Boring or sensible?

[MrsIppy]

Both me and my husband have a love of exploring, when we go abroad we like to go off the beaten track and do our own thing.

2 years ago we were talking about going to New York and I was looking all over for hotels, enquiring about cabs to and from the airport etc and in the end DH said "Lets just book the flight, litrally nothing else, it will be an adventure when we get there".

I liked the idea (although everyone else thought we were mad!) and it worked out ok, we got there, we had little choice but to find our way around, we managed to get a hotel and aside from the "adventure" side of things, it worked out cheaper and much more fun.

We had a great time but now DH is on about doing the same thing again, only this time in Thailand.

This time I'm more wary, I think of Thailand as being more dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, it's further away, a different language, different culture...

DH is in a bit of a mood saying he hopes I'm not going all boring on him.

I don't know if my worries are ligitimate or if he's right, I'm being boring.

What do you think? the kids won't be with us btw.

My nephew did this in Thailand (when he was 19) and he seemed to be fine.

Why don't you do some secret research, so you know where the hotels are, etc for when you get there.

www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand

The above is current FO advice for Thailand. The political situation there is still uncertain.

Sensible does not equate to boring. I don't think you're being boring at all; just sensible in having a properly planned itinerary. You do not want to be taking unnecessary risks with your personal safety.

Do plenty of research and get some decent guide books (Lonely Planet have lots of information and are good).

(BTW the Americans now demand passengers tell them where they are staying on the first night on arrival).

I think you should just go for it!

I wouldn't say Thailand was any more dangerous than New York - in fact it's probably far easier to travel like that there due to the backpacking market. Enjoy!

i've always travelled like this but do read books guides and things
i do find it more fun
but have not been to thailand so cant help i imagine its like everywhere and travelling man and woman would get less hassle i think than female(s)..

we did it in thailand/vietnam/malaysia/singapore and all around australia and new zealand. And this was 10 years ago - it's a lot easier now I think (at the time we didn't see any other westerners in hanoi in 3 days - now saga go there!)

if there's not a hotel/hostel, you move onto the next street/town. Simple really.

Thailand is full of backpackers doing exactly what your DH is suggesting.

It is really really easy to do it all yourself with a lonely planet or Rough Guide, and far cheaper than if you book everything in advance from the UK.

Get this book and book your flights and GO!

If your flight arrives at an unsocialbe hour I would say sort 1 night accomodation out in advance.

Forget Lonely Planet & Rough Guides, Footprint is so much better IMO.

Have a rough idea of what you'd like to experience wrt Thailand then you will have a base to work from but apart from that let the adventure take you where you wish.

Good luck and Bon Voyage!

If you enjoyed doing it in NY I think you'll LOVE it in Thailand. Thai people are wonderfully hospitable and helpful and as a Buddhist country it generally feels safe and is really well geared up for backpackers. Good idea to understand a little about the culture before you go.
We've done it in lots of countries and Thailand one of the easiest .......oooo you've got my backpacker memories flodding back now Im a responsible (boring?) mum!!!

If you enjoyed doing it in NY I think you'll LOVE it in Thailand. Thai people are wonderfully hospitable and helpful and as a Buddhist country it generally feels safe and is really well geared up for backpackers. Good idea to understand a little about the culture before you go.
We've done it in lots of countries and Thailand one of the easiest .......oooo you've got my backpacker memories flodding back now Im a responsible (boring?) mum!!!

If you enjoyed doing it in NY I think you'll LOVE it in Thailand. Thai people are wonderfully hospitable and helpful and as a Buddhist country it generally feels safe and is really well geared up for backpackers. Good idea to understand a little about the culture before you go.
We've done it in lots of countries and Thailand one of the easiest .......oooo you've got my backpacker memories flodding back now Im a responsible (boring?) mum!!!

If you enjoyed doing it in NY I think you'll LOVE it in Thailand. Thai people are wonderfully hospitable and helpful and as a Buddhist country it generally feels safe and is really well geared up for backpackers. Good idea to understand a little about the culture before you go.
We've done it in lots of countries and Thailand one of the easiest .......oooo you've got my backpacker memories flodding back now Im a responsible (boring?) mum!!!

If you enjoyed doing it in NY I think you'll LOVE it in Thailand. Thai people are wonderfully hospitable and helpful and as a Buddhist country it generally feels safe and is really well geared up for backpackers. Good idea to understand a little about the culture before you go.
We've done it in lots of countries and Thailand one of the easiest .......oooo you've got my backpacker memories flodding back now Im a responsible (boring?) mum!!!

Blimey - I'm so enthusiastic I posted 5 times! Sorry

Thailand, I really don't think will be a problem, it's a lovely place and worth exploring! If he had suggested the Philippines then that's a different kettle of fish and that's one place I WOULD be wary of.

With Thailand you're much much better off booking stuff when you get there ime, I always used to book a more expensive hotel / hostel in advance for the first night in a new place then go from there, from local recommendations / other holidaymakers recommendations etc.

I also found it difficult to book online in Thailand as the cheaper places tend not to do it. The first time we went, places we tried to book in advance by phone told us to just turn up! Also helps to be flexible if you get to an area and absolutely hate it or the weather is shite, you can just move on. Have a fantastic time, I'm jealous!

Oh and by the way, with regard to dee's post the only hassle I ever got from men in south-east asia was from old fat european sex tourists.

Well, I always travel like this, apart from reading the guide books and doing a bit of research online beforehand I just book the flights and see what happens when I get to my destination. And yes, this is with DS.

Could you compromise though if you're worried and book somewhere for the first night?

agree with ephrine too, lots of the best places you won't even know about till you get there and you won't be able to book in advance anyway.

thailands tourist industry is pretty much designed and meant for this kind of travelling.
you don't really need reservations anywhere and there is always accomodation.

You'll be perfectly safe. Tourism is Thailand's lifeblood. The political situation might be dangerous for Thais, but you as a tourist? No way. The economy depends on you and thousands of backpackers staying safe.

Is this the kind of holiday you want, deep down? In other words, are you ambivalent about doing the unplanned holiday thing in Thailand in particular, or are you just ambivalent about that kind of holiday at the moment? Nothing wrong with saying you'd like to know you'll be sleeping in a comfy bed in a place with air conditioning and a bit of a pamper, you know... particularly if it's a holiday without the kids.