Hi everyone
I was meant to be going to Thailand with a friend 29th October toll 16th November, but my friend has backed out, so I am stuck with a non-refundable ticket! I don't really want to go on my own as I am only 21 and haven't done much travelling, so going alone is a scary prospect. But I have already paid for he ticket and I do want to go. Does anyone have any advice for me on wether or not to just go on my own? Would I be safe? Is anyone going to be there at the same time as me? Thanks everyone

Hi,

It must be a disapointment to you that your friend cannot go, but keep trying to see if someone else will travel with you who you know, but I would not go alone as I don't think it would be safe, hope it works out for you, and that you don't lose the money you have spent on the tickets.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with reddc. Aside from the current political unrest which has caused considerable inconvenience to many tourists Thailand is one of the safest and popular destinations for single travellers. Because of the number of single travellers it is easy to pal up with others or not - that is up to you. If you adopt the same precautions you would in any new city or country then there should be no problems and I am sure you'll have a great time. I have been to Thailand 31 times and met many lone travellers of both sexes and various ages, none of them have said they regretted going for any reason.

Regards

John

I am fairly certain no one I know will be able to go. Do you have any other suggestions on how I could go alone and stay safe? for example do you know of any groups I could oin or places I could go to meet other solo travellers?

Thanks Johnaalex this is really reassuring! Do you have any suggestions on how to meet others whilst I am there?

Rachx

Where are you planning on going? Do you have your hotels already booked? Unless you are going to very remote places or staying in quiet resorts meeting other people in the bars is something that is not as awful as it may seem. The period you have chosen is the not the busiest, but there will still be plenty of others doing the same as you.

Regards

John

hi,
sorry to hear that - what area are you planning to go to?

I am landing in Bangkok, but I want to go to a few other places. I havn't booked any accomodation yet.

Go for it!! You'll have a great time.

I've been by myself all over the world, but Thailand was amazing, as stated before I would say a high percentage of tourists are single travellers. I've met some wonderful people who were by themselves, of both sexes. Just use common sense as you would with a stranger in your own town.

I have to agree with johna here. I recently (last week) traveled to thailand by myself because I wanted to go and couldn't find anyone to go with me. i had an amazing time. i took a bus to ko samet and met up with some people on the bus, hit it off and hung out with them the whole time, we even traveled back to bkk together and stayed in the asame hostel there. and if i hadn't met them, there were plenty of other people to hang out with. thailand is known as a huge backpacker destination. you won't be the only one traveling alone, go for it. and if you still don't feel comfortable, let me know maybe i'll come over for a few days it's a short flight from here and i can't wait to get back to the los :)

expatbangok and me live in Bangkok... amongst many other VTers. Keep an eye out for them on the forum.

Try and convince your mate that for tourists BANGKOK IS SAFE. And RIGHT NOW it is safe... my bet is that the issues will be sorted by October.

SERIOUSLY - IT IS SAFE. There just "MAY" be travel inconveniences if there are train or airline strikes... but again that is highly likely to be an issue in October.

That many people are cancelling vacations to Bangkok and Thailand is making many in the tourist business to be EVEN NICER to tourists (if possible), because they are grateful those arriving are not over-reacting to the troubles that flares up in a few pockets of the city.

NOTE. I was in the govt compound on Sat with my lass. She's Asian and I am a white bloke. We didn't feel comfortable there... for obvious reasons, but 300 yards up the road there was NO VISIBLE SIGNS of ANY problem.

I'd suggest you do come on your own as you want... and meet budget travellers in Khao San Road, or sign up for a few day tours if you prefer more organised travel. Better still, have a word with your mate to change their mind.

Thailand is a nice and a safe place to visit. Dont worry so much. Most of the tourist is a single traveller.

Rachx I hope my comments and those from the others will help you continue with your plans to visit Thailand either with or without your friend. One thing I would advise is the you at least book your hotel for the first one or two nights so you know where you're going once you get off the plane, also that may help reassure your friends and family that you won't be wandering around lost in a starnge country.

Regards

John

Thanks evry1! I feel loads better knowing that others have mangaed to go on their own before. I am thinking of joining a tour group who will sort out all the bookings an excursions before I go, would any1 advise this?

You really have to ask yourself first - are you the type to enjoy being herded around on an organised tour, or do you prefer doing your own thing, it makes a big difference on how your travels pan out.
Sometimes I travel with friends, sometimes alone. I prefer alone, at my own pace. This can't be done on an organised tour. Budget-wise, following your nose is much cheaper as well.
Go on. live a bit - you will meet heaps of other travellers, and have heaps of fun!

