Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Where to Stay in Bangkok: A Guide for the Confused, the Curious & the Chronically Lost Bangkok is big. Bangkok is busy. Bangkok is also a little chaotic, a lot charming, and very sweaty. But choosing where to stay? That’s where things get really spicy. Each neighborhood has its own personality, from “I came to find myself” to “I came to find cocktails.” Here's your guide to the most popular areas and what kind of traveler they’re secretly judging you to be. 1. Khao San Road & Banglamphu For : Backpackers, budget-lovers, party people, and banana pancake philosophers Ah, Khao San Road, land of $5 hostels, tattoo regrets, and 24/7 pad Thai . It's loud, it's fun, it's a little grimy, and it smells like beer and dreams. Pros : Cheap accommodation and street food Bars, live music, and buckets of mystery alcohol Walking distance to the Grand Palace and temples Easy to meet new people and have fun  Cons : Sleep? What sleep? Can feel like a chaotic gap-year festival Qu...

You Got Bitten by a Stray in Thailand, So Now What?   Congratulations! You’ve just been personally selected by a local Thai animal (dog, cat, monkey, or possibly a very ambitious squirrel) to receive a free, unplanned piercing. Maybe you tried to pet a street dog that looked "friendly" (it wasn’t), or perhaps a monkey at a temple decided you looked tastier than the bananas you brought. Either way, you’re now staring at a tiny wound, wondering if you’re about to become the next tragic headline: "Tourist Dies Horribly After Befriending Cute But Rabid Mongoose."   Relax. You'll be fine. Probably. But let’s talk about rabies, because while the odds are low, the stakes are hilariously high.   Rabies: The Disease That Makes Zombies Look Polite    Rabies is a virus that, if left untreated, turns you into a frothing, hydrophobic nightmare before (and this is the key part) killing you almost 100% of the time. The good news? It’s super rare in humans becaus...

Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand: Ethical Wonderlands or Guilt-Flavored Tourist Traps? Let’s talk about elephants, those majestic, intelligent, sensitive creatures that somehow ended up as the unofficial mascots of Thailand’s tourism industry. You’ve seen the photos: a serene tourist in harem pants lovingly bathing a giant elephant while a tour guide quietly angles for a tip in the background. It looks wholesome. It feels ethical. But is it? Or is this just another case of us hugging animals because we need new content for Instagram? First, the basics. Thailand is home to thousands of elephants, both wild and captive. The wild ones are doing their best to avoid humanity altogether (understandable), while the captive ones are mostly trapped in a weird halfway house of tourism, entertainment, and vague conservation slogans. Enter: the elephant sanctuary. The Ethical Sanctuary™ This is the kind of place every well-meaning traveler thinks they’re going to. No chains, no riding, no circus t...

Farang: The Ultimate Guide to Being a “Foreigner” in Thailand (And Not Losing Your Cool) So, you’ve just landed in Thailand, ready to embrace the Land of Smiles, pad thai, local beer (Chang, Singha, Leo, pick your poison) and inexplicably cheap rice whisky. But within approximately 3.2 seconds of existing here, you’ll hear it, the word that will follow you like a stray soi dog: “Farang.” “Farang!” (Pointing)   “Look, farang!” (Whispering)   “Farang price!” (Laughing maniacally while charging you double)   But what does it mean? Is it offensive? Should you embrace it, ignore it, or start hissing like a territorial cat? Let’s break it down.   What the Heck Does “Farang” Even Mean? The word “farang” (ฝรั่ง) is the Thai term for foreigner, specifically a white Westerner. (If you’re Black, you might hear “farang dam,” if you’re Indian, you’re probably “kaek,” and if you’re East Asian, you’re lucky enough to dodge the label until you open your mouth.)...

The Best Time to Visit Thailand (Spoiler: It's Not When You Think) So, you've decided to visit Thailand, land of golden temples, spicy food that laughs at your pain tolerance, and beaches so Instagram-worthy they make your real life look sad. But when should you actually go? Oh, don't worry, we'll help you navigate this extremely complicated decision. Option 1: The "Cool Season" (November to February) AKA Tourist Armageddon This is when everyone and their grandmother flocks to Thailand because, surprise, it's not a sweaty armpit outside. The weather is warm to hot but not "I'm melting into a puddle of regret" hot. Pros : - Perfect beach weather. - Festivals (Loi Krathong, Yi Peng lanterns, New Year's Eve chaos.) - You can wear actual clothes without immediately regretting your life choices. Cons : - Every tourist attraction looks like a Black Friday sale. - Prices skyrocket because hotels know you'll pay anything to avoid the monsoo...

