Thailand: The Preferred Destination for "Working-Class" Travelers (page 6 of 10)

It’s romantic, not luxurious, flashy, or exclusive... I don’t see what’s romantic about being squished between Donald Trump and Carla Bruni. 🤪🤪🤪

I don’t see what’s romantic about being squished between Donald Trump and Carla Bruni.

you’re right😏 but it’d still be more representative of a high-end spot than if you had the *tuches* as neighbors 😉

That's what I was saying—those "tuches" on vacation. On Koh Tao, there’s a whole cohort of them: I’m thinking of Jamahkiri, Villa d’El Sol (just the name, LOL), and so many others.

Koh Tao is definitely the destination in Thailand with the worst value for money.😛

According to TripAdvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so we imagined we’d 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 not.

Thanks, that’s exactly it.

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 pretty tacky itself...😇

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

Thanks, that’s exactly it.

😏😏😏

Your post seemed like a provocation, especially since in Thailand I’m really on the fringes of the tourist world, but in that setting—what felt like the closed-off world of a standard economy class cabin at 500 €—it suddenly hit me. On the Paris-Doha flight, everything seemed normal; I was sitting next to an Indian guy who spoke perfect French and was heading back to Goa. But as soon as we got to the Doha-BKK departure lounge, we could feel something was off. The "mimiles" were there—they were in their element, and it wasn’t their first time in Thailand. They’d truly taken over the country.

In the cabin, 80% of them were loud, vulgar, with greasy hair...

The prize goes to a Finnish woman sitting a few seats away from me. I could hear and see everything she did—it was both fascinating and cringeworthy. At first, I thought she was around my age, but she was actually much younger. She demanded triple dessert portions with every service and extra helpings, then headed to Pattaya to meet her mom, who lives there for what she called her "Paradise holiday!"

I didn’t see any of that in Doha—I was too fascinated by those businessmen in immaculate robes chatting on gold phones, with watches worth tens of thousands of dollars on their wrists. I was also fascinated by their wives, all so obsessed with cinema that they had the Cinemascope look—those Scheherazade eyes.

This conversation struck me as odd, since I mostly cross paths with cultured and discreet people. Until I remembered that we don’t take the same routes as the masses—or at least, very rarely. Still, it reminded me of one day near the Royal Palace, where I saw that kind of person constantly snapping photos of the poor guards in their uniforms. Watching them almost shove the camera in one of those poor Thais’ faces, I blurted out to my wife: "Look at all these jerks." I should’ve made sure no one could hear me first, but what can you do? When you’re being natural, things slip out sometimes. The lady who heard me took it personally, and it was only because of the noise and the fact that I’d already turned away from the scene that I didn’t catch what she snapped back at me. Hence my question: How is it that our Marcels take criticism so personally, yet at the same time, they don’t seem to realize the impression they make with their behavior?

I didn’t see any of that in Doha—I was too fascinated by those businessmen in immaculate robes chatting on gold phones, with watches worth tens of thousands of dollars on their wrists. Just as fascinated by their wives, all of them such huge cinema fans that they’re all dressed in Cinemascope costumes, the kind that gives you Scheherazade eyes.

Total nonsense... rubbish. (Stay home in front of your computer instead of spouting such nonsense)

That’s why I kindly responded to your previous question:

https://voyageforum.com/discussion/choix-aeroport-thailande-sud-d8377521/

It’s too bad you didn’t reply this time.

Good call, Philippe! 😎

Yeah, that happens in Doha too. By the way, on the same flight to BKK, there was a whole Qatari family—husband, two wives, three or four kids—and the Filipina nanny was in economy not far from us. The kids would come see the nanny and stare at us like we were in a zoo. Usually, it’s the other way around, with economy class gawking at business class. 😉

It’s actually quite amazing: you step onto the plane, and when you step off, you see people who look so distinct and dress so differently—people who, by the way, might see us the same way.

Yet, they all have one thing in common: their lives are on their phones.

What still strikes me as really odd—and I don’t think that’ll ever change—is seeing all these people who’ve embraced modernity but still dress like they did 15 centuries ago. It feels like a total anachronism, in a way.

Yesterday at Doha airport

Now that’s original! I hope there wasn’t some little Swedish kid walking around with his rabbit...

A lot of off-topic posts that have nothing to do with the thread Thailand: the favorite destination for "working-class" travelers. If I wanted to avoid Doha Airport and its inhabitants who have been "curiously" dressed for centuries, I’d choose another airline. After all, it’s their home, isn’t it?!

But here’s the thing: the service and prices are really great, and a short layover halfway through the journey is nice for stretching your legs and having a few cigarettes...

Personally, I don’t care who I’m traveling with on the plane because in my head, I’m already in Thailand with all my Mia Noi! 😎

Safe travels to everyone!

Your post seemed like a provocation

That really wasn’t the intention—just an honest observation about how the type of travelers in Thailand has changed. Sure, these people have the right to travel, but their behavior is often disrespectful and disruptive. Every nationality is part of this wave of *mimiles*, and every social class too. The richer they are, the more unbearable they become!

And then there are worse types than that category, after all. Some people are unbearable without being "mimiles" or tourists in Thailand. They don’t even have that excuse. Over time, the saying "To live happily, live hidden" makes more and more sense...

No sir, Chantanaburi isn't working-class—he's loaded with cash. He's not some redneck either; he's got a certain class. Sure, he can be a bit odd at times, but that's common, especially if you live in Thailand permanently.

Hey Fabien, you just have to read the five comments aimed at "Johnny" to understand... Watch out—Chantanaburi is a different person from Chanthaburi! 😉

Honestly, living here full-time, it’s hard for me to stomach some of the comments from people who just come for a month of "vacation" and suddenly think they’ve become The Experts on Thailand. But hey, I’ve made the wise decision to be more "tolerant" since VF gave me a second chance before my ban.

And besides, getting worked up over people who are a "little" racist isn’t worth it—especially since it won’t make me any richer or poorer. But most importantly, I won’t hide behind my computer screen.

Good luck and happy travels to everyone! 😎

Some people come to Thailand for 15 days and think they know the country inside out—what a joke.

Personally, I’ve been living here for 10 years, I speak Thai fluently, and I only hang out with Thais.

I get the feeling French travelers aren’t resourceful at all. Seriously, just look at the questions: *Where can I find a hotel in BKK?*, *What to do in Chiang Mai?*, etc., etc. For God’s sake, figure it out yourselves!

Back in 2009, my first time here, I managed everything on my own and learned Thai on the streets.

Year after year, this forum has become a mess. You got banned too? Welcome to the club. If the moderator doesn’t like what you say, you’re out of here—lol.

Your post seemed like a provocation

That really wasn’t the intention, just an honest observation about how the clientele in Thailand has changed.

It reminds me of the early 2000s in BKK, when a "respectable" family cut the entire line at a temple ticket counter, much to the astonishment of other tourists (lots of Japanese folks) and my own lack of surprise once I spotted the family’s French nationality. I’ve seen plenty of examples like that as soon as I step into the tourist ghetto, which I avoid as much as possible.

People who certainly have the right to travel

Lovely spirit of tolerance, but if we could just stop them, huh... We’d be much happier among "our own kind." For the rest, globalization is here, at every level, for better or worse. Personally, I prefer to focus on the best and not dwell too heavily (or pointlessly) on the worst. As for wandering into places frequented by people whose behavior you don’t like, I’ve never really understood what or who forces anyone to do that. Maybe some folks just need to go observe those "too working-class" tourists every now and then to feel superior.