Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COMMON BANGKOK SCAMS
Commit these classic rip-offs to memory and join us in our ongoing crusade to outsmart Bangkok's crafty scam
artists.
Closed today
Ignore any 'friendly' local who tells you an attraction is closed for a Buddhist holiday or for clean-
ing. These are set-ups for trips to a bogus gem sale.
Túk-túk rides for 10B
Say goodbye to your day's itinerary if you climb aboard this ubiquitous scam. These al-
leged 'tours' bypass all the sights and instead cruise to all the fly-by-night gem and tailor shops that pay commis-
sions.
Flat-fare taxi ride
Flatly refuse any driver who quotes a flat fare (usually between 100B and 150B for in-town
destinations), which will usually be three times more expensive than the reasonable meter rate. Walking beyond
the tourist area will usually help in finding an honest driver. If the driver has 'forgotten' to put the meter on, just
say, 'Meter,
kâ/kráp
' (for female/male).
Tourist buses to the south
On the long journey south, well-organised and connected thieves have hours to comb
through your bags, breaking into (and later resealing) locked bags, searching through hiding places and stealing
credit cards, electronics and even toiletries. This scam has been running for years but is easy to avoid simply by
carrying valuables with you on the bus.
Friendly strangers
Be wary of smartly dressed men who approach you asking where you're from and where
you're going. Their opening gambit is usually followed with: 'Ah, my son/daughter is studying at university in
(your city)' - they seem to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of major universities. As the tourist authorities here
pointed out, this sort of behaviour is out of character for Thais and should be treated with suspicion.
CULTURAL CENTRES
Various international cultural centres in Bangkok organise film festivals, lectures, lan-
guage classes and other educational liaisons.
Alliance Française
(
0 2670 4200;
www.afthailande.org
; 179 Th Witthayu (Wireless Rd);
Lumphini exit 3)
British Council
(
0 2657 5678;
www.britishcouncil.or.th
; 254 Soi Chulalongkorn 64, Th Phra Ram I;
8.30am-7pm;
Siam exit 6)
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
(FCCT;
0 2652 0580;
www.fccthai.com
; Penthouse, Maneeya Center,
518/5 Th Ploenchit;
Chit Lom exit 2)
Goethe Institut
(
0 2287 0942;
www.goethe.de/ins/th/ban/enindex.htm
; 18/1 Soi Goethe;
Lumphini exit 2)
EMERGENCY
If you have a medical emergency and need an ambulance, contact the English-speaking
hospitals listed below. In case of a police or safety issue, contact the following emergency
services:
Fire
( 199)
You're unlikely to find an English-speaker at this number, so it's best to use
the default
191 emergency number.
Police
(
191)
