I'm 72 and just got back 2 days ago and I fell in love with Thailand. We did the island tour on the long boat to Phi Phi... and decided to stay the night in only the clothes we were wearing. Best decision ever and I cannot wait to go back...bucket list ticked. This video was excellent and full of very good advice. 👍
@silasadams8053 I had seen the islands on tv but getting up close and personal to them was magical. I never met a Thai that wasn't friendly or annoying like Bali. Plus the food although a bit rich for me was amazing, loved all the night markets too. So think I'll be a returning tourist like yourself. 👍
@MAA77723 The night markets are awesome as is hawkers markets. We also went to the big buddah (Phuket) and to an elephant sanctuary to give them a mud bath... what an experience that was. Take a long boat day trip and snorkel (supplied) in the crystal blue waters.
Great vid and advice. Lived in Thailand from 1992 to 1994. Stayed in Pattaya and Jomtien, worked in Map ta Phut. Best time of my life. Surely very different now, but what a great adventure every chance I had time off (including every evening).
Maybe to add: taxi is often cheaper than grab. But Never use Taxi without taximeter!! And you can normally see whether it’s industrial ice cubes or self made (hole in the middle of the ice cube = industrial).
I'm planning to go and wanted visit Bangkok, chiang mai, and possibly phi phi. What's the most efficient way of visiting all 3? I've seen a return flight to Bangkok
@@JoelfriendHi, I have two questions: where should I exchange USD money in Phuket? Also did you guys get any vaccines before traveling to Thailand, for example: Dengue vaccine? Thank you in advance 😃
But 2 years old. Phuket changed massively past 2 years with Russian influx. 2 million of them here. Construction and traffic everywhere. And prices are double since past 5 years.
I live in Phuket and the cops stopping you for not wearing helmets is not a scam, Under Thai traffic law you must have a Thai riding license and the cops can refuse to accept international ones, We have so many young tourists the same as yourself and your girlfriends that are seriously injured or killed because they have either never ridden or have very little experience on motorbikes before they come here, Good Helmets protective clothing and 1st class riding Insurance are essential if Biking in Thailand and the only way you can become insured here is with a full Thai Riding licence and if you do have an accident here on a rental scooter and your fault you could suffer massive compensation claims........My advice to all you guys is keep well of of Scooters when you visit unless you have a Thai riding license comprehensive Thai insurance and fully understand the rules of the road here,ps I worked for the Thai Tourist Police here involved with sorting out foreigners involved here on Scooter. accidents........Hoping you will amend your comments accordingly and educate the dangers of novice riders coming here and renting bikes.
@@swisscheese8628 it wasn't scam but its coruption to be precise, not wearing helmet is definately illegal according to the law not only in Thailand but the rest of the whole and in most developed country they will enforce it strictly It kinda common sense, if the police see those who don't, they have to enforce the law it needed to have punishment, to be clear those who being caught because of whatever reasons either driving license or helmet l have 2 options one do the coruption pay direct to the police pocket and they wont enforce the law or 2 follow the law and pay to the government which of course normally 3-4 times more expensive than coruption so choose yourself or just wear the freaking helmet and do the correct drive licence, I went over 40 countries I studied the law before I go and never have problems I wonder if dont wear helmet and dont driving license in a country like Germany or Japan what it gonna be I might be locked up in jail already.
1) No, they can't refuse an international driver's license. What are you talking about. There are agreements in place for that. A cop even showd me some pictures of all the various int. driver licenses so that they know how they look. 2) It is kind of a scam because nowhere else do they care about that and I live in Thailand too. Do you get a receipt? I watched sooo many cops driving by where 3 (thai) kids are on a motorcycle and they don't care. In some parts of the country basically nobody wears a helmet. Yesterday I saw a mom with her baby in one arm and with one hand steering the motorcycle. It is insane what you see here....
yes i live here long time, is good, rain cools down air which is nice, in chiang mai in april it frequety in 40c + & is smokey dirty air as burning crop stubble & jungle foliage for mushrooms, june to sept. my fav. or in north thailand Nov.-Dec. great as 28-30c days & cooler evenings so is nice to sleep
My boyfriend surprised me on Christmas, gifting a trip to Thailand next year in September. I'm so excited and am researching everything I need to know.
Once I was travelling by train through a small village where I had to stop and get on a different train and a bunch of kids came to me and gave me some photogallery of their king and I really didnt know what to do with it, so I took it with me and was so afraid of discarding it, so I still have it with me to this day. The kids were very friendly, I dont think they have seen much tourists in this rural part of thailand so I have played with them the whole train ride. People in Thailand are so awesome
Don't miss the street food in Bangkok. So delicious, so cheap, and so tasty, plus never once had any gastric problems from it. You sit on benches on the street along with all the Thai people. Fun! Definitely not to be missed - and way better than most restaurants.
For the Thais the cost of a meal has doubled in Bangkok (not sure about elsewhere) since Covid and many people are really struggling financially so they really need the support tourism can provide.
I think wet season is not that bad, it doesn’t rain all the time, many people are scared of rainy season. It rains for couple hours a day, sometimes no rain for couple day. I think when it rains it’s even better, the air more fresh, leas dust.
Thailand has 3 seasons buddy cool season (Nov-Feb) Hot Season (March-May) Wet Season (July-Oct) June visits are the best kept secret in Thailand! Almost Jan temperatures with Wet season prices!
1:40 Renting a scooter is fun and you get around but it's also high risk. If someone steals it, it's not insured and they will come after you. If you get in accident and you don't speak Thai, the other guy will convince the cop it was you're fault and you won't be able to argue against it. Some scooter rental offices will claim you scratched or otherwise damaged the scooter and go after you for more money. If you want to rent a scooter, keep the risks in mind.
