I'm going to Thailand soon...

[Izlude]

I'm just your average American. I like my Showers hot and my toilets with large pipes - (Although I'm a small person, 110 LBS, I have a tendency to CLOG toilets. I always keep a plunger handy when I go to hotels.)

Thailand... has squatters... something I never knew existed. And I'm scared to death just to look at them!!! Umm... do they have "seat" toilets? I mean, at hotels? But supposing the 3 hotels in the area I'm going to don't have these seats I'm so used to, is it not wise to use TP on a squatter? Suppose I clog one of these suckers... what the hell am I going to do??? You pour water from a bucket to flush it??? No water pressure???

Also do hotels have hot water showers? Looking at some website, the blogger says "the water is cold unless you pay extra for a suite which includes a water heater"

Please tell me my trip isn't going to be a nightmare...

Also this is probably the funniest forum post all day, ya? But I'm being very serious here. Any input would be very appriciated.

[krazycasey]

Well that depends on what kind of hotels are you staying in. Most hotels do have seaters and hot water, unless you go for the really below average ones, which exist in far remote places. However, if you are just in Bangkok and other major cities I think you will find what you need. You haven't gave us much information of whereabouts you are going to, so I could only give you a general overview.

[sibot]

Uh, if you're going to a good hotel, I'm sure they'll be equipping your bathroom with "seat" toilets. Squatters aren't really used anywhere in Hotels anymore. So I'd say don't worry about it.

EDIT: Well unless you plan to stay in a hut in some remote village. Then you'd be wishing you had a squatter instead of a field.

[Izlude]

2 places really. can't spell the first place, but the other one is in bangkok. ok so I should be ok. yeah, heart attack... whew...

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

It's not as backward as you may think...

Well it is and it's not at the same time. The places you (and I) will spend our western money are fine - proper toilets, running hot water, air-con etc.

But the locals, without their financial influence live a lot poorer. After a day or so of it - it becomes really apparent and quite upsetting.

[Litespeed]

I'm just your average American. I like my Showers hot and my toilets with large pipes - (Although I'm a small person, 110 LBS, I have a tendency to CLOG toilets. I always keep a plunger handy when I go to hotels.)

On a semi-serious note, you might want to talk to a doctor about your <burp> "clogging" problem. Dumping that much on a regular basis can't be a good sign.

[gaurav]

If you are going to a place like Bangkok, most hotels (even guest lodges) will have proper toilets, hot showers, bath tubs and air conditioning. Besides, its pretty warm right now, so even in the worst case scenario, the water should be fine.

[hornett]

Thailand... has squatters... something I never knew existed. And I'm scared to death just to look at them!!! Umm... do they have "seat" toilets? I mean, at hotels? But supposing the 3 hotels in the area I'm going to don't have these seats I'm so used to, is it not wise to use TP on a squatter? Suppose I clog one of these suckers... what the hell am I going to do??? You pour water from a bucket to flush it??? No water pressure???

Also do hotels have hot water showers? Looking at some website, the blogger says "the water is cold unless you pay extra for a suite which includes a water heater"

Please tell me my trip isn't going to be a nightmare...

Not sure if I'm being trolled here, however cold showers in Thailand are really not a problem. It is bloody hot and humid there and you most likely will not use the hot water much anyway.

Many hotels do have 'proper' toilets, but a lot of touristy places such as the 'River Quai Jeath Railway Museum' (sic) do only have squatters. In the heat of their summer they are pretty disgusting. Also most places use a shower hose thing instead of toilet paper due to the drains blocking.

To be honest though, it's all part of the fun and it makes for good stories when you get back home!

I stayed in a wide range of places from the poorest crap holes up to mega expensive hotels in Bangkok. The crappy ones costing about 2 Baht a night, with no AC, a broken fan and windows that only open 1cm are the ones I have fondest memories of. :D

[Izlude]

On a semi-serious note, you might want to talk to a doctor about your <burp> "clogging" problem. Dumping that much on a regular basis can't be a good sign.

haha nah nah...it's mostly over-kill on the toilet paper. i like to be extra clean... maybe i made it sound "otherwise" by talking about my weight...

ONE MORE QUESTION!!!!

I'm only going to stay for about a week (maybe 2) is $10k going to suffice?

[hornett]

I'm only going to stay for about a week (maybe 2) is $10k going to suffice?

Jees you can survive on about 1/100 of that if you are careful.

[Izlude]

thanks everyone for your input. now i feel much better. will send lots of pix of my little trip. planning to visit someone on their birthday, but yeah... gotta stay at a nice hotel within the closest range possible to my plans.

