Thailand: The Preferred Destination for "Working-Class" Travelers (page 5 of 10)

I like it. I wink subtly at the well-to-do girls in real Ray-Bans, here to snap a few selfies in the far north-east.

Smooth guy, 😉

I like it. I wink subtly at the well-to-do girls in real Ray-Bans, here to snap a couple of selfies in the far north-east.

Smooth guy, 😉

:) Well, they never look. There’s a post about Thai castes on VF these days. I’m a slightly tanned farang with a kwai vibe... Not looking good!

That’s exactly what earns my respect about you. Goes to show...😮

Okay... I don’t quite get it...

You go to Thailand, which is in the top 10 global tourist destinations, and then you complain about certain inconveniences... It’s a bit like wanting to spend two weeks in Saint-Tropez, heading to Pampelonne Beach, and hoping that when you lay down your towel, the nearest tourist will be thirty meters away... 😇 A little utopian, don’t you think?

Back in the 80s-90s, the only info we could get about a destination came from travel agents or friends who’d been there, or through magazine articles. But here we are in the 21st century... GOOGLE is your friend... 😉 A quick search would’ve redirected you to all sorts of sites—😏 and probably to this forum (which isn’t the only one, by the way). And then—MIRACLE—you’d have had an almost endless source of info, firsthand experiences, and honest opinions, good or bad. Travel journals filled with amazing photos and videos. And if you still wanted more, there was YouTube, Dailymotion, or Vimeo to help you get a better idea of the country. As for your hotel, same thing—just check TripAdvisor or other booking sites to read reviews from travelers who’ve stayed there. And for those who don’t speak English, there are online translators, complete with photos from other tourists. You can’t say that some of Thailand’s beach resorts haven’t been shown inside and out—including their excesses and "folklore"—on TF1 and M6. You must’ve seen at least one of the many reports that have aired on those channels!! So, you were warned... But despite all that, you still go... It’s almost like masochism, if you ask me.

If Thailand is a destination for "working-class" travelers, "posers," or "country bumpkins on a spree," why not choose other equally exotic and beautiful destinations? Like some Caribbean islands, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Rodrigues, New Caledonia, or French Polynesia... and I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty. But WARNING—we’re not talking about the same budget. In Thailand, the average cost for 12-15 days (including flights, transfers, and a hotel with breakfast) is around 1500 to 2500 €. For these other destinations, you’ll need to budget *a lot* more... Cut back on restaurants or movies, dip into your savings plan, seriously slim down your "nest egg," or sell a Bitcoin or two 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️... And then, *sure*, you’ll only meet the *best* tourists—the crème de la crème... the absolute pinnacle of travelers 😎😎😎😎... And if you still have complaints after that, you’ve got a real problem and should see a doctor before your next trip 🤪. Or just head to the middle of nowhere in Lozère... quiet, sure, but no sea or sunbathing...

Now, I can’t help but wonder—aren’t *you* a bit of a BEAUF too? Just a different kind from the ones you’ve been ripping into... 🤪🤪🤪🤪

PS: For those complaining that some Thai 5-star hotels are only as good as European 3-stars:

There are no global standards in hospitality, so each country sets its own criteria for star ratings.

Good evening, Christian!

I mostly agree with you. To me, "prolos" (working-class) are just people with less money, and terms like "mimiles," "beaufs," "pignoufs," whiners, clowns, etc., can apply to rich people or so-called rich people too... Back in 2004, after the tsunami, many tourists avoided Thailand out of fear. Then there were a few coups—the "meanest" but necessary one, in my humble opinion, was in May 2010. The last one was in May 2014, and who knows when the next will be... If tourism is booming in Thailand, it’s only because of the deals, the low prices, the huge variety, the excellent value for money, and—most importantly—the low crime rate. (Not to mention that Chinese travelers now have an easier time getting there and have decent salaries!) Unfortunately, things can change fast—a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, and *poof*—mass tourism moves somewhere else... No need to be so negative or try to predict the future. Just raise flight and hotel prices, and... but why would decision-makers change a destination that’s so trendy? Why indeed?

As for hotels, like you said—sorry, *wrote*—don’t confuse real 5-star establishments or palaces with those that get stars handed out willy-nilly by booking sites...

In Bangkok, the "well-off" might go to the Mandarin Oriental out of nostalgia for its century-plus history, especially the original building that harks back to the "golden age" of Siam. Others will choose even more luxurious, modern hotels—and trust me, there’s no shortage of those in Thailand.

Anyway, to each their own! Safe travels to everyone! 😎

You can debate for hours about hotel categories. Do 5-star hotels even really exist? There are the Shangri-La, Regent, Ramada, and many others. Back when I worked in the industry, there seemed to be a "4-star luxury" category. Who remembers the Regent Hotel in Hong Kong or the Dusit Thani in Bangkok in the '80s? Since then, the offering in Bangkok or Phuket has become impressive. When you look at the Booking.com map, it’s amazing—when you zoom in, hotels pop up everywhere. There are even hidden gems to find in Bangkok or down south in Phang Nga or Krabi.

It seems like at the start of high season, there’s still plenty of availability everywhere.

As for those devastating Chinese tour groups, you don’t see them as much—they must be packed into dorm-style hotels on the outskirts.