I tend to travel alone and also tend to go towards tours as it's a bit easier and I meet people. If you want to do a tour, go for one that has small groups and lets you buy your own food. A good example of this is Intrepid Travel or GAP Adventures.

I did a short tour in Thailand this year with one of the above companies and had a great time (trekking in Chiang Mai).

Either way (tour or not) you will meet LOADS of new people either at bars or in hostels.

Have a great trip!!

Rachx - Thailand is great country to explore but I would not book loads of tours before you get there as it is so easy to do while you're there. Please give some details of the places you intend to visit and what you are interested in seeing then myself and others can give you more help.

Regards

John

a tour group will definitely make your trip more expensive. and then you're stuck with their itinerary and those specific people. there's no guarantee you will meet anyone you like in the group. IMO your chances of finding friendly people on Khao San Road are just as good if not better, as most everyone (foreigners I mean) there will be travelers/expats.

To be honest, I havn't put much planning into where I want to go yet. I want to see as much as I can really, culture, cities, beaches, nightlife, temples etc. But as I only have 16 days I will be limited. Anyone have any suggestions on how to put a plan together? I was thinking of maybe heading to kha san road first to meet people but I don't know from there. Any suggestions of where I should stay there would be great! Is it easy to get to from the airport?

There is no rail service to the new airport so the easiest option is to take a taxi which will cost about 350 THB including Expressway tolls. I would suggest spending about 4 days in Bangkok where you can see The Grand Palace and various temples, visit China Town, do a tour of the canals (Klongs) and the Chao Phraya River, go to the floating market and shop til you drop. Phuket is relatively cheap to fly to so I would head there for the rest of your stay; there are numerous trips you can take from there. If you are too worried about how much chill out time you want you could visit Chiang Mai in the north between Bangkok and Phuket.

Regards

John

youll love thailand and youll be amazed at how easy it is to travel and how helpfull thai people are. go straight to koh sahn road for sure, we stay around the back of the temple on rambuttri its alot quiter than crazy koh sahn but still close to everything. i wouldnt book any tours till you get there so then you dont have any thing set in stone and can travel at your own pace and its alot cheaper once you get there to book.what kind of things are you wanting to do?
once you get home with all your stories and photos of your fantastic adventure your friend will be kicking themselfs.

Thats great advice john thanks. Would younrecommend rambuttri sezabell? I want to see the sights, explore, shop, experience the nighlife, everything really!

rambuttri is the street name but it has guest houses and hotels on it it leads right around from koh sahn or you can cut threw the temple at the end of koh sahn you cant miss it.there are lots of really cheap places if money is an issue now that its only you or plenty with own bathrooms for abit more.
check rooms first before you pay and if you dont like it for some reason dont feel funny about not taking it or asking to see anymore.
koh sahn rd is great for having drinks on and people watching and theres bars all along the rd and any tour you want to do can be orginised from here too.
i spent a week in bangkok with mates that didnt want to do much in the evenings so i just made an effort of going out on my own have a couple of drinks for dutch courage and go join a table of other people, i had the best time and ended up meeting some really great people.
watch the tuk tuks if a price seems REALLY cheap chances are you will end up having to do a tour of gem shops and suit shops for their petrol vouchers lol
when catching taxis get them to use the meter, we found taxis picking up from ks rd wouldnt as much so we would walk down the rd abit.
if you do any train trips get over night ones if possible then you save on a nights accommadation and wake up in the morning there.
some times you may get hounded from people to stay at their guest houses like when getting off buses or things dont feel obligated to go just politly say no thanks and carry on your way or hey if you cant be bothered looking check one out if you dont like it you can leave.
hope this helps in any way.
what a bugger we will just miss you we wil be leaving thailand on the 18th of oct.

I am also traveling alone during part of that time. Will be in bangkok nov 12,13 then in Chiang mai. Let me know if you might be in these places at the same time. Will also be my first tiem traveling alone-Im just booking some tours when I get there. Good luck!

Hey dakgrl! Great that you will be there at the same time as me. Im glad I'm not the only one going alone, makes me feel less nuts! I havn't planned mch so I may well be in these places at the same time as you, I am pretty sure I will be on Bangkok on the 12 and 13th. Are you just booking most things when you get there? I was thinking of just booking accomodation for the first few nights then seeing what happens.

I sent an e mail to you VT mailbox