Questions about traveling in Thailand
Dear readers,
My girlfriend and I are planning to travel to Thailand for the first time next spring / summer late summer with 2 good friends. I am Thai and want to travel there for a few months. Exploring country as I was born there and going back to my native country for the first time. I immediately want to make a big tour in Asia from six months to a year. Provided the covid situation allows, of course.
I read that the quarantine rules have already been relaxed. Quarantine for 1 day and test. Please ask some questions to your readers
- can you choose a hotel of your choice for quarantine? I read that there are 'business class' hotels so I assume some more luxurious hotels. I prefer to spend the first week(s) in a 5 star hotel. Must arrange my Thai documents first, open a bank account, etc. register with the municipality and have various appointments with, among others, the Thai embassy, etc.
- we would like a private tour in and around Bangkok with such an elongated Thai boat. can we ask the guides if they want to take a covid rapid test before we use their services? How would you handle this?
- how are things currently arranged with vaccinations in Thailand? when I go to meet my siblings 'family'. I would prefer to ask them if they are vaccinated and / or want to do a covid test before I meet them. How would you ask this? I am of course willing to pay for all this for them.
- my idea is to take a hotel in most known neighborhoods in Bangkok for about 1 week and from there take my base and explore the city. Then travel all over Thailand.
- does anyone know a survival expert in Thailand who would like to take me out into nature for some time? (hire) I want to learn everything about nature and visit the most beautiful nature spots, see wildlife.
- How is fishing organized in Thailand? Can you go fishing just about anywhere? Permits? Who has experience with fishing at sea / at sea and / or inland? Does anyone know of a good licensed fishing guide I can hire?
What do you recommend, buy a car there and drive around yourself or hire Thai locals / guides who want to show me everything.
Regards,
MasterS
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Dear , if you follow the news a bit then it is now impossible to say anything about "next year ".
So ask your questions 1,2,3 only a month/weeks before you leave.
Mbt 4 what is your question?
Google 5 Khao Sok or Khao Yai
Mbt 6 Fishing license has never been obtained, just walk into the local harbor and speak to the fisherman
Rent a car with a driver yourself if you have not been there before, do not know the road and driving habits
1. 5-star hotels are not cheap, starting from 150 euros per night. Why do you want to register with a municipality there? You're not going to live there, but just travel around?
2. A kind of upside-down world! You don't ask the bus driver this when you get on the bus here, do you?
3. A little exaggerated. Keeping a distance of one and a half meters is enough, isn't it?
4. How long do you want to stay in Bangkok? Personally, I would stay in the same hotel for my entire stay. If you want to stay for a month you might be able to rent an apartment somewhere. This is also possible at some hotels. Cheaper than paying per night. There is enough public transport and taxis to easily get to other districts. Oh wait, do those drivers also have to get tested by you first?
5 and 6. Unfortunately I cannot answer this.
You also ask for advice about buying a car. Second hand cars are not cheap in Thailand. And whose name and address should the car be registered to? And are you familiar with the traffic in Thailand? So don't!
Dear MasterS,
Greenwoodtravel contacts. Thai/Dutch travel agency in Bangkok and they can arrange everything for you (in due course). Regards, Marianne
https://www.greenwoodtravel.nl/
Dear Khun MasterS,
What I understand from your questions is that you have never been to Thailand, although you look Thai?”
Keep in mind that the Thai will blame you for not speaking Thai!!
You can rent such a boat, called “longtail boat” anywhere in BKK, but don't be fobbed off.
What about Family & vaccinations: when you have been injected you can make it known so that they have nothing to fear. The idea of “forcing” them to vaccinate does not work! Even if you pay the costs. It will also take them before they can arrange that.
As for National Parks in Thailand: inquire about previously posted posts on Thailand Blog! There are over 100 Nat Parcs! So: take it easy, there is for years to explore.
As for "fishing": Thai catch fish to satisfy hunger, so don't expect much from "fun-fishing"
Enjoy, welcome to Thailand
Dear Peer, you and I live in Ubon and indeed most people there fish just to get something edible from the water. But even here there are anglers with expensive equipment and they do it for the sport. More than thirty years ago I was at a huge fish pond near Bangkok with fish up to 100 kg and for I believe 100 baht you could try to drag it out of the water (but don't take it with you!). There were hundreds of anglers there and almost all Thai. There must also be such fish ponds in the far north. And you can also rent a fishing boat at sea, at least forty years ago that was possible. So there are/were plenty of options.