Modern travel for hipsters more than for the average Joe

https://www.google.fr/flights/#flt=MRS..2018-01-11*.MRS.2018-01-14;c:EUR;e:1;sd:1;t:e

Hey Fabien! We may agree or disagree, but the "minimum" basis of good manners when you want to do business is to say hello, goodbye, thank you... That’s what I was taught since childhood, and it still serves me every day! I’ve stayed in a few hotels, and the "mass" clientele doesn’t interest "5-star" hotels or real palaces for various reasons I won’t go into here. As for the Chinese, I don’t know why there’s so much "racism" from French speakers on all these travel forums—they have just as much right as we do, come on... Mass tourism clientele is often the same across all nationalities! I’ve seen "posh" people rush to beautiful buffets where everything was all-you-can-eat. And believe me, some expat business owners would be thrilled to have more customers, but instead of trying to understand why we’re so different, people just keep criticizing. The Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok is a beautiful hotel but still a tourist factory—a standardized "luxury" for the "uncultured" crowd. Depending on the season, when rooms are discounted, breakfast is still charged extra at 750 baht.

I’d rather drink and have my breakfast on the terrace of the Landmark and pay only 100 baht more than at a Starbucks!

Anyway, to each their own—I’m just sharing my opinion, and of course, with no "classification" 😉

Safe travels and happy adventures to everyone! 😎

Photos—no matter the place or the price of a meal, what matters most is knowing who you’re willing to share it with, and being able to adapt is a huge quality...

I'm not sure what you mean about politeness, but I find the welcome and service in Thailand pretty good—friendly and efficient.

I just did some solid research for hotels in BKK for my niece, who’s coming for a short stay so she can make the most of the hundred-plus exciting activities in Bangkok. I was blown away by the sheer number of hotels, prices, etc., catering to every type of traveler. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid areas with big groups of Chinese tourists (it can get pretty overwhelming), neighborhoods that are too Arab-influenced, too backpacker-heavy, or too party-focused. But with her budget, I had plenty of options—sometimes you pay less and it’s actually better.

Not being racist about the Chinese—I’m not a fan of the huge tour groups I only ever see along the Chao Phraya, but I’ve had great interactions with individual Chinese travelers, whether they’re young groups or families. I think they travel better than a lot of young Europeans who tend to stick together in their own little bubbles.

As for the groups of French travelers I run into, mostly around Chiang Mai, it seems like there are some local tour operators doing a great job—like Voyage en Inde with Vinay, for example.

I once had a friend who stayed at the Shangri-La. He wasn’t super impressed by the room size, but the balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya was amazing.

For breakfast, I’ve been doing the Asian thing for way too long (and no, I don’t mean the mall).

Keep it up and good luck with everything!

Not super impressed by the size of the room, but the balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya is fantastic

Yeah. 😛

Otherwise, it’s not a luxury hotel. A comfortable hotel in a great location.

not super impressed by the room size but the balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya is fantastic

Yeah. 😛

Otherwise, it's not a luxury hotel. A comfortable hotel in a great location.

What can you recommend as the top 5 luxury hotels in Bangkok?

Not super impressed by the size of the room, but the balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya is fantastic

Yeah.😛

Otherwise, it’s not a luxury hotel. A comfortable hotel in a great location.

Hello, 10,000 baht per night still for that little balcony on the Chao Phraya in a non-luxury but comfortable and well-located hotel.

We’re almost hitting the prices of a 3-star in a Swiss tourist area (that’s my Calvinist side talking):

https://youtu.be/0cGC9pDOb9o

++

55555 is the Swiss Groland

55555 is the Swiss Groland

yep! And they performed in Paris recently and will again soon! ++

For a few years now, it's become obvious that the typical tourist in Thailand is increasingly "posh." I see it every day.

I like it. I sneak winks at the well-to-do girls in real Ray-Bans, here to snap a few selfies in the far north-east.

Not bad with the wink—have you tried it on the metro and Skytrain in BKK??😮

I don’t know the top 5 luxury spots.

I stayed at the Shangri-La for the view and the location:



The Sukhothai has luxurious and peaceful rooms, but it doesn’t have that view...

Keep in mind, my info is a few years old now.

Regarding hotels, as you mentioned—sorry, wrote—you shouldn’t confuse real "5-star" establishments or palaces with those that are handed out willy-nilly by booking sites or others...

That’s definitely the issue. I don’t know who assigns the stars on booking sites. Tripadvisor is certainly the worst. In Koh Tao, for example, according to Tripadvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so you’d imagine you’d get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president—but no, the clientele in the reviews are amazed to have a phone in their room!?😕

Regarding hotels, as you mentioned—sorry, wrote—you shouldn’t confuse real "5-star" establishments or palaces with those that are handed out willy-nilly by booking sites or others...

That’s definitely the issue. I don’t know who assigns the stars on booking sites. Tripadvisor is certainly the worst. In Koh Tao, for example, according to Tripadvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so you’d imagine you’d get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president—but no, the clientele in the reviews are amazed to have a phone in their room!?😕

That’s what I meant by "tourists with no clue" on vacation. In Koh Tao, there’s a whole crowd like that—I’m thinking of the Jamahkiri, Villa d’El Sol (just the name alone, LOL), and plenty of others.

10,000 baht a night still for the little balcony on the Chao Phraya in a comfortable but not luxury hotel, very well located.

There’s no balcony in the budget rooms with a view...😇

On the other hand, there can be promotions.

And when you love it, you don’t count the cost, right?😮

according to TripAdvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so we imagine we’ll get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president

That definition of romance is already kinda tacky itself...😇

According to TripAdvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so we imagine we’ll get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president

That definition of romance is already kinda tacky itself... 😇

It’s not really a definition—he probably just meant that a globally top-ranked hotel *should* attract some celebrities, but apparently, it doesn’t.