292 replies to this topic
Posted 2009-08-26 10:53:48
 Kohn Ferang, on 2009-08-26 08:34:16, said:
I am an American Guy, I have lived in Thailand 5 years, Brittan 6 months, Spain a month and France a month, the British behavior while on holiday is outrageous. I fully understand the Spanish Government arresting them repeatedly, if not in bulk and deporting them, Drunk and fighting every night in the pubs, France too. There were bars in France where I couldn't get a drink until I showed my passport to prove I was not British. Thailand is a little further, we can hope only the somewhat more responsible Britts get that far from home, that they might not still be somewhat special, I have no doubt. Behave yourselves! English speakers around the world suffer the consequences of what U do on Holiday! 
in spain and now Thailand I am ashamed to be British. The worst type seem to come to both places. Many open bars(brothels) here and employ bar girls(prostitutes) and live off their bar fines (pimping fees) Luckily I went to NZ for a couple of years and got NZ nationality, now if anyone asks me, I tell them I'm a Kiwi
Posted 2009-08-26 10:55:53
I'm from England and I'm not some beer drinking football hooligan. I like a drink at the weekend but I don't cause trouble.
Why is it okay to stereotype the British in this way? How about if we stereotyped the Chinese, Nigerians etc?
Posted 2009-08-26 10:56:39
As a Brit Im sad to say I have to agree with the majority of posts, it is usually the younger element of society that behave this way, and believe me they act exactly the same way back in England, this isn't only a holiday thing they are capable of ruining a good night out wherever they are.
As for driving without helmets, the brits are not alone, I live in Udon and there are many farang who drive around breaking the law, for myself I wear a helmet because it just might save my life, I enjoy a drink but drink very little when on the motorbike, accom is cheap enough to have a stopover when you fancy those extra few beers, its just called being sensible but alas as we all know many of those who come to these shores leave their brain elsewhere.
Posted 2009-08-26 10:58:05
I want people to calm down on the Brit bashing please. The UK makes up one of the largest groups of visitors to Thailand and the sheer number of them in the country can give a skewed impression of the facts.
I'm not saying you can't point out problems that exist or issues you have with British tourists and expats, but if you can do it while still remaining polite and mature about it, it speaks well of both your intelligence, and the quality of debate here.
Too often we have to delete posts that made good points because the poster went overboard on foul language or went too far and turned a fair comment into inflammatory insults. Don't make this mistake. We want a free exchange of ideas, but there's limits on how we can allow them to be expressed.
Thank you.
Posted 2009-08-26 10:58:40
Kohn Ferang, on 2009-08-26 08:34:16, said: I am an American Guy, I have lived in Thailand 5 years, Brittan 6 months, Spain a month and France a month, the British behavior while on holiday is outrageous. I fully understand the Spanish Government arresting them repeatedly, if not in bulk and deporting them, Drunk and fighting every night in the pubs, France too. There were bars in France where I couldn't get a drink until I showed my passport to prove I was not British. Thailand is a little further, we can hope only the somewhat more responsible Britts get that far from home, that they might not still be somewhat special, I have no doubt. Behave yourselves! English speakers around the world suffer the consequences of what U do on Holiday!
Unfortunately there is a percentage of the population, ( I hope its small ) that go on holiday and act as you say : "outrageous"ly . These will be the same people that spend their weekends in the UK binge drinking in pubs and clubs , getting completely annihilated and getting into fights etc . Unfortunately this percentage of the population are the young that dont understand or channel their dissatisfaction of the tedium of life that the average youngster in the uk experiences.
Im guessing also that the place you mentioned above were areas that are hot spots for these people as they travel in large groups for a sense of security and just recreate their weekends somewhere else for a longer period of time.
Its a sad representation of the British society today.
There is however a high regard for the British traveller everywhere else (apart from these select areas that cater for the above mentioned) its unfortunate though that the media exposure only follows the bad news.
Posted 2009-08-26 10:58:55
By the way, for those who are looking for a diversion to the anti-British stuff, the Canadians had a bad year last year. Quite a few of them got knocked off, as I recall.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:05:35
GungaDin, on 2009-08-26 09:44:03, said: Re; M/c accidents on Samui.
Fortunately for me, a local pointed out the accident black spots some years ago.
Wherever a minor dirt rd. joins the main concrete ribbon, sand is drawn onto the concrete.
This turns the concrete into a skating rink..... most m/cs come to grief at these spots.
Be warned. 
Number 2 is ANY corner that a truck of ice and fish went by 5 minutes earlier.
The fish oil mixes with cold water and leaks out of the coolers, as bad or worse than the sand.
