Originally Posted by
invisible
Wrong.
I've been to Vietnam five times and plan to go again. I was in Thailand twice and don't plan to travel there again.
One thing is that I did my homework before going to both places - I spent plenty of time researching, and reading forums, here, on TripAdvisor, and other places. I was aware that it was my responsibility that all the documentation matches my travel documents and made triple checking that all the passport numbers and travel dates were correct. I was well aware of handbag and phone grabbing practices in Saigon from passing scooters as well as grabbing and running with iPhones foreign tourists leave at their tables in cafes and restaurants (again - Saigon). And I made sure to communicate all this to my travel companions - male and female. So everyone was well aware and nothing has happened during all of the travels.
While I was as aware of jetskis and other tourist scams in Thailand, these extended not only ordinary tourist traps in Phuket but 4* hotels as well. At the checkout, they wanted to charge $20 for a 'missing' tea spoon and a 'broken' tissue box. Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance.
The above case, the taxi mafia in Phuket, and the fact that I witnessed three traffic accidents on scooters/motorcycles by people under the influence (one of them fatal) in three days I was there - I have no desire ever to go back to Thailand.
I am surprised at the charge for the missing spoon and broken tissue box. I really do not know how many times I have been to Thailand. Certainly over a 100 times and while I have seen scams there never have I ever been charged for anything like this.
The Taxi mafia in Phuket is well known and in all countries the taxis over charge. Certainly in Asia probably apart from Singapore. But never in `a 4 star hotel have I
heard of this.