How Thailand Transport and Travel Costs Changed Since 1992

Let’s discuss the transportation changes over that time. Obviously, there’s a new airport. In those days, when I flew in in 1992, I flew into the old Don Mueang Airport. That’s a very old airport. It first opened in 1914 by the Thai military. It was first used for commercial flights in 1924, I believe. But obviously, it’s not closed now they’re still using it for cargo but we’re now coming into the Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is a very good airport.

Of course, back then in 1992 when I arrived, there was no BTS that’s the Skytrain system in Bangkok, which is a fantastic way to get around the city. That actually opened in 1999. I can still remember when they were constructing it down Sukhumvit in particular. There were several accidents, some people were killed, but obviously, the less said about that the better.

There was no MRT system the Mass Rapid Transit system that first opened in 2004. That’s their underground. Again, very, very good way to get around the city. It’s cheap, it’s clean, it’s air conditioned, and I’d recommend it as a way of travelling around Bangkok in particular.

Taxis another area has changed. Of course, back then, I’d say right up into the year 2000, basically the main motor taxi was the tuk tuk. For anybody who’s been living on another planet, a tuk tuk is basically a three wheeled, two stroke motorized vehicle that they use as a taxi. No sides on it a bit like being on a mower bike, if that makes sense. And that was generally the way most people got around, or you jumped on the back of a motorbike, either/or. But generally now, they do have a lot of taxis in Bangkok. They’re absolutely everywhere. They’re air conditioned, they’re metered, they’re safe, they’re regulated. Even if you send your wife off in one, there’s nothing to worry about. Generally, they’re very, very safe, and as I say, they’re all regulated these days.

How the Thai Baht Changed Travel Costs Since 1992

Let’s talk a little bit about the exchange rate. This is actually a boiling contention on YouTube at the moment because obviously the Thai baht is very, very strong, and it’s killing people who are on fixed incomes who are actually retired in Thailand.

So, in 1992, for every UK pound you’d receive 75 baht. I know, unbelievable. The US dollar you’d get 63 Thai baht. And for the Australian dollar, you got approximately 41 baht. I mean, guys, let’s hope those days come back, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Old Bar Prices in Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Pattaya

I’ll talk a little bit about the entertainment zones and pricing. I think you know what I mean by entertainment zones places like Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, in Pattaya, Walking Street, those sorts of places. So, when I talk about these prices, I’m not talking about smaller, cheaper bars. I’m talking about gogo bars and bars like the ones outside the entrance in Nana Plaza places like Big Dog, Stumble Inn, that sort of place.

So, basically, if you bought a Heineken, it would set you back 40 baht. That was a standard sort of price in those days. A ladies’ drink was 40 baht. If you wanted to have the company of a female for a few hours let’s put it that way the bar fine was 200 baht. You would have to pay the lady for her time. If you were only spending a short time with her, that would be 700 baht. And if you decided and she agreed that you wanted to spend a longer time (if you get my drift), then basically you would pay 1,000 baht. And that was basically the prices in the entertainment zones.

Why Thai Bars Became More Polished and Business Focused

I’m going to talk to you now a little bit about the attitude of the bars, the girls just how it’s changed. I’ve noticed a big change. It’s so much more business orientated now. And what I mean by that is, when you went into a bar in the old days, the décor wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now. I mean, you’d have fairy lights strung around the bar, you’d feel stick to the carpet, you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face for about 20 seconds, but you know, kind of a nice atmosphere. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting on a bit, you know, I look back on it with fond memories. But you know, when they open these bars now, they spend millions of baht on the lighting and sound systems and all that sort of thing.

But as it’s changed, let’s talk about the attitude of the girls and the staff, that sort of thing the waitresses. So, back then, for me, they just seemed a lot more friendly. I’m not saying they’re not friendly now they’re not but I think they’re a lot more business orientated.

The Wai when you went into a bar in the old days, they always used to wai you. All the girls would wai you. And if you again, if you live on another planet and you don’t know what a wai is, basically that’s a Thai greeting where they put their two hands together like this, and sometimes they’ll bow. It’s a mark of respect, and it’s a greeting. Very rare you’ll get a wai from a Thai bar girl or a waitress, and the only time I see it these days is if you leave a hefty tip which isn’t very often because of the exchange rate and you’ll definitely get a wai then. And the more the tip, the longer the wai.