And pretty invisible too. It is an island and sand is EVERYWHERE,
just takes the wind sometimes to blow enough on the road to make it slippery.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:06:46
animatic, on 2009-08-26 10:43:11, said: Changian, on 2009-08-26 08:22:48, said: It also doesn't help that many tourists seem to think the ideal place to learn to ride a bike is an island in Thailand.
Oh I hear you big time....
I am thinking of making a T shirt with the 3 lane ring road,
that shows the typical 7 lanes of traffic on it.
1+2, Left lane Bikes returning/turning and forward,
and alternate left car lane to allow center passing.
3, Car forward,
4, bi directional center passing lane for biggest, or most insistent or drunk
5, Car returning
6+7, Right lane Bikes returning/turning and forward,
and alternate right car lane to allow center passing.
Typical Brit response; well they drive on the left, must be just like home...
NOT!!! Don't be a prat!
Add caption:
Either;
Drive Like a Thai
or
Die Like a Soidog.
The visiters try to drive like at home, while learning bikes too...
but lacking the skills, do it way too slowly and are often deadly traffic hazards.
When 5 tourists just stop bikes in mid lane, blocking a small, by highly traveled road
to a tourist attraction, likew my road to home....
rather than off to the side 20 feet up, it makes me want to scream MOVE you stupid cows.
You would NOT do this at home, why do this here in front of ME!!! Fek, Fek, Fek, Sod off!
Plus, they lacking the basic understanding of Thai driving styles.... they expect logic,
and expect courtesy's like at home. They expect people NOT to pull out,
no clue on the general Asian merging methods, let alone the Thai variation.
No one tells them and they don't observe.
Mix in alcohol... yegawds, it's baleedin mess.
On driving, most newbies are a hazard,
but it is mostly certain UK social strata that are the drinking and attitude problem vis a vis Brits.
I have several brit friends who, while happy to hoist a glass, are also nice people at closing time too.
I have been riding bikes for over 40 years and I totally concur with everything here. I would like to add that when Farang come here most are under the impression that if we have the right of way, others will yield. Their is no right of way here, and just because the light is red doesn't mean peoplpe will stop. I'm glad that I had almost a year of observing Thai driving before I bought a motorcycle and ventured onto the roads.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:08:15
FYI > for your info:
Drug offences account for fifth of all British arrests abroad
By > http://www.dailymail...sts-abroad.html
Drug offences now account for a fifth of all arrests of Britons abroad and a quarter in Thailand, Foreign Office figures show today.
The latest figures on incidents among Britons abroad show that drink and drugs were a major factor in the number of Britons being arrested abroad or needing hospital treatment from last year.
The statistics illustrate how some British tourists spiral into criminal activity and unacceptable behaviour when they are abroad, risking their security and the reputation of Britons in many holiday resorts.
Tourists arrested
Brush with the law: Drugs and drink account for many arrests and hospitalisations of Britons abroad
Although Britons make more than 68 million trips abroad annually many risk sizeable fines and even jail by failing to read up on customs and laws in their destination country.
As a result, some 1.8 million tourists have been victims of misunderstanding local laws, according to a survey by LateRooms.com.
Relating to the period April 2008 to March 2009, the Foreign Office figures showed that more Britons were arrested or taken to hospital in Spain than any other country.
Britain's favourite sunshine destination arrested 2,290 Britons and a total of 741 were taken to hospital.
But as a proportion of the number of visitors, Britons were most likely to be arrested in the United Arab Emirates and most likely to need hospital treatment in Thailand.
A worrying 28 rapes and 154 sexual assaults were reported in Greece, which also came second as the country where Britons were most likely to be hospitalised.
There were also 5,629 reported deaths of UK citizens abroad worldwide including natural causes, accident deaths and murders.
Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said: ' Helping those who do get into trouble is a vital part of our job, but so many of the problems we deal with can be avoided with a little bit of preparation.
'Researching the local laws and customs before you travel could avoid time in a foreign jail. Getting comprehensive travel insurance means that while an accident may disrupt your holiday, it won't bankrupt you in extortionate medical or repatriation bills.
'The message is clear - have a great time while you're away, but make the necessary preparations before you go.'
But holidaymakers need not be unduly worried. Of the 1.2 million consular inquiries worldwide last year, lost or stolen passports were by far the most frequent with 29,774 reported incidents. An inconvenience definitely, but not too serious in the grand scheme of things.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:08:55
I have rode big bikes here for nearly 50 years.There is no way I would ride a scooter in Thailand
Posted 2009-08-26 11:15:25
adamclark288, on 2009-08-26 08:53:53, said: I'm a Brit living in Thailand and I have to say I agree with the comments above. Too many Brits come here and use the country like a playground wherer anything goes.