We had many, many holidays in Thailand and some truthful Thai friends made it clear to us that if we hired a scooter or car and had an accident, then it would automatically be our fault. Basically, because if we hadn't travelled to Thailand the accident wouldn't have happened. We loved the people but over time you do learn that some will use you - human nature I guess.
@@pvdppvdp6638 we ate other things obviously but in between especially after a night out walking back to hotels only thing open was 7 eleven so you know we munched on those toastiest. NO SHAME
Regarding the ice: Most restaurants and cafes and even food carts use the ice with the HOLE in it. This is the correct kind of ice. If it has a hole in the center, it's safe.
However the downside of processed ice instead of traditional ice blocks are they put ammonia into it to freeze it quicker and sell it to shops. I know the process as my friend sells hino delivery trucks to some ice making bosses. I hv visited them with him. Some workers died in the factory due to ammonia leaks.
@@keangwooichoo6138 Mc, Kfc and any food chain here they use small ice my friend not a big ice with a hole in it like this guys talking about. I guessed they probably made it themself. Because manytimes it looks like a unique rectangular shape. You can buy a pack of big ice with a hole in it for about 9 baht per bag in 7-11 it is a cheap one and there is a special slowly melt ice too but it doesn't have a hole in it but it's much better because it's harder to melt much better quality but it's a little more expensive like 1x baht and the cheapest and most famous is the 7-11 machine made ice that you could buy for just 8 baht but it's a small machine made ice and you have to press the ice at the machine by yourself.
@@onalonan do to buy too much ice especially factory produced ones. I know a owner of such factory in Malaysia. They put ammonia to quicken the process as too many orders for ice. It is not like your house where you just put water and freeze it.
Well have you heard of kolkata, mumbai, delhi belly? Food poisoning can happen whenever you least expected. When traveling better eat hot food. Drinks if from fridge is already cold or chilled, do not add ice anymore.
Awesome video! I am in Thailand right now with my wife and kids. My wife is Lao. We live in America. We are going to Laos next. The Thai food is really good. It’s bland. You have to add hot sauce etc. All resorts who cater to foreigners. They do not have condiments. In America we are used to Sriracha and countless condiments. You will be lucky to find anything other than tobacco. If you want another condiment. You have to buy it locally at a Big C or 7/11. Also. Food carts don’t give you napkins. If they do it’s paper thin. We at least carried wipes. It’s a must. Foot carts will have tables with lots of spills and messes. We just wipe them down before we eat. Also. I carry a microfiber cloth and a small bottle of eye glass cleaner. Works perfect for eye glasses and iPads phones. The major disappoint for me. I am a huge coffee drinker. No one is open at 5am for coffee. Even in a big city like Bangkok. Every resort we stayed at. No coffee station or pay coffee machine. This is my first vacation where I don’t get to drink coffee from a coffee shop right away when I wake up. You only have the instant coffee in the room.
Thanks Joel I'm 51 and leaving Europe for the first time. I'm flying into Phuket on the the 23rd of January I'll be travelling South to North just like you said,
I've been living in Thailand for about 10 years. I've had food poisoning twice. The first time, I don't remember or know where I got it. But the second time, I know I got food poisoning from a foreigner-owned restaurant in Kanchanaburi. In terms of cleanliness, I will eat most anything from a night market or restaurant, but I do avoid eating from stalls set up on the street. They typically have lower quality foods, less refrigeration, they typically use oil until it's black, and they aren't able to properly wash their hands or equipment. Pollution from passing traffic can be nasty too. Anyways, very cool video. I was looking for things to nit pick, but couldn't really find anything, except that I've never been asked whether I have a license while renting a motorbike. Passport or deposit has been the only requirement. Anyways, cheers on this cool video!
I’ve been living in Bangkok for the past 5 years and I think you did a great job on this video 👏 As a traveler you seem to have picked up on a lot of things that most miss so good for you. Living here for the past 5 years I eat Thai food everyday and I’ve never gotten food poisoning (yet)🤞 If the locals are eating it, you should be ok. Where you get into trouble is when you eat western dishes prepared by someone who has never/would never eat it. The preparation is typically different to what westerners are used to so you may get sick that way. If you’re in Bangkok, eat what the locals eat. If you’re out in a suburb province then I recommend easing into it because their diet will include things that are specific to that region. My Thai wife refuses to eat so many Thai dishes that I eat so it just depends on your preferences.
Exactly, I have never gotten sick in Thailand once, but practically only eat Thai food so that could be why! Yers, following the Thai people and where they eat is always a great idea! Thanks for the comment! :)
Also lived in Bangkok for many years and tbh I think it really depends on where you come from in how often it happens. I've noticed that Americans/Canadians get food poisoning the most. I'm American, eat about an even mix between Thai and western food and I get bad food poisoning a few times a year and mild food poisoning a few times a year, as do most of my other NA friends. Europeans tend to get food poisoning a lot as well but not as much as NA people. Most of my EU friends that live here usually get bad food poisoning at least 1-2 times a year. One of my EU friends living here was actually hospitalized twice in one year from bacteria infections from food. There was also a 3-4 month period in 2022 where food poisoning reports spiked incredibly high, not really sure of the reason. While Thai people obviously have much stronger stomachs because they are used to eating Thai food, they often get food poisoning as well although it's usually just mild cases. Anyone who lives here and has a lot of close Thai friends knows this. Getting sick/diarrhea from food is common place, so saying just eat what locals eat when even they often have issues from the food, just means you are likely to have more issues than them.
I got food poisoning twice. By now I also live in Thailand. Never eat something that the old grandma on the farm is mixing up in her little pot, be careful with street food (check that it is grilled all the way, especially fish and fish balls and if it is on a busy road and the food is not covered, don't eat it) and some little "restaurants". also never get food at markets where the meat is out in the open in the heat. I can absolutely agree with the general rule that if a lot of Thai people go into a restaurant and it looks nice you should be safe
I'm planning to visit Bangkok and Phuket in mid November of this year and I'm so excited. I've always dreamed of going there. So I'm watching everything I can find about how to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And to be a respectful tourist. I'm thrilled to finally get to visit this magical place at 53! Thank you for the guidance!
