Where to Stay in Kobe (神戸) For Your First Epic Visit to Japan
It is written that Kobe, Japan is only worth a day trip visit from Osaka and Kyoto.
I say how dare they. Have they ever visited Sannomiya?
The magnificent port city of Kobe, in its own right, is a city that deserves at least several overnight stays. And on this post, I’ll explain why Sannomiya is the best area to stay in Kobe along with a couple of affordable hotels I’ve stayed in.
Not long ago, I visited a full week in Kobe moving around three neighborhoods and staying in three different hotels. From my experience Kobe hotels are a lot more affordable than larger cities within the Kansai region of Japan.
Especially while I was in Sannomiya and discovered the reasons why it’s such a perfect location. It’s the center of Kobe and a major public transportation hub.
Kobe is a Fantastic Jump Point to Visit Other Prefectures of Japan’s Kansai Region
Most travelers make the choice of staying in Osaka or Kyoto first. And then visit nearby cities like Nara, Kobe, and Himeji which is the furthest city from the rest mentioned. That’s not a bad choice, Osaka is also a great city to visit for a first-time trip to Japan.
Instead, I’m making the case that Kobe is a great city as a base to explore other parts of Japan’s Kansai region. Especially when you don’t have a lot of time.
This is especially true when you’re flying out of Kansai International Airport (KIX). Traveling from Kobe to KIX is fast and affordable. From central Kobe where we were staying, it only took us one hour to reach Kansai International Airport.
If you stay in Sannomiya you won’t have a hard time traveling or rushing to the airport since it is so near.
Ferris wheel at Kobe harborland…
5 Reasons Why Kobe is Such a Great City to Check Out for Your First Visit in Japan
Kobe is located in Hyogo prefecture in Kansai region. It only takes a 20 to 30 minutes train ride (depending on the train line) to Osaka and train fares cost 300 yen to 400 yen.
Kobe hotels are more affordable compared to Osaka and Kyoto. And way more affordable compared to Tokyo. Below is a selection of fine affordable family family-friendly hotels I recommend.
Kobe is a historic city where many foreigners used to live in the Kitano-cho (北野町, Kitanochō) district. You’ll certainly enjoy the city’s history and natural beauty starting with Mount Rokko to Sorakuen Garden and on to Arima Onsen for hot springs. There’s more to see along Nankinmachi (南京町), Kobe’s own little Chinatown. There are plenty of sights and attractions in Kobe to round out an amazing vacation in Japan.
Kobe beef. Need I say more?
It only takes roughly one hour to travel between Kobe and Kansai International Airport.
Best Way to Travel to Kobe from Kansai International Airport And Back
Yes, it only takes 1 hour to travel from Kobe to KIX airport and vice versa. Here’s a post I wrote about traveling from central Kobe to KIX airport using the convenient Bay Shuttle. There are photos with directions on that post that will help you navigate and find the right area to catch the shuttle boat to the KIX.
A short 30 minute ride from on ferry shuttle from Kobe Airport to Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Bay Shuttle Kobe-Kansai Airport Fare 2023:
Adults 1880 yen (one way) – 3060 yen (round trip) Children ages 6 – 11 940 yen (one way) – 1530 yen (round trip)
But great news! While I was looking up the current fare price for Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle. I saw a big discount for tickets.
Discounted Fare for Foreign Tourists Until March 31st, 2024:
Adults 500 yen (one way) Children ages 6-11 250 yen ( one way)
To reserve your fares and check the ferry schedule take a look at their website, credit cards are accepted. This is a special deal only available to foreign tourists.
This is the biggest discount I’ve ever seen…
But here’s a heads up. Japan’s typhoon season starts end of August to early September. So you’ll want to check the weather forecast or plan around this time to avoid travel delays.
How to Get to the Bay Shuttle from Kobe’s Sannomiya Station
At JR Sannomiya Station look for signs near the east gate leading to Kobe Portliner Sannomiya Station. Adult fare is only 330 yen and the ride. Look for the train heading to Kobe Airport which is the terminal station. The ride only takes 20 minutes.
Portliner Station is where you catch the train to the bay shuttle ferry at Kobe airport…The Kobe Portliner train is located at the east gate. You will see plenty of signs leading to the station…
Now that you know the reasons why I think you should stay longer in Kobe for your first epic visit to Japan, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. You’re home away from home.
My 4 Favorite Hotels Are located in Kobe’s Chuo Ward in Sannomiya
All the hotels I recommend in Sannomiya are close to 6 train stations:
JR / Sannomiya station
Hankyu Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Hanshin Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Kobe Port Liner / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Seishin-Yamate line / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Kaigan line / Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae station
With so many train stations you can easily catch one for day trips around the Kansai regions. I used the JR train to visit Himeji for a day.