I have been coming to Thailand for many years and have recently noticed some Thais becoming a little tired of farangs in their country. I don't blame them, I'm tired of some farangs being here and I'm a farang!!
Like you I am ashamed, sometimes, of the behaviour of "tourists" and from time to time "expats".
Of any nationality.
I have seen Dutchmen, Germans, Swedes, and various other nationalities gone off their rocker abroad.
The various nationalities incluse British people.
I how far the Spanish police are really inclined to pick on British people having a go in Spain, yes, very many times.
But.........very many times they were doing so, maybe not unfounded, but most certainly becasue they were British.
Why?
Who knows.
Your idea about some Thais getting tired of farang, yes, maybe true.
Again, the why might be coming from some other corner as our behaviour.
Why?
Who knows.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:16:03
While there are others bashing overly rowdy Brits here,
there is a surprisingly HIGH percentage of Brits in total agreement.
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:16:17
Scott, on 2009-08-26 11:58:55, said: By the way, for those who are looking for a diversion to the anti-British stuff, the Canadians had a bad year last year. Quite a few of them got knocked off, as I recall.
The least thing I'd expect from a MOD is to reference a statement like that...
BTW: I am not Canadian
Posted 2009-08-26 11:21:20
timesonline.co.uk is not exactly up to date. All the numbers they quote come from a report posted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office more than a year ago, on 11 August 2008 ( http://www.fco.gov.u...n...&id=5226726 ).
Secondly, the numbers they quote for deaths per visiting tourist are not that. They are for total deaths divided by the number of tourists, disregarding the number of resident Britons (41,000). Considering the number of British retirees in Thailand, maybe the number isn't that surprising?
Thirdly, if one decides to look at the total number of assistance cases per visiting tourist, e.g. India and Indonesia come out far worse than Thailand (with far fewer residents).
I don't know, and it can't be calculated from the figures, but I would venture to guess that a large proportion of the number of deaths in Thailand can be attributed to:
A/ Deaths from old age and or illness
B/ Traffic accidents. Thailand's traffic is dangerous, all the more so if you're drunk and on a motorcycle.
BTW I'm not British 
/ Priceless
Posted 2009-08-26 11:22:36
As a Brit, and one who lives here, I stay well away from vacationing Brits. One problem is the underlying repressiveness of much of British culture, at home. Like many Muslim males who come away from their homelands, many single male Brits (and that's who we're essentially referring to here) tend to go a little crazy when left alone in 'the candy store'. If I have to go into 'the city' I tend to emphasise my Irish half (No! Not the Guinness-swilling one  , the bit my father gave me). And of course it's not just in Thailand that Brits open their mouths too wide. I've travelled a lot in my 57 years. And I've seen it in almost every country I've visited. Loud mouthed, drunken, oppressive and often threatening behaviour from young male Brits. I've come, at least in my own mind, to regard myself as a citizen of the planet rather than simply British. The pain is a lot less that way.
DIG
Posted 2009-08-26 11:24:12
Wolfie, on 2009-08-26 08:56:02, said: adamclark288, on 2009-08-26 08:53:53, said: I'm a Brit living in Thailand and I have to say I agree with the comments above. Too many Brits come here and use the country like a playground wherer anything goes.
I have been coming to Thailand for many years and have recently noticed some Thais becoming a little tired of farangs in their country. I don't blame them, I'm tired of some farangs being here and I'm a farang!!
Its not excusivly British who use the country as a playground - i've seen plenty of American and Europeans doing the same
I agree and I am not British.
I would like to see these stats brocken down a little more ie: gender and aged group based and then we might get a clearer picture of what group of tourist it is. It would also be interesting to see figures on other nationalities also.
The majority of tourists and expats in Thailand are actually british. If there were some stats say against the ratio of nationalities coming those dying thier gender and age group you might find that say the % of deaths for a male australian aged between 18 - 35 is higher. But anyway the british might still win.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:25:42
coastman, on 2009-08-26 10:18:46, said: This article is a total mistinterpretation of the facts and of the report. Thailand is not the deadliest country for Britians to visit, Spain is. Thailand features in the top ten for the first time along with India and Australia. This is attributed to ' Britons are becoming more adventurous, they are not taking adequate precautions'
TOP TROUBLE HOTSPOTS
1. Spain - 13.8m visitors, 5,627 serious assistance cases
2. USA - 4.1m/3,006
3. Greece - 2.4m/2,316
4. France - 11m/1,408
5. Germany - 2.5m/1,381
6. Cyprus - 1.4m/996
7. India - 847,000/914
8. Thailand - 381,000/897
9. Czech Republic - 813,000/845
10. Australia - 650,000/815
Source: British Behaviour Report for 1 April 2005-31 March 2006
Top of the list of countries where Britons require consular assistance is Spain - also the most popular holiday destination.
