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10 Tips for Training in Thailand

1) Just do it

You may be reading this guide because you're contemplating a trip out to Thailand to train, but you haven't fully committed and you're on the fence about it. Fear of the unknown maybe? If that's the case, just finalize your decision and book that flight.

It may seem far, but really, even if you're coming from the other side of the world, it's 1 day of travel. 1 day, that's it. What do you really accomplish in 1 day anyway? haha .. It's worth the sacrifice to expand your horizons, experience a new culture and pick up some epic stories to tell your grandchildren one day.

Nobody lies on their death bed withing they had travelled LESS. The world is big and our time here is short.. see as much of it as you can while you have the opportunity.

2) What to Pack

Don't over-pack; that's the best advice I can give you. A lot of first time visitors (especially those coming from Western countries who haven't travelled much), make the mistake of thinking they're coming to some 3rd world country with inferior infrastructure and they won't be able to find what they need here.

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That couldn't be further from the truth. Thailand is the bomb! Bangkok has to be one of the best cities to shop in the world. There's dozens of mega malls and there's massive markets and other shopping districts where you can find pretty much anything you need.

Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket - you won't have any problems in those cities either. The only instance where you would need to carefully think things through while you're packing would be if you were training in some isolated location (think Kiatmoo9 in Buriram).

That being said, there are some very specific items that I find cheaper and more easily accessible in my home country..

– Rashguards, Mouthguards, Protective cups and Compression shorts (maybe not cheaper at home, but they can be inconvenient to find in Thailand)

– Electronics (Strange considering that electronics are made in Asia, but I can buy cameras etc. for less in America)

You may need an adapter (depending on where you're coming from) but you'll be able to buy those fairly cheap from a vendor in pretty much any tourist area here.

Up until recently, I would have said to bring protein powder from home (if you supplement with it), but Dymatize has broken into the Thailand market and the prices are quite affordable.

I personally don't even bother with protein powders though. If you're on a high protein diet, it's easy enough to get high protein foods here and the price for a meal of lean chicken, rice and soup is usually about 30-40 baht (approximately 1 dollar).

I would however suggest bringing a green food supplement and perhaps some amino acids to mix with an electrolyte beverage if you're planning on training in the morning before you eat your first official meal.

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Siam Paragon: Just 1 of the many mega malls in Bangkok

3) Scams to Avoid

In general, Thai people are very friendly and welcoming. That being said, it's a country of around 64 million people, so obviously there's going to be some douchebags that are going to try to rip you off.

When you're in Bangkok, be cautious of the tuk tuk drivers (especially if you get picked up in a tourist area). They have all sorts of scams and you'll most likely find yourself being dropped off at a series of jewelry shops so the driver can collect gas vouchers and other incentives. Take the coloured metered taxis in Bangkok and insist that they go by the meter.

Also when in Bangkok, stay away from the "ping pong" shows. There's a good chance that you'll find yourself being extorted and having to pay an insanely high bill for drinks (this is a common occurrence in Patpong in the bars on the second level).

In Phuket, a lot of the tuk tuk drivers are all quite shady and they pretty much have a monopoly over the transportation down there (motorbike taxi's being an exception). They have set rates depending on distance, but compared to the rest of the country, the rates are VERY expensive. Not much you can do about it though if you don't want to rent a motorbike or take a motorbike taxi.

Again regarding transportation, when you get off a bus or when you exit the airport, oftentimes you'll be approached by taxi drivers. 95% of the time, you're best to just walk right by them because you will likely be able to find a better deal elsewhere (a good tip when arriving at the international airport is discussed below)

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Wow.. A free taxi ride? Sure buddy..

Another scam that seems to be popular enough to mention is drastically overcharging tourists if they end up damaging a jet ski. The price you may be quoted to repair even a small scratch may be 800% higher than the actual cost of the repairs. Just be aware of the risk if you want to rent them and be sure to inspect them carefully before you start using them.

4) Where to Stay

I'll be completely honest here.. most camps overcharge for their on-site accommodation. If you're staying for a week or two, it's not a big deal but if you're staying long term, one of the biggest newbie mistakes you can make is to stay at the gym long term when you can probably find yourself a nicer room just a short walk away for much less (local rates vs tourist rates).