Thailand is amazing! Love the Thai people !! The difference between the friendliness of the Thais and what I experienced when I went to Cambodia was worlds apart even though they are next to each other geographically.
Maybe I missed it somewhere because you were speaking quite fast but the number 1 thing every foreigner should know is to always use your right hand when giving, receiving, touching, pointing (full hand, not finger), you name it. The left hand is use to wipe your you know what. Yes, I know some locals use their left hand but that's just them showing you disrespect.
@@3Peakswellness I was born in Burma, so can tell you first hand that it's not just India. When you grow up in SE Asia you can feel it in your system that using your left hand for certain things is not OK. Sure, Thais will use their left hand but it would be out of laziness or directing disrespect. My Westerner wife once had money rejected by a Thai shop seller because my wife handed her money using her left hand.
@@yogawithandy oh wow I lived in Thailand for a year and never noticed, but I don’t think most Thai people use their left hand for wiping they have bum guns or TP in almost every bathroom no?
OLDER PEOPLE listening to this review... BE WARNED... if you spend $35 per night on a hotel realize you get what you pay for. the beds for that price in thailand are hard LIKE STONE. i tried a few different rooms in bkk, chiang mai, and khon kean and this held true for the entire month i was there. if you need a softer bed... 1) CHECK THE "BEDS" before you say ok, they will let you check out the rooms before purchase in most cases... 2) be prepared to spend $60 - $70 per night if you need a softer bed in non-raining season (i stayed in december, fyi)... 3) DO NOT try to remove religious artfacts from the country... it wont go well. thailand is an amazing place, dont miss out!!!!!!!
Excellent!!! Thank you so much!!! Such great info!!! Heading to Thailand for our 30 anniversary trip this March. Sure wish we could stay longer than 3 weeks! 😊
Thank you! One of the only videos that answered alot of questions I had in mind like the scooter rental ect I'm going for 1 month in April. So excited 😊
Thanks so much for sharing this! We found that a lot of elephant 'sanctuaries' also include bathing with the elephants, which is actually quite traumatic for them (and something not many people know about, looking only to avoid riding them). Looks like you had an amazing time!
If you get the tube ice or round with the hole in the middle it is fine because it was made in a machine and the water is already clean but if you get a drink and it just has icecubes in it then they could be from the tap.
Hi dear Joel. Yr analysis re tourist visits to different places in Thailand is very useful guidance & highly appreciable. In my opinion ,too, Thailand is d best country in every respect. I have travelled to Thailand more than 100 times, so far. 1/ About 95% Thai people r honest good & nice. 2. Thare are many beautiful beaches ,islands,rivers ,hills & sightseeing places, all over. 3/ Quite cheap shopping materials in different places like Bobe, Sampeng, Pratunam + few cheap night Markets etc + cheap food streets. Only in Malls d shopping is expensive. 4/wonderful night life etc. 5. Most of all , Thailand is a safe & secured country. About Thailand It is rightly said Land of Smiles & Paradise on d earth. Thnx & All d best dear.
I dont recommend to Bolt for your travel, they have substandard driver background checks. I recommend to used Grab taxi or line man, It's safer because some Bolt drivers are people who dont pass the regulation from Grab/lineman and also pay by cash which is meter+service charge 20 baht, but if it rains use Grabcar, justGrab or etc that has been calculated because Rain+Traffic jam especially in Bangkok is fuckin crazy!! you can stuck on the road for at least 1-2 hrs and meter gonna run so fast. So you may use BTS or Mrt to get close to that place first and then take a taxi. I hope you, including those who watched this clip and are coming to Thailand will have a good experience back. Welcome & Take care😄
Well done Joel I've just subscribed. I'm an old fella and I haven't been back there since 2009. now planning my return. Really useful tips thanks for the update mate.
Some of these tips were so useful, thank you! My fiancé and I are going to Thailand in October for our honeymoon, so not doing it the most affordable way but its still so cheap in comparison to SO many other destinations that we looked at. I'm disappointed we can't fit chiang mai or chiang rai in our itinerary this time around so are flying into Bangkok and then out of phuket on the way home, I'm so excited!
My wife and I were thinking of going for our anniversary next year! I want to do the exact thing, land in Bangkok and leave from Phuket. Was wondering how you planned on doing that? Not much of a traveler, so don’t know how to go about it. Will you take a train or flight down to Phuket from Bangkok? Thank you in advance, and have a great time!!
Be careful about the scooter, the issue is that you actually need an international MOTORBIKE LICENSE, not just international license. You can rent the scooter no problem BUT if you have an accident your insurance won’t cover you! Lots f people have found themselves in a lot of trouble because of this.
If eating street food make sure it is cooked. Salads are a bad idea. Never eat seafood from a street vendor. Also follow the locals lead, if there is a lineup to a vendor you will probably be fine. Drink vendors all buy their ice they don't make it themselves with tap water, once again just go to vendors that are busy locals don't like getting the runs either.
Good tip on the drivers license! I was in Chang Mai and they were stopping every bike. As soon as I pulled my international license out, they waved me through without looking at it and looked annoyed that they couldn't get me!
