Phone/Data Service in Thailand
 

I'm heading to Thailand for February and was wondering about phone and data service. I should probably just leave my phone/PC at home... but we know I won't. So, should I jailbreak my iPhone/iPad and grab a sim? And... ummm... is there service out on the islands? I'll be in:

Chang Mai
Koh Phangan
Koh Tao
Koh Samui
Koh Lanta
Krabi

They finally have 3G in parts of Thailand, so just grab a new SIM when you get in and have at it. Call the provider and get set up on a plan. Will cost anywhere from 300b - 800b a month for unlimited use.

Don't think it's working in the islands yet but they have EDGE there, which is unbearable usually unless you're just checking mail or something.

Thanks DWB. I'm going to mostly be out on the islands but a little bit of data is better than none. And 800b sounds like a good deal. I'm in!

One of the companies, DTAC, is running a promotion right now that will give you unlimited 3g or EDGE (whichever you can pick up) for 399 baht. There may be something equal or better going on with another network but I don't know about it.

You basically have DTAC, 1 2 Call, and True for the main carriers. I've had a lot of problems with True so usually stick to one of the others.

You can jailbreak your phone here cheaply (but I recommend doing it in your homeland). Hit the Skytrain the next morning and head to MBK shopping center. Go to the phone floor and knock yourself out. Just stay there while they do it so they don't gut your phone and replace the original parts with junk crap from China. You have to watch them with everything like that, from computers to cars, if they can steal a good part and replace it with crap, they will. Even the most reputable places will screw you if you take your eye off the ball for more than 2 seconds.

Also, run virus scans (and root kits) on everything you let them touch. They are notorious for putting keyloggers into people's systems.

Last, spend the extra few bucks and fly any long distance travel. Thailand has bus crashes (always fatal) all the time and it never makes the news. Never, ever, take a bus (big one or small van) unless there is no other choice. To do so you are literally putting your life on the line. Many of the drivers will get jacked up on meth and drive for days on end. Others will drive drunk or try to race another bus. Thailand is the #2 country in the world for westerners to die on the road.

Also, since you are heading to the islands you will want to keep an eye on your hot water heater in the shower. Thais don't like to ground / earth their electric and lots of people get fried death every year in the shower, including many tourists. If it looks faulty, don't use it.

Some reading for you:

http://www.myeggnoodles.com/a-guide-...n-bangkok.html

http://www.livingthai.org/thailand-n...ts-to-die.html

http://www.squidoo.com/bangkokskytrain

http://www.bangkokscams.com/

Have fun.

Doug, 1 2 Call (AIS) is generally the best carrier wherever you go.



Have a great trip :)

DWB... that was a little awesome :) Of all the things I've heard about Thailand, none of them has been as grim as the picture you just painted. I'll jailbreak my spare phone here and take it.... just in case. The busses... we're flying to just about everywhere so this shouldn't be a problem. Is it bad, though, that after reading your warnings that I kinda want to take one for fun?? :)

And thanks, Ghost! I'll make sure to hook that one up!

I miss Thailand :(

I just went to Lanta in November. If you want some tips about places to go, drop me an email damian AT adultmarketing dot co dot uk

Well, you're invited! :)

Yeah, I caught those pics of yours! Looked like a sick trip. You hear much about theft?? A little worried about my electronics...

Don't get me wrong, Thailand is awesome, I live here and love it. But I just like to tell people about some of the realities of the place before they come so they have a better chance not getting scammed or harmed, as many people do. I feel if I know about such things and don't share them with people I know who are coming, I wouldn't be doing my duty as a good human. :upsidedow It's not always sunshine and roses in the land of smiles, so a little beforehand knowledge is a good thing.

As far as your electronics, I wouldn't bring anything you're not willing to lose, unless you are staying in 4 or 5 star locations. If you're staying in bungalows on the islands, security is very lax, if at all, and theft is common. Even many of the maids have sticky fingers so don't leave any small cash laying around. The police won't help you if something gets stolen, other than take a report, so you're pretty much on your own. A good rule of thumb is, don't tempt them. Don't let them see what you have and don't travel with too many expensive items if you're not staying in top of the line hotels. All of that said, I personally have never had anything stolen from a bungalow but know several people who have been cleaned out. But I did catch my long time maid trying to steal cash while I was sleeping. :upsidedow

As far as bus travel goes, I used to do it until I was here a while and saw what was happening. Now I won't touch them.

Two recent deadly accidents that I can think off off the top of my head...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...land-bus-crash

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/4541.html

You'll have a BLAST on the islands. They are BEAUTIFUL. And Feb is a great time to go, the weather will be perfect.

I spent 3 months there, and nothing wrong happened to me..
I wasn't robbed, my thing weren't stolen, I hadn't have accident (all the time on motorbike+few trips on buses), nobody wanted to rip me off....

it's not that bad.. maybe I was just lucky, or maybe you just need common sense, the same as with travelling in your home country...;-)

to the topic: I recommend DTAC

So in a non 4-5 star, where does one store the laptop/camera(s)?

Under the mattress? Wall safe (I know all the staff knows the combo)?

Most people don't have problems, and Doug won't either, but travelers should also be aware of the dangers that can happen to them and do happen to others. But you did get ripped off, you just don't know it. However, it was something petty like being overcharged anywhere from 2x - 10x+ the normal cost of something. But like you said, common sense goes a long way, and you'd be surprised how many people come through these countries and leave their common sense at the airport.