While on the topic, I wouldn't recommend that you prepay for your training too far in advance because Muay Thai is a contact sport (obviously) so the last thing you want is to prepay for 3 months in advance, only to injure yourself during the first week and later realize that the gym you're training at has a "no refund" policy (most gyms have this in effect).

If you're staying for 3+ months, you should be able to find a nice, inexpensive apartment pretty easily because a lot of apartments will require that you sign a minimum 3 months contract and provide a deposit.

That being said, it's still possible to find nice apartments on a short term basis (1 month).. you just need to look around a bit.

If you're planning on training in Bangkok, a good site to find "Thai priced" apartments is 9apartment.com

5) Culture

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized so as you'd expect, the culture is very deep rooted. Thai's are very proud, and oftentimes, very religious people. The main religion here is Buddhism, and with that comes certain beliefs that should be respected while you're visiting this country.

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For example, the feet, being the lowest part of the body, are considered to be dirty and it's disrespectful to point your feet at someone. Keep that in mind when you're sitting next to someone and you cross your leg over your thigh in a way where the bottom of your feet would be pointing towards the person sitting next to you.

Of course, Muay Thai is an exception but even in Muay Thai fights, it's considered disrespectful to teap your opponent in the face. A fight is a fight though so it happens. When it does, the crowd definitely reacts to it and expects a reaction from the recipient of the kick.

While the feet are considered to be dirty (lowest part of the body), the head, being the highest part of the body, is considered to be the most sacred. So, don't touch a Thai person on the top of their head. Simple enough..

The concept of "losing face" is a big deal here so definitely avoid disrespecting a Thai person in front of their peers (or in general). They have the tendency to take it very seriously and you could end up with a big problem.

Also, on the topic of disrespecting Thai's, do NOT disrespect their King. That's one of the worst things you can do in Thailand. If you go to the movie theatre here to relax during your downtime, make sure to stand up (along with everyone else) when they play the tribute video of the King after the previews.

6) Relationships

I'll state the obvious here; don't fall in love with a hooker. Seems like that would be common sense but you'd be surprised how many people it happens too.

Thai girls in general are great, but if you're looking for "love" in the red light districts, you're just asking to get played and things will almost always end up badly. Pattaya (sex capital of the world) has a high suicide rate for a reason.

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In case you couldn't tell, they're not exactly wifey material

That being said, the vast majority of Thai girls are great, respectable girls so don't come over here with the stereotypical notion that they're all easy because you'll just end up embarrassing yourself.

If you wanted to get a head start on meeting girls before you actually head over here, I'd suggest you hit up THIS SITE.

There are a lot of legit girls on there that are looking to meet foreigners (and of course some shady girls as well) but I'm sure you'll have fun filtering through them.

7) Health Tips

To greatly increase your chances of staying injury free during your trip, the best advice I can give you is NOT to rent a motorbike. I haven't officially checked the statistics, but motorbike accidents seem quite common here.

I remember reading that 1 person dies every 2 days in Phuket (just 1 island) from a motorbike crash. Whether that's true or not, I'm not sure but based on the scars I've seen and stories I've heard of loved ones dying on the road due to reckless or drunk drivers, such a high statistic doesn't surprise me at all.

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The licence application isn't very stringent here

If it's your first time here, expect to get a little sick from eating the food. It happens to most people. Nothing overly serious, but maybe a couple days of diarrhea. The food in general is amazing though, it's just a matter of getting used to it. Not that big of a deal.

In terms of illnesses, you can check with a travel doctor to see if he recommends you take any preventative measures. As far as getting travel insurance goes, that's something you'd need to decide on your own. Basically, get a quote and see if the cost is worth it to you. The healthcare here is quite affordable though in the event that something minor did happen.

8) Travel Tips

The best tip I can give you (if you're in Thailand for an extended period of time), is to move around and try to see as much of the country as you can. There are so many different places, each offering something unique. Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket would be the most popular destinations, but don't overlook the lesser known places such as Koh Samet, Ayuttaya, Khao Yai (which is amazing), Krabi and associated islands and Koh Larn, which is a short 30 baht ferry ride from Pattaya.

If you're there strictly for training though, it's true that it may be best to stick with a gym who's fighters have become used to having you around and have opened up to showing you the little tips and tricks that the short term students don't get.