Plus Nearby Things to See and Do in Kobe
Sannomiya, the center of Kobe’s city
Meriken Park is located on the bay of Kobe with its signature iconic red, cylindrical 108-meter-high Port Tower
Kobe Harborland has a seaport shopping center right next to Meiken Park. If traveling with young children check out Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall.
Kobe Maritime Museum also located within Meriken Park
Nanking Machi is Kobe’s vibrant Chinatown
My Favorite Hotels in Sannomiya
Sannomiya is the heart of Kobe City. It is divided into two areas, north and south which is conveniently divided by Sannoymiya Station.
Hotels in South Sannomiya from my experience is where you’ll find the most budget-friendly hotels in Kobe.
My recommended hotels all have free internet wi-fi as most hotels in this day and age should. And it’s fast with easy connection. I chose a few of these mostly because of the larger-than-average Japanese hotel room sizes.
Except for the capsule hotel which was mainly done out of fun and experience. Overall, my pick of these four hotels in Sannomiya will ensure you have a comfortable, enjoyable stay.
The rates I provided are based on season. And also two persons per room, except for the capsule hotel of course.
the b KobeKobe Capsule Hotel SekiAPA Hotel – Kobe SannomiyaHotel Villa Fontaine
1. the b Kobe Hotel – $75USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) This is the first hotel I’ve ever stayed in for my first trip to Kobe. And I’ve been back ever since. The reason is simple. Their rooms are larger than the average Japanese hotel room. With 14 sq. meters of space, my wife and I can stay in comfort without bumping into our luggage.
2. Kobe Capsule Hotel Seki – $30USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) What kind of Kobe hotel review will this be if I don’t include one of Japan’s famous capsule-style hotels? I stayed here while I was traveling solo a few years back. It’s fun, comfortable and clean. Most importantly cheap. A while ago it was converted into men’s only capsule hotel.
3. APA Hotel Kobe Sannomiya – $75USD (Check rates and reviews on agoda.com) I always rave about the APA chain of business classed hotels. This is my go-to hotel option whenever I’m in Japan and I don’t know which hotel to stay in. This particular APA hotel has a buffet breakfast option that costs $10USD extra. Which is a very good deal.
4. Hotel Villa Fontaine – $65USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) I stayed at this hotel because all of my favorite budget hotels in Kobe were either fully booked or didn’t have double rooms to share with my wife. But when I got my room here I was totally happy. A superior double room is 18 sq. meters. Hotel Villa Fontaine is very popular today and one of the best affordable hotels in Kobe with terrific reviews.
Half Day Trip to Two of Bangkok’s Nearest Tourist Attractions – Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Market
Finally, I went somewhere in Thailand I’d thought I’d never visit. It was a half day tour of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก ราชบุรี) and Maeklong Railway Train Marketa.k.a. Umbrella Pulldown Market (ตลาดร่มหุบ).
It’s a perfect combination as a short day trip coming from Bangkok, especially when you’re in the city for a few days. And it was a self-guided tour with good friends, so that’s the main reason why I went.
Because I always tell everyone that Thailand is an amazing country with many beautiful scenery and natural attractions.
But when I mentioned to my Thai friends that I went to Damnoen Saduak, they shook their heads and asked, “Why would you go there?”
Two old vendors selling decorative fans at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand…
Unfortunately it’s because Damnoen Saduak Float Market has a reputation as one Thailand’s biggest tourist traps. I’ve never been.
So I can’t say that it is, or it isn’t.
There’s only one way to find out and that’s to go!
You’ve seen attractive photos of foreigners gently rowed down a river surrounded by friendly vendors selling fresh fruit, souvenir tchotchke and way overpriced coconut water. That’s what people are afraid of, getting overcharged.
Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market is widely advertised as one of the must see side trips from Bangkok. But it’s got that tourist trap stigma that’s hard to shake. And that’s something I’ve known ever since I first traveled to Thailand. And the main reason why I stayed away for so long.
7 Quick Tips About Visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
River tour boats can fit 6 adult passengers.
There’s not really a best time to visit this market in my opinion. If you want to see more tourists and more activity than visit between 8am and 10am. I got there at 11am when activity started winding down. But there were still many tourists and shop vendors by the canal still open.
Life vests are available on request.
Make sure you ask for boats with a roof or umbrella to protect from rain and sun. My wife and I got wet from rain because our boat had no umbrellas.
Don’t hold onto the sides of the boats. Boat drivers get very close to piers and if you’re holding the sides of the boat you’ll hurt your fingers.
There are paddle boats and motor boats for hire. Please choose the paddle boats. It’s environmentally friendlier.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market has no entrance fee. Just putting it out there in case someone asks for money.
Visiting Damnoen Saduak was Inevitable – With a Side Visit to Maeklong Railway Train Market
As fate will have it, a very good family friend was coming over to Bangkok from Hong Kong. She and her friends wanted to visit Damnoen Saduak and also Maeklong Railway Train Market for a half-day tour.
