Is it safe in Thailand?

We are often asked if it’s safe to travel to Thailand and the answer is, absolutely. Whether you are travelling solo, in a couple or in a group, it is a very safe country to visit. In fact, according to the crime rate statistics provided by World Population Review, it is safer than the UK, Ireland, France, Italy and many other popular European destinations.

Of course, whenever you travel to any new country, it is important to follow a few rules to ensure your safety.

HERE ARE OUR TOP 10 TIPS TO STAY SAFE in THAILAND

1. Keep copies of important documents on your phone/cloud, a printed copy is never a bad idea either
2. Cash is king in Thailand but make sure you bring multiple debit/credit cards. This way if your wallet/cards are ever lost or stolen, you will still have access to some money. We recommend using Wise.
3. Download some helpful apps before you arrive. Grab, Bolt and InDrive are great taxi apps.
4. Save emergency numbers into your phone, including police, tourist police, ambulance and the contact number for your hotel.
5. Get yourself some medical insurance. Emergency treatment in Thailand is not cheap and they will refuse to treat you unless you can pay or show proof of insurance.
6. Purchase a local SIM or get yourself an e-SIM to stay connected. We recommend Airalo as it provides a reliable internet connection and offers reasonable rates across Southeast Asia.
7. If you plan to hire a vehicle, always carry your driving licence, a copy of your passport and your international driving permit.
8. The police should be respected, I mean I think that’s a given, but you do not want to escalate a situation with Thai police. Please respect the rules, or you could land yourself a very big “fine” (read into that what you will).
9. Weed is now legal in Thailand, and you’ll find licensed dispensaries everywhere, but you are not allowed to smoke weed in public places, which includes hotels and beaches.
10. Lastly, be aware of common scams and mistakes and how to avoid them.

And that is what this blog is all about. After living in Thailand for more than three years, these are the most common scams we have heard of (or experienced) and the best ways to protect yourself against them…

Hiring vehicles including jet skis

One of the most common scams in Thailand involves hiring vehicles, even jet skis. The scam is simple: find an unsuspecting tourist who wants to hire a scooter, car or jet ski, one that already has minor damage, and when it’s returned, charge a hefty fine for the damage. When you refuse to pay they call the police, who will rarely, if ever, side with foreigners.

To avoid this common scam, always check the scooter, car or jet ski prior to leaving the premises. Check for any damage, scratches, or dents, and if you do see any, make sure to point these out and take plenty of photos and videos before you leave.

As an additional note – if you do decide to hire a scooter, please wear a helmet. It’s not just for safety, but it is illegal to drive a scooter without a helmet in Thailand (despite the fact that
many locals and tourists do not abide by this rule). Without one, you can be pulled over by the police and be issued a fine.

And finally, if you wish to hire a car or scooter in Thailand you MUST have an international driving licence. If you do not have one and you are stopped by the police, you will be issued a fine. We have seen queues of tourists waiting to pay fines at the local office. If you’re in the UK you can grab an international driving permit from your local Post Office (appreciate these are few and far between these days) for just £5.50. You just need to bring your photocard licence and a passport-sized photograph.

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Taxi drivers telling you that temples/attractions are closed

This is a well-known scam in Thailand, so be aware.

The scam is this, you want to visit a temple and so flag down a taxi, they tell you that it’s closed for a public holiday or refurbishment but it’s ok, they know another great place they can take you to. On the way they will take you on a tour. Stopping at several shops selling everything from paintings to jewellery and even restaurants. The reason is that they receive commissions on anything sold.

These shops and restaurants will charge you hugely inflated prices. We’ve heard stories of restaurants charging up to 10x the bill’s actual value. These scams only work if you’re not aware of what they are doing. Check online to see if the attraction you want to visit has any restricted opening hours. If there is a public holiday, Google will let you know.

If you want to visit an attraction or temple make sure to use a trusted taxi driver. Book via the inDrive app or ask your hotel/hostel reception to book one for you.

