Newbies advice- bar etiquette and more

[vinapu]

My advice I'm using fore myself also is to keep all your valuables you don't need immediately in the money belt and money belt itself next to skin inside your underwear.

 

That way your money and documents are secured, all in one place. If you need to take something out , find public washroom or change room in the department store. Once in your room all neatly goes to the safety deposit box.

I use it from time immemorial and never had a problem, just remember there are only 2 places for the belt: on you or in the safe. 

[ChristianPFC]

Theft from wallet occur in two types:

 

When the thief is with me in my room, or we are close in location and time in other ways, he will as much as he thinks I will not notice (and if I hadn't counted money before and after, I would not have noticed).

 

In other occasions the thief takes all the big notes, but leaves some 20s, 50s or 100s so I can still have a meal and a taxi home.

 

And there are honest thieves: I asked one boy "did you steal 1000 Baht last time you were in my room?" and he replied "Yes". (And I forgave him and saw him several times afterwards, and would still be seeing him if he wasn't horrible unreliable and a great time waster.)

[vinapu]

Theft from wallet occur in two types:

 

in my opinion  best prevention of theft from wallet is not to use wallet at all. It's bulky, sticks out from pocket and it's easy target.

Neither when travel nor at home I use one. 

 

When travelling I keep maximum one card on me , rest is in money belt in the safe.

As mentioned previously I devised system of distributing money between various pockets   of my shirt and shorts and each is loaded with the same amount thus when leaving room I always know how much I have on me.

 

Sometime later quick pat on the pocket in question either shows that money is there and if not I can identify where it went ie. no money in the right back pocket - where the hell I spent 500 baht ? Aha, it went to pay for a dinner  at Oasis and then fish massage on Suriwong

[faranglaw]

Fish massage? What's that? The boy massages you with a fish? Sounds kinky!

[santosh108]

Fish massage - very popular in Cambodia!  You put your bare feet in a large tank of water full of little fish who really seem to enjoy nibbling on the dead skin on your feet!  Saw it, but never tried it.

[vinapu]

Fish massage - very popular in Cambodia!  You put your bare feet in a large tank of water full of little fish who really seem to enjoy nibbling on the dead skin on your feet!  Saw it, but never tried it.

Exactly this is what you described., not for very ticklish though. Few places around Silom/ Suriwong offer this , even more in Khao San area. Look for sign ' fish massage ' or big tank with water.  

[Guest]

in my opinion  best prevention of theft from wallet is not to use wallet at all. It's bulky, sticks out from pocket and it's easy target.

Neither when travel nor at home I use one.

 

When travelling, my wallet either goes in the front pocket of my jeans & they are a reasonably tight fit, or in shorts/walking trousers with zip up pockets.     Some of these clothes have an additional pocket sewn on the inside, which is useful for passports & further cash.      Particularly if going to a very high risk destination like Barcelona.    In Barcelona, a decoy wallet might be added in the back pocket.

 

I don't think Thailand is high risk, but there is no point taking unnecessary risks. 

[Shonen]

I took a guy about seven years ago at Montes pool into the hong nom. I guess he was expecting me to close my eyes as he smoked me because he started rummaging thru my left front pocket. I slapped his hand away and he resumed, both of us acting like nothing happened. I tipped him 500 baht as he was hot. Even though one might call him a thief, he was very clean as he furiously wiped up some of the excess from the encounter off the cement floor. What a guy!

[spoon]

I took a guy about seven years ago at Montes pool into the hong nom.

What is montes pool and hong nom? Newbie here lol

[Shonen]

Hong nom means toilet in Thai. Monte was a well known character who owned what is now Two Guys bed and breakfast in Sunnee Plaza . He also ran a pool in Sunnee where many young Thai men used to hang out. He passed away a few years ago.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

I have a question since I am looking forward to my first trip to Bangkok in November. How common is the English language there?
I do not know a word of Thai, and will be traveling alone, so I hope that there is at least some English spoken by both "the boys' and shop keepers. Also, what about restaurants? Do many of them offer English menues and/or have English speaking servers? 

[Guest]

In the main tourist centres, anyone serving tourists, such as restaurants, bars, shops etc will speak enough English to do their job.  The menus will be in English in any reasonable restaurant.     The situation is of course not so good in restaurants catering mainly to Thais. 

 

As for the boys, well most of them speak enough English to negotiate a deal & receive or make basic requests.  

A small number speak enough to have a really good conversation & a small number know so little they cannot negotiate their own deal.   If this matters to you, well just be prepared to say no to a few of them. 

 

To be honest, I've never found language to be a significant problem anywhere on my holidays.   The world increasingly speaks English as a second language.

[ggobkk]

Agree with z909 and would add that the smartphone app Google Translate can be a help

[faranglaw]

Fish massage - very popular in Cambodia! You put your bare feet in a large tank of water full of little fish who really seem to enjoy nibbling on the dead skin on your feet! Saw it, but never tried it.

Ohhh, THAT fish massage! Yes, I've done it. My Thai niece and nephew, ages 8 and 11 at the time, thought it was hilarious. So did their uncle. :-)

[reader]

This BBC link allows you to listen (on demand) to the pronunciation of some common Thai words and phrases:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/thai/guide/phrases.shtml

[faranglaw]

Of course, you can be adventurous and go to some random non-touristed neighborhood in deepest darkest Bangkok and try to buy toothpaste, or toilet paper, or sticky rice mango dessert, or get directions home. Usually people will try to be friendly and helpful to the pathetic farang. If you are lucky, auntie will motion you to wait while she gets her cute 16 year old nephew, the one with the dimples who learned simple English in school, to come and translate. Since he knows twenty words or so, auntie thinks he's fluent.