She’s been to Thailand dozens of times so she’s a seasoned traveler in this country. And she and her friends were curious enough to check both markets. And me too I have to admit.
I was particularly looking forward to seeing Maeklong Railway Train Market. I’ve seen dozens of videos of a big, slow lumbering train passing through an active market. Right before shop vendors quickly, yet casually, pull and roll their goods away from the path of the train. So I was really looking forward to making a video of the train passing through.
I Have to Admit, I Was Excited to Go
My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to locate a local driver, where I and my wife will be the tour guides. Mission accepted. It’s on, it’s on like Donkey Kong.
I was presented with a chance to visit and write and share it all here. And I must say, I was extremely curious as to what would happen. I mean I already knew there’s a distinct possibility that we’re going to get over-charged for something. What that something will be, I don’t know.
There’s only one way to find out.
Getting to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market from Bangkok
Both well known markets are about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. And an hour and a half drive from central Bangkok. Or if you have a crazy van driver with a death wish around forty five minutes with no traffic.
We hired a local Thai driver familiar with the roads of Ratchaburi province where the river market is located. And also Samut Sakhon province where the train market is located.
By car, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market is a short 30 to 45 minutes away from each other. Which is why both stopes make a very good half day to full day trip combo.
Cost of hiring a private driver is 3000THB. Here’s what it includes:
Driving from 9am to 7pm. After 7pm the driver gets an additional 300THB per hour counted as over-time.
Tollway fees
Fuel costs included. Usually when you hire a private driver you have to pay to cover the cost of fuel, so this is normal.
There were seven of us in total, so split that with 3000THB the price came out to 430THB per head. Which is an exceptional value for a private driver. He could only speak a little bit of English but not a problem. My wife and I could do all the translating.
Meeting at 9am Sharp
My wife and I left our house at 7:30am. But of course we got there 30 minutes late. Which isn’t so bad considering the horrific traffic we had to go through.
Our plan was to meet at the hotel my friends were staying at. That’s also where our driver will be waiting. He arrived an hour early. My friends were staying in Siam Square which is a perfect jumping point to both destinations.
Once we got to their hotel we quickly jumped into the van and off we went. Our plan was to make the first stop at the floating market because it’s more active in the mornings.
Also we knew there will be a train running through Maeklong Railway Market at 2:30pm. You can find a train schedule below where I go into detail. So we would have plenty of time to explore Damnoen Saduak first.
This is near one of the entrance. This photo was taken around after 11am and as you can see, the river is not so crowded…
First Stop, Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market
It took us one hour and thirty minutes to reach the floating market. It was a weekday and driving out of Bangkok at that time meant less vehicles on the road but still had pockets of congestion at certain points. And our driver wasn’t a speed freak so that was good.
He also knew a lot of road short cuts which made the trip quicker. Which made up the time where we got stuck in traffic. This is one of the reasons why it’s better to hire a local driver familiar with the area. Google maps is good and effective in Thailand. But not as effective as a driver that really knows the area.
When we got close to the area around Damnoen Saduak we found out there were numerous side boat entrances. But we decided to stop off at the main entrance, use the toilet and then take a short walk around, before checking out prices for tour boats.
First Impressions
Along the canal there are many shops selling souvenirs. Okay, really the first thought that came to my mind was, who buys all of this stuff? There were large pieces of Thai style home ornaments and decorations. Large paintings of fish and animal carvings.
Granted there were t-shirts, keychains, sun hats, umbrellas and sunscreen could sell well. But I couldn’t really see anyone buying large carvings of wooden elephants out in the middle of nowhere and lugging it back to their hotels.
Most of the market is situated along the side of canals. We saw boats selling grilled pork but those were all near the entrance. But as you travel further down the canal we didn’t see any boats selling anything at all.
There’s food and drinks all around which are priced higher than usual. Which is to be expected. But we’re not here for shopping. We’re here to check out the prices for tour boats and hopefully find out the real cost of hiring a boat to tour around Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
My friend from Hong Kong stated that her friend previously paid 3000THB for two persons to tour the river. That price does not include the cost of transportation to the market. A 3000THB price tag in itself is highly suspicious.
Time to Ask Prices for Boat Rides
When you’re touring Thailand, bargaining is a national pastime. Yes, even Thais do it when they travel. And believe me, locals do not get preferential pricing treatment at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
My friends and I took a step back and let my Thai wife do the talking. We only found two boat tour desks.
The first tour desk we approached quoted a price of 100THB per head for a one hour tour of the river. Wow, that wasn’t so bad.
Second tour desk we asked quoted us 150THB per head for one hour ride also. But they’ll take us to some type of “special” place where we can taste some “special” local drinks.
Okay the prices weren’t so bad. It was a hell of a lot better than paying 3000THB for a wooden boat. And we already knew where to go to save 50THB so we went back to the first tour boat desk. Or did we? Yeah I know, 50THB is such a small difference.
