Over 25 Years in Thailand: Life, Work and Adventures Since 1999

Quisque velit nisi pretium ut lacinia in elementum id enim. Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Curabitur non nulla sit amet nisl tempus convallis quis ac lectus.

Navigating Thailand's Public Transport Like a Local

Planes, Buses, Boats, and a Narrow Boat to Burma

One of the genuine advantages of living in Thailand for 25 years is that you stop being a tourist on public transport and start being a commuter. I've used almost every form of transport this country offers, and I've learned—often through trial and error—what works, what doesn't, and what to do when things go sideways.

Domestic flights are, in many cases, the most practical way to cover Thailand's considerable distances. AirAsia and Nok Air make routes like Bangkok to Phuket or Bangkok to Chiang Mai quick and affordable, particularly if you book ahead. For shorter or more flexible journeys, long-distance buses are a perfectly comfortable option, especially for overnight routes where you can sleep your way between cities.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Grab have transformed day-to-day getting around in the cities. Grab in particular has been a revelation—fixed prices, no negotiation, and a driver who actually knows where he's going. If you haven't downloaded it before arriving, do it now.

Boats are an entirely different kind of experience. Thailand's waterways open up parts of the country that roads simply can't reach. I've taken long-tail boats through mangroves, ferries between islands, and river boats up towards the Thai-Myanmar border. One of the most memorable journeys of my time here was a narrow boat trip into Burma—a route that felt genuinely remote and historically resonant in a way that few modern travel experiences manage.

Getting to Grips with Bangkok's BTS and MRT

I'll be honest: for years, I largely avoided Bangkok's rail networks. The city's taxis and tuk-tuks felt more familiar, and the maps looked complicated. That was a mistake I've since corrected.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT underground are now two of my most-used transport tools when I'm in Bangkok. They're clean, air-conditioned, punctual, and—crucially—they bypass the traffic that can make Bangkok road journeys a test of patience. The BTS connects key areas like Sukhumvit, Siam, and the riverside, while the MRT gives access to areas the Skytrain doesn't reach. Together, they cover a substantial portion of the city.

If you're visiting Bangkok and haven't used them before, my advice is simple: buy a Rabbit Card for the BTS and load it with credit. It removes the hassle of buying single tickets and works out slightly cheaper over multiple journeys. For the MRT, a stored-value card works the same way.

---

Tourist Attractions: What 25 Years of Exploring Looks Like

Visiting Thailand's Most Famous Sites as a Resident, Not a Tourist

There's something odd about being a long-term resident in one of the world's most visited countries. You end up seeing the famous landmarks repeatedly—sometimes with visiting family, sometimes with the boys when they were young, occasionally just because you happen to be passing. Over time, you develop genuine opinions rather than first impressions.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is one of those places that genuinely earns its reputation. The scale and the detail are astonishing, and even after multiple visits, there's always something I notice for the first time. Go early. Dress appropriately (long trousers or a skirt that covers the knee—they enforce this). Expect crowds, but don't let them put you off.

Wat Pho, just a short walk from the Grand Palace, is equally impressive and often slightly less heaving with visitors. The Reclining Buddha alone is worth the entrance fee. The complex is also the traditional home of Thai massage, and the school on-site offers treatments that are among the most authentic you'll find in Bangkok.

In Phuket, the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill is one of those landmarks that becomes part of your backdrop when you live there long enough. Up close, though, it's genuinely striking—a 45-metre white marble statue visible from most of the island. Ann and I have taken Junior and Justin up there more times than I can count. The view over Chalong Bay and the surrounding hills never gets old.

Pattaya: More Than Its Reputation

Having spent six years in Pattaya, I have a particular affection for a city that many visitors underestimate. Walking Street's nightlife is what most people picture when they hear the name, and yes, it's exactly as advertised. But Pattaya also has the Sanctuary of Truth—an extraordinary all-wood temple still under construction after decades—and Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, which is spectacular and well worth a half-day visit with children.

The Alcazar Cabaret show is one of the best entertainment experiences in the country, full stop. Ann and I have taken visiting friends and family there on numerous occasions, and it never fails to impress.

A Note on English Breakfasts Across Thailand

I made a decision early on not to write about Thai cuisine. There are better-qualified people to do that, and honestly, Ann's family cooking has set a standard I wouldn't want to judge restaurants against. What I can tell you about, with genuine authority, is where to find a proper English breakfast across Thailand.

This might sound trivial, but after 25 years, a good fry-up on a Sunday morning has been a genuine anchor of normality—and finding a reliable one in an unfamiliar part of the country is more of an art than you might think. As I build out the content on this site, I'll be sharing my recommendations region by region. Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok—each has its contenders, and I have strong opinions about which deserve the title.

---

What 25 Years Really Teaches You About Thailand

A quarter century is long enough to move past the honeymoon phase, through the frustrating middle years where everything is slightly harder than it should be, and out the other side into something that feels a lot like genuine belonging.

Thailand has changed enormously since 1999. The infrastructure has improved dramatically. Bangkok's transport network, the quality of accommodation across the country, the accessibility of information for visitors—all of it is vastly better than it was when I arrived. And yet the things that made Thailand special in the first place are still here: the warmth of the people, the beauty of the landscapes, the sense that something genuinely unexpected is always just around the corner.

Ann, Junior, Justin, and I have built our lives here. This site is my attempt to share what we've learned—honestly, practically, and from the perspective of people who live in Thailand rather than visit it. Browse the destination guides, read the transport advice, and if you have a question I haven't answered, drop me a message. After 25 years, there's very little about this country I haven't seen, tried, or navigated my way through.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What parts of Thailand has the author of wheretogointhailand.com lived in?

Jon has lived and worked across Thailand since 1999, with extended stays of approximately six years each in Phuket and Pattaya. His work in hotel and condominium construction has also taken him as far north as Pai, near the Golden Triangle, as well as many other locations across the country.

Is wheretogointhailand.com written by someone who actually lives in Thailand?

Yes. Jon has been a resident of Thailand since 1999—25 years at the time of writing. The site reflects his lived experience as a long-term expat rather than a visitor's perspective, alongside the local knowledge of his Thai wife, Ann.

Does wheretogointhailand.com cover Thai food and restaurants?

No. Thai cuisine is intentionally excluded from the site's content. However, Jon does share recommendations for English Breakfast locations across Thailand—a speciality he has been quietly researching for two and a half decades.

What transport advice does wheretogointhailand.com offer?

Jon covers domestic flights, long-distance buses, taxis, Grab, boats, and Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT, drawing on 25 years of using these services as a resident rather than a tourist.

What tourist attractions does the site review?

The site covers major attractions across Thailand including the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in Bangkok, the Big Buddha and Bangla Road in Phuket, the Sanctuary of Truth and Nong Nooch Garden in Pattaya, and many others—reviewed from the perspective of someone who has visited them repeatedly over many years.