Thailand is a bit like Marmite, either you love it or you hate it. I am the latter.
Now perhaps that is a little harsh. It’s not that I hate Thailand, I just feel that there are better places to go in Asia such as South Korea, Philippines and Burma. There are similarly stunning places in the world without the tourist traps of Thailand.
Those of you who read my blog will know I am less than keen on bad mouthing a place for no reason. However I do give my true feelings about a place such as on my hike up Trolltunga where I showed the hour and half queue on the top to stand on the tongue and the truth about the less than required guide when seeing the rice terraces of Batad.
So my true feelings are that Thailand is overrated. As one of the number one destination for honeymoons and the most pinned on Pinterest holiday destination, it seems to appeal to tourists. However, its just not what I personally looking for.
Having been to Thailand three times, I feel like I have given it a go. Third time lucky I thought. I was wrong. It still did not appeal to me, to the point that I am writing this post on board a flight which I booked today to leave Thailand. I just was not feeling it, however much I tried. I just didn’t want to end up hating Thailand.
My first trip to Thailand was 7 years ago and yes, I thought it was nice. But back then I wasnāt an experienced traveller. I was inexperienced when it came to backpacking, having only taken a handful of trips. Now on my way to country 63, Malaysia, I consider myself as well travelled.
I experienced the full moon party and felt disappointed. What had started as a group of travellers meeting over 20 years ago has now turned into a drug fueled wrecking ball on the beach. With glass being smashed and people urinating in the sea, I hate to think of the environmental consequences of all this.
My second trip to Thailand was two years ago when I meant to drop in and out to get my Myanmar visa. However I did stay over two weeks in Thailand spending time in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Yes I did enjoy parts of my time in Thailand but Bangkok infuriated me, the money grabbing taxi drivers pissed me off no end and the dishonesty of accommodation owners led me to false hopes that tonight I would sleep well.
Looking for tips and places to see whilst in Bangkok? Solo travellerĀ James wrote an in depth article on his time in Bangkok, ThailandĀ which I highly recommend.
So here are my top four annoyances with Thailand and how you can avoid them.
The sweat pit accommodation – hate!
This was meant to be the getaway beach hut in the Thai paradise Koh Samui. It was actually just a sweat pit. It was like an oven inside which did nothing for the smell of raw sewage coming from the bathroom. Of course the owner took full payment for the five nights we were planning to stay there before I realised it was more like a sweaty sewer than a homely hut.
You can avoid this by booking places for only one night. If this isn’t possible then read reviews on a place before paying. But be aware of fake reviews (good ones written by the place or bad by its competitors or difficult guests). Or alternatively a method I do a lot is only having enough for one night and paying the rest after the first night stay. However there has to be a legitimate reason for leaving, such as health and safety rather than it raining š
The beautiful beach – hate when they are not
Hau Hin is described by the Lonely Planet guide book as āThailandās original beach resortā. The truth is that it’s more raw sewage and rubbish than white sands and extensive beaches. I cannot explain my disappointment when I found an open sewer leading into the sea. I even had a conversation with a local who would only swim when it was choppy in the hope that the sewage would be watered down. Something I am really not sure I want to swim in.
Unfortunately you can’t help what people write. But to avoid the mistake I made of trusting one source, read around. Alternatively do as I did and just book for one night and move swiftly on. I headed 1 1/2 hour down the road to lovely Prachuap Khiri Khan.
The Animal exploitation – hate with a passion.
I’m a massive animal lover yet I am sad to say that on my first trip to Thailand I took an elephant ride. I felt that they were well looked after and just didn’t feel there was any harm in it. Now I know there is. Read this if you have any doubts.
Then after the ride, I met this little guy. Why would a baby elephant be so thirsty it is trying to drink out of my water bottle? Perhaps because its mum, instead of being with its calf, was busy carrying tourists around all day.
This is the same at the recently closed Tiger TempleĀ (somewhere where I have not been). Why do you think these wild creatures are not attacking tourists? Most likely because each day they are drugged. What type of life is it to be kept on a chain?
You can avoid this by not visiting anywhere which uses animals as entertainment. Check out places that provide responsible animal protection like this amazing place I visited in South Africa, The Cragg at Plettenburg Bay. They rescue elephants from cruelty and rehabilitation to live a semi wild life. They use the income through educating tourists to fund their work.
Cat calls of women – hate.
As a female I really have not had an issue walking through the streets of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket etc. But have you ever followed behind a male?
The female cat calls are incessant. You see old men in bars with a young attractive Thai lady sat on their knee. The sex tourism trade is massive here. Whatever happened to having a normal conversation which doesn’t revolve around money.
You can avoid this clearly by being a female, travelling as a couple or soak it up and enjoy the compliments.
So it might seem like I have a bee in my bonnet about Thailand, and perhaps this is right. So let me finish on this note. I have had some amazing times in Thailand.
It’s where I met some amazing friends Akash, Rachel and Benji, it’s where I hitchhiked in the back of a pickup truck with monks and where I went hiking in the north of Chiang Mai. It’s where I was massaged by a blind man and where I have got fond memories of Koh Samui.
Every country does not appeal to everyone. These are just my thoughts on a country I read so many positive posts about.
Have you ever been to Thailand? What are your thoughts on what I have said? Please comment below. Donāt forget to subscribe (Itās free!) to my blog for more Ā posts like this and interesting travel tips.
We had same experience in Malaysia,really not that keen,yet we love Thailand.
We stayed away from the “Blackpoolish” areas and ate and stayed “native”.
Great diving on west around Similan Islands and we loved Scootering around Golden Triangle region and Chiang Mai/Pai.
