oh, he'll be back.. He's in love.

You're right - a lot of people don't like to deal with languages. But then Thailand is very popular with North Americans - further away, and not as safe as say Japan, but cheap so everyone goes there. I think ultimately, it comes back to $$. If you think it is too expensive, language barrier or not, you're already put off by it. Everyone always keeps saying I must be rich when I tell them I am going to Japan...again... but the thing about Japan is, there is no inflation there. The ryokan I always stay at in Tokyo costs the same back in 2004 as it is today.