Problem with self guided tour is you don’t know what’s the real price for anything…
Talking in Circles
Here’s where things get a little tricky. The first desk that quoted us 100THB now told us the boat ride is for 30 minutes. And that 150THB is the new price for 1 hour trip.
There was another lady who seemed to be the one in charge at a different desk at a souvenir shop that changed the price to 150THB. Granted 50THB extra per person isn’t too much to complain about. I mean, we’re already there so we might as well go through with the tour.
A day later though my wife spoke to her mother and she also said she paid 150THB for a 1 hour river ride. So, I guess that’s the normal price. So I suspect the 100THB was just a lure to hook customers away from competitors. That’s just playing dirty.
But they know what they’re doing. Because we’re there already.
The Real Price of River Boats Tours at Damnoen Saduak
So my friends and I paid 150THB per head. But I checked around on google and read people paid 1000THB per person. But their tours were 2 hours long. We paid 150THB for 1 hour. Like I mentioned already, my friend mentioned her friend paid 3000THB for an hour tour for two persons.
The issue is, there’s no standardized rates nor tour itinerary at Damnoen Saduak. The prices depend on who’s taking you there. Could even be the driver or a hired guide taking a cut. Plus there are tour operators claiming they provide more value for the money. Thus the higher prices.
Our driver never accompanied us and stayed with the van the whole time while we were out. So we can’t suspect him of bumping up our price.
Which makes me think that the real price for a 1 hour boat ride is 150THB at Damnoen Saduak.
Onwards to the Tour
There are lots of boats with tourists coming and going and it was in the middle of the afternoon. The mornings would’ve been a lot worst I was told because that’s when most visitors from tour buses arrive. So we got in at a perfect time.
We hired a paddle boat which moved surprisingly fast through the canal. Sadly, the water isn’t too clean. Tourism has certainly taken its toll. So please take care of your trash.
Once you hop on that boat and start taking selfies, the boat driver will immediately park you near market stalls along the river.
Which you should expect. It’s a floating market after all. But it’s full of souvenirs and things you probably don’t want taking up space in your home. I honestly didn’t see other tourists buy anything at all. Like almost everything today, you’ll find it cheaper on Amazon.com with free shipping.
Even then, it’s quite nice to glide down a quiet narrow river even though there are vendors just staring at you while hoping you’d buy something. Thankfully, the vendors keep to themselves and never pushed things in our faces.
Usually the boat driver will just hang out at vendors for a minute before moving along to the next area.
Lunch on a River
Since we left our home early in the morning we only had time to grab coffee. So my wife and I were both hungry and waited until we could find some food vendors on the river. And we couldn’t find any.
Later on, we found a stall by the canal selling a variety of food, including paintings of nature and wood carvings of current pop culture figures.
This was actually quite a tasty styrofoam plate of chicken fried rice…
My wife ordered a bowl of noodles with pork. And I opted for a plate of fried rice with chicken. Before our hungry brains realized there were no prices on the menus. That’s a bad sign. My wife asked how much for both items including one bottle of water.
The food vendor just smiled and said one moment. One moment of calculating the price is not a problem to answer a customer. But no answer came.
Double the price of Bangkok for a bowl of noodles with pork. But it’s to be expected…
It was only until our food came out that we were given the price. The total came out to 160THB. So in Thailand that is expensive for an outside food vendor. It’s twice what you’d pay for at a hawker stand in Bangkok.
But it’s certainly a price that a Thai tourist would balk at. And that’s the reason why there are no prices on the food menus. They don’t want to scare away customers that know better. To be fair, all tourist attractions all over the world charge expensive prices for food.
Just take a look at Disney Land for example. Or have you ever bought a bottle of water in Central Park in New York City? Absolutely expensive.
My wife and I didn’t freak out about the prices. Only thing is she didn’t like her bowl of noodles. But my chicken fried rice was good and tasty and a decent sized portion with fresh ingredients. I’d buy another plate.
I think they should just put prices on their menus. There will be customers that find those food prices reasonable.
A Souvenir Shop Stop is Inevitable
Whether you want to or not a boat driver will take you to a souvenir shop. It’s also a rest area so if you have to use the toilet it’s the place to go do your business. You’re not obligated to buy anything at all but if I had a choice I’d just tell the boatsman to take us somewhere else.
Our boat driver dropped us off at this souvenir and rest stop for 15 minutes…
So expect a short trip to a souvenir shop, it’s standard procedure.
After spending fifteen minutes or so browsing at things we would never buy we called for our boat. It was time to head back and just when we did, it started drizzling lightly. Five minutes later it turned into full on rain.
There are roofs that hang out over market stalls that provided cover. But at certain points there are none so if it’s really pouring you’ll get a good drenching.
Back on Dry Land
After we got off our tour boat there was a huge downpour. We quickly ran back to our awaiting van where our driver took us to a really good spot for seafood lunch.
