Thailand: The Preferred Destination for "Working-Class" Travelers (page 2 of 10)

It’s clear that tourists have changed lately, and I’m also surprised by this new crowd that travels so far from home but feels so reassured by finding restaurants or hotels run by their fellow countrymen speaking—phew—in their own language. I sometimes check reviews of certain tourist spots in Thailand, and I’m always amazed when these travelers are in ecstasy and full of praise over a basic steak and fries or a pizzeria in a country that has so much to offer in its own cuisine. Yeah, we can call them *mimiles*.

+1 !!!

I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!!

Traveling 10,000 km for that 🤪😞☠️

+1 !!!

I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!!

Traveling 10,000 km for that 🙁🏴‍☠️

:)

Anyway, apart from that, you’re going to Pai.

You’ve got to understand it’s a really touristy place.

Thanks to your visit, it’s a tiny bit more so.

If you went to the village next door, you’d see Thai people—yes, really—watching soccer on a TV screen or on their Galaxy phone with a Manchester United case, knowing the latest Bundesliga results like the back of their hand... though maybe they’re just working-class Thais. Actually, we should ban working-class Thais and inauthentic Thais. Even those who speak English are suspicious.

It's great to go and see how Thais live, like watching soccer on TV for example😏, but you shouldn’t waste your time watching a soccer match on TV for that😏

but who feels so reassured to find restaurants or hotels run by their fellow countrymen speaking, phew, in their own language.

:) Don’t worry, it’s not like soccer. In the end, it’s always the Thai owner who wins and the German manager who loses. ++

It's really great to go and see how Thai people live, like watching soccer on TV for example😏, but for that, you shouldn’t waste your time watching a soccer match on TV😏

Yeah, that’s right. Did you figure it out too late then? Or were you able to make it 100 meters by lightly pushing off with one foot to get out of the comfortable current offered to visitors?

In short, travelers eager to discover other civilizations and cultures might just end up disappointed.

It’s the well-known issue with mass tourism and the problems it brings. Still, no one’s forcing anyone to stick to the beaten path and the usual mass tourism routes.

In short, travelers eager to discover other civilizations and cultures might end up just disappointed.

It’s the well-known issue of mass tourism and the problems it brings. But no one’s forcing anyone to stick to the beaten path and the usual mass tourism routes.

+1 Honestly, I’m back home today after a week in a ‘touristy’ place.

I saw plenty of people pretty happy to be on vacation here—despite the rain.

Lots of young folks. After this first trip, maybe they’ll come back and gradually move away from the pink, green, or blue stickers of tour operators that lead them to the same tourist ghettos.

+1 !!!

I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!!

Traveling 10,000 km for that 🙁🏴‍☠️

What’s even more surprising is seeing so many "authentic" Thais—guys and girls—walking around or working every day in Manchester, Barcelona, or Paris Saint-Germain jerseys. Traveling 10,000 km just to have Thais, when they find out you’re from Paris, talk to you about Neymar and ask for tips on underground sports betting slips… at first, it’s a shock…

Thaïlande destination préférée des "prolos"

Sometimes contempt goes hand in hand with stupidity! 🙂

Bref, les voyageurs désireux de découverte d'autres civilisations et cultures risquent d'être que déçus.

So, you only go where the people you despise are? Try getting off the highway and taking the back roads—you might be surprised. Out of your 800 posts, more than three-quarters are about Thailand. Given that you look down on "prolos" and don’t seem particularly disappointed by this destination based on your many comments about the country, which category do you fall into? The stubborn ones? Or maybe...

At the same time, when you’ve witnessed football showdowns like Buriram United vs Chonburi, it’s easy to see why so many Thais turn to European leagues. A little compassion during this break!😎

+1 !!!

I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!!

Traveling 10,000 km for that 🤪🙁🏴‍☠️

On the other hand, at 10 PM in Pai, what’s the alternative? Go to the local rasta bar to listen to the local Bob Marley butcher *No Woman No Cry*? Or to the roadside karaoke where the Thais might not be too smiley when they see a farang show up on their turf? Especially if they’re on their second bottle of Regency....

