Advice on Thailand, esp Koh Lanta.. and is weed openly available everywhere?!

[Verdechopchop]

Hallo, I'm looking for advice on Thailand pls. I'm taking DS15 for Christmas, it'll be just him and me and a big trip for the both of us. I'm thinking Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Krabi and on to Koh Lanta. We've got a couple of weeks, so I don't want to over do it, and we definitely both want some beach chilling time.

Does anyone have recommendations in Koh Lanta, hotels wise? Mid range, nice for families, pool etc.

Also, a colleague at work recently came back from Thailand and alarmed me a bit about how many places sell weed openly.. she said it's everywhere!! Signs openly displaying it etc. I think she was in Krabi. Is this just in the really touristy bits, or is she right and it's freely available?

I thought it was illegal in Thailand 😕

Been recently (Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai (CM is fab btw) and must admit, did not smell weed or see it, but we are fairly tame retirees, and we are not looking for it. Went out for drinks a few nights in each place, and there were some "interesting" goings on. Mainly prostitution. Went to one place quite late, ordered two drinks, four came (our two, plus two beers "for the girls", we pretty much rejected that) and we were not bothered again. Not been to Krabi, so cannot comment, but in the places I have been, there has not been much sign of what your colleague suggests.

We did exactly your plan last October. We saw weed shops but not people obviously smoking it everywhere. We were on a treat/splurge holiday after a few rough years so stayed in more expensive places than we usually would, we stayed at the Pimalai on Koh Lanta and I absolutely loved it. We only had one night in Krabi, Ao Nang area, so can't say too much about it. Didn't notice anything terrible though. We were with a 14 and 11 year old.

I just spent 2 months travelling Thailand as a family with young kids. We didn’t go to Koh Lanta but most of the main tourist areas (Bangkok, Phuket, phi phi, Kho Sok, Krabi, Chiang Mai etc)

Weed is sold everywhere! Every other shop is a weed store or a weed cafe. There are nearly as many as ‘massage’ parlours. It is very visible, we were surprised.

We didn’t see/ smell it that much considering the retail presence. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about unless it’s seriously offends you.

When I went there was a lot of weed but last time I checked there’s quite a lot here too! It doesn’t bother me in the slightest and I doubt it would bother a British 15 year old either.

Weed is hardly something to be alarmed about, I would say the big crowds and blatant prostitution are slightly more alarming.

Thanks for the replies.

I’ll check out the Pamala in Koh Lanta, thanks, AllBellyandBoobs, I’d like a couple of treat places along the way!

Sounds like the weed issue is fairly noticeable then, maybe depending on where you go. Personally I’m not offended or anything like that, it’s more that I’m worried DS15 (15 going on 25 and looks older) will be nipping off to try it 🙄

The Pimalai in Koh Lanta is amazing
Our kids absolutely loved Bangkok.
Weed shops are absolutely everywhere on the islands, but I have to confess I didn’t notice it at all in Bangkok

We were in Krabi and Khao Lak this year. Weed was everywhere in Krabi. Not so much in Khao Lak. I think you’ll find it in the more touristy areas.

I was there last year and quite shocked at the number of shops that sold weed. However, out of these many many many shops, I only once saw someone come out of one! You need to Google it in case I am talking rubbish, but I think I read that there's some weird law that makes it legal to buy as long as you have a Dr's note or some such nonsense, making it easier to buy when it was officially illegal!

@Verdechopchop A lot of places sold it in big amounts too (I didn't buy any, but that was the impression I got) rather than a joints worth. So your DS would need to spend more than he might like, or need to bin a lot of it (as it's too much to get through.)

The shops are these air con sealed off places. Not seedy or anything, just kind of soulless. It's a bit weird!

We stayed in Twin Lotus Koh Lanta, its was beautiful and quiet. Walkable to the night market. It was adult only when we went but there was a sign up saying from the following month it would be family friendly. I don’t know if that was permanent or season though.

Koh lanta is magical, we stayed at the layana, but not sure the age limit
lots of weed shops in ao nang/ railay, but didn’t smell it everywhere