Overall, it’s great now that I can say, yes, I’ve been to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. It’s one thing I can cross off my check list.
And if you are deciding to visit Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market, you too will know what to expect. But I know it’s not easy for most to make this a self guided tour. Especially when there’s a language barrier.
Second Stop, Maeklong Railway Train Market
With our belly’s full from enjoying a seafood restaurant recommended by our driver we made our way to Maeklong Railway Train Market.
I have to admit, this was one place I was really looking forward to seeing. I’ve watched dozens of videos of such markets with trains passing through. I wanted to take an old Go Pro camera and place it in the center of one of the tracks.
Below is my video:
Maeklong is a fully functional local wet and dry market, with an emphasis on local. Thais come here to buy groceries at cheaper than supermarket prices.
There’s fresh fish, all sorts of butchered meat, fresh vegetables and fruits for them to shop for. And the local folks don’t mind us tourists taking selfies in their shopping space. They’re even nice enough to warn folks to not stand too close to the tracks as the train approaches.
There are lots of durian sellers pushing their stinky, spikey fruit at this market. But to be honest, you’re better off going to Aor Tor Gor Market because that’s where you’ll find the best Durian in Bangkok.
Maeklong Railway Train Market Schedule
The local market opens 7 days a week from 6:20am to 5:40pm. Which is the same time the trains operate.
Arrival:
8:30am
11:10am
2:30pm
5:40pm
Departure:
6:20am
9:00am
11:30am
3:30pm
To explain the schedule further, don’t worry too much about the departure time, unless you’re planning to take ride on the train.
If you’re coming to Maeklong Market to see the train passing through, focus on the Arrival hours. We got to the market at 2pm to wait for the 2:30pm train.
The train arrived slightly ahead of schedule. In any case, get there at least 30 minutes before scheduled arrival so you can pick a nice spot to snap them photos.
Above is a train schedule chart I found inside a local coffee shop with an incredibly super friendly café owner. I wrote an article about opening coffee shops in Thailand and this owner has the perfect location. You can enjoy a drink while waiting for the train to come by.
If You Must Visit Damnoen Saduak & Maeklong Market – Look For a Reputable Tour Agency
If you’re looking for day trip recommendations from Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Markets are really good side trip options. But I know it’s really difficult for foreign visitors to do self-guided tours in Thailand.
And finding a handsome funny guy like me to be your local guide will be difficult.
Okay, kidding aside, I know most travelers don’t want the hassle of doing a self tour where it’s a challenge to organize everything on your own. And organized day trip tours around Bangkok are inexpensive.
Going on an Personal Tour is the Best Way to Visit Both Markets
However, you want to find a tour agency that won’t charge funny fees or ask for money after you’ve paid for everything up front already.
Which is why I recommend TakeMeTour.com that is really popular in Thailand. They have local experts that can take you to all the locations I wrote about on this post. A TakeMeTour local guide will pick you up from your hotel or a meeting point.
Local tour experts will show you around the way only a local can. And when tours over they’ll take you back to where they met you.
After the train passed it was safe for a selfie…
The Final Verdict
I must say, I had a good time and fun! I really did even though I dreaded traveling to tourist trap destinations. But I can say from my own personal experience that Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is not a tourist trap. Sure, the food and souvenirs are overprice.
If those two reasons alone are sufficient to classify Damnoen Saduak a tourist trap then you have to lump Disney Land and Universal Studios also.
It definitely helps when you’re traveling with good friends. I might even recommend it to all of my Thai friends that wouldn’t even want to go near there.
I enjoyed my time so much that if another friend came over to Thailand and wanted to visit both markets as a day trip and asked me to join, I’d go. Without hesitation.
Most importantly was the experiences I gained from visiting Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong markets that I think are perfect day trip tours coming from Bangkok.
Not Philippine Airlines. Okay, so I’ve flown economy twice this year with them. First was from Bangkok with a 16 hour layover in Manila Airport then finally to New York City. Finally I can make a review of Philippine Air.
But I wanted to wait for my return trip from New York City to Bangkok with a shorter transfer time in Manila before writing this post. This way I’ll have a little more experience about my Philippines Air A350 review from JFK to BKK flight.
$100USD Extra for Emergency Exit Row Seats
Anyone reading my blogs for awhile know that I always request a seat at the emergency exit row for long haul flights. That’s my usual routine as I enjoy the extra leg room.
While checking in at Philippine Air counter at JFK I did just that.
Then I learned that it will cost me $100USD extra for those seats. It’s the same policy as my flight from Manila to New York. So I wasn’t surprised. But it’s good to have confirmation that this their usual policy.
Most airlines today charge extra for the privilege of sitting in the emergency aisle row.