+1 !!!

I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!!

Traveling 10,000 km for that 🤪🙁🏴‍☠️

On the other hand, at 10 PM in Pai, what’s the alternative? Go to the local rasta bar to listen to the local Bob Marley butcher *No Woman No Cry*? Or to the roadside karaoke where the Thais might not be too smiley when they see a *farang* show up on their turf? Especially if they’re on their second bottle of Regency....

Given all the activities to do around Pai during the day, by 10 PM I’m in bed.😏

+1 !!! I was surprised in Pai to see people gathered in front of a TV screen watching a soccer match!!! Traveling 10,000 km for that 🤪🙁🏴‍☠️

On the other hand, at 10 PM in Pai, what’s the alternative? Go to the local rasta bar to listen to the local Bob Marley butcher *No Woman No Cry*? Or to the roadside karaoke where the Thais might not be too welcoming when they see a *farang* show up on their turf? Especially if they’re on their second bottle of Regency....

Option: (web video/photo Obeo) https://youtu.be/NGtlIZn4A5I

It's clear that tourists have changed in recent years, and I'm also surprised by this new type of traveler who goes so far from home but feels so reassured by finding restaurants or hotels run by their compatriots speaking—phew—in their own language. I sometimes look at reviews of certain tourist spots in Thailand, and I'm always surprised when these travelers are in ecstasy and full of praise for a basic steak frites or a pizzeria in a country that has so much to offer in its own cuisine. Yeah, we can call them "mimiles."

Ecologically, these "mimiles" are also a disaster! We know that traveling, especially by plane, isn’t great for global warming, but on top of that, these folks only want to eat imported products! On Koh Tao, there’s even a store that now sells cheese, cold cuts, and wine—it’s like Renaud’s "October in the Hexagon": "...Their wine and their camembert, it’s the only glory of these crazy people..." There are even restaurants offering Marennes oysters for end-of-year meals when there are oysters in Thailand!

And here I thought it was the opposite—3-star hotels in Thailand almost deserve 5 stars in Europe. Switzerland, for example, has 98 5-star hotels according to Hotellerie Suisse, but only 42 are considered 5-star by Swiss Deluxe Hotels or international lists like TravelWeekly...

It’s true that with just 14 m² for a room or no 24/7 reception, a hotel can still be rated 5 stars by Hotellerie Suisse...

It’s clear that tourists have changed lately, and I’m also surprised by this new crowd that travels so far from home but feels so reassured by finding restaurants or hotels run by their fellow countrymen speaking—phew—in their own language. I sometimes check reviews of certain tourist spots in Thailand, and I’m always amazed when these travelers are in ecstasy and full of praise over a basic steak-frites or a pizzeria in a country with so much to offer in its own cuisine. Yeah, we can call them "mimiles."

Ecologically, these "mimiles" are also a disaster! We know traveling—especially by plane—isn’t great for climate change, but on top of that, these people only want to eat imported products! On Koh Tao, there’s even a shop now selling cheese, cold cuts, and wine—it’s like Renaud’s "October in the Hexagon": "...Their wine and their camembert, that’s the only glory of these nutjobs..." There are even restaurants offering Marennes oysters for New Year’s meals when Thailand has its own oysters!

It’s true, it’s unbelievable. It’s like Asians in Paris wanting to eat their own food, but no—they only go to restaurants serving cassoulet, choucroute, or Auvergne potée. In Chinatown, you won’t find a single imported product....

Hey

And I thought it was the opposite—3-star hotels in Thailand almost deserve 5 stars in Europe.

Guess Swiss hospitality is in such bad shape? A five-star in France has absolutely nothing to do with a three-star in Thailand, in any case! Personally, I don’t really care about stars—I prefer the ones in the Milky Way...

You’ve got to compare apples to apples—for example, an Ibis at 80 € and a hotel in BKK at 3,200 ฿.

You have to compare what’s comparable—for example, an Ibis at 80 € and a hotel in BKK at 3,200 ฿

I don’t know; I wasn’t comparing prices but the star ratings. An Ibis isn’t a 5-star hotel by a long shot!