourist buys something. So they try to get you to go to jewelry shops, tailors, etc. My friend said, "no" to a million of these offers and he dragged her to one or two anyway. She ended up having a man's suit tailor made for her and it arrived in Chiang Mai before she flew home - it was a beautiful suit!

Anyway, the point of that story is that my friend isn't naive and she still got put in a somewhat uncomfortable situation of someone trying to sell her something. It wasn't a huge hassle, but a minor inconvenience. But she ended up getting something she loved out of it. It's VERY easy to not buy gems or gold if you don't want it, but maybe a little more difficult to convince the person trying to sell it to you to leave you alone. It's not dangerous, just annoying. So, I don't think you should feel that you're in danger.

When you arrive at the airport in BKK there's an information desk on the "pick up" floor, down some escalators from arrivals. There's a big "i" on the sign for information. They'll direct you to which exit you want for taxis. I think it's Exit 4. And out there you'll find a queue for metered taxis and someone who speaks English asks where you're going, prints you a ticket with the price and directs you toward the taxi. That's the easiest way to not pay more than you should. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For sure you should do it! It's a great experience and a lot of people over there speak at least a bit of English (some taxi-drivers may act like they don't speak or understand English, just grab another one ;) same thing when they don't want to use the taxi-meter, but in BKK they all used it last time).

Just use your brains; if it looks to good to be true, it mostly is! If you don't trust anything/or don't want to do it, just don't do it.

 

If you arrive at the airport and know the place where you are going to you can use the public transportation also, it's cheap and works very well (and got A/C haha) If you know the place where you stay you can search (or ask it here, for some help) wich BTS/MRT station is the closest by and take a taxi from there to your final destination.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did a solo trip to Thailand and only booked my first night's accommodation in a hostel and then just took it from there, and I wouldn't have done it any other way. Travelling alone is great because you have complete freedom (no need to compromise with anyone else about where to go or what to do) and although you're technically travelling alone, you're very rarely alone because you meet so many new people. Then, you can make your plans around the people you meet and whatever you feel like doing at the time. At least, that was my experience. Go for it :smile:

 

If you have time while you're in Bangkok, let me know. I'd love to meet up!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 years later...

I suspect its often even an advantage to travel in Thailand alone.  (possibly in other countries as well, but here we do talk Thailand)  Thai people seems usually friendly and helpsome, and they will of course sooner tend to help an alone foreigner, than a bunch of them talking foreing among themselves.  Having a pleasant posture, a friendly or at least, shy smile, doesnt hurt.

I have followed on Youtube travel experiences of a wannabe Muay pro.  A nice, likeable fellow, decent english but barely some few words and phrases in Thai.   Whom used free time between scheduled matches to take a several week tour from north to south, doing training at every gym he found on the way.  (and yes, it was almost always possible to train, sometimes even for free  one or two passes).

OK, some of the incidents where he got extra help meeting nice people, just because he was alone.

He goes by train. No air condition, but he is happy to find a seat near the fan.  The older Thai women sitting around him, fellow passengers, are nice to him, presenting him with foods and non alkoholic drinks as gifts... They show him the wendor selling things, but he doesnt even need to buy from the wendor.

 

He tries to hike (hich hike).  An hour passes, no luck.  He gives up, goes back, but somebody is running after him.  A driver saw him, fetches him, he gets his ride.  The drawer sees he is a foreigner, and has no water with him in this hot day.  Driver buys him coffe and a minerale water bottle...When they come to this next town, it begins to darken up.  Driver tells him it may be difficult to find hike in darkness, it will be better if he takes the bus.  He drives to the bus station, helps him with finding the bus south.  I dont remember if he also buys the ticket, but he did certainly gave lotsa of good help!   Yes, I got touched by this mans compassion with the stranger.

 

Next time, he is in an widespread tourist area.  A man on a bike stops.  He offers;  You may ride with me.  I will be your guide and interpreter during the day. You pay me just some money, my lunch and a drink to the lunch...  An excellent proposal!   The truth be said, this driver fastened in the lunch restaurang; they had good and cheap drinks there...  But our hero could lend the bike, and do his own sight seeing without problems.  So, if nothing else, a cheap way to lend a motorbike for a day, and an interesting experience...

Etc...

As our hero said, Thais are typically buddhists. Honesty and being helpsome is important for them.  In the typical tourist cities however, there are many whom had learned to live on tourists, even using their inexperience and naivity.  Occasionally even robbing.  So you must look out some in such cities and places. Dont take stupid risks.

But outside on countryside, and cities not typical tourist cities, there are hardly any such people nor real dangers... Of course, our guy being a serious Muay, never ever got drunk.  Beer was the strongest he took and some occasional drink.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...
On 10/13/2015 at 5:40 PM, NewThai said:

I always travel alone, so if it were me I'd be there in a heartbeat. Just follow your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, don't do it. I haven't yet been to Thailand, but I've faired well as a lone female in all my workd travels so far. 🙂 Go enjoy!

