Thailand Archives - Pale Ale Travel

Is There Uber in Thailand? Your Ride-Hailing Questions Answered & Practical Tips

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024Asia, Thailand, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Known for its pristine turquoise beaches, unparalleled and vibrant nightlife, world-class gastronomy, and bustling cities, it’s no surprise that Thailand isn’t just one of the most visited countries in Asia but the world – seeing an estimated 29 million international tourist arrivals in 2023 alone.

With millions of tourists arriving each year, many visitors use ride-hailing apps and services to navigate and traverse the “Land of a Thousand Smiles,” myself included. Globally, Uber has become synonymous with ride-hailing and sharing, and is typically the first app that pops into your mind when it comes to comfortably and conveniently “getting around.”

However, tourists traveling to Thailand, expecting to hail an Uber with the ease they do back home, may be surprised to learn that Uber is not available in Thailand.

While Uber did attempt to permeate the Thai market in 2014, garnering considerable momentum and popularity, its presence was ultimately short-lived due to cultural factors, regulatory barriers, and intense competition – primarily the more localized (and already established) Southeast Asian ride-hailing provider Grab.

Today, Grab is emphatically…I repeat…emphatically, the number one ride-hailing service and app both tourists and locals alike use to efficiently and affordably get around Thailand (and get food delivered).

Below, I’ll walk you through in greater detail everything you need to know about navigating Thailand, your transportation options available, some pitfalls to avoid while doing so, and a bit about my experiences using Grab in Thailand.

What You Need to Know About the Legal Drinking Age in Thailand

December 3, 2023July 17, 2024Asia, Thailand, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Thailand isn’t just renowned as a cultural, spiritual, and gastronomical epicenter of Asia, it’s also one of the premier go-to drinking and nightlife destinations for every type of libation enthusiast out there. Trust me, I’ve tested this out far more than the human body should theoretically be able to handle.

From raucous backpacker streets with free-flowing beer towers (and funky balloons) to sophisticated rooftop bars and cocktail lounges of world-class five-star hotels, to the bustling, salacious walking streets found across every corner of the country, smokey convivial BBQ beer gardens, and creative high-ABV craft beer bars and breweries, “of age” drinkers can pick whatever type of poison tickles their fancy in the ‘Land of Smiles’.

But what exactly is the legal drinking age in Thailand?

While you might think that the drinking age is similar to neighboring Asian countries, you might just be surprised to find that Thailand’s drinking age differs significantly. Read on to find out more about important alcohol laws in Thailand so that you don’t end up on the next season of ‘Locked Up Abroad’.

Review: Solitaire Hotel on Sukhumvit 11, Bangkok – a Luxurious Urban Retreat to Unwind in Style

June 3, 2023June 19, 2024Asia, Thailand, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

During my self-imposed Hong Kong moratorium I decided to spend one month-plus in Bangkok, Thailand. And, the stay would not have been complete if I didn’t stay at one of my favorite hotels in all of Asia – the Solitaire Bangkok Hotel on Sukhumvit 11. This 4-star hotel, located a stone’s throw away from the nightlife and action of one of Bangkok’s most notorious nightlife districts, is always my go-to stay in Bangkok.

I spent the entire month posted up in this gem of a hotel, working, battling strep throat, and recovering after extensive ‘eating days’ in one of the best cities for food in the world. Here’s an honest review of what I loved and liked (there isn’t much I really took issue with).