Agents on the Spot: Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand took six agents on an educational to Thailand last month to film a diary of their experience and produce a training video for agents. After a couple of days in Bangkok, the agents were paired off and sent packing to contrasting destinations. While one couple headed for the culturally rich northern region around Chiang Mai, another pair headed for the tropical beach destination of Phuket, while two young agents set off to explore the nightlife of Pattaya and beaches of Hua Hin. Travel Weekly asked for their views before and after the trip. Rumour has it there are over 36 hrs of footage which is currently being cut to create a 35min video. The video, produced in conjunction with Travel Weekly and Thai Airways, will be available for distribution in the autumn.

Before: I hadn’t been to Thailand before. But from all the brochures I had seen, it appeared to be a beautiful country and the people have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming. I was not so sure about Bangkok – my preconception was that it is one of the world’s less clean cities but I wanted to keep an open mind and I hoped the actual experience would be better than I expected. Highlights I was sure, would be the river rafting, the elephant ride, the food, the markets, the hustle and bustle of life in the regions and meeting the Thai people.

After: The hotels throughout Thailand really are superb – you can stay in a five-star hotel for around £60 a room with all the home comforts and air conditioning. Bangkok is much cleaner than I expected and the city is very exciting with plenty to see such as the temples but I think two or three nights in the city is plenty. The north is very beautiful and varied. I learnt a lot about the hill tribes and how they are not necessarily citizens of Thailand but many have ID cards and drift across the borders to the other Golden Triangle countries of Laos and Burma. In fact many of the borders are encompassed by the Mekong river. There is lots to do such as elephant rides and bamboo river rafting and I would recommend it to clients of all ages except families.

Before: I thought it would be very humid. I’ve heard the people are very friendly and polite. I expected Bangkok to be busy, but I like to visit cities and I’ve heard the temples are amazing. I was going to Chiang Mai after Bangkok and I thought it would be green and hilly with fantastic food and architecture. However, I was a bit worried that there would be lots of mosquitoes, but I was really looking forward to the elephant ride, rafting and hiking.

After: Having combined Bangkok with the north of Thailand I would definitely recommend clients book a two-centre holiday – perhaps two nights in Bangkok and one week in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I did not find Bangkok seedy at all. Highlights include the Grand Palace, a Thai massage and the night market. Chiang Mai is a large town but quite laid back. There’s not a lot of nightlife but plenty of culture. I’d recommend combining a meal with a dance show. You can also visit factories which make teak furniture, umbrellas and silver goods. Chiang Rai is smaller with spectacular sunsets and views of jungle and the rivers. I’d recommend a set tour with add-ons such as an elephant ride. Mosquitoes weren’t a problem if you used repellent.

Before: I had never been to Thailand. I imagined Bangkok would be like any big city but a bit more hectic with lots of temples. I thought it would be cheap, but I was not particularly interested in shopping. I was travelling to Phuket after Bangkok. I thought it would be quite warm and there would be plenty of beautiful beaches. I was a bit worried because we were down to do scuba diving and I don’t even like having deep baths! Phuket is a bit touristy from what I’ve read. I expected it to have some jungle plus azure seas and nice beaches. I imagined the hotels would be of quite a high standard.

After: Bangkok was extremely busy and there was plenty to see. The temples were breathtaking and it is amazing how the old and new stand side by side – old character shanty buildings next to great skyscrapers, and the Grand Palace hidden in the middle of the city. I would recommend day trips from Bangkok to places like Ayutthaya and the Summer Palace. Everything was very cheap – T-shirts were a quarter of the price and handicrafts such as carved elephants cost around £4. Phuket wasn’t anything like I imagined. It was extremely hilly and less like the Caribbean and more like the Cook Islands with all its flora and fauna. It was far more diverse than I thought – quiet in places and bustling in others such as Patong’s bars. Krabi and Phi Phi were much quieter than Phuket and not as commercial with beautiful beaches.

Before: I went to Thailand last November for two months. I visited a number of places such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phi Phi, Phuket and Krabi. This time I was going to Pattaya and Hua Hin. I had heard they are pretty commercialised and resemble Spanish resorts. I love the Thai culture and the food, and in Bangkok, I was looking forward to shopping and kick boxing.

After: The hotels were first class and the beaches were excellent, particularly in Cha Am and Hua Hin. The beaches in Pattaya were not great although the water sports facilities – water-skiing, scuba diving, banana boats, windsurfing – and the nightlife is fantastic. I would recommend it to young people aged between 25-35 years old. Hua Hin is quieter than Pattaya and would suit those aged 35-45 who want to relax and enjoy the beach. There is lots of culture in Bangkok. Not a lot had changed since I had been there last but I did take a canal excursion and was surprised to see a lot of people live along the canals. I would definitely recommend two half-day excursions such as the canal tour and the city highlights coach tour. I will definitely go back to Pattaya and Bangkok.

Before: I had never been to Thailand. I have heard Pattaya is seedy and Bangkok is smelly. Thailand is popular among honeymooners and for stopovers in Bangkok. I was looking forward to seeing Bangkok for myself – you hear so much about the bars – and exploring the temples. I though it would be good value for money. I really wanted to do scuba diving. I didn’t like the thought of finding snakes and creepy crawlies and I had heard you can’t drink the water or flush the toilet.

After: It was amazing and I’m not just saying that because it is the tourist board’s slogan. The people were so friendly that you were welcomed wherever you went with a smile. I saw some fabulous ruins at Ayutthaya which I never knew existed. I was very surprised at the size of the country and the distance between some destinations in Phuket. The roads are winding and hilly so it takes time to get from one place to the next. Shopping is superb especially if you go to the World Travel Centre in Bangkok. It’s a duty-free centre and you can pay for your goods and pick them up at the airport. Britons love a bargain so I will recommend it. We didn’t get to dive as a monsoon came that afternoon. However we did a lot of things and visited a theme park called Fantasia outside Patong which gives the potted history of an elephant boy. Bangkok is clean but you have to drink bottled water. I was also impressed by the hygiene levels.

Before: I had never been to Thailand before but I have heard it has a lot to offer, is cheap and has a great climate. I am looking forward to the food, a Thai massage (above board of course) and a round of golf. I have heard Pattaya is not very nice – a bit like the Costa del Sol – man-made and not my cup of tea. I had heard that Hua Hin is less developed.

After: It was excellent. Bangkok was a lot better than I expected. It was very loud and in your face – an extremely lively city and we averaged about 4hrs sleep a night. The best thing was the Thai massage which went on for about 2hrs. The trip on the river was also great and the food was exceptional. We ate seafood every night, especially in soups and curries. I would definitely recommend Bangkok as a stopover en route to Australia to break the journey for two or three days and also as a gateway into the rest of Thailand. Accommodation and hospitality really was five star – the people are incredibly genuine and friendly. I wouldn’t rave about Pattaya although I had a good time. It has a good selection of night clubs. There is plenty to keep yourself occupied ,though such as an elephant trek, water sports and golf. Hua Hin contrasts greatly as it is very quiet and a great place to chill out with a great beach.