Great vid and advice. Lived in Thailand from 1992 to 1994. Stayed in Pattaya and Jomtien, worked in Map ta Phut. Best time of my life. Surely very different now, but what a great adventure every chance I had time off (including every evening).
often people who get the sh+ts havent got poisoning of any sort its just that their foreign gut bacteria isnt up to a sustained onslaught from the unfamiliar- in short you might struggle to digest some things -especially spicy things if you are not used to it -my advice just go easy - and in my experience all cooking and food prep and ice making is done with superclean water -so be cautious of the choices you make and enjoy
I really loved your video. Very concise and straight to the points. No messing around. Brilliant! I have been to Thailand so many times and I’ve never had a “Bangkok belly” experience so I was very surprised to hear this. Eating and drinking any food in Thailand is usually safe. This wasn’t the case for me on my very first trip to Bangalore, India when the very next day, my bum was like a running tap from the Delhi belly condition 😂😂😂
Just got back from Thailand and your tips are pretty much right on. One tip about Phi Phi, I would NOT recommend staying overnight there, or more than 1 night if you're taking a late boat tour requiring overnight. The village is overcrowded, hotels over priced, sewer overloaded. I did a private longtail boat tour of the 4 islands and it was fun but if I had it to do over again, I'd do a speedboat day tour of the area and spend more time elsewhere. Maya beach is pretty but not worth paying to walk on, have to disagree there. Railay beach is just as pretty or more so and well worth the trip.
all the island starting from phuket are a tourist rip offs and, from what I have heard, full of russians (and chinese). Nature is beautiful but those other circumstances make it sooo unattractive
I've just arrived in Thailand and I think you covered everything that's useful when getting here! There are so many islands in the south, some are super busy right now like Ao Nang (Krabi) and Phi Phi, and some are hidden gems. Also move away from the main roads and go explore down smaller side streets. You never know what local food you might find!!
They sell the same shit everywhere, go down a side street and woo you'll see the same banana pancakes and mango shakes. Remember Thailand is commercial asf, they rely on tourism for business, everything you go to see and do has been done 10,000x by fat old men let alone younger adventurers
@@autismchallengingafbut6885 I only drove a scooter on the islands. I wouldn't feel safe on the mainland unless it was in a quiet rural area. It certainly helps to explore, but Grab is cheap and useful for people who don't want to ride a scooter.
Sound advice from Joel. I lived there for 8 years and you can rent bikes and scooters no prob on an International licence. Without a motorcycle licence though you risk a fine from the police and your insurance is void. Hospitals are expensive !
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I'm 72 and just got back 2 days ago and I fell in love with Thailand. We did the island tour on the long boat to Phi Phi... and decided to stay the night in only the clothes we were wearing. Best decision ever and I cannot wait to go back...bucket list ticked.
This video was excellent and full of very good advice. 👍
I agree I'm 41 had the pleasure of travelling Thailand 3 times can hardly wait to go back again
@silasadams8053
I had seen the islands on tv but getting up close and personal to them was magical. I never met a Thai that wasn't friendly or annoying like Bali. Plus the food although a bit rich for me was amazing, loved all the night markets too. So think I'll be a returning tourist like yourself. 👍
52 years old, I’ve talked my best friend into going to Thailand with me next year, January 2026. Any advice??
@MAA77723
The night markets are awesome as is hawkers markets. We also went to the big buddah (Phuket) and to an elephant sanctuary to give them a mud bath... what an experience that was. Take a long boat day trip and snorkel (supplied) in the crystal blue waters.
Wow how excited you all are visiting Thailand, l would love to this year
Great vid and advice. Lived in Thailand from 1992 to 1994. Stayed in Pattaya and Jomtien, worked in Map ta Phut. Best time of my life. Surely very different now, but what a great adventure every chance I had time off (including every evening).
Maybe to add: taxi is often cheaper than grab. But Never use Taxi without taximeter!!
And you can normally see whether it’s industrial ice cubes or self made (hole in the middle of the ice cube = industrial).
Are all these apps available if I get a "vacation phone" while I'm there? Or do I need my unlocked phone from the states?
I feel the other way, meaning grab is or bolt is cheaper than taxi.
that applies in Europe too!
As a Brit living in Thailand! This video was brilliant, 👏 excellent advice for all travelers ❤
I'm planning to go and wanted visit Bangkok, chiang mai, and possibly phi phi. What's the most efficient way of visiting all 3? I've seen a return flight to Bangkok
Thank you!
@@JoelfriendHi, I have two questions: where should I exchange USD money in Phuket? Also did you guys get any vaccines before traveling to Thailand, for example: Dengue vaccine? Thank you in advance 😃
Great video. What do you recommend for a mongering budget?
this video is so good! No BS, straight to the point, love it!
But 2 years old. Phuket changed massively past 2 years with Russian influx. 2 million of them here. Construction and traffic everywhere. And prices are double since past 5 years.
I live in Phuket and the cops stopping you for not wearing helmets is not a scam, Under Thai traffic law you must have a Thai riding license and the cops can refuse to accept international ones, We have so many young tourists the same as yourself and your girlfriends that are seriously injured or killed because they have either never ridden or have very little experience on motorbikes before they come here, Good Helmets protective clothing and 1st class riding Insurance are essential if Biking in Thailand and the only way you can become insured here is with a full Thai Riding licence and if you do have an accident here on a rental scooter and your fault you could suffer massive compensation claims........My advice to all you guys is keep well of of Scooters when you visit unless you have a Thai riding license comprehensive Thai insurance and fully understand the rules of the road here,ps I worked for the Thai Tourist Police here involved with sorting out foreigners involved here on Scooter. accidents........Hoping you will amend your comments accordingly and educate the dangers of novice riders coming here and renting bikes.
It is a scam when the police pocket the money instead of making you go pay at the station like in pattaya, phuket is the worst for this scam
@@swisscheese8628 it wasn't scam but its coruption to be precise, not wearing helmet is definately illegal according to the law not only in Thailand but the rest of the whole and in most developed country they will enforce it strictly It kinda common sense, if the police see those who don't, they have to enforce the law it needed to have punishment, to be clear those who being caught because of whatever reasons either driving license or helmet l have 2 options one do the coruption pay direct to the police pocket and they wont enforce the law or 2 follow the law and pay to the government which of course normally 3-4 times more expensive than coruption so choose yourself or just wear the freaking helmet and do the correct drive licence, I went over 40 countries I studied the law before I go and never have problems I wonder if dont wear helmet and dont driving license in a country like Germany or Japan what it gonna be I might be locked up in jail already.