A total of 13.8m British travellers visited Spain in 2005/06.
During that time the country had the highest number of deaths (1,325), the most lost or stolen passports (6,078) and the most arrests (1,549).
Overall, Britons in Spain ALSO had the biggest number of serious cases needing consular assistance (5,627).
Planning ahead
Other key findings were: Greece had the most cases of rape (48) and the highest number of Britons hospitalised (955)2
Australia had a disproportionate number of lost or stolen passports. Some 2,023 of the country's 650,000 visitors mislaid or lost their travel document - the third highest total despite not being in the top 10 most popular destinations
France - the second most popular country with 10.98m British visitors - only had 713 reported lost or stolen passports
India, Thailand and Australia appeared in the top 10 countries requiring consular assistance despite not being among the most popular destinations. This could be because while Britons are becoming more adventurous, they are not taking adequate precautions, the FCO said.
FCO minister Meg Munn said many problems faced by British holidaymakers could be avoided.
"Simple precautions like researching your destination, getting comprehensive travel insurance, checking out medical requirements and taking copies of important documents could help avoid common travelling traumas, risks and dangers in the long-run," she said.
Fair Trials Abroad senior policy officer Amanda Cumberland, said: "We fully support the Foreign Office campaign to ensure that Britons travelling abroad prepare appropriately for their trip, are familiar with relevant travel advice, and behave responsibly when they are on holiday.
"As an organisation that deals with many cases of British nationals facing real distress in foreign countries, we are just as keen as the Foreign Office to see fewer Britons getting into trouble and to see the numbers needing assistance fall."
The FCO advises travellers to visit its website www.fco.gov.uk/travel before heading abroad.
I disagree with you conclusion, please note the percentage portion of the figures you provided, Thailand is champion with 0.24 percent 
visitors serious assistance cases Percent
Spain 13,900,000.00 5,627.00 0.04
USA 4,100,000.00 3,006.00 0.07
Greece 2,400,000.00 2,316.00 0.10
France 11,000,000.00 1,408.00 0.01
Germany 2,500,000.00 1,381.00 0.06
Cyprus 1,400,000.00 996.00 0.07
India 847,000.00 914.00 0.11
Thailand 381,000.00 897.00 0.24
Czech Republic 813,000.00 845.00 0.10
Australia 650,000.00 815.00 0.13
Posted 2009-08-26 11:31:07
Yet again it's only the Brits that drink and get out of order.
I've seen plenty of Australians, Irish, Americans, Russians to name but a few countries also getting out of order.
As a brit myself i am aware that a lot of my fellow countrymen like to enjoy themselves a bit too much, but let's not turn a story of statistics into yet another brit bashing. Where ever you are from you all have people from your home country that you would be embarrased of.
Should i start onto the subject of Americans being rude because they won't learn the language and Thailand is'nt enough like America, Russians trying to bully everyone out of Pattaya, all Germans being paedophiles, Arabs all smell, Australians are all stupid, Kiwis are all tight, and the Japanese are all sex freaks, no, i won't start it because comments like these help nothing other that to cause even more problems. Feel free to have a go at individuals but remember sweeping statements show a lack of education.
Fair edit.
Edited by Thaiblue, 2009-08-26 11:39:05.
I removed the one word that turned a good post into a poor one.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:37:27
This thread is really gettin' up my nose. It's not just other nationalities writing and swallowing this crap, even the Brits are 'avin' a go. I repeat this was not a comparison of nationalities. But you want to make it such, so lets go...
On your travels through Thailand and stopping at various watering holes, who fits the following catregories
The most balshy bar-stool-lawyers? REALLY THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!
The obnoxious one in the corner, he can't speak english, he loves vodka, and doesn't make sense?
The pervert that grabs every slight and pretty girl that goes by as if she is an object?
The trouble maker who want's to start a fight with everyone that looks his way?
The most unfriendly and arogant person?
I have lived here for 7 yrs, I believe the british to be the most friendly and down-to-earth people I have ever met, and no British spring to mind when I considered the above 5 stereo-types, but I do have some idea of what nationality would fit best in each, but I'm not a racist so keep my untested opinions to myself.
Yes we have trouble makers, loud-mouths, pi$$heads, idiots, but in ratio most definately less than all other nationalities, remember more Brits come to Thailand second to the Chinese, in fact before the credit crunch do you know that all yanks and other European countries added together was almost equal to the number of brits.