MasterS,
ad 1. So you have an appointment at the Thai embassy in Bangkok? Wouldn't it be better to arrange that in The Hague? Why register in a municipality if you are only on holiday? I think you should also rent a house, not a hotel room.
ad 2 and 3. Travel = running risks. And what diseases are you afraid of? No vaccine gives 100% coverage against Covid. Of all the other 'diseases' I would like to warn you about mosquitoes and traffic. Forcing your family to take injections is not done unless you are asked for money to pay for it.
ad 4. This is how you keep moving! Are you moving more than exploring. Bangkok has excellent public transport.
ad 5. Survival in Thailand? As far as I know the only remaining wild area is in Tak province and you can only enter it with a ranger. For all other parks you hire a guide locally.
ad 6. Your first visit to Thailand and want to drive yourself? People usually drive on the left in Thailand, remember that! Emphasis on "usually". Got me driven on my first visit.
I wish you a good journey!
Dear MasterS, I would say: take it easy. You're speeding it up quite a bit. Asking people if they want to submit to a self-test and your family whether or not they are vaccinated? Foreign! Read up on Thailand first. Inform yourself about country and people, because Thai yourself by birth. If you had kept up with Thailand blog in recent weeks / months, you were aware of the Covid situation there, about the vaccination rate of the people, the effort and misery it has cost many of them and, moreover, about the fact that Thailand is still is not nearly so far to travel freely and happily. This is what you want right? I would wait another year, prepare myself thoroughly, make a good plan, and then enjoy. One final piece of advice: check with your siblings beforehand. Do you (still) speak the Thai language, how are you going to communicate with them, what is your intention - meeting/acquainting them briefly, or do you want a longer-term family relationship? In short: still plenty to do.
thank you all for the responses.
yes i am thai by birth. apart from my other nationalities that I possess, I did not know that my Thai nationality could never be lost. I was born there, but that's about all. lived all over the world.
I am learning Thai online..basic of course and occasionally I 'practice' with some Thai acquaintances here. they understand me so that's already good.
my idea is actually to take a hotel there in the most famous neighborhoods and then explore those neighborhoods / surroundings for 1-2 weeks. at least that's my idea now. I don't mind going different hotels. price doesn't really matter to me. OR I will rent a serviced apartment for 1-2 months is also a possibility. plenty of choice of course. i take my time for it.
and concerns 'vaccinations'.. I don't force anyone and it's not my intention. but given the 'loss of face' and from what I read about Thai people regularly… vaccinated naturally does not mean that one cannot contract the virus, but because I am a high-risk person, I want to minimize the risk. and if I could ask family I hope to meet to get vaccinated before the meeting why not I think personally. are also protected. I understand that they certainly cannot finance that, so of course I am also prepared to pay for this.
I have written letters and they are being translated by the consul in Brussels at the moment of writing. they help me to establish contacts with them. they are also looking at whether they can arrange a Thai interpreter for me through the embassy who will travel with me to the official authorities.
the family… I hope I can meet them and they want to meet me. if not then I'm at peace with that and I'm just going to travel around Asia for the next 6 months to year. 2 friends live in Thailand and they will help me with translations etc. One friend and his wife have a language school in Udonthani (English-Thai). other friend is a Dutchman who lives in Udonthani with his Thai wife. all have helped me a lot in the past to find my family. I'm going to meet them there anyway.
and no because I have been adopted illegally, the Thai embassy cannot arrange the documents here. (long personal drama story).
of course I want to learn as much as possible about the country and the culture/ people. I don't know how long I will stay in Thailand. It may just be that I decide to live there next year or longer. everything is possible, nothing must. try to be as open as possible in everything.
It reads like a well-considered decision to explore your Thai roots and explore the country. I can imagine that and I wish you every success with it. Being positive and persevering leads to recognition and well-being. I wish you this and enjoy the moments that will come. After the drama hopefully enough willingness with everyone to fulfill your wish. I think you'll succeed. As far as I know, in order to obtain a Thai ID card and a Thai passport, you must be registered at a Thai address (preferably with relatives). The fact that you also have a reasonable command of the language means that there will be no obstacles in your way.
thanks for your contribution. language is a big word lol… I teach myself the basics and I regularly practice with Thai acquaintances here.
My adoption was canceled in 2008, but my Thai passport with 'other ID' was quite a battle with the Thai embassies. it took me years to get mentally ready. done a lot of soul searching over the years and if it hadn't been for covid I would have traveled a long time ago and maybe live there temporarily. wants the culture people to get to know the country. and maybe someday move? who knows?
to gain inner peace I hope to be able to achieve certain personal goals there. happiness is what you create yourself.