1) No, they can't refuse an international driver's license. What are you talking about. There are agreements in place for that. A cop even showd me some pictures of all the various int. driver licenses so that they know how they look. 2) It is kind of a scam because nowhere else do they care about that and I live in Thailand too. Do you get a receipt? I watched sooo many cops driving by where 3 (thai) kids are on a motorcycle and they don't care. In some parts of the country basically nobody wears a helmet. Yesterday I saw a mom with her baby in one arm and with one hand steering the motorcycle. It is insane what you see here....
Wanted to know, if March is bad time to visit ? Is it like too hot ?
How can they refuse international licence .
As a local I can confirm that everything you say is true.
Thank you! 😊
So how do you avoid the police scooter scam?
Is June a good time to visit Thailand?
get a license is only way
yes i live here long time, is good, rain cools down air which is nice, in chiang mai in april it frequety in 40c + & is smokey dirty air as burning crop stubble & jungle foliage for mushrooms, june to sept. my fav. or in north thailand Nov.-Dec. great as 28-30c days & cooler evenings so is nice to sleep
My boyfriend surprised me on Christmas, gifting a trip to Thailand next year in September. I'm so excited and am researching everything I need to know.
Once I was travelling by train through a small village where I had to stop and get on a different train and a bunch of kids came to me and gave me some photogallery of their king and I really didnt know what to do with it, so I took it with me and was so afraid of discarding it, so I still have it with me to this day. The kids were very friendly, I dont think they have seen much tourists in this rural part of thailand so I have played with them the whole train ride. People in Thailand are so awesome
Doing Thailand in November. Great info. I love when you do these kinds of videos.
Awesome! Thank you! Have a great time in Thailand!
Great info! Leaving for Thailand in 5 days & your videos have been such a big help! So excited ☺️
Don't miss the street food in Bangkok. So delicious, so cheap, and so tasty, plus never once had any gastric problems from it. You sit on benches on the street along with all the Thai people. Fun! Definitely not to be missed - and way better than most restaurants.
For the Thais the cost of a meal has doubled in Bangkok (not sure about elsewhere) since Covid and many people are really struggling financially so they really need the support tourism can provide.
Streetfood is yummy...but you should still be careful and picky what food stand...I already had food poisoning...twice. not that much fun...
I think wet season is not that bad, it doesn’t rain all the time, many people are scared of rainy season. It rains for couple hours a day, sometimes no rain for couple day. I think when it rains it’s even better, the air more fresh, leas dust.
I agree , I’ve done all seasons but Xmas up north is the most accommodating.
Thanks mate. This was really useful. Looks like you had a great time.
Thailand has 3 seasons buddy cool season (Nov-Feb) Hot Season (March-May) Wet Season (July-Oct) June visits are the best kept secret in Thailand! Almost Jan temperatures with Wet season prices!
I just did two weeks in June. And the day I left was the first day it rained 👍🏾
Thanks for this info
@@kelkilkat Enjoy your trip
I went solo travelling back in 2013 the full moon party experience was magical went back with friends in 2019 it was nothing like before 😢
1:40 Renting a scooter is fun and you get around but it's also high risk. If someone steals it, it's not insured and they will come after you. If you get in accident and you don't speak Thai, the other guy will convince the cop it was you're fault and you won't be able to argue against it. Some scooter rental offices will claim you scratched or otherwise damaged the scooter and go after you for more money. If you want to rent a scooter, keep the risks in mind.
We had many, many holidays in Thailand and some truthful Thai friends made it clear to us that if we hired a scooter or car and had an accident, then it would automatically be our fault. Basically, because if we hadn't travelled to Thailand the accident wouldn't have happened. We loved the people but over time you do learn that some will use you - human nature I guess.
Thank you for your video. As a Thai people I hope we could be able to welcome your visiting again 😊
Such a helpful breakdown for a first time visitor planning my trip in a few months
4:56 being the most replayed moment is diabolical
We lived off 7 eleven ham toasties when I went for 3 weeks a few years ago! Thailand is magical!! Aw the memories! ❤
Eleven ham toasties for 3 weeks while your are in a country whith some of the best food in the world.
@@pvdppvdp6638 we ate other things obviously but in between especially after a night out walking back to hotels only thing open was 7 eleven so you know we munched on those toastiest. NO SHAME
Regarding the ice: Most restaurants and cafes and even food carts use the ice with the HOLE in it. This is the correct kind of ice. If it has a hole in the center, it's safe.
Agree like in mcd, kfc etc etc
However the downside of processed ice instead of traditional ice blocks are they put ammonia into it to freeze it quicker and sell it to shops. I know the process as my friend sells hino delivery trucks to some ice making bosses. I hv visited them with him. Some workers died in the factory due to ammonia leaks.
you can buy a ice block in 7-11 for sure. there is plastic bag for service around 8 bath (0.2usd) as you can carry it.
@@keangwooichoo6138 Mc, Kfc and any food chain here they use small ice my friend not a big ice with a hole in it like this guys talking about.
I guessed they probably made it themself. Because manytimes it looks like a unique rectangular shape.
You can buy a pack of big ice with a hole in it for about 9 baht per bag in 7-11 it is a cheap one and there is a special slowly melt ice too but it doesn't have a hole in it but it's much better because it's harder to melt much better quality but it's a little more expensive like 1x baht and the cheapest and most famous is the 7-11 machine made ice that you could buy for just 8 baht but it's a small machine made ice and you have to press the ice at the machine by yourself.