It’s a nice feeling not having your knees constantly rubbing against the seat in front…
But It’s Not All Bad News – I Still Had Plenty of Leg Room
Sure, I was bummed about that. But you know what? Philippine Airlines A350 economy seats has a decent amount of front leg room space. My knees barely reached the back of the seat in front of me. Even if that seat was fully reclined. On Philippine Airline’s A350 economy seat there’s a 33 inch seat pitch.
Look’s like I don’t have to ask for a seat a the emergency exit row, or what I like to call poor man’s first class seats because that’s plenty of space for my 6 foot tall frame.
The Airbus A350 has a 3x3x3 seat arraignment so the plane is smaller and seats 241 economy passengers comfortably. Maybe that’s why I felt that the plane was roomier. There’s just less people. Which I liked because I never had to worry about long waits at the bathroom.
Philippine Air A350 has a 3x3x3 seating assignment
Awesome In-Flight Entertainment System on the A350
I could easily pass the time with Philippine Airlines collection of movies. Especially with the responsive touchscreen monitor. The screen is sharp and clear. The audio was really good with no static.
There were a lot of movies that I missed. So I was super happy to see the movie titles I wanted to watch. Like Creed 2, Glass, Alita: Battle Angel and a bunch of movies I watched before but didn’t mind watching again. Just like my last flight from Manila to New York it made my 16 hour flight feel shorter.
The only thing that bugged me a little was the location of the USB and headphone jack. It’s right on the bottom middle of the screen. Which meant if you’re using the tray table to eat your meal, the cords are directly right over your food.
But my USB cable and audio headphones provided by Philippine Airlines have long cables so I did manage to move it aside.
This was my first of two gripes. But not really a big deal.
The Food
My flight from JFK was delayed for nearly two hours. There’s no way I’d pay for the overpriced food at JFK. So I roughed it out and waited for my first inflight meal. I’m glad I waited.
Passengers have two choices: Filipino/Asian or Western
I’ve never had Philippine food. On my last flight I had some yummy pork with rice and a couple of other good meals.
On this leg of the trip all of my meals tasted really good also. Though I didn’t pick Filipino food this time because it was the same as my last trip, which I already tried. So I mostly picked western choices.
For my main meal I chose beef braised in red wine. I’m a sucker for beef. I enjoyed this meal so much I mopped up the gravy sauce with my bread roll. It came with a side of black bean quinoa salad and that was so tasty too. Wish the portions were larger though but that’s because I’m a pig.
It was a filling meal still so I skipped the pudding.
Trust me. It tastes better than it looks – Beef in Red Wine Sauce
Next was the snack meal served nearly halfway through the flight. I picked Penn Puttanesca and Meat Balls. Another tasty home run economy meal served up by Philippine Air.
Again, it taste better than it looks, I’m a piss poor food photographer – Penn Puttanesca and Meat Balls
The last meal service on this flight was breakfast served just a few hours before landing at Manila. This time I picked a Filipino meal. The pork picadillo with scrambled eggs and garlic fried rice. This was a tasty meal as well. I especially liked the garlic fried rice.
This is the kind of breakfast I could enjoy anytime of the day
Of all the times I’ve flown long haul flights, I’ve never found one on par with Korean Air for food quality. I really enjoyed all three meals. Well done Philippine Air!
But…
There’s no available in-flight snacks you can munch on in between meals. Normally on other long haul flights on other airlines, there are small snacks you can grab at the galley and take back to your seat. Like nuts, pretzels, small sandwiches or cookies.
This was my second and last gripe. Come on Philippine Air, you could at least provide some cookies. Passengers need some good ol’ snacks to keep them hunger pangs at bay.
It was the same during my Manila to New York flight. So, if you know you’re going to get the munchies you should pack some of your own snacks to fend off those hunger pangs in between in-flight meals.
Landing at Manila Airport – And Rushing to My Connecting Flight to Bangkok
My flight from JFK got delayed for 2 hours due to weather. Which meant that I had to hurry and catch my connecting flight to Bangkok with 30 minutes to spare. I made it in time because Philippine Air’s ground crew was ready to assist all Bangkok bound passengers with a quick shuttle bus ride to the connecting terminal.
After passing though security I made it to my flight with 10 minutes to spare. It’s a three hour flight to Bangkok. It’ll be a quick one.
For this leg of the trip to Bangkok the plane was older. There was no in-flight entertainment. Not even overhead screens. This wasn’t a big deal to me because at that point all I wanted to do was sleep.
And there was still plenty of leg space in front, not that it mattered much as it was a short flight.
Thin sliced beef over pasta, not great but edible… But avocado ice cream was handed out for dessert and was yummy!
There’s only one meal which is usual for a short flight. I picked a beef with pasta. It wasn’t as good as the beef with red wine sauce on my New York to Manila flight but decent enough.
It was a pleasant flight with friendly service as the same as my previous flight.
Philippine Air Service
One thing that stands out is the service and professionalism I’ve experienced on my round trip flight on Philippine Air. The air crew are very nice and friendly. Even the ground crew deserves some nice words.
