How to avoid tourist scams in Thailand?

Overall, the Thais come off as being extremely hospitable, kind and courteous; attributes that extend even to your average tourist intending on taking on all that this delightful nation and its people have to offer. However, with the good comes the bad and the country does tend to be associated with scams that take on varying degrees. For the benefit of travellers across the globe, detailed below is how you can avoid being scammed and victimized.

When commuting in a taxi

By far, travelling by taxi will appear as one of the most cost-effective means of reaching your desired destination/s. Fares on these vehicles are calculated by an electronic meter on the dashboard and one must make it a point to ask the driver that the said meter be turned on before the commencement of your journey. As the length of your trip will determine the amount of money you pay, it is wise to not be seen arguing or bargaining in an event where you forget to follow the above or fall prey to drivers who turn off the meter during the course of travel. To guard against such scenarios from occurring, always take a picture of the driver’s ID which can be found on the dashboard and the utterance of the words “tourist police” will easily sway the driver from cutting corners en route to making a much faster buck.

Scams involving leisure and watersports

With beaches frequenting Thailand in almost every direction, the yearning to grab your snorkelling gear, surfboard or jet ski will be hard to overlook. With such tendencies comes the urge to scam unknowing and inexperienced tourists. Therefore, factor in the following and plan well. Associating with vendors who are found gracing the beachfront eagerly anticipating unsuspecting foreign nationals ought to be restricted, especially those that offer kayaking, jet skiing or parasailing facilities. The risk of having to pocket out large fees together with being accused of damaging equipment or the craft that you employ will remain. Thus, always opt to book your favoured form of watersport through your hotel or resort that you are staying at. On one hand, you will be guaranteed professional know-how while your investment will surely reap its highest returns, in terms of experience and exposure.

Renting motorbikes

Long before you toy with the idea of renting out a motorbike for the day, consider purchasing a camera that can then be mounted on your helmet. This way when confronted with sticky situations such as accidents, your interests will be safeguarded and importantly, will prevent you from being scammed. Better yet, you will have plenty of evidence to adduce in the event the matter is placed in the hands of local law enforcement officials whom you will need to provide every bit of information if you want to make your side of the story far more believable.

Generic scams and mishaps

Should you find yourself conversing with a tuk-tuk driver for longer periods than usual, kindly move away to avoid falling victim to ‘guided’ tour packages that invariably end up wasting one’s precious time and money. Furthermore, if you see a need to purchase gems and jewellery, do rely on the services of a local guide you can trust so that you do not put yourself in a situation to have to pay exorbitant sums. A good tip that works well would be to query your hotel in Khon Kaen Thailand the likes of Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre from where you can have all your questions answered on top of being allowed access to warm hospitality and recreation.