How Thailand Turned Its Back on Backpackers (And Why It Might Regret It) Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles, spicy food, and questionable decisions. For decades, it was the holy grail of backpackers: cheap, chaotic, and full of stories that would either make your mother proud or give her a heart attack. But lately, Thailand seems to have decided that backpackers are so 2010.   The Golden Age of Backpacking (When Things Were Actually Fun) Remember the good old days? When you could survive on ฿30 pad Thais, sleep in ฿200 beach bungalows that were one strong breeze away from collapsing, and get a "full moon party" experience that didn’t involve Instagram influencers doing yoga poses at sunrise?   Backpackers were the lifeblood of Thailand’s tourism. Sure, we were sometimes broke, but we were loyal. We didn’t care if our hostel had more cockroaches than guests or if the "VIP bus" was just a regular bus with a sticker. We embraced the chaos.   Enter: The "Luxury"...

Airbnb in Thailand: A Dance with Dragons (and Lawyers) Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles, pad Thai, and legal landmines? If you're planning a trip and considering Airbnb, buckle up! We're diving into the wild world of Thai accommodation laws, where short-term rentals are about as welcome as a durian fruit in a crowded elevator. Short-Term Rentals: The Forbidden Fruit Picture this: you're scrolling through Airbnb, dreaming of a cozy Bangkok condo or a beachfront villa in Phuket. But hold your elephants! According to Thai law, renting a place for less than 30 days is a big no-no unless the property has a hotel license. Yep, you read that right. Your cute little Airbnb could be as illegal as a thirty-baht note. But why the fuss? Well, imagine trying to host a wild party, but your neighbor is the fun police. That's basically Thailand's Hotel Act of 2004, the ultimate buzzkill for short-term rental enthusiasts. The law is clear: no hotel license, no short-term stays. It...

So You Overstayed Your Visa in Thailand? Oops. Congratulations! You've just joined the exclusive club of people who lost track of time in the Land of Smiles until they realized their visa expired approximately three Singha beers ago.   Don't panic! (Okay, maybe panic a little.) Here's your survival guide to navigating the bureaucratic nightmare that is a Thai visa overstay, served with a side of sarcasm and poor life choices.   What Happens When You Overstay? (Spoiler: Nothing Good)   Thailand is chill about many things such as street food hygiene, motorbike safety, the concept of personal space, but overstaying your visa? Oh no, my friend. That's where they draw the line.   Here's the breakdown of your impending doom:   - 1-Day Overstay: "Oops, my bad?" Maybe they'll let it slide. Maybe. (But don't count on it.)   - 2-90 Days Overstay: 500 THB per day, max 20,000 THB. Think of it as a "stupidity tax." Plus a stamp in your pass...

Visiting Koh Samet: Thailand’s Worst-Kept Secret with the Best Sand-to-Tourist Ratio Koh Samet. The island that’s somehow both a beach escape and Bangkok’s unofficial weekend dumping ground. Want to leave the chaos of the city behind? Great! So does everyone else. But hey, at least the water’s blue, the sand is flour-soft, and the hangovers are surprisingly scenic. This place is ideal if you want that tropical island vibe but only have 2.5 brain cells of energy left after surviving Bangkok traffic. It’s close, it’s chaotic, it’s charming, and yes, it’s full of people who forgot sunscreen. Let’s break it down. Beaches: Choose Your Own (Sandy) Adventure Koh Samet isn’t huge, but it’s got a shocking number of beaches for a place that takes 20 minutes to scooter across. Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach) – The main beach. The big one. The party central. Imagine Ibiza, but with more street meat and fewer rules. Jet skis, loud music, fire shows, and tourists burning like lobsters. Fun fo...

What Travel Guides Don’t Tell You About Visiting Thailand in Your 40s Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles, where backpackers fresh out of college survive on 30-cent noodles and questionable bucket drinks while you, a dignified adult in your 40s, suddenly realize your knees aren’t what they used to be.   Travel guides make it all sound so magical: pristine beaches, ancient temples, and street food that won’t send you sprinting to the nearest Western-style toilet. But what they don’t tell you is that Thailand in your 40s is less The Beach (Leo DiCaprio edition) and more The Hangover (extended director’s cut with more ibuprofen).   1. Your Backpacking Days Are Over (And So Is Your Dignity) Remember when you could sleep on a 12-hour overnight bus with no AC, sandwiched between a snoring German tourist and a chicken? Yeah, those days are gone. Now, you need at least a three-star hotel with a mattress that doesn’t feel like a yoga mat. And forget about dorm rooms unless you...