Follow instincts and allow yourself to trust when you feel comfortable... I did and always alone 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Most Recent Topics

  • Latest Comments

    • He told me he was teaching at a gym in Chong Chom, Surin - which is right next to the Cambodian border.  Or has he decided to make use of the border crossing?  🤔
    • Here is a 6 minute audio wherein a I phrase the argument speaking in terms of Thailand's Muay Femeu and Spinoza's Ethics.    
    • Leaving aside the literary for a moment, the relationship between "techniques" and style (& signature) is a meaningful one to explore, especially for the non-Thai who admires the sport and wishes to achieve proficiency, or even mastery. Mostly for pedagogic reasons (that is, acute differences in training methods, along with a culture & subjectivity of training, a sociological thread), the West and parts of Asia tend to focus on "technical" knowledge, often with a biomechanical emphasis. A great deal of emphasis is put on learning to some precision the shape of the Thai kick or its elbow, it's various executions, in part because visually so much of Thailand's Muay Thai has appeared so visually clean (see: Precision – A Basic Motivation Mistake in Some Western Training). Because much of the visual inspiration for foreign learned techniques often come from quite elevated examples of style and signature, the biomechanical emphasis enters just on the wrong level. The techniques displayed are already matured and expressed in stylistics. (It would be like trying to learn Latin or French word influences as found in Nabakov's English texts.) In the real of stylistics, timing & tempo, indeed musicality are the main drivers of efficacy. Instead, Thais learn much more foundational techniques - with far greater variance, and much less "correction" - principally organized around being at ease, tamachat, natural. The techne (τέχνη), the mechanics, that ground stylistics, are quite basic, and are only developmentally deployed in the service of style (& signature), as it serves to perform dominance in fights. The advanced, expressive nature of Thai technique is already woven into the time and tempo of stylistics. This is one reason why the Muay Thai Library project involves hour long, unedited training documentation, so that the style itself is made evident - something that can even have roots in a fighter's personality and disposition. These techne are already within a poiesis (ποίησις), a making, a becoming. Key to unlocking these basic forms is the priority of balance and ease (not biomechanical imitations of the delivery of forces), because balance and ease allow their creative use in stylistics.
  • The Latest From Open Topics Forum

    • Hi, this might be out of the normal topic, but I thought you all might be interested in a book-- Children of the Neon Bamboo-- that has a really cool Martial Arts instructor character who set up an early Muy Thai gym south of Miami in the 1980s. He's a really cool character who drives the plot, and there historically accurate allusions to 1980s martial arts culture. However, the main thrust is more about nostalgia and friendships.    Can we do links? Childrenoftheneonbamboo.com Children of the Neon Bamboo: B. Glynn Kimmey: 9798988054115: Amazon.com: Movies & TV      
    • Davince Resolve is a great place to start. 
    • I see that this thread is from three years ago, and I hope your journey with Muay Thai and mental health has evolved positively during this time. It's fascinating to revisit these discussions and reflect on how our understanding of such topics can grow. The connection between training and mental health is intricate, as you've pointed out. Finding the right balance between pushing yourself and self-care is a continuous learning process. If you've been exploring various avenues for managing mood-related issues over these years, you might want to revisit the topic of mental health resources. One such resource is The UK Medical Cannabis Card, which can provide insights into alternative treatments.
    • Phetjeeja fought Anissa Meksen for a ONE FC interim atomweight kickboxing title 12/22/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu92S6-V5y0&ab_channel=ONEChampionship Fight starts at 45:08 Phetjeeja won on points. Not being able to clinch really handicapped her. I was afraid the ref was going to start deducting points for clinch fouls.   
    • Earlier this year I wrote a couple of sociology essays that dealt directly with Muay Thai, drawing on Sylvie's journalism and discussions on the podcast to do so. I thought I'd put them up here in case they were of any interest, rather than locking them away with the intention to perfectly rewrite them 'some day'. There's not really many novel insights of my own, rather it's more just pulling together existing literature with some of the von Duuglus-Ittu's work, which I think is criminally underutilised in academic discussions of MT. The first, 'Some meanings of muay' was written for an ideology/sosciology of knowledge paper, and is an overly long, somewhat grindy attempt to give a combined historical, institutional, and situated study of major cultural meanings of Muay Thai as a form of strength. The second paper, 'the fighter's heart' was written for a qualitative analysis course, and makes extensive use of interviews and podcast discussions to talk about some ways in which the gendered/sexed body is described/deployed within Muay Thai. There's plenty of issues with both, and they're not what I'd write today, and I'm learning to realise that's fine! some meanings of muay.docx The fighter's heart.docx
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      1.3k
    • Total Posts
      11k
×
×
  • Create New...