[krazycasey]

10k is more than enough for even a month there...... given that you don't stay at the super luxury hotels. I spend an average of around 300 bucks a day which includes accommodation + breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a nice restaurant, some starbucks coffee :p, transportation. They now have a subway and skytrain system that gets you nearly to every interesting places in Bangkok and you can get a tourist pass for unlimited travel. It's fun to just hop up and down stations to see what goes on around there.

[JackBauer87]

Actually, large stool on a daily basis is a good thing. It shows your expelling everything at a good rate. Unless it comes out black or bloody its a good thing.

Most adults are accustomed to the idea that a stool should be medium sized to small. Not true!

[funkymunky]

10k???

How many Bangkok lady boys do you want?? ;) lol

I'd say that's far too much money mate

[Antaris Veteran]

*most awesome thread ever*

I stayed at two hotels back in Feb, the first was the Bel Aire Princess in Bangkok. Very plush hotel, good toilets. I too decided to wedge a turkey down there before I left.

The second was the Siam Bayview in Pattaya. Never had a problem at that one.

Thinking of going to Flipper Lodge in Pattaya next year.

[Omar Hussain]

dude, what u gotta do is just aim properly, make sure u squat and like get it right in the drain hole, that ought to fix the problem! :p

[dreamz Veteran]

i'm always surprised to learn about some of the impressions people have of thailand.

it's a pretty developed country, and bangkok itself is very developed (new malls, airport, etc.). in all my years there, i have seen only one squatter, and that was at an old temple.

and nearly all places have hot water (even cheaper homes). the difference, you'll notice, is that some places use the european-style tankless water heater. while i didn't go to any hotels there, i have a feeling they don't use those (because some people might not be used to them).

i find it funny how people think thailand is so backwards. here's an example: sometimes my friends and i are asked if we rode elephants to school.

[Seismo]

With 10k $ you can probably live there forever :)

When I was there 2 years ago, I only spent about 400 ? for 14 days, and believe me, I lived off the fat of the land.:D:D

I was Bangkok 3 days and Koh Samui 11 days.

[jimbo12141]

10k??? I did the whole of my gap year for ?2000..... ie $4,000 and that was travelling for 4 months.... The squatting toilets are fine, they just smell not great. All hotels will have western toilets in, unless you really go for a cheapo night, like like 2$ for the night. . If you go out into the sticks, then you will start to see others.. etc.

[sibot]

i'm always surprised to learn about some of the impressions people have of thailand.

it's a pretty developed country, and bangkok itself is very developed (new malls, airport, etc.). in all my years there, i have seen only one squatter, and that was at an old temple.

and nearly all places have hot water (even cheaper homes). the difference, you'll notice, is that some places use the european-style tankless water heater. while i didn't go to any hotels there, i have a feeling they don't use those (because some people might not be used to them).

i find it funny how people think thailand is so backwards. here's an example: sometimes my friends and i are asked if we rode elephants to school.

I know, people have similar views about India. I have people asking me the same question. Yes, I still ride an elephant to college, his name is TajMahal :p

One time this guy asked me if we had footpaths here, cause that determined if a country was advanced or not! Everyone expects you to be a magician too.....lol

[Panacik]

Bangkok is great fun if you a single young guy! Or a married old guy! :p

I went there for a week and can tell you that most normal hotels have normal toilets with showers etc. The only time i saw a toilet hole was in the poorer peoples homes. They do still have the poor places in Bangkok. But however for the most part its a normal city.

My advice is to ensure you agree with the taxi or tuktuk driver where you are going before you get in the taxi and negotiate the price before hand.

Once in the taxi etc, if they offer to take you to "pingpong" show, say no, unless you enjoy paying ?20 for a drink of coke, being surrounded by sleezy old men, old nasty looking stripers and sex shows.

Remember that even if a girl has a good job out there, say working in a resturant etc, they will still be easy and the bottom line is that they will milk you for what they can get.

DISCLAMER!: Of course there are some women there that are normal and looking to survive without selling themselves, but its an unfortunate fact that the majority of women are "loose" and do milk what money they can get.

[Antaris Veteran]

I remember going into one of the Go-Go bars and watching a girl do a great trick with my glass, and ice cube and her special place!

[Panacik]

I remember going into one of the Go-Go bars and watching a girl do a great trick with my glass, and ice cube and her special place!

Lol, i think i might have seen something similar with birthday candles and baloons... :s

[Warlord]

Lol, i think i might have seen something similar with birthday candles and baloons... :s

What kind of birthday party did you go to? lol