While boarding my delayed flight from New York I could hear the ground crew apologizing for the delay. Even though it was due to weather and out of their control. It’s little things like that which adds up a lot of points in favor of Philippine Air.
Philippine Air impressed so much that I signed up for their frequent flyers club membership, called Mubuhay Miles. And I’m looking forward to flying with them more.
It’s been a long while since I’ve written a hotel review in Thailand. So I’m super excited to share my experience staying at AWA Resort Koh Chang.
My wife and I were planning to drive from Bangkok to Koh Chang for a week. And her friend from the island said she has this great recommendation of a 4 star hotel right on Kai Bae Beach. She said we definitely needed to check out AWA Resort.
It’s located on the south end of Kai Bae Beach which means it’ll be a lot quieter. And we do enjoy our quiet. Plus her recommendations were never wrong so far.
She was the one that told us about Emerald Cove Koh Chang which I reviewed a few years back. And she wasn’t wrong then so she knew we would like definitely love AWA Resort.
This is a view you get from AWA Resort’s lobby.
I also did my own research and found lots of positive reviews on the internet. So I booked a deluxe room on Agoda.com website for 3 nights at AWA Resort. We went there during late March, which was still high season. We paid $80USD per night which included breakfast. And thats not a bad price for a four star beach hotel on Koh Chang.
Remember to Book a Room on the Main Property
I want to add that if you want a room with a gorgeous view of the hotel’s swimming pool or the beach, then DO NOT book a room on the hillside. You see, AWA Resort has an annex building across the road where the hotel’s car park is also located. It’s not a far walk and the hillside room has a beautiful garden.
But if you’re going to stay at resort on the beach. Then you might as well stay on the beach side. Even then while checking prices recently, hillside rooms at the AWA Resort are only slightly cheaper than rooms on beach side. Pay a little more and you’ll stay at a better part of AWA Resort.
Kai Bae Beach at AWA Resort
The resort is located right on the southern end of Kai Bae beach. Which is on the west side of Koh Chang island. During my three day stay at AWA I enjoyed swimming at this beach. You have to go down some steps to get to the water.
Every time I get into the water in certain beaches I hate stepping on sharp rocks and coral. Good news is at AWA Resort I didn’t have that problem. There is a reef further ahead where you can do snorkeling. But overall I didn’t come across jagged rocks. I’ve got sensitive feet so it’s a legitimate complaint.
Amazing Architecture
When you step inside for the very first time through the doors of AWA Resort your jaws will drop. The hotel’s lobby is really high. The walls are white with Chinese motifs throughout. It’s a very beautiful hotel with so much open space.
While checking in we were given a welcome drink, which is a nice touch. We also got a huge basket of fruit! Just joking. Though you can help yourself. I did and the staff never minded. Just leave some for other guests.
I just couldn’t help but get good vibes about staying at this amazing resort in Koh Chang. I’m a hotel exploring fanatic and could not wait to see our room.
There’s a subtle Chinese theme throughout. Chinese porcelain and paintings decorate AWA Resort
Our Deluxe Room at AWA Resort Koh Chang
We booked a deluxe room for $80 USD per night. Which included breakfast. We were shown our room which was on the fourth floor. We passed by some rooms on the ground floor that have easier access to the swimming pools. Next time we stay at AWA we should definitely see if we can get those rooms.
I’m sure it’ll cost more but I’m curious to see how much more.
Here’s my only gripe, there’s a big wall but the flatscreen television is tiny compared to the overall space.
A spacious balcony to hang out
With an incredible view of the swimming pool and beach ahead
We were so impressed with our deluxe room at AWA Resort. It was about 50 square meters with this big bathroom, complete with a bath tub. There were also complimentary bath salts to give yourself a spa treatment. I did every single night before bed. Heaven I tell you.
Everything you needed for a perfect stay was inside. Some beach towels, bathrobes, an electronic safe, coffee and tea maker and a refrigerator with complimentary water. Every evening housekeeping, knocks on guest doors with tiny Thai dessert to hand out.
Don’t you think that televisions too small for that wall?
One of the biggest bathrooms I’ve seen for deluxe hotel room
There’s free Wi-Fi and it worked well even though my room was a little far from the router. Yes, I do check. As a digital nomad I always check and see how many routers there are near where ever I stay. Judging from what I saw on the floor I stayed on I think every guest room should get proper internet coverage.
You know I always thought the mattress at home is the best. Until I went around staying at different 4 and 5 star hotels. AWA Resort mattress was really comfortable. And the pillows were so soft it cradled my head like a fluffy cloud.
Besides the small flat screen television, another thing that bothered me was the amount of lighting inside the room. The brightest light source was the reading light by the bed. But the light on the desk was really dim. Maybe it’s a way to dissuade guests from working?
If so, it worked.
