Would you go to Thailand or the Caribbean?

[Rubberpinecones]

Trying to decide between the two. Could either go to the Caribbean or Thailand for 10 nights.
I’ve been to both. Caribbean feels more ‘special’ but Thailand more tropical.

Because of the different costs involved it’s
10 nights B&B/Self Catering in middle range Caribbean accommodation. Maybe Premium econ flights. Only 8 hours from London, and smaller time difference.

or it’s 10 nights in a Thai 5* hotel with breakfast. Eat dinner out every night. But flight is a lot longer and expensive. Bigger time difference.

Such a lot of aggression in a discussion about luxury holidays!

I've never been to either.

I imagine the Caribbean to be a paradise. From this thread it's maybe not as perfect as I'd imagined. I wouldn't class it as one place though as obviously the different countries would be very different. Eg I wouldn't compare Cuba to the Bahamas to Haiti!

My dream is to do a cruise to St Lucia, Barbados, St Maarten etc some day.

I think most holidays there are AI though? I know I'd be worried about crime going out of a complex somewhere like Jamaica.

As for Thailand I considered doing the backpack thing there in my youth (The Beach generation) so I think of it as low budget. But a bit like Amsterdam (that I hated) I imagine it full of weed smell and prostitution. That would ruin any holiday for me so it's put me off.

Also another Tsunami would worry me.

At least with Caribbean hurricanes you can go out of season.

Something else I take into account is ability to fly from local airports. Where I am you can fly direct to the Caribbean but not Thailand. That would really swing it for me.

My goodness where were you staying? I lived there for years and didn't see any of that.

As you have said it's not a paradise.

In both the Caribbean and Thailand you drive through some of the local housing to get to your destination. Much of this housing is below standard with outside toilets. My MIL nearly passed out when she saw someone naked run in their garden to their outside toilet. I'm sure most sensible people are well aware of the living conditions of the people who work in their resorts.

I said above that the crime in the Caribbean is opportunistic - someone sleeping with their balcony doors open (doh) or getting a gold necklace or bag snatched in a busy place. Risk varies according to how you present too as a traveller and location in both places. Of course those young backpackers are targeted in Thailand - they are preying on naivety. You can go to both places and have an incident free holiday - I have many times. However I have also known of people killed at home in the Bahamas and another home invasion which resulted in my friend being tied up and sexually abused. You do have to remember though that with some local people there is the face they present to you and the other face which can be full of jealousy and resentment. Not all sectors of these populations welcome tourism.

Yes the Caribbean is a mass of countries - the worst are Jamaica and Haiti as regards crime. I feel that Thailand is safer but again depends on factors mentioned above.

There are many cruises to the Caribbean which will take away some of the risk to you apart from the sharks that wait to descend on you at each port.

Barbados is heaven on Earth

Thailand. We used to live in Asia and been to Thailand about 10 times.
The people are lovely and great with kids. Cuisine is one of my faves

NevieSticks

We were at Dickenson Bay.
I have never seen such cruelty before or since.
I have visited lots of countries, and Antigua was the place I felt the least safe and the most upset. I did what I could to help the poor animals after befriending a British woman living over there who was doing her best to help.
It was 20 years ago now so I'm hoping it's changed but would never ever return.

I used to live right on the hills above that about 25 years ago. It's a very popular beach with loads of beach vendors etc as there's not much beach security there other than Sandals and the Rex. Never encountered ay offers of drugs in Antigua - yes in Jamaica and yes in the Bahamas.

Thailand hands down for me. Though ko Samui is not my favourite. Prefer krabi/Phuket scenery.

I've been to lots of places in Thailand & Jamaica

I would choose Thailand

Neither, if you want super hot do Greece, if you want a nice holiday and weather doesn’t matter fi UK, if you want experience of s lifetime do New York

I’m think there’s been a lot more in the news about tourists being murdered in Thailand and other dodgy behaviour than in the Caribbean.

Thailand! It's so amazing and varied. You can do the north first then somewhere like Samui after (i preffered samui to phuket)

Caribbean multiple times over

Thailand is fine for ten days, we did it for that length of time. I find two weeks on the beach too much anyway. Thai Airways used to do direct flights to Phuket during covid, have you looked into those? They were alright as an airline.

Yes and this relates to what I said yesterday - backpackers and naive travellers esp in places like Thailand are more likely to encounter issues than if you are in a decent hotel in the Caribbean. Jamaica is probably the only one exception to this if you stray.

NevieSticks

My partner was offered crack on that beach, in broad daylight whilst kids played next to us.

One memory is of a morning stroll when a tiny puppy approached me on the beach swiftly followed by a drugged up violent local who was throwing rocks at it. They didn't stop throwing them even as the dog was at my feet. Such cruelty.

Our hotel had armed security on the perimeter - I'm sure there was a reason for that and I was grateful they were there.

I'm not suggesting Thailand has no crime and of course everyone's experiences are different but my personal experience of Antigua was awful whereas in koh samui we felt safe and welcome.

Caribbean as I've been to Thailand about ten times.

Thailand is fun, don't get me wrong but has gone downhill. Bangkok is super touristy now, prices are high and it's overall seedy. Get out to the islands :)

Thailand

Was in Thailand a short while back (I dont live that far away) and as much as I love it and have been so many times over 20+ years, I was really shocked at the prices even the local markets the 'tat' stuff was crazy.

Food and drink (yes you can get street food at a lower cost) again I was very surprised how much things had gone up.

Even the shopping malls though plenty people walking about, there did not appear to be much buying. Chatuchak Market where I always go to a certain silver seller, no idea where they got the prices from for clothing, mountains of clothes, I have honestly never seen so much stock.

Cannot comment on the Caribbean as I have never been, and its not been on my wish list, due to a few friends putting me off.

Cannot comment on the Caribbean as I have never been, and its not been on my wish list, due to a few friends putting me off
That’s a shame, the Caribbean is beautiful.

Thailand. I've never been but I've been to the Caribbean and it sounds like Thailand has far more to look at in terms of cultural sites.

But eating out in restaurants is not self-catering though is it, it's the opposite!

For most people, in my experience, 'self catering' simply means that food isn't included in the price of the holiday.

All inclusive - all food, drinks, entertainment included in price
Full Board - 3 meals a day included
Half Board - 2 meals a day included
Bed and Breakfast - only breakfast included
Self Catering or Room Only - no food included; some rooms will have a small kitchenette but not all

So to many people SC just means that the price doesn't include the food, not that you'll be cooking in the room every day for yourself. That's my experience that's anyway.

We' e booked SC for Thailand - I can guarantee I won't be making any of our meals myself!

Goodness, where in earth did you stay?

We've been 3 times now and not seen any of that ever. First time was probably 20 years ago, last time was about 4 years ago I think (pre covid anyway) And we were SC and out and about every day, not staying in one hotel the whole week. We felt very safe - out during the day and in the evenings/night, driving, taxis, etc.

Thailand Thailand Thailand.

no real jet lag

lovely food people places just everything lovely.

And the bast thing less American about

Thailand - Ko Lanta for a true beach paradise and Chiang Mai for culture. One of the best trips I’ve ever done.

Antigua was fine - but no comparison, in my opinion.