Chiang Mai Shopping: Where Your "Authentic Experience" Comes with a Receipt Ah, Chiang Mai, Thailand's northern darling where digital nomads sip artisanal coffee while congratulating themselves on "escaping" Bangkok. But what about the shopping? Let me guide you through the retail wonderland that awaits in this city of temples, expats, and endless souvenir opportunities. Night Bazaar: The Tourist Trap That Never Sleeps Welcome to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, where the same elephant pants you saw in Bangkok have somehow migrated 700 kilometers north! This nightly extravaganza stretches along Chang Khlan Road, offering you the unique opportunity to purchase identical souvenirs from hundreds of different vendors. The true art of the Night Bazaar experience is watching tourists haggle aggressively over 20 baht (approximately 60 cents) while simultaneously paying $7 for a beer at the adjacent "authentic" pub. Nothing screams "cultural immersion" quite...

How to Pay for Stuff in Thailand Without Going Broke (or Crazy) So, you've landed in the Land of Smiles, where the food is spicy, the beaches are Instagram-worthy, and the payment methods are sometimes complicated. Fear not, fellow traveler, because I'm here to break down the many ways you can hand over your hard-earned cash (or plastic, or digital bytes) in Thailand. 1. Cash is King (Because Apparently, We're Still in 1995) Forget Apple Pay, forget Venmo S most of Thailand, and especially tourist Thailand , runs on cold, hard cash like it's still the '90s. Street food vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, and even some smaller shops will look at you like you've grown a second head if you whip out a card. Pro Tip: Carry small bills (20s, 50s, 100s) because nobody wants to break your 1000฿ note for a 50฿ mango sticky rice. Also, expect the classic "No have change!" from taxi drivers. It's basically a national sport. Head to a 7-Eleven and buy something small ...

Helping Stray Animals in Thailand: A Tail-Wagging, Whisker-Twitching Guide Alright, listen up, all you animal-loving, pad thai-munching, tuk-tuk-riding adventurers! Thailand is a magical land filled with stunning temples, mouth-watering street food, and... stray animals. Lots and lots of stray animals. But fear not, for we are here to guide you through the wonderful world of helping our furry (and sometimes not-so-furry) friends in the Land of Smiles. Soi Dog Foundation First things first, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the dogs and cats on the streets. Thailand has a bit of a stray animal situation, but don't worry, there are plenty of ways you can lend a helping paw. One of the most paw-some organizations out there is the Soi Dog Foundation. These folks are like the superheroes of the stray animal world, rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming our four-legged friends. They've got more street cred than a Bangkok tuk-tuk driver, and they're always ...

Geckos in Thailand: Your New Uninvited Roommates So, you’ve landed in Thailand, unpacked your bags, taken your first glorious bite of mango sticky rice, and are ready to relax in your Airbnb. You flick on the lights, and BAM, there it is. Clinging to the wall like a tiny ninja lizard. Congratulations. You’ve met your first gecko. And guess what? He lives here now. Geckos in Thailand are not pests. Oh no. They are residents. You, dear traveler, are the guest. And they’re not going anywhere. They live on the ceilings, behind picture frames, under light fixtures, and occasionally, in your soul. Now, before you start screaming or Googling “how to remove geckos from my room using prayer,” take a breath. These little guys are actually your allies. Think of them as the adorable, bug-eating security team you never asked for. Mosquitoes? Gone. Other annoying insects? Eaten. That weird flying beetle that appeared out of nowhere? Taken care of by Gary the Gecko, who’s now running wind sprints acr...

How Much Spending Money You Need in Thailand Per Day (No Roof, Just Vibes) Survival-to-splurge edition, one noodle bowl and temple ticket at a time. 1. The Monk-ish Minimalist Daily spend: $5–$10 You’ve reached budget Zen. You survive on karma, street soup, temple shade and maybe a few small entrance fees. Food: 1–2 street meals: $3–4 Drinks/snacks: water refill, banana, oxygen: $1 Transport: walking everywhere and pretending you love it (or riding dirt cheap local buses) Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: mostly free temples, $0–$3 for donations Emergency budget: $2 (usually spent on mango sticky rice) Vibe : One robe away from enlightenment. 2. The Bare-Minimum Budgeteer Daily spend: $12–$20 You’re thriving, kind of. You eat well, get around, and visit a few cheap attractions. Food: 2–3 street meals: $6 Drinks/snacks: coffee or Thai tea from street vendors $2 Transport: public transport (including  songthaew ): $2 Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: temples, s...

