Thailand

[Tomcat]

Results of Norwich Union Co poll reveal that Thailand is low down on the list for comfort factor. The poll was published by AOL  who also have there own poll.

60,000 people were questioned. read into this what you will,

Theft, food poisoning and Traffic accidents were amongst
the bad points. Thailand came out worst on these .
not surprising if you ask me for the last two items.

Blame Sven Goran Eriksonn i say.

[katoeylover]

Good. Hopefully it will keep the hippos and their ugly families away!!!

[rob69in]

(katoeylover @ Jul. 11 2006,16:46) Good. Hopefully it will keep the hippos and their ugly families away!!!    

[dummy_plug]

Wonder how many of the people who actually responded to the poll have been to LOS. Have you seen AOL's demographics? It panders to the USA's simpletons... I'd imgaine very few of AOL's users have ventured out of their own state!

[donnnnnny]

im a simplton. never been robbed never had food poisoning(you get that at macca's) and never been in a traffic acco
statistics statistic and lies

[Snick]

Good news, I hope the next Lonely Planet poll puts Thailand at the bottom

[rob69in]

(Snick @ Jul. 12 2006,18:11) Lonely Planet

That makes me feel alot worse than any thing i have ever "had" in the LOS!

[rob69in]

If you take a seat at a good vantage point, kick back with your favourite Singha & Issan speciality, relax & observe the tourist horde, gawping masses & backpackers ( sorry Donnnnny ) is it any wonder these people travel so badly!!

[dummy_plug]

I seriously haven't seen the tourist horde you guys always rant about, at least not in BKK. Aside from Khao San road, which is home to Bangkok's hostels, I rarely see them out and about.

[Tomcat]

(dummy_plug @ Jul. 12 2006,10:02) Have you seen AOL's demographics? It panders to the USA's simpletons...

there are two Polls, the AOL one is rubbish, forget that.

The main one was done by an insurance co. NI Plc.
Thailand is a top destination for UK tourists.

also....
Actually food poisoning is pretty bad in LOS , i have had it twice and it nearly killed me the last time( Sea Bass. pattaya). I only eat at three places in Pattaya and i give the fish restaurants on W. Street a wide berth

[stogie bear]

Yes - I don't know what the fuss is about Thailand. I've never seen a decent beach and the food is crap. It's a constant hassle to avoid being ripped off and the cities are filthy health hazards.

I rarely venture out of my house and when I do I stick to the places that I am sure won't either poison me or piss me off.

I'm here for one thing - the company of women and ladyboys.

[stogie bear]

The simple fact of the matter is that compared to other destinations Thailand doesn't offer anything for families.

It's dirty and dangerous and this doesn't look like ever changing. Europeans can find much better deals in Spain, Greece and even Easyern Europe these days, and as wella s being closer it's a lot cheaper!

Americans don't really count as they don't get holidays the same way most people do. The only ones that make it here are on extended leave or gap years or retired! It is too far and too expensive and too weird for American families.

Mexico offers the same (probably more actually) for half the cost and half the inconvenience.

The good news is that it is the hordes of beer swigging sex tourists from Germany who are propping up the coffers along with an increasing number of sex tourists from neighboring Asian countries. Asians are used to the muck and filth and rip offs so they don't mind it so much.

In the last 15 years families (as tourists) have become very choosey about how they spend their money and have become increasingly knowledgable about the way Asians work their scams and ripoffs.

The choice for family vacations is amazing these days... even Florida is making an effort to recapture it's lost tourism trade. Alas - the lack of forsight from the government in Thailand has pushed people away and it's dedication to keeping resorts looking shabby and sucking the dicks of local mafias means that it will slip further and further behind over the years.

The only real advantage for tourists coming to the LOS is the lack of muslim freaks bombing the place, but that's only a matter of time.

For me it's a cheap place to live and I can get laid by pointing at someone.

[rob69in]

(stogie bear @ Jul. 13 2006,16:21) .

It's dirty and dangerous and this doesn't look like ever changing. Europeans can find much better deals in Spain, Greece and even Easyern Europe these days, and as wella s being closer it's a lot cheaper!

SB,

I would not agree that Spain & Greece are cheaper alternatives any more, before the euro scam, yes they were cheap destinations. I travel there quite a bit with my work, its unbelieveable that they got away with the scam. Now, with the arrival of the euro its dramatically raised prices & many of my friends / work colleagues no longer go there & see Asia & South America / Carrabian as suitable alternatives.

As for the danger factor, I feel safer in Bangkok than i do in certain areas of Nottingham, & its alot safer than Latin America / Carrabian.

[stogie bear]

My comments were aimed specifically about family travel and NOT individual or business travel.

Spain, Greece and France etc (compared to Asia) are cheaper options which offers a whole lot more for kids and parents these days.

For business travel and individual travellers I would agree that there is more parity of prices in the European Union these days, especially as regards the cost of travelling and hotel rooms.

[nemrod]

Sorry,pals,but i don't agree:I was travelling around Thailand for about 15 years and never had problems with the food(and I eat on every place and every little foodstall I met),maybe you where the unlucky ones or maybe I was very lucky,but this was my own experience.Yes,I agree that generally speaking Thailand is not a very clean country(say as Canada or Norway)but I think it's ok,even for families and older people,because thai people are nice,friendly and polite(this includes that their are mostly very clean people,more than many westerners).Maybe the only thing that schould be improved are that the streets are very uncomfortable to walk and not disabledtravelers-friendly