British boys - don't be so quick to shit on your country, while it is going down hill rapidly (mainly cos of the open gate policy with the EU) the U.S have slums and gettos that make our council estates look like holiday camps. We had Hungerford in my life time, they get Hungerford once a week.
Remember where you came from, and don't allow these racists to rubbish our world renoun good/gentlemen nature.
Posted 2009-08-26 11:41:11
Loads of people come to Thailand to indulge in the seemy pleasures offered at Pattaya, bits of Bangkok, bits of Phuket etc etc. Spending loads of time in red light districts consuming alcohol, mixing with dodgy locals and dodgy expats exposes people to a higher level of risk than say a nice holiday taking the waters of southern France.
This study is about Brits. It would be interesting to see similar studies of other nationalaities. I wouldnt doubt that the percent for them would be similar to that of Brits in Thailand copmpared to the other countries listed.
As an aside, a couple of years back I was talking to an embassy representative iof a large EU country (not UK) over a few beers in a bar and he told me more bodybags went home from Thailand to his country than any other.
Anyway guess its back to the xenophobic stereotyping. Dont think I'll join in that as my couple of decades have shown me that Thailand is visited by both idiots and good people from every country
Posted 2009-08-26 11:47:41
adamclark288, on 2009-08-26 08:53:53, said: I'm a Brit living in Thailand and I have to say I agree with the comments above. Too many Brits come here and use the country like a playground wherer anything goes.
I have been coming to Thailand for many years and have recently noticed some Thais becoming a little tired of farangs in their country. I don't blame them, I'm tired of some farangs being here and I'm a farang!!
Posted 2009-08-26 12:02:28
makescents, on 2009-08-26 08:55:07, said: Kohn Ferang, on 2009-08-26 09:34:16, said: I am an American Guy, I have lived in Thailand 5 years, Brittan 6 months, Spain a month and France a month, the British behavior while on holiday is outrageous. I fully understand the Spanish Government arresting them repeatedly, if not in bulk and deporting them, Drunk and fighting every night in the pubs, France too. There were bars in France where I couldn't get a drink until I showed my passport to prove I was not British. Thailand is a little further, we can hope only the somewhat more responsible Britts get that far from home, that they might not still be somewhat special, I have no doubt. Behave yourselves! English speakers around the world suffer the consequences of what U do on Holiday!
I pretty sure you can't deport EU citizens from an EU country.
I am an American living in Thailand for 7 years (5 yrs. in Bkk) and have mostly Brit mates...as good friends here. I had a good lady friend from south Africa visiting me in Bangkok, her son came to visit her and I warned him about certain bars he should avoid and guess what happened? He ended up getting into a fight on Kaosan Road...hmmm, funny after 7 years I never got into a fight here. I think and see there are places you just avoid and for good reason. It's amazing how Thailand puts up with some of the drunks here...and that's when most of the trouble starts. My guess is 90% of the accidents with Farangs are alcohol related. I always tell my friends...you don't want to go to jail here, then the nightmare really starts. I guess as we get older we get smarter. Well, at least for some of us.
Posted 2009-08-26 12:03:20
hammered, on 2009-08-26 11:41:11, said: Loads of people come to Thailand to indulge in the seemy pleasures offered at Pattaya, bits of Bangkok, bits of Phuket etc etc. Spending loads of time in red light districts consuming alcohol, mixing with dodgy locals and dodgy expats exposes people to a higher level of risk than say a nice holiday taking the waters of southern France.
This study is about Brits. It would be interesting to see similar studies of other nationalaities. I wouldnt doubt that the percent for them would be similar to that of Brits in Thailand copmpared to the other countries listed.
As an aside, a couple of years back I was talking to an embassy representative iof a large EU country (not UK) over a few beers in a bar and he told me more bodybags went home from Thailand to his country than any other.
Anyway guess its back to the xenophobic stereotyping. Dont think I'll join in that as my couple of decades have shown me that Thailand is visited by both idiots and good people from every country
Good comment
hayden76
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Posted 2009-08-26 12:03:36
crazyeddie, on 2009-08-26 02:57:27, said: Great publicity for attracting more tourists! I imagine these overly rowdy Brit tourists are the ones they call "Lager louts", A? Too bad, they make it look bad for the majority of really OK British folks here. Probably a bit similar to the way some Yanks perform, and give the rest of us a bad name. The world is full of idiots (just look at the Thai drivers?), and not much we can do about it. Amen.
Posted 2009-08-26 12:21:41
Too bad the stats don't reveal the ages. I would bet most are below 30. The younger group seems to drink like there is no tomorrow and for a lot of them there is no tomorrow.
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