But now their attitudes have changed. I mean, the ladies’ drink is another good example. I mean, in the old days, they wouldn’t particularly ask you for a ladies’ drink. They’d come across, say hello, smile, ask you where you come from, and it was just polite to offer them a drink. Because at the end of the day, they’re working, they’re there, they’re enjoying themselves, and if you’re not an idiot, you’ll be aware of that, and you’ll pay for their time. But it was different.

So basically, when they got their ladies’ drink, it was quite comical because it was a champagne glass and it was filled with Coca Cola. They sipped on that, they talked to you, and generally that lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes. When they didn’t ask you for another drink they’d smile, look at the glass, you know, it was all fun and games. And if you wanted to spend a bit more time with a lady talking to her, then you bought her another ladies’ drink.

It’s all changed now, guys. I mean, you go in there and within 10 seconds of a girl approaching you, she’ll say to you, “You buy me drink” quite forcefully. And now the drinks have actually changed as well. No longer the days where they had champagne glasses filled with Coca Cola. It’s now tequila and Red Bull. Which, if you’ve never been to Thailand before, you’re going to get stunned because you’re paying for two drinks you’re paying for the tequila and you’re paying for the Red Bull.

The other thing about it is a lot of them will only have the tequila, and there’s a method to the madness. You might think, if they’ve got the chance to get a double drink, why would they simply order the tequila? So basically, it’s like this: the tequila comes to the table. How long does it take to drink a shot of tequila? About two seconds. And she’ll order another drink immediately. And if you don’t buy that drink, she’s off, and she’ll be counting her drinks with somebody else.

So that’s kind of that’s not a very pleasant situation to be in nowadays. You just feel like you’ve been used. And I mean, we knew we were being used in the old days, but it wasn’t so blatant, let’s put it that way.

But my personal thoughts on the matter I think they’ve shot themselves in the foot. Basically, because of this, a lot of guys especially if they live there or they’re experienced travelers who have been there many times have just given up on ladies’ drinks. They won’t buy them, full stop. You know, I used to buy the occasional ladies’ drink just for a bit of company if I was waiting for somebody. I’d meet a friend, and if I got there early, I might buy a drink for a lady. And I wouldn’t dream of doing it now. But as I say, I think they’ve shot themselves in the foot. Because these guys most guys that I know don’t buy ladies’ drinks. Perhaps that’s why they’re so hardcore now, trying to get more drinks out of other people, but it’s backfired. And I don’t think there’s any turnaround from that, which is a shame.

And just generally the attitude of them they’re so well trained now by the mamasans, by the bar managers. In the old days, you’d see girls talking to each other if they weren’t dancing. Not anymore. They’re pushing towards customers who don’t have girls with them. And it’s just not a great feeling. I suppose if you’ve never been there before, you won’t know it’s changed, and you’ll just think it’s normal. But if you’ve got something to compare it with, then it’s not something for the better.

Soi Cowboy and Walking Street Turned into Sightseeing Zones

I mean, you’ll see groups of Chinese in particular, and they’re a tall group, they really are. You’ve got the leader in front, they’ve got one of those triangle flags holding it up, and they’re just walking into these bars. I mean, they’ve got no intention of having a drink, sitting down, anything like that. It’s, “Let’s walk down Walking Street and see all the perverted foreigners and the naughty girls,” as it were which isn’t always the case, you know, guys. But it really is like Disneyland. And it’s the same in Soi Cowboy. I mean, I remember in Soi Cowboy when you never had any of that, but now you’ve got hordes and hordes of people down there. And it’s just like you know, it’s like visiting anything in Thailand it’s sightseeing now. So that’s another big change that I’ve noticed.

How Pattaya Expanded Beyond Its Old Nightlife District

The infrastructure in Pattaya has changed quite a lot as well. I mean, I can remember in the old days, the entertainment basically ended at the Dolphin Roundabout. I think you had two massage parlors in Soi 6, and there was definitely nothing after that. I’ve seen videos on YouTube where Soi 6 is absolutely packed with bars and all sorts down there. There is nothing there is an empty building down there. But I mean, back in the ’90s, you’d go down Soi 6 there was a place on the right three quarters of the way down the street, there was one on the left, and that was it.

