Travel advice for Thailand
Thailand receives millions of tourists every year, thousands of them from the Netherlands. Thailand has a lot to offer as a holiday destination, but that does not alter the fact that a stay can also involve risks and dangers.
Travel advisories
As a tourist you should take this into account. Most Thailand travel guides pay attention to these risks and dangers. We recommend that you take the following travel advice to heart.
Traffic
There are thousands of road deaths in Thailand every year. Often due to a combination of reckless driving and alcohol. The vast majority of victims are motorcycle and moped riders. Often no helmet is worn. A motorcycle license is required to rent mopeds. However, this is not always indicated by the landlord. Even if the moped is delivered insured, the insurance does not cover if it has been driven without a driver's license.
Drugs
Drugs are readily available, especially in the tourist centers. Keep in mind that possession of or trafficking in drugs is punished much more severely in Thailand than in the Netherlands. Most Dutch people in a Thai prison have been convicted of drug possession. In Thailand, hardly any distinction is made between the possession of resp. trade in soft or hard drugs: both are severely punished, sometimes even with the death penalty. Those who are in possession of drugs or who deal in drugs run a great risk in Thailand.
'Buckets'
Cases are known where tourists in discos and bars were stunned by the unnoticed addition of a pill to their drink, for example in a 'bucket' (mix of local whiskey, Thai red bull and cola) that is passed around in a group. The addition of meta-amphetamine produces yaba, an extremely aggressive drug. Victims were then robbed.
Zee
The sea near Thailand can, especially during the monsoon, be dangerous. The current is then often stronger than in the North Sea. Tourists drown every year. Consideration should also be given to heavily poisonous jellyfish, which can inflict significant injuries. Get notified locally.
lèse majesté
In Thailand, insulting the king and/or his family is punishable by law. That does not have to be a written insult, but can also be a casual remark that someone overhears and passes on to the police. The “studenty” defacement of a portrait of the king also falls under this and is also punishable. Lèse majeste also includes deliberate rudeness, for example, if one does not stand up or stands still when the national anthem is played before the start of a performance in a cinema or theatre.
Gamble
Gambling is prohibited by law in Thailand, which does not alter the fact that illegal gambling places exist almost everywhere. Many legal gambling palaces are located just over the border with Cambodia. Be aware that individuals who cannot pay their gambling debts are regularly taken hostage or kidnapped. Brute force can also be used. It is recommended to avoid these casinos.
Medication
Information about taking medicines to Thailand.
Law enforcement
Royal Thai Police Tel: 191
Tourist Police Phone: 1155
Source: Dutch Embassy in Bangkok
Useful info but the person who brought this up has very little knowledge of Chemistry and Narcotics. In the 'buckets' you will not find any amphetamine put in by people who have the plan to rob you. Amphetamine is a very stimulant drug and it is therefore not easy to rob someone like that. It is precisely sleep-inducing drugs that do the job…
Well, it's just the Embassy. However, the rest of the info is as far as I can see very correct and very informative for the holidaymaker.
Like recently in a BNN travel program where happyshakes with mushroom went to try on koh Pagnan. Presenter was bouncing the rest of the night. From what I know, magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and not really stimulant. So it must have been an amphetamine shake before.
I was able to experience it there myself years ago at a Full Moon party. Bought ready-made buckets at the bar. Just got through it a bit. Everyone stays awake and partying and drinking is good for the bar's cash register. However, your jaw will eventually become clenched and you won't really be able to sleep that day.
If you don't want to be sure about your drink, just buy a DIY bucket on the street, then you know for sure what goes into it. Or take a bottle of soda or beer.
Good Morning,
Good piece especially for the novice thailand traveler.
I do miss the warning for the scammers in e.g. pucket and pattaya mbt,
the jet ski and motorbike practices.
Also never, especially in Bangkok, be tempted to visit clubs that are advertised on the street and where you have to climb the stairs somewhere.
When I first visited Thailand, I fell for it many years ago.
When I wanted to go out again, we, 4 adults, were forced by a large group of unsavory Thais to accept membership of this club after paying hundreds of dollars.
Was somewhere on patong, bangkok.
A warned person counts for two.
Carlo