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- Peter (editor): I also enjoy the Thai food and yes, the price is very attractive. But it's just a fact that Thai farmers are unbelievable
- Jacks: It is best to go in the period November to February. Someone with asthma should absolutely not come here from March to May
- GeertP: Dear Ronald, I completely agree with your story, I also enjoy Thai cuisine every day and even after 45 years of Thai
- Eric Kuypers: Wilma, bad air is not in all of Thailand. Thailand is more than 12x the Netherlands! These are the big cities (traffic) and some
- Pjotter: kopi luwak regularly bought and drunk in the Netherlands. Usually only available some time before Christmas. You get the best coffee taste
- Jack S: Oh dear…. Except for the fact that I also start the day with a coffee, everything is different for me... my coffee is just a
- hans: Tastes differ, but this just looks beautiful.
- Lenaerts: Dear, I went to immigration yesterday to apply for a retirement visa, very friendly people and they helped quickly
- Aad: I buy my coffee at Lotus. Add a teaspoon of that coffee to warm water and enjoy
- Berbod: Beautiful story Lieven and recognizable in many ways. In recent years I have been drinking coffee from the Boloven plateau in the South
- Jos Verbrugge: Dear KeesP, Would it be possible to provide the details of the visa office in Chiang Mai? Thanks in advance
- Rudolf: The distance from Khon Kaen to Udon Thani is 113 km. You don't need an HSL or airplane for that. You can do that with one
- Chris: It is a matter of long-term thinking: - petrol prices will undoubtedly continue to rise in the next 20 to
- Atlas van Puffelen: The isan is like a beautiful young woman, Clouseau, There she goes, sang a similar insight. Fantastic to walk next to it, m
- Chris: Rich elite? And if that train ticket costs the same or less than a plane ticket (because of all the extra environmental taxes).
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Home » Reader question » Reader question: What is a good alternative to Thailand?
Reader question: What is a good alternative to Thailand?
Dear readers,
Have been coming to Thailand as a tourist for many years. With lots of fun but now I feel like I've seen it all once. What is a good alternative to Thailand? Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines or Indonesia? And why?
I'm thinking about Vietnam myself, but I hear different reports.
I would like your opinion so that I can make a good decision.
Regards,
Hans
Angeles City in the Philippines, paradise on earth for me.
I had expected this question to generate countless lyrically enthusiastic responses, given the number of people who have informed us via this site in the recent past that they are now definitely turning their backs on Thailand due to growing irritations and the resulting unbearable displeasure.
Dear, I thought Cambodia was beautiful. Of course Ankor and surroundings. People are friendly, it is still pure and unspoilt in many places. You can cycle there without having stray dogs chasing you.
Myanmar also seems worth it to me, but with the latest events I still have my doubts
Vietnam is definitely worth it, but a little more difficult to obtain visas
Gret Philip
Cambodia…just been there. PP and Sihanoukville.
Cambodia is looking to the upcoming elections. One year ago, a pro-opposition journalist was murdered. A month ago the only opposition party was dissolved. Cambodia is once again becoming a dictatorship led by ex-Rode Kmer. Today there are at least 15 mega-large casinos owned by the Chinese in Sihanoukville. Europeans stay away. Buses with Chinese and Koreans. This is gradually also happening in Thailand... buses and buses with Chinese.
Cambodia, everything better and cheaper! People are friendlier and much less arrogant
For me personally it is the Phillipines Thailand is still okay, my crib was there, urn with ashes of my parents and my first life partner are there, my now adult children still live there and of course I am still in contact with my ex-in-laws.
Life is like a muppet show show must go on. My second wife is Filipina. We have one daughter together, who is already 1 years old, luctor and emergo veni vedi vici. carpedim
My wife and I were in Goa several years ago. Beautiful bounty beaches, friendly people and cheaper than Thailand. We stayed in Colva Beach (Palm Court) and traveled via Bombay.
I came there almost every year for 3 months between 1980 and 1995 and have traveled all over Goa.
The advantages are many :
from October already very nice weather, which lasts until at least March
beautiful beaches with nice beach bars, where you can enjoy a delicious meal, often in the evening.
the indian cuisine is very good
Ayurvedic massages and treatments
Cons :
Just about the whole world has discovered it, so busy, lots of begging, hawkers, noise, etc.
I know Laos is not located by the sea, but what a beautiful country. Simple, simple, livable, sparsely populated. Wonderfully laid back. So if white beaches are not your main goal, think about it.
Best take the time to go there. The countries you mention are all worth it but have such a variety of nature and tribes no one can tell you this is 'it'.
Four years Thailand, 8 months Vietnam, three times Laos, three times Cambodia, last month Myanmar.
I'm getting more and more preference for Indonesia (and Laos).
