First trip to Thailand in less than a week, and I am thoroughly unprepared! Here is a mish-mash of questions that I have been trying to figure out.

1.What is the theft situation like? My impression is that bag slashing, hold ups, and hotel theft are not too much of an issue. It seems that you get ripped off with monetary exchanges, but not so much blatant theft. What is everyone's impression of this?

2.Do you tip in Thailand, and at what rate for what services?

3.Can you bargain and haggle everywhere, or is that more with street vendors?

4.In Costa Rica, it seemed that rain gear was not too important, it would only rain for a few hours at a fairly predictable time. Does the rain come in short bursts like that, or should I bring a rain coat?

5.Lastly, are the streets cobblestone? Concrete and asphalt? My mother is trying to decide whether to bring a suitcase with wheels, but if everywhere is super bumpy, perhaps another type of pack would be better.

Thanks all!

Looks like you may get your money's worth with this question. These are my opinions, other tourists and expats may have their own opinions.

1. Like any big city in the world - don't take anything for granted. I don't think Thailand will be worse than where you come from. My opinion is that you are more likely to have something stolen by someone you invite into your hotel room or someone new you allow into your life. You do have to take precautions against pickpockets and snatch and grab like you would back home. Use the safety box at your hotel. Don't bring "one of a kind" heirlooms with you, leave valuables back home. I lock my bags when I leave a hotel room, no matter what country I am in. Don't get stupidly drunk and take chances with money and new with companionship.

2. I don't tip much at all. Many Thais don't tip at all. When you stay in cheap hotels definitely don't tip too much. Twenty baht goes a long way in many situations! In a cheap bar or a restaurant where you intend to return to maybe a 10 baht or 20 baht tip will be okay unless you really drop a bundle of cash. If you leave too much for your maid in a hotel they will take it but when your back is turned they will laugh at you for being crazy with money.

3. You do haggle with most street vendors but if you look wealthy (wearing Rolex, mentioning that your hotel is an expensive place, wearing expensive clothes) your starting price will be higher than someone with cut-offs and T-shirt. Ask the price for certain items from various vendors to see what the starting price is, then offer maybe 25% and work up. Start low work up, smile a lot, walkaway even. Calling you back the price will be lower. No bargaining in supermarkets, McDonalds, Seven Eleven style stores and restaurants. No problem asking for a discount at hotels or ask for better room with same price. (You may not get it but longer stays at same hotel could mean lower price.) Don't haggle with Bangkok taxi - use meter and the ride will be cheaper. Have small bills and coins for paying taxi drivers and cheap purchases in stores.

4. If you are going to Thailand in a week you won't have a great problem with rain right now. If a freak storm comes up step in a bar or go to your hotel. Umbrellas are cheap in Thailand.

5. Some streets are nice and smooth for a while, some not so smooth! Often you may walk in the streets with a wheelie suitcase but this is okay because street vendor's pushcarts are common in streets. I will admit that I now use a wheelie and for the most part it is okay! But be prepared for holes in sidewalks, big puddles of unknown fluid **** and lots of vendors in your way, even electric cables!

Meter taxis in Bangkok are cheaper than tuk-tuks. When you bargain for a ride you pay more. In Bangkok use the meter in taxis, don't even get in unless the driver agrees to using the meter. Meter starts at 35 baht, same price for one pax or for 4 pax. Have small bills and coins for paying taxi drivers! A hotel near the Skytrain route is very helpful.
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Have fun.

Thanks for the info! Very helpful. I live in California, not much theft here, but I think I get the idea. Be careful but not paranoid.

How do you lock your bags? I am carrying a convertible duffel bag/backpack. Even if I ran a cable thru some of the sewn on loops, it would be a quick cut to take it away. Any suggestions?

If someone wants to get into your backpack, they will. The simple answer is: don't leave anything of value in your bag that's worth taking. When I leave my hotel room, I leave behind a few clothes - ragged and replaceable - an old pair of shoes, a washkit, some first aid stuff and a tupperware container of random odds and ends. If someone stole it would be a pain in the arse but it's all replaceable for not much money at all.

I do bring gadgets like a laptop, digital camera etc but they are almost always in my possession. On the rare occasions I need to be possession-free, like going down to the pool, I will use a hotel safe or other secure means of storing the items.

cheers
Steve
-Posted from a bus tearing its way to Hua Hin

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My latest travels: Shikoku Pilgrimage

Sometimes you can sew on D rings that you can run a lock through. The lock doesn't stop people from getting in but it makes it easier to detect that someone has been in your stuff. For safety boxes I have a lockable pouch for money and other papers I want to safe keep. Same thing, this lockable bag doesn't stop someone from stealing from the safety box but it immediately shows tampering.

If something shows up missing in your hotel room my first thought is not the hotel staff but guests you bring in! Out of sight - out of mind! Leave it home if it is very valuable! I never leave a laptop out in plain sight. Even if a maid comes in the room I cover it over. What they don't know - they don't know! When I leave the room the laptop goes in the bag out of sight!

Have fun.

One comment on monetary exchanges. In Thailand, exchanging money is a way of life. I have never heard of anyone getting "ripped off". There are cases of card skimming. But, these can be avoided with a minimum of diligence.

If you leave your bags, unattended, for any period of time, there is really no way to absolutely secure them. If someone wants it, or wants into it, it's done.

I travel with a convertible carryon. I can take it everywhere. I have a couple of annoying little bells attached to it. They alert me of any movement during the times I do sit it down.

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I am off in about 5 hours!