[laurarwells]

Hi, planning on travelling in Thailand nxt march, how do safe do you think it will be as a young female traveller alone? i'm travelling around Australia the previous two months so hope that i may meet people with which to travel, but in the unlikely event? Any dangers i should watch out for? Thanks

[squidgyheads]

My absolute favourite travel book, Asia Overland (Trailblazer, currently out of print) gives Thailand the maximum possible rating for solo women travellers.

Thailand is extremely safe for solo women travellers. You can expect no danger except, perhaps, some parts of Bangkok at night, I guess, but this is mere speculation. The entire rest of the country is perfectly safe. Few slimy men, at that. Except for the sex-tourists. Yuch.

I spent 3 months biking around there, and found the Thai to be really super nice. As a bike traveller, I wasn't always able to get to a hotel, and was taken in on several occasions. Still keep in touch with some of them, too.

Enjoy your time in Thailand!

~the malcolm-squidgyhead

[KF]

Thailand was relatively safe. My best advice is to just use common sense. When in a large sized city only do what you would do in say London. There are sleazy areas all over the world.
I know a number of women who have traveled Thailand alone. They have mostly met other travellers there. Thai people were very kind. They tended to be very helpful and happy. There is a Thai philosophy that encourages everyone to do all tasks with the idea of fun behind them... Songha (bad transliteration). You should have a great trip.

[laurarwells]

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated!

[aaronzig]

Just got back from Thailand and Laos myself, and while Im a guy, one of the main things I noticed is just how "decent" the people there generally act.

With the exception of the tuk-tuk drivers on Khoa San Rd who want to take every single male to: "Patpong! Many good girls! Many ladyboy on Khoa San! Much better there!" I found that most of the other blokes to be quite shy around women.....actually, shy isnt the right word, but they arent as forthcoming about and toward the opposite sex as men in the west. (From what Ive seen, from conversations with them) So, on that note, I really dont think you're going to have a problem.

If you go to some isolated areas where not many farang go, you will be stared at, but it's really more so because you're a novelty they havent seen before.

I think the main problem you are going to encounter will be the sex tourists from the west, who (from what I saw in Hua Hin) really do speak, and act with their male anatomy before they think, to ALL women.

[vikkitraveller]

Lwells

Just in case this can be of use to fellow female travellers in Thailand. I recently stayed at the Same Same Guest-House in Patong on the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand.... famous for it's tsunami experience as much as its gorgeous beaches and wild nightlife.

Anyway the point of this message is to let you know that if you are a lone female or females travelling to this part of the world I stumbled upon this nice cheap budget accommodation in the heart of Patong.

It is a short walk away from Patong Beach and Bangla Road. For any girl who isn't familiar with Patong it is very much a "mans town" with endless girly bars down one street called Bangla Road but don't be put off... there is lots to see and some great new shopping places to visit like Jungceylon.

So if you plan to visit the island of Phuket the Same Same guest house, which I think is European owned and run by friendly Thai staff, is cheap as chips but clean and has sizable double rooms with en suite shower and air-con.

When you first get there it seems a little weird because the guesthouse has a beauty salon below at street level, but don't be put off... not far to go for a manicure and pedicure

This place has a "couple and female only" policy, so no single beer swilling men and no bar girls coming and going like in most other places.

They will collect you and return you to the airport if requested.

I felt very safe and would recommend this guest house to any travelling females, especially anyone travelling for the first time to Phuket.

I do not have an email address but their website ( which is very basic) is www.samesamephuket.com and their phone is +66 8153 83331

Other quick tips are only pay 100 baht for any tuk tuk in and around patong, best breakfast at £1.50 is at Dangs Cafe close to the jungceylon end of bangla road. OH and never TIP more than 10-20 baht !

If I can be of any help on other matters please send me a message….

Vikki
(born to travel)