The Beach Road hasn’t changed that much. You’ve still got pretty much most of what was there. I mean, the other thing they introduced to Pattaya which does my head in is these live bands especially in Soi 8. I’ve got nothing against live bands, don’t get me wrong. If you want to go and visit a live band, then it’s great fun. But Soi 8 in particular used to be a great soi just for cruising the bars. You’d have a drink in one, move to the next one, and work your way up the soi or down if you come in the other way. But they’ve just got loud music, live music, and you know what it’s like with the Thai bands they just compete to be the loudest. Not the best necessarily, but the loudest. And it’s for me, especially at my age now, it just does my head in. Same with the live bands down on Walking Street.

I mean, that’s always been as it’s been. The only other thing I notice is just a huge amount of numbers down there now. I mean, you see a lot more younger people, a lot more groups. There’s a lot more visitors from India I’ve noticed. There’s a lot more Chinese groups. It’ll be like a cattle market, to be frank. And I suppose that’s the way it’s going to be you can’t really change progress.

Why Foreign Food Is Easier to Find Across Thailand

Foreign products such as food they weren’t always easy to obtain like they are now. I mean, I remember back in the ’90s they had several outlets, but there was one in particular I’d go to it was Villa Supermarket on Sukhumvit Road. You could get quite a lot of British food in there. And I like Thai food, don’t get me wrong I’d eat Thai food every day of the week. But when you live there, every now and again you just get a pining for something from home, you know. It could be something simple like a jar of Marmite only English people will understand that one. But basically, you went to Villa and you got it.

But now, I mean, it’s everywhere. In those days, you hunted for those products you really had to look for them and ask around. But now they’re everywhere. You can basically go into several supermarkets and buy all the foreign food. Not just in Bangkok I mean, I was recently in Hua Hin and Market Village they’ve got a lot of foreign food in their Bluport. Again, they have a lot down there. And in Pattaya I remember when it was just Mike’s Shopping Mall but now you’ve got all these huge, huge places that sell absolutely everything.

Why Thailand’s People Still Make the Country Worth Visiting

So, that’s my thoughts, guys. That’s pretty much it it’s a little bit of a ramble, I suppose. But after 27 years, I have noticed quite a lot of changes.

The last question, really, I suppose to ask is: Is it still worth visiting Thailand? Absolutely. I mean, where else is there in the world? I’ve been to Cambodia. I’ve been to the Philippines. The traffic and the pollution was awful. Filipino people very nice and not being disrespectful to them but Cambodia wasn’t really my kind of scene. I didn’t feel safe. I’ve looked at the crime figures on the internet it definitely isn’t the safest.

The big pull with Thailand has got to be the people. I mean, they’re just so warm, so friendly. It’s just you know I mean, I’ve never had a confrontation with a Thai. And what I really like about the Thai people is if you make a mistake, they’ll smile at you. And that’s wonderful. I mean, in England, you pull out in your car accidentally, they’ll shake their fist at you, and then they’ll start screaming out the window. But that just doesn’t happen in Thailand. You know, as I say, if you make a mistake, they’ll smile at you. And that’s as good a reason as any to visit there.

Yes, it is more expensive if you go into the entertainment zones. If you go in there on holiday, it doesn’t matter because you’ve saved up, you’ve got plenty of cash with you, and if you spend £500 or £800 more, then it doesn’t really matter. If you live there, then I don’t think it necessarily is more expensive. You know, if you go around the local malls and local bars outside of the entertainment zones especially in other provinces like Isaan, or if you like to live up there, places like Hua Hin, other coastal resorts I think it’s just as cheap as it always has been. Taxis are cheap. Thai food is cheap.

I watch all these videos with amusement, people complaining how expensive Thailand is nowadays. Yes, the exchange rate is very bad at the moment, but that’s basically because the Thai baht is very, very strong. So, is Thailand still worth visiting? Yes, it is. If you’ve never been there before, my suggestion is give it a try for a week. And like me, you’ll probably be hooked.