Is It Safe to Travel to Thailand in 2018?

Written by Anna Stafford on 17 april 2018.

Millions of tourists flock to Thailand each year and many leave with a deep appreciation for this exotic country. However, the question remains: is it safe to travel to Thailand? Street safety in Thailand must be followed if you want a smooth, enjoyable holiday. Scams in Thailand abound, and tourists must be very vigilant. Here is a list of street safety tips and scams to watch out for while on holiday.

Street Safety Tips

Watch out for tuk-tuks who suddenly bring you to a strange restaurant instead of your preferred destination. These tuk-tuks and restaurants and are usually accomplices. You may end up inferior eating food that you did not even plan on eating and pay an exorbitant amount for it.
Street safety in Thailand is now a priority of the government, but pickpockets and thieves still abound in crowded places. Watch out for these pickpockets who are hiding in plain sight.
In Bangkok's Red Light District, Patpong, great caution is advised to tourists who are lured by these beautiful ladyboys into having a drink with them, and then they end up asking aggressively for money.

Scams to Watch Out For

"This attraction is closed" scam

This is one of the scams in Thailand that many tourists fall for. When tourists arrive at a famous spot, someone approaches you and tells you that the attraction is closed for the day, and then tells you that he can take you to an alternative attraction, where you end up having to forcibly purchase overpriced items such as clothes or gemstones in a shop.

The Tuk-Tuk scam

This is one scam that sadly, many tourists fall for but go unreported because people just tend to look the other way. Tuk-tuk drivers charge 20-baht for your ride (an overpriced amount because a ride only costs around 10-baht) and go around in circles and take a longer route making your ride longer than usual. In the end, they end up charging more than 20-baht.

The "fake gem" scam

While there are many legitimate gemstone shops in Thailand, beware of fake gem shops offering huge discounts on precious gems. They even convince you by telling you that these gems are sold at wholesale prices, and you can make a killing when you resell them in your country. These scammers prey on tourists who do not know real gems from fake ones. Be careful, because you may end up buying worthless pieces of glass or other inferior materials.

Thailand is a well-known travel destination. The Land of Smiles is truly a delightful place to visit. However, just like in any famous travel destination filled with millions of tourists, safety and security must be a priority. Heed these street safety tips and watch out for the scams mentioned above. When you visit Thailand without all the hassle, you will surely have an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime holiday.