I think every one finds a country they are not keen on eventually. Everywhere can not be for everyone
I’m glad you gave an honest view Kathy. This has shattered all my illusions of how Thailand was 25 years ago before the major tourism kicked in. I absolutely loved it back then. People were friendly and yes, as a tourist people tried to rip you off, but it sounds like after a barrage of tourism over the past 20-30 years, it has become more of a mainstream holiday destination than the beautiful backpackers paradise it was when I visited in 1991. Such a shame.These places need to be nurtured, not torn apart by sheer greed.
I think it will be very different than what you remember it to be š
Have you been to Sukhothai? It was so lovely and quiet hardly anyone around! I will never ride an elephant after visiting the elephant sanctuary in C.Mai. We looked at some elephant places near Sukhothai who claimed to be friendly. However, the elephants were all chained up when I looked at the website which is never a good sign. Animal exploitation is a problem all over Asia, it is not good at all
No I haven’t. It sounds like my type of place . . .quiet.
It is so sad what they do to the poor elephants. They should be roaming free in the wild.
It makes me so sad to hear about all the animal explorations. It is important to help educate others. I hate to admit I once also did not know and did the typical tourist thing to swim with dolphins. Never again. I have seen many beautiful posts about Thailand and there must be some qualities that make the place so attractive to so many. I have never been so cannot comment from personal experience. I am grateful for posts like yours which let us see the other side and make more educated decisions on our travel.
Thanks for your comment. There are a lot of qualities. It just isn’t for me unfortunately. Also I think that people are worried about writing negative views if they have any but I want to be honest with my readers.
We all do silly things like ride elephants and swim with dolphins but it is about improving what we do in the future and educating. Recently I have had major issues about plastic where as I did really take any notice before. I’m just trying to do what I can.
Thanks for this other viewpoint on Thailand. It’s mentioned so much online among a lot of younger travelers as the place to go. I myself have never been there, but I’ll take note that if/when I do go to be wary of the things you mentioned!
It is so weird that it is the most thought of destination to go to. Yes just be aware. It might be somewhere you love or you may be left feeling similar to me
You’re not alone, I actually feel the same way about Thailand and partly, it’s because I’m from the Philippines and maybe it’s just me being jealous of the publicity Thailand is getting when the Philippines have the same or probably much more beautiful places to visit. Lol. I think the one thing that I really don’t like about it is it has become very touristic. I hate it when I will get a different rate because I’m a foreigner or I will have to always haggle the price with the taxi driver when I want to go somewhere. Not that it doesn’t happen in the Philippines because it actually does too but maybe, a little less (because we’re not as popular yet as Thailand). You’re entitled to your own opinion. What worked for others doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for you too otherwise, it would be a very boring world that we live in. š
I love the Philippines Noemi. I don’t think I could write a post that was negative about the Philippines. Well maybe about the minivan experience from Banuae to Baguio haha. You are from a beautiful country which has so much to offer. I wish people thought of the Philippines when they think of paradise like they do with Thailand.
I fully agree that Thailand is over rated, that’s why it has never been on our radar to explore. Sleaze, corruption, run down resorts, animal cruelty and endless lists of drug fueled parties. Not our cup of tea, and never will be. It may be cheap, like Bali, but there’s a reason for it.
To be honest it is not actually that cheap anymore.
I think general miseducation and the corrupt government are more to blame for the animal exploitation than anything else in Thailand to be honest… You mentioned tiger temple in ur post – but the sad reality is, the tigers are getting treated worse since they closed it down. The government organisations that finally agreed to close it down now have to find new homes for A LOT of animals… Many will go into the illegal wildlife trade (basically the animals go to the highest bidder…), others stay in government/army zoos where the keepers are just not knowledgeable enough to look after the animals properly (but also, sadly, it is a huge part of their culture to “save face” – so they refuse to ask for help when they need it). Many will no longer have the freedom to walk around large enclosures like they used to.
I cant say I know for sure – but I honestly dont think these animals were being drugged. I believe much of the bad press on this place was just propaganda created by the charity “cee4life” who’d basically dedicated about 10yrs of their life to shutting down the facility – entirely unaware of the political issues and consequences that go along with the closure.
I believe the best way to get around all this is to educate the Thai people and slowly, but surely, change their views and/or practices with a bunch small changes/influences over time – as opposed to one huge change such as the closure of a place (unless, obviously, they are entirely unwilling to go along with the small changes).
Thanks for your comment Zoe. It is very sad to hear that the tigers possibly have a worse life than they did previously due to the closing down of the temple. I think no animal should be kept in conditions that are not natural to them. The issue I have are about when wild animals are kept on chains or treated badly so that they ‘perform’ for tourists.
I too believe that through education, we can change how people treat animals and I understand it is likely to be a slow process. Positive change throughout the world is good.
I’ve been in Bangkok for the past 9 days and I love it. Thailand is country 48 for me but the first South East Asian one.
This article reads like you’ve always been to the touristy places – places well known to be touristy or recommended by guide books. I had a peek at Khaosan and turned right around – if that was all I’d seen on Bangkok I’d hate it, too. Instead, I stroll through the regular residential/business/market streets, along the channels, into smaller temples. I try food from all the little stalls. I use the free (a/c free) buses. The few times I used a cab I made sure it was a metered ride.
So yeah, so far I’m loving Thailand but as with pretty much anywhere else: You have to choose and create the type of visit you want to have.
Happy continued travels!
C
Thanks for your comment Carola. You are right, i stayed a little too much on the beaten track which is unlike me as I am normally off the beaten track. However in Bangkok I did wander through the residential areas and stayed away from Koh san Road. I feel that I would have probably enjoyed it more if I had stayed away from the tourist areas.
I hope that you continue to love Thailand.