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Lady drinks, bar games, the bell, cabaret and ping-pong shows

LADY DRINKS

In many of the bars you will be encouraged to buy drinks for the girls behind the bar. This goes for men & women and you’ll be surprised at how much they cost. Even if the girl chooses a bottle of beer you will likely pay 2 or 3 times the usual cost. Any drinks bought for the girls include a large tip. So the ฿80 (£1.80) beer she’s drinking will probably cost you ฿160 (£3.60) or even as much as ฿240 (£5.40).

BAR GAMES

Also be aware of bar games, including pool, Connect4 and the ‘dice game’. These girls are pros and spend hours playing these games with tourists, so they have the advantage. The bet will always be a drink, and as we’ve discovered, these come at a high price. Even if you lose, you’ll often be persuaded to buy the loser a drink anyway. Just remember you’re paying for their company and attention so if you’re having a good time and don’t mind buying a few drinks or losing at a few games of Connect4 then there’s no harm done.

THE BAR BELL

You’ll notice in many bars that there is a large bell hanging down over the counter. BEWARE of ringing this bell! If you ring the bell, you will end up buying a drink or a shot for everyone in the bar. Some bars cap the price at ฿1,000 (£22.50) or ฿2,000 (£45.00), but this isn’t the case in every bar. Make sure you understand the rules before ringing the bar bell.

CABARET & PING-PONG SHOWS

If you’re in a busy tourist area such as Patong in Phuket you’ll have many people approach you to come along to a ‘free’ cabaret or ping-pong show. Technically the entry is free, but you will be encouraged to buy lots of drinks at very inflated prices. Sometimes these drinks will be as much as ฿250 (£5.60) for a small bottle of beer. You’ll also be required to ‘tip’ heavily for the free performance you’ve just watched. Sometimes they’ll request cash tips other times it’ll be in the form of plenty of drinks for the bartenders and waiters.

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Henna tattoos

In certain areas of Thailand, there are beach sellers that offer henna tattoos, most of these use a completely safe henna ink or dye which is brown or orange in colour and creates beautiful, intricate designs. But BEWARE of BLACK HENNA, this particular henna ink uses a black dye which can cause severe chemical reactions, leaving painful burns and even scarring. If in doubt, ask them to show you the colour of the henna prior to having any tattoos.

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Gambling

Gambling is ILLEGAL in Thailand, you can be arrested for participating in any type of betting or illegal casinos, this includes private poker games or sports betting.

The only permitted gambling is the Thai Lottery (Government Lottery) which takes place twice a month with a jackpot of 6 million baht (approx. £140,000). You can buy tickets from street vendors who will often pop into local bars and restaurants to sell tickets for ฿100 (£2.25) or packs of 4 for ฿300 (£6.75).

As an added note, you do need to be in the country to collect your winnings so make sure you’re still in Thailand when the draw takes place… just in case.

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Vaping

Vaping is also ILLEGAL in Thailand and you can be fined by the police if caught. The reason behind this is a strange one in our opinion, basically, you can’t buy vapes in Thailand and so it’s illegal to bring them into the country, if you do, you’ve done so illegally. You can smoke weed, but not vape, who’dah thought.

As something that is commonplace in the UK, it can be tempting to bring your trusty vape with you on your holiday. We do not recommend bringing your vape into the country or buying illegal vape pens from beach sellers but if you do choose to do this, remember it is illegal and you can be fined so be discreet and don’t use it in public places.

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The Thai Royal Family

It is ILLEGAL to talk negatively or insult the monarch of Thailand, this includes the royal family. To be cautious you’ll find that many Thai people refrain from talking about the royal family at all. You should also be mindful in front of photographs or paintings of them, this includes money. If you drop a note on the ground your natural instinct is to step on it so it doesn’t fly away, please avoid doing this where possible as it is considered highly disrespectful in Thailand.

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Sending sunshine from Koh Samui,

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