Safety Tips for Bangkok

Bangkok is a fascinating Asian city and a great place to explore on a holiday. It is filled with bustling marketplaces, beautiful ancient temples, and a rich and diverse collection of cultures and ethnicities.



There are many beautiful Bangkok boutique hotels where you can stay in this city in style and comfort. Bangkok boutique hotels are usually a good value, and the Thai people are very welcoming and friendly.



However, as in any large city, there are some scam artists who like to prey on unsuspecting tourists. There are a few things to watch out for in Bangkok, and knowing the signs of a scam will help you avoid getting taken advantage of. Here are some safety tips for avoiding scam artists in Bangkok:



* If you are riding in a taxi, always check to see that the cab has a meter and that it is turned on. Sometimes taxi drivers will try to charge you an inflated rate which is much higher than the metre rate, so insisting that the metre is turned on before you drive off will prevent against this.

* If a tuk-tuk driver offers you an incredibly cheap "full day tour" you can expect that they will be taking you around to several tourist shops and souvenir stands where they will receive commission for everything that you buy.

* Beware of private bus companies which offer full day tours and direct "VIP" trips to other cities in the area. These tours are overpriced and there have been reports of robberies on the buses. Instead, book a public BKS bus from the main terminal.

* Bangkok temples are almost always free, so if someone approaches you offering a discount ticket price for the temple you should suspect that it is a scam. Also, another scam is to insist that the temple is closed and offer you a tuk-tuk ride to somewhere else until it opens.

* Beware of people who try to sell you expensive "gems" for what they claim is a very good rate for the value of the gem. Often they are just worthless pieces of glass.



Try to stay informed and keep your wits about you during your stay in a Bangkok boutique hotel, and you can avoid getting caught in these predictable scams.







During your stay in Bangkok boutique hotels, it is important to be informed about the popular tourist scams so that you will know not to fall for them.