For getting from place to place, my first choice is Air Asia (www.airasia.com). The flights are cheap (especially if you book in advance) and the flight attendants are fine as hell. Great value!

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A step up from what you may be used too?

If you're at home and planning on flying to a destination other than Bangkok, it will must likely be cheaper to fly to Bangkok, then hop a flight with a domestic airline (again, my preference is Air Asia) instead of booking a flight from your home country to say.. Phuket or Chiang Mai.

In other words, if you're coming from New York for example, and your planning on training in Phuket.. you'll most likely be better off booking your international flight to Bangkok (not Phuket) and just booking further travels with a domestic airline. The average cost for a flight from Bangkok to Phuket is about 2000 baht (roughly 65 dollars).

A good money saving tip when you come out of the arrival gate at the Bangkok international airport is to bypass everyone offering you a taxi ride and head down to the ground floor to the metered taxi stand.

They'll charge you a 50 baht charge in addition to whatever the meter comes out too, but it will still work out to be about half the cost of what you'd pay if you got a ride from one of the hustlers that approaches you right when you arrive.

9) Visa Tips

Here's a quick breakdown of the visa types you'd need based on the duration of your stay. Keep in mind, visa regulations can change so it's best to double check this information with the Thai consulate in your home country before you leave because the requirements are subject to change..

Less than 1 month: Citizens of most countries are able to visit Thailand for 30 days or less without having to obtain a visa prior to entering the country.

1-3 months: For stays of 1-3 months, your best option would be to obtain a "tourist visa" from the Thai consulate in your home country prior to departure. Once you enter Thailand, you will activate the visa and you will have 60 days. At some point before that initial 60 days expires, you will be required to visit the Thai embassy, pay 1900 baht, fill out a form and you will be granted an additional 30 days (bringing the total up to 90 days.. 60+30).

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3-6 months: For stays beyond 90 days, you can look into getting a multiple entry tourist visa. With a multiple entry tourist visa, your initial 90 days would work the same as a single entry tourist visa (60 upon entry + 30 day extension).

After your initial 90 days is up, you would then leave Thailand (there are "visa run" services that make this easy) and then re-enter the country. As you re-enter Thailand, the second portion of your "multiple entry" visa will be activated and you will be granted another 60 days, which you can extend for 30 more at immigration (basically repeat the process you went through for your first 90 days).

6-15 months: For long stays, you may be able to get a non immigrant visa by obtaining an invitation letter from a Muay Thai camp that's accredited as a "school".

Several of the popular/commercial gyms have this accreditation. With a non immigrant visa, you will need to do a border crossing ("visa run") every 90 days. If you time your entries right, this visa can potentially last you up to 15 months.

Tip: You may find that you need to stay longer (beyond the validity of your visa). If you wish to do so, you will have to leave and re-enter Thailand. If you re-enter Thailand by land (under these circumstances), you will be granted an entry stamp for 15 days. If you re-enter Thailand by air, you will be granted a 30 day entry stamp.

If you overstay your visa, you will be charged 500 baht per day when you leave. I don't recommend this though because if you get caught with an expired visa at any point other than when you're leaving the country, it can be made into a serious issue.

10) Communication

Chances are that you have some sort of pay per month contract with your current phone plan. If that's the case, it goes without saying that you should NOT be making calls from that SIM card while you're in Thailand. You'll get charged a very high rate and to prevent this, you should change your SIM card when you arrive (they sell SIM cards at 7 eleven or family mart locations).

Alternatively, you can just buy an inexpensive phone for your trip (you can get a new phone for approximately 800 baht). On my first trip, I was aware of the high cost of calling with my phone from home, so I didn't make any calls.. but I carried my phone around for other purposes and when I got back home, I got hit with a 300 dollar phone bill for "roaming".

Thai people buy phones like they buy shoes, so there's phone stores (and stalls) all over the place. If you have the time though, a good place to pick up a phone is the MBK mall in Bangkok (they have an entire floor dedicated to phones, phone cases and other electronics).

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If you have any other questions, or if you'd just like to show some support.. you can like and follow me on Facebook and Twitter..

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(I'll be posting all sorts of updates, exclusive gym promotions and training footage through those social media channels)

Hope it helps!

Jay Turner

www.MuayThaiCampsThailand.com

Copyright 2013 MuayThaiCampsThailand.com