@@onalonan do to buy too much ice especially factory produced ones. I know a owner of such factory in Malaysia. They put ammonia to quicken the process as too many orders for ice. It is not like your house where you just put water and freeze it.
Well have you heard of kolkata, mumbai, delhi belly? Food poisoning can happen whenever you least expected. When traveling better eat hot food. Drinks if from fridge is already cold or chilled, do not add ice anymore.
we just booked our one month trip with our 10 year old...and i cant wait!!!
Joel speaks really fast and he's very clear and puts everything together quickly in a nutshell and is great listening
I remember full moon beach parties back in the 80s....there still doing that...cool
Awesome video! I am in Thailand right now with my wife and kids. My wife is Lao. We live in America. We are going to Laos next. The Thai food is really good. It’s bland. You have to add hot sauce etc. All resorts who cater to foreigners. They do not have condiments. In America we are used to Sriracha and countless condiments. You will be lucky to find anything other than tobacco. If you want another condiment. You have to buy it locally at a Big C or 7/11. Also. Food carts don’t give you napkins. If they do it’s paper thin. We at least carried wipes. It’s a must. Foot carts will have tables with lots of spills and messes. We just wipe them down before we eat. Also. I carry a microfiber cloth and a small bottle of eye glass cleaner. Works perfect for eye glasses and iPads phones. The major disappoint for me. I am a huge coffee drinker. No one is open at 5am for coffee. Even in a big city like Bangkok. Every resort we stayed at. No coffee station or pay coffee machine. This is my first vacation where I don’t get to drink coffee from a coffee shop right away when I wake up. You only have the instant coffee in the room.
Thanks Joel I'm 51 and leaving Europe for the first time. I'm flying into Phuket on the the 23rd of January I'll be travelling South to North just like you said,
I've been living in Thailand for about 10 years. I've had food poisoning twice. The first time, I don't remember or know where I got it. But the second time, I know I got food poisoning from a foreigner-owned restaurant in Kanchanaburi.
In terms of cleanliness, I will eat most anything from a night market or restaurant, but I do avoid eating from stalls set up on the street. They typically have lower quality foods, less refrigeration, they typically use oil until it's black, and they aren't able to properly wash their hands or equipment. Pollution from passing traffic can be nasty too.
Anyways, very cool video. I was looking for things to nit pick, but couldn't really find anything, except that I've never been asked whether I have a license while renting a motorbike. Passport or deposit has been the only requirement. Anyways, cheers on this cool video!
hi just want to ask which is more way better where to stay, Bangkok Or in Phuket? thank you for the response 😊
I prepare to have a trip to Thailand in August now, and your tips are so helpful for me before having a trip, tks so much bro. Im from Vietnam
Thai plugs are 220v. So if you are using US plugs you need a voltage converter.
I’ve been living in Bangkok for the past 5 years and I think you did a great job on this video 👏
As a traveler you seem to have picked up on a lot of things that most miss so good for you.
Living here for the past 5 years I eat Thai food everyday and I’ve never gotten food poisoning (yet)🤞
If the locals are eating it, you should be ok. Where you get into trouble is when you eat western dishes prepared by someone who has never/would never eat it. The preparation is typically different to what westerners are used to so you may get sick that way.
If you’re in Bangkok, eat what the locals eat. If you’re out in a suburb province then I recommend easing into it because their diet will include things that are specific to that region. My Thai wife refuses to eat so many Thai dishes that I eat so it just depends on your preferences.
Exactly, I have never gotten sick in Thailand once, but practically only eat Thai food so that could be why! Yers, following the Thai people and where they eat is always a great idea! Thanks for the comment! :)
Also lived in Bangkok for many years and tbh I think it really depends on where you come from in how often it happens. I've noticed that Americans/Canadians get food poisoning the most. I'm American, eat about an even mix between Thai and western food and I get bad food poisoning a few times a year and mild food poisoning a few times a year, as do most of my other NA friends. Europeans tend to get food poisoning a lot as well but not as much as NA people. Most of my EU friends that live here usually get bad food poisoning at least 1-2 times a year. One of my EU friends living here was actually hospitalized twice in one year from bacteria infections from food.
There was also a 3-4 month period in 2022 where food poisoning reports spiked incredibly high, not really sure of the reason.
While Thai people obviously have much stronger stomachs because they are used to eating Thai food, they often get food poisoning as well although it's usually just mild cases. Anyone who lives here and has a lot of close Thai friends knows this. Getting sick/diarrhea from food is common place, so saying just eat what locals eat when even they often have issues from the food, just means you are likely to have more issues than them.
I got food poisoning twice. By now I also live in Thailand. Never eat something that the old grandma on the farm is mixing up in her little pot, be careful with street food (check that it is grilled all the way, especially fish and fish balls and if it is on a busy road and the food is not covered, don't eat it) and some little "restaurants". also never get food at markets where the meat is out in the open in the heat. I can absolutely agree with the general rule that if a lot of Thai people go into a restaurant and it looks nice you should be safe
You can even drink the water in BKK... Yes, you can!
I'm planning to visit Bangkok and Phuket in mid November of this year and I'm so excited. I've always dreamed of going there. So I'm watching everything I can find about how to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And to be a respectful tourist. I'm thrilled to finally get to visit this magical place at 53! Thank you for the guidance!
😵💫You "nailed"it!! Excellent, will look for others that you've done!
First time using my bank card at an ATM in Thailand. Walked away, left the card. Good advice.
Thanks for the video mate , thailand is definitely on my bucket list!
If you like beach&sea, Krabi and Trang are great too.
Also Trad or Koh Chang on the east.
Thailand is amazing! Love the Thai people !! The difference between the friendliness of the Thais and what I experienced when I went to Cambodia was worlds apart even though they are next to each other geographically.