About Indonesia: The language is a problem because few can speak English. But the population is very friendly and in a sincere way. Muslim or Christian… it doesn't matter.
And there is another aspect that does appeal to me: the women in Indonesia are (with perhaps a few exceptions) not pushy and therefore do not offer themselves. I like that now.
In Cambodia I often saw what looks like child prostitution and I also saw that in the Philippines… I don't want to be there anymore.
Laos is, in my experience, a nice alternative to Thailand. I did not see any “applying” women or girls. The price level (hotels and food) is a bit higher than in Thailand.
Bali is still number 1 for me, very friendly and sincere people, I have seen Java change for more than 20 years towards more and more intolerance, in the past everyone got along with each other, Islamic, Christian and non-religious, now this is very different, I also notice this during my business trips .
Prices are also cheaper in India than, for example, Thailand
I also come to Thailand every year and I also like to be there, but again Bali no 1.
yes i found bali and cambodia very good. Vietnam a little less and Myanmar is different from the rest.
But you have to see everything, so what's stopping you?
The Philippines are beautiful, just think of Thailand 25 years ago, not so much mass tourism.
And to be honest, I think the people are friendlier than in Thailand, and they speak a lot better English.
What you do have is that they make a more serious impression than the more funny Thais, but you will also miss the mystique Asian atmosphere in the Philippines because the country is 90% heavily Catholic.
isn't Bali too touristy? I keep hearing that half the world goes on holiday there, so that kept me away from books. Although BKK is of course also touristy and I regularly meet few other foreigners when I walk around there, so maybe it's not too bad in Bali?
For me when I see Thailand as my tweed country of residence I have this order. Eh like the Netherlands
1. Viet Nam. From Ho Chi Min to Halong Bai. Superb beaches. Friendly people. Great nature, Tasty and cheap food. Europe as Germany Oh, many Vietnamese live in North Vietnam who speak German. Have once worked as wiedergutmachung in East Germany. I was allowed to live and work in Hiphong for 3 years.
2. Cambodia = almost a copy of Thailand people only a bit more distant Look like Poland.
3. Laos. Almost like Cambodia, but Thailand looks more like Belgians
4. Philippines. Oh a mix in between. the USA and Vatican City. With many Thai traits. Nice food there. Especially Palawan. Especially the north of Luzon is interesting above Dagupan. Also the cordileras north and east of Baguio. Friendly people. Everyone speaks more or less English so it's easy in that regard. Lived and worked there in Muntinlupa. Ever married a pinay and lived in Illocos Sur from around 1985 to 1991. Only the pinois (men) very irresponsible.
5. Malaysia Hmm looks like a mix of France and Tunisia. Tends to be a bit too strict with the Muslim faith. Know Kuala Lumpur a bit. Am well known in Sarawak. Beautiful nature in the vicinity of Kuching. To the south there are great beaches. Beautiful jungle tracks, rivers and rehab centers for Orang Utans and of course crocodile farms. Just to the east of Kuching is the largest one with all common krocks from all over the world.
6. Singapore = Not a bag of Paris and London in a heap.
7. Indonesia. Most horrible country with segregation between men and women (in sumatra (aceh) and Jave separated in the bus. Have an INDO colleague living there (returned from the Netherlands to Sumatra. Had the plan to visit him twice. By him in the end Not recommended. He takes care of his demented mother there, but REALLY wants to return when his mother dies. Oh has a thriving business in Sumatra, but that is worth nothing to him.
It is time that you immerse yourself in Indonesia and go there for a longer period of time. Indonesia is as big as the whole of Europe and let yourself be guided by a colleague who lives somewhere in beautiful Sumatra and who of course wants to return to the Netherlands in one piece……….
Eh my old colleague was born in Indonesia 77 years ago. around 1988, first via Russia (mid-1960) and then via the GDR (1980) to work in the Netherlands. Oh as a professor. In mid-2004 he went back to Indonesia to breed cattle.
He lives near Aceh. Oh my history is that I also have Moluccan and Indonesian contacts.
I have asked questions on this site. About the accessibility on site.
Yes Bali is no problem. But if my ex-colleague who wants to see me VERY gladly eventually indicates that it's not good to come, then it's easy right or am I crazy?
In addition, my wife would join me, but Buddhists in Indonesia at that time because of the situation in Myanmar (Rohinyas) was not great with demonstrations etc at the borubudur.
Oh, I still have a large circle of Indonesian acquaintances in the Netherlands.
Mudah untuk memanggil sesuatu tapi saya tahu bagaimana menghindari risiko
Every other country in the world is an alternative to Thailand, from Belgium to Bhutan, and from Brazil to Canada. Most Dutch people still go on holiday to France. It's just what you're looking for.
For a tourist, all the countries mentioned seem interesting to me.
A little more information about what you're looking for is needed to provide useful advice.