Worst Bangkok Nightlife Mistakes – What You Need to Avoid

This is the city which welcomes over 25 million visitors each year, and it’s one of the nightlife capitals of the world.

But with all the nightlife on offer, travelers can make plenty of costly mistakes, I’m going to cover the worst nightlife mistakes that travelers make when they come to Thailand.

Not Choosing the Right Area for Your Preferences

Let’s get started with a very common mistake that travelers make, and that is not choosing an area or venue that matches your preferences. Bangkok has a wide range of different nightlife environments to choose from.

If you’re looking for a cheap and vibrant place to party, Khaosan Road is the backpacker ghetto with an anything goes environment. It’s loud, chaotic, and perfect if you’re looking for a wild night out with fellow travelers and locals alike.

Lower Sukhumvit is a more expat-oriented area with plenty of sports bars and nightclubs. Prices are reasonable, but this area is home to two red light districts, which can definitely make for a slightly seedy underworld vibe.

Thonglor is popular with wealthy and middle-class locals and travelers looking for a more trendy upscale nightlife area. There are plenty of rooftop bars and popular nightclubs, but you’ll find some of the highest prices in the city.

RCA is the big box club scene. This is a more typical club environment with large venues, which is popular with more middle class locals and travelers.

Silom is the historic LGBTQ plus area with plenty of lively bars and clubs to choose from, and you’ll find a wide range of clubs and bars dotted throughout the city.

You have plenty of great nightlife areas to choose in Bangkok. Consider your preferences and choose wisely.

Ignoring Dress Codes

If you’ve never visited Thailand, you may assume that you can go out for a night in shorts, flip-flops, and a tank top. But most rooftop bars and nightclubs throughout the city enforce strict dress code. You’ll need to wear a shirt that covers your shoulders, long pants, and proper shoes. And you’ll be denied entry if you’re underdressed.

But if you don’t feel like dressing up or you’re only stopping over for a night with a backpack full of beach clothes, you should check out Khaosan Road. This is the famous Backpacker Ghetto in Bangkok. And when it comes to attire, it’s much more relaxed. You can get away with pretty much anything.

Assuming Nightlife Is Cheap

This brings us to our next mistake. Assuming that nightlife in Bangkok is cheap, the cost of nightlife in Thailand often surprises first-time travelers.

While drinks can be fairly inexpensive in areas like Khaosan Road, where you’ll pay around $4 for a large beer at a bar, many nightlife venues in Bangkok can be as expensive as in western cities. Or a small beer at a nightclub will normally cost between $5 and $10. And if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to exercise caution as you can quickly blow your bank account.

Buying Individual Drinks Instead of a Table

But if you plan to check out venues like nightclubs, it can be a mistake to buy individual drinks at all, as it’s normally cheaper to reserve a table and buy a bottle. A liter of whiskey or vodka will cost between $80 and $120 for a mid-level brand.

And if you don’t finish your bottle, you can normally check it at the bar. They’ll give you a ticket and hold the remainder of the bottle for 2 or 3 weeks, and you can return and pick it up to enjoy another night out.

But there’s another very important reason to buy a bottle. You also reserve a table. The floor space in most nightlife venues is mainly occupied by tables. If you don’t reserve a table, you’ll find yourself hugging a wall struggling for space.

Not Protecting Yourself from Scams

Nightlife venues can be chaotic and this can be an ideal environment for scams and hustles. You should take a few precautions, especially in areas like Khaosan Road or the red light district areas of Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.

Before you order any drinks, always check the prices as they may be more expensive than you expected, and some venues or staff may attempt to overcharge tourists, especially if you appear unfamiliar with the nightlife environment or prices.

Running a Tab

And when you pay for drinks, it’s normally best to clear your tab after you receive each drink. If you run up a large tab, a server may sneak a drink or two onto your bill. This is the bill padding scam, and it’s very common.

But when you pay, it’s a mistake to hand over any large bills as it can be common for servers to bring the wrong change and claim that you paid with a smaller bill.

Using Cards and Insecure ATMs

And you should always pay in cash or QR code if you have it enabled in Thailand as credit and debit card fraud can be common and it often occurs in nightlife areas.

For this reason, you should also avoid using ATMs in insecure areas and entertainment districts and venues as an ATM machine may have a card skimmer attached. And it’s ideal to use ATMs in more secure locations like banks or inside malls.

Following Touts into Scam Bars

When it comes to bills and payments, you need to be especially careful in the red light district areas where you can encounter venues with extremely overpriced drinks, which can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

It normally occurs with a tout luring unsuspecting tourists into a venue with a promise of inexpensive or free drinks, often alongside a nightlife show. But when you try to leave, you’ll be presented with an exorbitant bill, and security will block the exit.

Avoid following anybody who tries to bring you to a bar or club with an offer of a free drink or nightlife show, especially if they try to lead you to an upstairs or nondescript location.

Entering Empty Bars

You should also avoid entering empty bars or clubs, as these can be scam venues. It’s normally best to visit places that are busy with plenty of customers. These are legitimate businesses which make money from selling drinks and it’s counterproductive to their long-term business to allow scams to occur.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can also check Google reviews for a bar before you enter. Filter on one-star reviews and you’ll quickly see any negative feedback.

Escalating Confrontations

We’ve covered a few scams, but if you get caught in a scam, it’s best to avoid a direct confrontation. This can be the biggest mistake of all because regardless of what started the altercation, if you’re a foreigner and you get into a fight with a Thai person, this will normally end very badly.

As other Thai people nearby will normally come to the aid of their compatriot. If you find yourself in a scam, avoid escalation and call the tourist police at 1155.

Ignoring Theft Risks

When you’re in tourist or nightlife areas, it’s a mistake to ignore your surroundings or belongings. Theft and pickpocketing has increased significantly over the past few years in Thailand, especially in areas like Khaosan Road.

Never carry your wallet or phone in your back pocket. And if you’re a woman, carry your purse in front of you and ensure that it’s properly closed. And never leave valuables like your phone sitting on your table.

Street Distraction Thefts

In areas like Lower Sukhumvit around Nana, men may be approached by women or lady boys on the street who try to hug or grab you. They may seem friendly and you may not want to be rude by pushing them away, but you should.

Normally, they’re trying to swipe a necklace, watch, or wallet. They can be very quick with their hands. You may not notice that something’s missing until it’s too late.

Unsafe Transport After a Night Out

When leaving nightlife areas, it’s normally a mistake to get a ride from any drivers that sit near exits. These drivers normally work as a sort of taxi mafia and demand high fixed fares while operating many scams and hustles.

If you plan to use a taxi, it’s normally best to walk out on the main street and wave one down. But it can be best to avoid taxis altogether and use a ride hailing service instead as there have been cases of robbery, violence, and sexual assault by taxi drivers.

The most popular ride hailing app is Grab and it tends to have the best safety reputation for driver verification. Before you get in a car or jump on the back of a motorbike, always check that the license plate matches the vehicle on the app.

I’ve covered a lot of mistakes, scams, and risks, but it’s important to note that many of these issues exist throughout Southeast Asia and in nightlife areas and venues around the world.

Bangkok is generally a safe environment with world-class nightlife and awareness of any potential scams and hustles will help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time.