101 tips and advice for visitors to Hua Hin

[uncle tom]

It is normal and polite to leave tips in bars and restaurants.

However the level of tipping is typically low - a 20 baht tip on a 500 baht restaurant bill is perfectly adequate.

[uncle tom]

When you want to pay the bill in a bar or restaurant, use the phrase: 'Check Bin'

The term is actually a slang phrase and there are a couple of alternate phrases that are purer Thai. However 'Check Bin' is easy for visitors to say and remember, and is universally understood.

[buksida]

Do your shopping in Bangkok. Hua Hin is a tourist town hence most commodities are priced with that in mind.

[uncle tom]

Traditional Thai massage can be a bruising experience.

Oil and foot massages are much gentler.

If you're having a massage and are getting beaten up too much, use the word 'Soft' - the word 'Gentle' is rarely understood.

However, if the opposite is the case, and you want a bit more effort expended, use the word 'Strong' - as 'Hard' tends to be absent from their lexicon.

[richard]

The measure of a good Thai restaurant can usually be gauged by the number of Thais that frequent the place as opposed to farangs

[uncle tom]

If a Thai girl calls you 'darling' she may not be entirely sincere.

In Thai, 'darling' means 'monkey arse'

[uncle tom]

Most Thai workers work long shifts - 12 hours is not unusual.

However they compensate by doing everything at a leisurely pace.

If you're in a busy restaurant and the staff are not exactly rushing around, don't get annoyed - it's just the Thai way..

[richard]

If a Thai girl calls you 'darling' she may not be entirely sincere.

In Thai, 'darling' means 'monkey arse'

To elaborate a bit on the 'darliing' thing, it usually is a ploy to invite you to open your wallet. What they actually mean when they say 'hello darling, handsome man. me love you long time' really means 'hello you sucker of a walking ATM, buy me a drink and you can rent me for X hours for Y thousand baht'

[GLCQuantum]

If a Thai girl calls you 'darling' she may not be entirely sincere.

In Thai, 'darling' means 'monkey arse'

I don't think 'darling' means monkey arse in Thai...

Maybe 'dak-ling', but I'm not sure as it's, surprisingly, not a word I use too often. 'Dah-ling said on it's own would be closer to 'monkey eyes', surely?



Back to Hua Hin...

Though you will see other plonkers doing it, it is NOT acceptable to walk around town in your swimsuit or with no t-shirt on. Some shops will, quite rightly, turn you away if you are not properly clothed.

[richard]

Ideally if you are with a Thai get them to negotiate a purchase of goods with yourself well in the background. Dual pricing is rife in Thailand. It's the ATM tattoo on your forehead that gives you away

[uncle tom]

Thais routinely refer to Caucasians as 'Farangs'

It means 'long nose' and is not meant as an insult.

[uncle tom]

When drinking in a Thai bar, do not ring the bell to get the attention of the staff.

- Unless you have a deep wallet and generous nature.

If you ring the bell, you are buying everyone in the bar a drink...

[uncle tom]

Consider going to the dentist while you're here..

When making a list of things to do on holiday, going to the dentist is rarely at the forefront of people's minds.

However if you need dental work doing - or just need a clean and polish up, the savings in cost are enormous.

Health tourism is a serious business in Thailand, and the dental practices in Hua Hin are clean and well equipped.

[dundrillin]

Yes I would agree with that,my son had a difficult lower wisdom tooth extracted here,the dentist was excellent . Surgery was immaculate and the cost was very reasonable. And finally I should know as I used to be a dentist myself.

[Gérard]

Thais routinely refer to Caucasians as 'Farangs'

It means 'long nose' and is not meant as an insult.

In what language does "farang" mean "long nose" ???

From what I know, the origin of the word "farang" is not clear, but it is generally admitted that if comes from "farangset" = French.

Thai people will say " จมูกโด่ง " (chà-mùk dòng) for "long nose" or "caucasian nose".