Can't wait to go back to Thailand in two years!
i have been twice thailand and i am going back again , your tips on point , and i can confirm that thai people are so nice
Maybe I missed it somewhere because you were speaking quite fast but the number 1 thing every foreigner should know is to always use your right hand when giving, receiving, touching, pointing (full hand, not finger), you name it. The left hand is use to wipe your you know what. Yes, I know some locals use their left hand but that's just them showing you disrespect.
Not in Thailand you’re thinking of India I think
@@3Peakswellness I was born in Burma, so can tell you first hand that it's not just India. When you grow up in SE Asia you can feel it in your system that using your left hand for certain things is not OK. Sure, Thais will use their left hand but it would be out of laziness or directing disrespect.
My Westerner wife once had money rejected by a Thai shop seller because my wife handed her money using her left hand.
@@yogawithandy oh wow I lived in Thailand for a year and never noticed, but I don’t think most Thai people use their left hand for wiping they have bum guns or TP in almost every bathroom no?
@@3Peakswellnessbut you never know, what the other person is using their left hand for. Thai people never shake hands anyway.
@@3Peakswellnessbro it’s in the whole of Asia. Wherever water is used instead of toilet paper.
OLDER PEOPLE listening to this review... BE WARNED... if you spend $35 per night on a hotel realize you get what you pay for. the beds for that price in thailand are hard LIKE STONE. i tried a few different rooms in bkk, chiang mai, and khon kean and this held true for the entire month i was there. if you need a softer bed... 1) CHECK THE "BEDS" before you say ok, they will let you check out the rooms before purchase in most cases... 2) be prepared to spend $60 - $70 per night if you need a softer bed in non-raining season (i stayed in december, fyi)... 3) DO NOT try to remove religious artfacts from the country... it wont go well. thailand is an amazing place, dont miss out!!!!!!!
Reall appreciate your feedback. Definitely helps a lot!
Excellent!!! Thank you so much!!! Such great info!!! Heading to Thailand for our 30 anniversary trip this March. Sure wish we could stay longer than 3 weeks! 😊
Love this video! We are in Thailand (documenting our full journey here on YT) and Thailand is awesome! Thanks for these tips!
Thailand is so amazing! We love it
We love Thailand too!!
Great video my friend. 💯👏🏼👏🏼 Thanks for sharing your time with us all. Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico.🇲🇽 ✌🏼🥰
Best travel content creator😊
Thanks a lot Alex, thanks for all the support! :)
I'm glad to know you enjoy travelling in Thailand 😊😊 my Home country
Thank you! One of the only videos that answered alot of questions I had in mind like the scooter rental ect I'm going for 1 month in April. So excited 😊
Awesome video you Covered a variety of topics I didn't think about but is essential
Thanks so much for sharing this! We found that a lot of elephant 'sanctuaries' also include bathing with the elephants, which is actually quite traumatic for them (and something not many people know about, looking only to avoid riding them). Looks like you had an amazing time!
Yes avoid visiting those “sanctuaries “
Glad I read this and did a little research before going.
Great video bro, extremely helpfull for our vacation this year. Cheers!
It is really good tip to travel around of Thailand!! 😍😍 I can see your effort and I love it! Thank you for sharing this my new friend!!👍👍
If you get the tube ice or round with the hole in the middle it is fine because it was made in a machine and the water is already clean but if you get a drink and it just has icecubes in it then they could be from the tap.
You got a like for talking about how wonderful the Thai people are to tourist.
Thanks for the tips. We're going next month, God Willing 🏞🏝💯👌🏾
Hi dear Joel. Yr analysis re tourist visits to different places in Thailand is very useful guidance & highly appreciable. In my opinion ,too, Thailand is d best country in every respect. I have travelled to Thailand more than 100 times, so far. 1/ About 95% Thai people r honest good & nice. 2. Thare are many beautiful beaches ,islands,rivers ,hills & sightseeing places, all over. 3/ Quite cheap shopping materials in different places like Bobe, Sampeng, Pratunam + few cheap night Markets etc + cheap food streets. Only in Malls d shopping is expensive. 4/wonderful night life etc. 5. Most of all , Thailand is a safe & secured country. About Thailand It is rightly said Land of Smiles & Paradise on d earth. Thnx & All d best dear.
Fantastic video. The best I’ve seen yet. Flying out in march cannot wait
Bangkok belly ... this could happen everywhere not only in thailand. I traveled now many times to thailand and i never had such problems.
Yup. I got Bolivia Belly.
thank you mate, very informative and free spoken
I dont recommend to Bolt for your travel, they have substandard driver background checks. I recommend to used Grab taxi or line man, It's safer because some Bolt drivers are people who dont pass the regulation from Grab/lineman and also pay by cash which is meter+service charge 20 baht, but if it rains use Grabcar, justGrab or etc that has been calculated because Rain+Traffic jam especially in Bangkok is fuckin crazy!! you can stuck on the road for at least 1-2 hrs and meter gonna run so fast. So you may use BTS or Mrt to get close to that place first and then take a taxi. I hope you, including those who watched this clip and are coming to Thailand will have a good experience back. Welcome & Take care😄
Next year I might be travelling to Bangkok to Thailand and I can’t wait
Nice, concise video. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank s alot! Leaving for thailand in 7 days and Im very excited!
Well done Joel I've just subscribed. I'm an old fella and I haven't been back there since 2009. now planning my return. Really useful tips thanks for the update mate.
Nice video Joel ❤I was in Thailand 🇹🇭 for the first time and I love 🇹🇭already 😊❤
Thankyou this was so informative! I’m so glad you mentioned about finding an ethical place to see elephants.