The Thais (as are Indians) experts in finding ways to rip off tourists. From tour trips with broken down buses that don't make it to your paid for hotel and instead you have to stay in theirs, to over charging you, to taking you the long way, to having guys root through luggage under the bus while you're in route, to police saying you tosses a cig butt on the ground and you get charged for littering, to breaking motorbikes and jet skis that you didn't really break but have to pay huge sums of money for, to the laundry "losing" you best clothes so they can sell them at the 2nd hand market. It happens. The tourists often never know the wiser.

DTAC has been having problems the past month as they expand their service and add 3g to select areas. Due to this, I agree with Marty on 1 2 Call. They also have better 3g coverage.

About motor bikes... roll the dice. Ride one long enough and you'll have an accident. Literally everyone I know who stays long term here has either had a serious accident themselves, or is close to someone who has. The stats are there to back this up, they are very FUN and are the way to go, especially around the islands, but they are dangerous. At least be smart and wear a helmet when you do. Had I not had on mine when I had my accident, no telling what would have happened to me as my helmet was FUCKED UP. I just broke my feet, messed up my knee and got a ton of bad road rash, but my helmet had deep grooves where I landed on my head and slid for a while on it. I was hit by a speeding car on one of the main roads. Been close to three months and I'm still limping a bit.


Usually you don't have to worry about hiding such things in a higher end hotel. Though I'd still put small items in the safe so yo don't tempt the maid, but many brands will open by pressing the default code of 000000. Never heard of anyone having problems in a high end hotel. Ones with electronic locks are the best.

Thanks bud... I put a point in the DTAC column. :)

I think he was asking about NON-5 stars.

I plan on bringing an iPad, phone and camera. Bought my backpack last night and it has a buddy bag that's smaller attached to it and it should fit those three items. I just don't know how practical that is to lug around when you're partying on a beach in the early morning hours. Maybe I'll just bury it in the sand. :)

DTAC have the best deals at the moment, their standard non 3g service is bearable, I use it all the time on road trips, you'll have an amazing time, just keep your eyes open, the places you list are in the lower end of scams and cons imo, actually just got back from a week in chiang mai for the first time, pretty cool place!

Thanks! That's a little less worry. We've got a good group going... 7-15 of us at any given point in the trip, so there should be plenty of eyes looking out for us, even if most of them aren't always sober. :)

u going to fuck a ladyboy Doug?

I wasn't planning on it. But if you think it's a good idea... :)

Whore!!!!

Awww, pumpkin! You certainly know how to sweet-talk a guy. Shucks!

Happy New Year, BTW. Sorry I missed our annual "worst of" post. But I'll catch you in 2013 ;)

ya i agree. sims are cheap and you dont need a 1-year contract like in the states. if you go with dtac you can add 2g or 3g service simply by entering a code in your phone.

the internet service on almost all of these phone networks is shit however. most of them have way oversold subscriptions. the only one that comes close to decent is CAT. they have super fast 3g but you need a usb/sim thumbdrive ($60) and it will cost you about $30 for the month for service. works anywhere in Thailand. drop the thumbdrive in a mailbox to me when you leave and i will paypal you $60. we never have enough of those around here ;)

wireless is all over the place too and in most hotels.
the areas that dont have wireless have a cafe on every street.

you probably dont need to worry about jailbreaking your iphone. you can buy a new one (EDIT: phone not iphone lol) for your trip in-country for $30-50. i went through 5 phones last year. cellphones and motorcycles are pretty much the only part of the modern world that Thailand has adopted country-wide lol

last, security - yes you will probably be robbed in the tourist areas. protect yo shit.
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When I am in Bangkok and away from home I get by mostly using free WiFi which is almost everywhere, you can also use the Skype WiFi app to get WiFi on an iPad for a small fee at participating places. In Krabi or on Koh Samui I have always used free WiFi provided by guest houses at Krabi or hotels/resorts on Koh Samui. Never needed to resort to 3G.

Hey Doug,
Here are just two van accidents from this week (with fatalities). I'd stay out of these things. :2 cents:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...h-near-phuket/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...-14-sukhothai/

And here are this weeks two van crashes (different from the post above). One with 8 deaths, another with 8 injured.

DON'T RIDE IN THESE THINGS!!!! :2 cents:

http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-ne...close-pattaya/

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%...11-327272.html

ooops... i'll be taking the bus from BKK to Pattaya... lol

probably should wear a helmet in the bus

My advice is do not rent a jet ski ;)

I've been living on and off in Bangkok for the last 5-6 years and nothing happened to me but i also do not stay in cheap hotels or use buses. In Bangkok for 25USD/month you can get a 3G unlimited prepaid sim card. Not sure how the service is on the islands.

Also instead of jailbreaking your iphone maybe just try a Gevey Ultra (google it) if you only need it for use another carriers sim card.

yea like DWB says, the roads here are dangerous.
i have to watch out all the time just going to buy groceries.

anybody interested in travel to Thailand should be reading/searching ThaiVisa.
its the best source online for info, news, and help about being in Thailand.
and if you think the guys on gfy are assholes, wait until you see TV. old, drunk expats lol

there's no nudity and its not an adult board, so that should solve any "ban him!" complaints.
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