While Thailand has a lot to offer tourists in their delicious food, beautiful nature, and impressive temples and city shopping centers, it’s important to protect yourself from scammers. Read on for a quick reference guide on what you should do to avoid scams.
Avoid taking tuk-tuks as they tend to be expensive and overcharge. Be wary of taxis that are overly cheap and don’t get in an unmetered taxi. Decline if a tuk-tuk or taxi driver offers to take you somewhere with a good deal, as they are most likely getting a commission from the shopkeeper for taking you there. Keep an eye on your GPS/Google Maps so you know where you’re going and know the exact name and location of your destination. A common scam is for taxi or tuk-tuk drivers to take tourists to the Somboondee Seafood Market, which sells terrible food for inflated prices, instead of the Somboon Seafood restaurant, which has good food and decent prices.
Know the operating hours of the attraction you’re going to. The Grand Palace is open most days from 8:30AM to 3:30PM, however it might be closed for a royal event. Check with an official or your hotel to make sure. There is an entrance for Thai and another for tourists, and make sure to go to the right one. If a stranger tells you the Grand Palace is closed and they can take you to another special temple, politely decline. The “special temple” might be disappointing. Worse, they might tell you to get on a tuk-tuk and then take you to a gem shop. The shopkeeper will tell you that you can buy the gems cheap and sell them for a profit in your home country, but the gems have no value. They may pressure you to buy something before they let you leave. There is also the tailor shop scam, where the shopkeepers will promise you an excellent suit but when you receive it, it’s very poor quality.
Other quick tips for your visit to Thailand:
Be wary of people trying to press things into your hands, such as bird food or trinkets which they will charge you for later.
Familiarize yourself with Thai currency (baht). Sometimes, shopkeepers will try to say you used a fake bill or give you the wrong change, so let them see you double checking the serial number and counting your change to make sure it’s correct.
If you are going to get a massage, make sure the massage shop you’re going to has good reviews ahead of time and go directly there. If someone comes up to you on the street saying they have a half-price deal, it’s too good to be true. Politely decline.
Be aware that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (a government agency) does not operate trains or retail transportation. If someone at a train station claims to be a representative and tries to offer you a different mode of transportation, decline because it will probably be worse quality than what you had originally planned.
While most Thai locals are friendly and will offer help during your stay, you must be wary of those who would take advantage of you. Be cautious of suggestions given by cab drivers or friendly strangers and trust your instincts. Check out links here and here to be well-armed with information ahead of time.
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