Shanek is a long-time, valued member of this forum and a voluntary moderator. You have no right to speak to him like that. If you have an issue with any aspect of the forum, please raise it with me privately via PM.

True - the Travel Photos section is the place to put your snaps. This is exactly what Shanek did. He has then linked to them here to counter your assertion that "Thailand is no longer cheap", by showing a number of delectable bargains. I think it's quite an effective counter-argument - especially looking at that prawn curry!

That's a familiar view... VN Guesthouse in Kanchanaburi, right?

Great photos shanek! Thanks for putting them in this post. It’s a great graphic example of how much farther your $$‘s can stretch compared to “back home” for many people.
Sure, it’s not the “Third World” pricing it once was, but still a great deal for many.
My first trip to Thailand was in 1982. I “splurged” and spent 50 baht a night on one of the nicer beach front bungalows on Chaweng beach, Koh Samui. Don’t think there’s any 50 Baht bungalows left , but even back then I ran into people that spoke of what a bargain Thailand “used to be”.
Like my signature says...

__________________
"It’s all relative"

Thanks for your support Steve, I was going to let it slide as the quality of the comment and probably the commentator does not deserve to be dignified with a reply.

Yes, that pic was taken at VN....What a great budget guesthouse!!! ful, yet close to everything.

Thanks FBI. I really dont know what people expect. It is not Thailands fault that the GBP has gone down the gurgler. I find that it is still an excellent place to offload some Aussie dollars. When changing money we always say that we are "buying fun tickets". I can remember things being cheaper but I can also remember in the late eighties and early nineties only getting 17-22 baht to the $ and now we're getting 30 . As you say, it is all relative. I alway prefer a half full glass to a half empty one and others like something to complain about.

We had a similar discussion about inflated prices of accomadation 12 months ago, but as I proved to myself on our last trip, if you shop around for the right deal and can be a little flexible in timing and location, there are still some amazing bargains out there. Seriously, what we paid for the Whitehouse in Samui for a week would have got us a night at a place of similar quality and locale in OZ.

__________________
I love Thailand this much

I think the photo's were showing what you got for your baht (and IMHO the views are all part of the package) and were in reply to your comment about how expensive things now were in Thailand.

I really don't think there is a need to be rude. Everyone is entitled to their views and how they put them across. As has been said it depends where you are coming from as to how you perceive costs to have increased.

The very good point was made that if you stay in the tourist areas you pay more but go off the beaten track a little and you get far better prices. That applies to any country, not just Thailand.

__________________
Alison

------------
It's Better to Burn Out than just to Fade Away!

Blimey - in the time it took me to do my response everyone else snuck in!!

__________________
Alison

------------
It's Better to Burn Out than just to Fade Away!

In the words of The Streets... Turn the Page!

Thats the good thing with the forum at the momment Alison, plenty of comment, you have to be quick. It's great to able to share your views and feel that more than a handful of people are listening.

__________________
I love Thailand this much

I live in Surin i would say its still cheap here , just the toirist places are getting a bit pricy !

Things are also getting more expensive here in Britain as well,If it's cheap you want, try India.Thailand does have a lot to offer the tourist,and whilst I agree some things have gone dearer in Thailand,I still feel it's worth the money.You don't have to drink etc.....Hotels and general travel around the place is still affordable.As Bob says though it does depend on where you earn your money.A few years ago it cost £15-00 to buy 1000-00 Baht.The cost now is about £18-00 per thousand,but not long ago it was nearer £20-00 a thousand.The £ is weak against the Euro which makes Spain etc expensive.All in all Thailand is still value for money,thats in my opinion ,of course.

This is bad news for me, to hear that Thailand has gotten expensive now. I'm planning to go to Thailand to get some shopping done and is it really true? That the merchandise are now at tourists prices?