 

I find these odd little adventures make the trip more memorable, but it takes a bit of nerve.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

thanks for the responses guys. It is a relief to know that I will be able to communicate at least somewhat while there. My next question (because I am too lazy to search through all the threads here) concerns arrival/departure to/from the airport. I arrive around midnite and will be staying at the Raya Surawong hotel. For a first timer, is it better to just take a taxi from the airport to my hotel? I assume at that time of the night, traffic won't be too bad. Also on my return home, my flight (Cathay Pacific) leaves Bangkok at 8:25am on a Thurs morning. If I am taking a taxi back to the airport, should a 5am hotel departure allow me enough time to get to the airport and get thru security? 

[Guest whall]

Yes. For sure take a taxi to hotel. But I bet hotel can set that up for you. 5 am should be enough time.

[paulsf]

I take that 8:25 Cathay flight frequently. My condo is close to where your staying. I usually leave around 5:45 and have never had an issue. At that hour it's usually around 30 minute ride. At 5 you should have no issue. Yes, take taxi to Raya. Easy ride at that hour. Never a wait for taxis at airport after mid nite.

[ggobkk]

I stay at the Raya.  My plane from the US always arrives between 11pm and midnight.  I take a taxi an am at the hotel in thirty minutes.  The Raya doesn't arrange airport pickups (I asked on my first time at the hotel).  So advice is: taxi.  Can't advise on return to airport.  My flight leaves at 6:30am.  I leave the hotel at 3am...at that hour there is almost no traffic.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

Ok.. another question.. I have several credit cards which do not charge foreign transaction fee. What can I safely use credit card for while in Bangkok and what will I need cash for? Do most restaurants take CC? What about bars/gogo bars, etc for the bar portion of the tab? I imagine I will need cash to pay boys.. What about massage parlors? Cash for massage and/or tip or credit card? What about taxi from the airport? Do they take credit cards or will I need cash for that as well? 

 

How readily available are ATM's where I can take out money? In my past international travels elsewhere, I have gotten a minimal amount of the "local" currency thru my bank before leaving home to get me started, then hit the ATM's upon arrival. Or should I take a larger amount of USD and then get it converted while there? What is the best option? Thanks for any advice. 

[paulsf]

Bangkok is a cash city. While you can use credit cards in most places they will charge a fee for using credit. I think most of us use cash. If you use upscale restaurants your ok. Your hotel is ok. For the bars and gogo's cash is king. ATM is everywhere. My bank doesn't charge me for transactions so easy to get cash.

Because you get transactions free you don't need to bring much cash. If you do, easy to change at one of many currency exchanges.

So you can use credit cards even in the gogo's but it will cost you.

[ggobkk]

At the airport, once through immigration, there are both ATMs and currency exchanges - at all hours.  Rate there is better than at home (USA for me).  As paulsf mentions ATMs are everywhere in Bangkok.  If you search this site, there are some threads on what banks have best rate, same for currency exchanges.  

[vinapu]

I also use cash almost exclusively leaving cards to be used only for rare purchases at department stores. I'd not use any cards in bars and small stores.

If you are planning on extensive use of ATM , make sure you have more then one card as sometimes bank machine may not accept one but will another one.

 

Make sure you have enough small notes  when bar hopping and count your change. No need to be paranoid but from time to time you may be shortchanged in bar or your  change may be arriving late. No such problems anywhere else, just in bars.

 

Small notes are handy for tips as well. If I need to break notes I use change counters at BTS of buy something at 7/11 and pay with big note. 

 

I agree with ggobkk , don't buy Thai baht at home , BKK airport rates while lower than in the city are still better than in our countries.

 

All airport counters are offering the same rate but if you arrive during daytime and will be taking train, counters at airport train station are offering city rates, not airport ones so keep walking until you at train station (lower level, well posted).

[reader]

Before using any ATM, have a good idea of what the current exchange rate is.  This is easy to do by checking a few banks in vicinity.  Do NOT go by the rate your hotel may be offering that is always way off in favor of hotel. You can also check an on-line source such as XE.com.

 

I'd select an ATM inside a major bank.  After inserting your card, entering the amount you wish to withdraw, a message should be displayed with the following information:

 

1. The exchange rate the bank will use for transaction

2. The fees bank will charge you

3. The amount (in Thai baht) that you will receive.

 

Be sure to carefully read ALL the information.  If you are not satisfied with anything, reject the transaction and get clarification from a bank rep or go elsewhere.

 

As others have said, some card issuers will refund fees you incur.  Check with your own bank before leaving home to avoid surprises.

 

When using your credit card anywhere, carefully check that that you are conducting the transaction in Thai baht.  Some will try to get you to select your home currency. If you agree, you'll incur two conversion fees instead of one. Always charge purchase in baht.

 

I've used travelers checks in the past.  If you can get the checks without a fee from your bank, that's good.  You may receive a slightly better exchange rate but the Thai bank will impose fees for the transaction.  Be sure to bring your passport to bank.