15

An interesting point. Even if I don't really understand it :)

16

You said there's little reason to step off the beaten path then wonder why people want to visit the beaten path.

17

"People are having the same length of trips (whatever it's 2 weeks or 6 months) that they've always had"

The number of short term trippers would have increased greatly with low cost airlines. You don't have to save up for years for a 6 month trip anymore when you can have a short break every year. There will always be long termers but the percentage of them has changed.

18

Good point State. Is it a coincidence that we're talking about the first generation who have had the internet all their lives? That hadn't actually occurred to me before.

19

I think the answer is two fold.

On one hand, it's great to have that sense of adventure and just go on your own and explore. That's how I first came to Thailand and I had some great experiences. But, the experiences I had at the first weren't great because they were 'the best possible experiences' as much as the feeling I had of doing something new.

Now when I travel, my experiences are a lot better as I know what I'm doing more so I'm able to get more in depth. Example: my first time overseas was 19 and I did a homestay in a village oustide of Amphawa, taught English in Pathum Thani for 3 weeks, saw Koh Chang, Bangkok, and Angkor Wat. I came back on a school trip about 7 months later and went to a small village in Kanchanburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, a refugee camp on the Burmese border in Tak, and a small stint at Cha'am. We also did 5 weeks in India. After that, I really found my niche and it defined the way I traveled. Fast forward it a few years and I was doing Madrid to Bangkok by land and going completely off the beaten path.

A lot of the tour companies out there are just providing package tours and manufactured day trips. I was fortunate enough to go on a tour that was completely the opposite. It influenced me to travel the way I do. I run group and custom tours and we don't do the banana pancake trail. Our clients are people who want to get that in depth experience the first time around but don't have time to learn enough of the language, culture, and forms of local travel to do it themselves.

The thing is that there are travelers who are being adventurous in Thailand. They are few and far between, but it's the same way in most countries I've been to. I never saw another traveler in Olgii, Ulliastai, or Tsosetsengel Mongolia, but ran into many in Tsetserleg and Ulaan Baatar. Ran into nobody in Letang and Xieng Chen, China, but saw a lot in Xian. I see people in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but nobody in Baan Rai in Uthai Thani or in some of the remote villages in Tak.

Thailand is still very unexplored by many people. Anyone with a sense of adventure, with or without a tour company who actually provides it, can get that experience.

20

Martee, I didn't wonder "why people want to visit the beaten path." Thailand's path is now so beaten that there's very little point in doing anything else. Why would you want to go somewhere where there are no tourists, other than just for the sake of it? The reason there's no other tourists in those places is because there's no real reason to go there. But that's not the point of the topic. I'm not talking about where people go.

21

I wouldn't agree that there's no reason to go somewhere because there aren't any tourists. There can still be wonderful nature, temples, food, and the opportunity to see a different way of life in Thailand.

22

It's because we want to hear an answer to our own question. Reading someone else's questions and the answers are not the same. No matter how similar the question is.
Its like you dont believe what you've read and need reaffirmation. Other than that, I'm with mozzie, I dont understand.

23

Mozzie,

If you are visiting a cave or a waterfall to swim the lack of tourists makes the experience much more enjoyable. Likewise an uncrowded beach can also be more relaxing. So the popularity of the place and the enjoyment factor are related. You can't separate the two.

If you are walking around a nice temple on a hill with 500 other tourists the experience is diminished. So seeking out some of the less visited ones but equally beautiful ones can be a good peaceful experience.

Visiting local markets which have more unusual products or food items can also be worthwhile without tripping over tourists and their cameras.

"The reason there's no other tourists in those places is because there's no real reason to go there"

These off the beaten path destinations do have tourists. Just that they are likely to be Thais who know about them.

You seem to have totally lost your sense of adventure yourself which this topic is about.

24

Yeah, I didn't really mean that the way it came out. It was more in response to Martee's quibble about something I'd said on a different thread. It sounds like you've had some great travel experiences DS. But I'm willing to bet that they were so good because there was still an element of the unknown attached to them - I'm sure you didn't try to plan them to the nth degree.

25

Off the beaten path places have more of an unknown factor about them don't you think?

You don't get much of a surprise going to Patong.

26

I agree Martee, it's definitely good to escape from the hordes when you can. Those spots are getting few and far between these days.

27

You make a good point, Mozzie. There was that sense of the unknown. But, my experiences with a student group that showed me that way of travel gave me the travel skills to do it. They took an approach of studies where they would lead you to be your own leader. It was also a trip I wouldn't have been able to do on my own the first time unless I would have found a school or company that offered those experiences, which I haven't found yet (other than the tours I provide, of course :p)

28

That would depend on how your night starts and ends ;-) Some will get less than they expect while others will get more than they bargained for, if you know what I mean.

29

going back to the OP's original post.....yes its irritating when newbies ask "plan my itnerary for me" in many different forms and to be honest I rarely bother to reply or even read those posts. Exactly as you have said there is so much info on line, why dont they look things up for themselves ?? Saying that, I think it's a good indication of this centuries society of a lazy, self indulgent, self obsessed generation wanting instant gratification without a thought for any one else.
Personally, planning a trip is half the fun, reading and researching ignited the excitement and yes, Thailand has become so much easier for the non thinkers, but even back in the early 80's when I first travelled through it wasnt exactly difficult !!