The Foreigner Zoo: A Guide to the Expat Species of Thailand Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles, where foreigners flock like moths to a neon Singha sign. Whether you’re sipping a Chang on the beach or arguing with a tuk-tuk driver about the actual meter price, one thing is certain: you’re surrounded by a fascinating array of expat wildlife.   From the sunburned retiree to the dreadlocked trust-fund nomad, Thailand is home to some truly unique specimens. Let’s take a safari through the jungle of farang (foreigner) biodiversity.   1. The English Teacher (aka "I Definitely Have a Degree") Easily spotted in cheap button-ups and cargo pants, this creature survives on a diet of 7-Eleven toasties and misplaced optimism. They swear their TEFL certificate is totally legit (it’s from a website called TeachEngrishFast.com ).   Their natural habitat? The back of a Bangkok classroom, where they struggle to explain the difference between "there," "their," and "they’r...

Chiang Rai: Thailand’s Hidden Gem (That’s Tired of Being Called a “Hidden Gem”) So you're over Bangkok’s chaos, Chiang Mai’s crowds, and you’ve realized Phuket is basically just sunburns and regrets. Enter Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northern city that’s been quietly existing with zero interest in impressing tourists, yet somehow ends up doing exactly that. How to Get There By Plane Direct flights from Bangkok land at Chiang Rai’s humble little airport. Expect to pay 1,000–2,000 THB one way. If you're flying budget, prepare for a bumpy ride and a philosophical reflection on legroom. By Bus Overnight or day buses from Chiang Mai cost 200–300 THB, depending on how fancy you want your seat to be. VIP buses come with air-con, snacks, and the faint hope of a nap. By Scooter For the brave and possibly unhinged, you can do the scenic Mae Salong loop. Scooter rentals go for 200–300 THB/day. Helmets are optional according to Thai law, but not according to your brain. Where to Stay Budget...

Pattaya with Kids: Yes, Really. So you’re thinking about taking the family to Pattaya. Bold move. This place is basically the world’s biggest adult playground: a neon-lit, beer-soaked, ladyboy-filled wonderland where the party never stops (or at least not until the sun comes up and everyone remembers they have responsibilities). But here’s the twist: Pattaya is also weirdly popular with families. Thais, Russians, and Indians all flock here with their kids in tow, proving that either a) they know something you don’t, or b) they’ve given up on shielding their children from reality.   But Why, Though? Because despite its reputation , Pattaya has a surprising amount of stuff to do that doesn’t involve questionable life choices. The beaches? Not winning any beauty contests (think: brownish sand, murky water, and enough jet skis to make you question marine safety laws). But hey, kids don’t care! Throw them in the ocean with some floaties ( water wings for the poms), and they’re ...

Pattaya for Single Guys: Welcome to the Thunderdome So you’re a single dude thinking about Pattaya. Congratulations, you’ve just unlocked " Easy Mode " for nightlife, questionable life choices, and stories you’ll either brag about or take to your grave. This city is like if Vegas and a frat house had a baby, then gave that baby Red Bull and a motorbike.   Why Pattaya? (Besides the Obvious) Look, we all know why Pattaya exists, but there’s more to it than just… that . Sure, it’s the world’s biggest adult playground, but it’s also cheap, wild, and completely judgment-free (because everyone here is too busy making their own bad decisions).   How to Get There In Style : Taxi from the airport straight to Pattaya. This is the most popular way for players  and horny returnees who can't get there fast enough. Financial damage: around 1,500 to 2,000 baht. By Bus : Either straight from Suvarnabhumi airport or from Ekkamai Bus Station. Very affordable at around 200 baht...

Koh Kood (Koh Kut): Thailand’s Best-Kept Secret, Unless You’ve Talked to Literally Any Travel Blogger Ever Welcome to Koh Kood (aka Koh Kut, because spelling is a suggestion in Thailand). This island is so untouched, so stupidly gorgeous, and so blissfully quiet, you’ll start to question your own existence. “Why don’t more people come here?” you’ll ask, while sipping fresh coconut juice under a palm tree that somehow hasn’t been monetized yet. Spoiler: it’s because it’s annoying to get to. But if you're willing to brave the trek, you’re rewarded with crystal-clear water, empty beaches, no 7-Elevens, and the kind of serenity that makes you wonder if you accidentally joined a cult of inner peace. --------------- Beaches: Where the Sand is Soft and the Tourists Are on Koh Samui Instead Ao Tapao Beach – Long, clean, and quiet. There’s a literal palace nearby (no big deal), and a few laid-back resorts where the most exciting event is “reading.” Ao Prao – Secluded, stunning, and might ...