Thank you Joel, we are heading there in 1 week
Some of these tips were so useful, thank you! My fiancé and I are going to Thailand in October for our honeymoon, so not doing it the most affordable way but its still so cheap in comparison to SO many other destinations that we looked at. I'm disappointed we can't fit chiang mai or chiang rai in our itinerary this time around so are flying into Bangkok and then out of phuket on the way home, I'm so excited!
My wife and I were thinking of going for our anniversary next year!
I want to do the exact thing, land in Bangkok and leave from Phuket.
Was wondering how you planned on doing that? Not much of a traveler, so don’t know how to go about it. Will you take a train or flight down to Phuket from Bangkok?
Thank you in advance, and have a great time!!
Phuket could be full of Russians....just saying
This was great! Thank you!!
Be careful about the scooter, the issue is that you actually need an international MOTORBIKE LICENSE, not just international license. You can rent the scooter no problem BUT if you have an accident your insurance won’t cover you! Lots f people have found themselves in a lot of trouble because of this.
Very helpful.. Thanks for sharing.. Our flight is next week..
I’m going to chiang Mai by myself in march. Any tips I should be aware of. TIA
Anthony Bourdain said Thai food was overall the best in his travels.
If eating street food make sure it is cooked. Salads are a bad idea. Never eat seafood from a street vendor. Also follow the locals lead, if there is a lineup to a vendor you will probably be fine.
Drink vendors all buy their ice they don't make it themselves with tap water, once again just go to vendors that are busy locals don't like getting the runs either.
This is very true, I’ve never seen homemade ice in Thailand it’s always been bought ice!
you a legend thank you for the info
Good tip on the drivers license! I was in Chang Mai and they were stopping every bike. As soon as I pulled my international license out, they waved me through without looking at it and looked annoyed that they couldn't get me!
nice man, haven't seen it in Chiang Mai but good to know it works there too!
can you please do this video for each southeast asian country you’ve been to!
Merci beaucoup....and I love your lovely accent by the way 😊
Great vid and advice. Lived in Thailand from 1992 to 1994. Stayed in Pattaya and Jomtien, worked in Map ta Phut. Best time of my life. Surely very different now, but what a great adventure every chance I had time off (including every evening).
Very informative video😊🙌❤️🙏 Thankyou.
Flying to Phuket is normally more expensive than Bangkok. Other than that, spot on advise!
Why did you he say you have to go south if you fly into Bangkok if you need to go north?
Life is getting so expensive in the UK... Im actually considering retiring to Thailand.
quite a few there from the UK. But plan it well, meaning be sure you can afford it, expecially health insurance wise...Wish you the best
Thanks for sharing this is great! I'm heading out there soon!
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
This was so helpful thankyou!! 😊 Just wondering how did you both find making friends in hostels travelling as a couple?
I loved Thailand and can’t wait to go back again
often people who get the sh+ts havent got poisoning of any sort its just that their foreign gut bacteria isnt up to a sustained onslaught from the unfamiliar- in short you might struggle to digest some things -especially spicy things if you are not used to it -my advice just go easy - and in my experience all cooking and food prep and ice making is done with superclean water -so be cautious of the choices you make and enjoy
This happened to me in Suriname. It took the first few days for my body to adjust, but afterwards I was perfectly fine
Thanks for the helpful tips.
I really loved your video.
Very concise and straight to the points. No messing around. Brilliant!
I have been to Thailand so many times and I’ve never had a “Bangkok belly” experience so I was very surprised to hear this.
Eating and drinking any food in Thailand is usually safe.
This wasn’t the case for me on my very first trip to Bangalore, India when the very next day, my bum was like a running tap from the Delhi belly condition 😂😂😂
Yea I was wondering about getting parasites from the water, etc...
You recommend driving motorcycles or scooters, the nr 1 DEATH in Thailand and for tourists are this and we talk thousands a year.
Just got back from Thailand and your tips are pretty much right on. One tip about Phi Phi, I would NOT recommend staying overnight there, or more than 1 night if you're taking a late boat tour requiring overnight. The village is overcrowded, hotels over priced, sewer overloaded. I did a private longtail boat tour of the 4 islands and it was fun but if I had it to do over again, I'd do a speedboat day tour of the area and spend more time elsewhere. Maya beach is pretty but not worth paying to walk on, have to disagree there. Railay beach is just as pretty or more so and well worth the trip.
all the island starting from phuket are a tourist rip offs and, from what I have heard, full of russians (and chinese). Nature is beautiful but those other circumstances make it sooo unattractive
Japan too has 7/11 everywhere too
They sure do!
I've just arrived in Thailand and I think you covered everything that's useful when getting here! There are so many islands in the south, some are super busy right now like Ao Nang (Krabi) and Phi Phi, and some are hidden gems. Also move away from the main roads and go explore down smaller side streets. You never know what local food you might find!!
They sell the same shit everywhere, go down a side street and woo you'll see the same banana pancakes and mango shakes.
Remember Thailand is commercial asf, they rely on tourism for business, everything you go to see and do has been done 10,000x by fat old men let alone younger adventurers
Did you explore on a scooter
@@autismchallengingafbut6885 I only drove a scooter on the islands. I wouldn't feel safe on the mainland unless it was in a quiet rural area. It certainly helps to explore, but Grab is cheap and useful for people who don't want to ride a scooter.
Thanks for such useful info.. thanks for making this video
if i use starling bank, which doesn't charge fees abroad, would this also apply to asia?
Sound advice from Joel. I lived there for 8 years and you can rent bikes and scooters no prob on an International licence. Without a motorcycle licence though you risk a fine from the police and your insurance is void. Hospitals are expensive !
Great vid Joel!!!! Thanks for the tips 😊
Was also wondering about traveling south east Asia if you needed a credit card aswell as a Travelex or debit?
I only book flights on a credit card everything else I use a debit card ti withdraw cash
@@Joelfriend awesome thanks! 👌👌
This is amazing and straight to the point!! Thank you so much😍😍