Breakfast Time
If you booked a room with breakfast, serving time starts 7:00am to 10:30am. It’s a buffet breakfast and it’s served in a cool looking restaurant called the Spoon that overlooks Kai Bae beach.
The Spoon has these super high ceilings just like the lobby. Though it only seats 120 inside. But no worries, theres plenty of tables and seats at The Sala, which is another on-site restaurant serving Thai food.
My wife and I had our breakfast at the Spoon the entire time we stayed there. And we certainly enjoyed all the food served inside. They’ll make pancakes and waffles fresh. There’s an egg station too. And of course a section with Thai breakfast with noodles and porridge.
I also noticed there are numerous kitchen staff from the Philippines. Because Filipinos can speak English fluently and I suppose management brought them on board to take care of English speaking tourists. Good move AWA.
You can also enjoy breakfast near this beach. But it’ll be a short walk.
AWA Resort Koh Chang is an amazing hotel. Can you believe it’s priced under $100USD. For us ordinary humans that’s reasonable. As of writing I see a beachfront room for $75USD a night with taxes included on Agoda.com. That’s cheaper then when I booked in March and it’s a better room.
I’ve stayed at several hotels around Kai Bae Beach in Koh Chang and I have to say, AWA Resort is the best, in terms of quality, service and price.
A Foreigner’s Guide to Starting a Small Business in Thailand – As Written By an Actual Foreigner Living in Thailand
A hot topic today for long stayers in Thailand is what type of business one should start if one is up to the task. After writing this post about starting a coffee shop in Thailand I’ve received many emails asking for my opinion about how to open other kinds of ventures also.
As much as my wife thinks I’m brain dead most of the time, I’m always brainstorming new business ideas in Thailand, that have potential and current with the times.
“We only have to find a need and fill it.” is a quote that I hold close to my heart.
An Update for June 2020 and Beyond
Okay, as of this update Thailand is in the midst of the corona (COVID-19) virus dilemma. On top of that, Thai household debt is at an all time high. It is a nation of voracious spenders, not savers.
As a result, foreigners are scared to travel to Thailand with the corona outbreak. Locals are more cautious about stepping outside. Business that relied on foreigner visitors are flailing, from tour agencies, Thai massage shops to popular night markets. Beauty salons, traditional Thai massage parlors and all types of malls were ordered to shut down.
Everything is back for businesses though since mid June 2020. Though as of writing, foreign internationals are still barred from entering Thailand.
What Does All This Mean?
It means if you’re planning on doing business in Thailand you should never, ever focus on foreigners.
Although the Thai economy is not in great shape, locals are still spending, regardless whether or not they are living paycheck to paycheck. They are not squirreling their salary when things get worse. Thais might be a little bit more cautious on their spending habits. But Thais still have to eat.
With the poor economy, a looming pandemic that looks like it’s getting worse, you might be having second thoughts about starting a small business in Thailand.
Certain small business types are able to withstand a poor economy…
If this scares you, it should. But I’m not here to scare you. The key is to look for recession proof businesses. History has shown there are certain types of businesses that can withstand a bad economy and perhaps a pandemic.
And, I also know there are a lot of people reading this and still plan on forging ahead with plans to live in Thailand and start their own little businesses.
Because to this day, I still get emails from people asking me advice on starting all kinds of businesses here in Thailand.
I Knew There Were Many Foreigners Intrigued About Starting A Business in Thailand – But I Did Not Know There Were So Many From All Around Over the World
I’ve received many questions about starting a tour agency in Bangkok. A t-shirt printing company in Hua Hin. Even a durian farm in Chanthaburi. Also a tofu factory in Pattaya too.
I admit, those business ideas are far and out of my area of expertise. However, I am so amazed about the variety of questions coming from people around the world interested in starting businesses in Thailand. From all walks of life, ages and backgrounds.
Now before you read any further, I am writing for those that are interested in starting a small to medium enterprise (SME) in Thailand.
If you need information for starting a large corporation, then I’m sorry to say, I’m not your guy. But if the salary is just right you can hire me as a consultant. But I warn you, I’m not cheap.
I opened a Thai massage once, but it didn’t work out so had to close it down
On a serious note, personally I’ve never started a large company in Thailand. Only small businesses located in Bangkok. Some are doing well. And some I had to shut down.
I micro-manage my companies without doing any actual hands-on work. I will explain further about this by delving into the topic on how to start a small business in Thailand first.
And then talk about the need for a work permit or not.
Never Start a Small Business in Thailand Focused Only on Foreign Tourist
I also do not recommend starting any type of business where your sole customer base are foreigners.
If there’s an event, such as this current corona virus in Thailand situation that’s drastically reducing the amount of tourists, your business will suffer the consequences.
The situation has become so dire that a group of Thai shop renters inside MBK mall has called on the landlord to reduce their rent as they rely heavily on tourists money. This type of response has trickled down to other tourist heavy shopping centers like Pratunam.
Now that we’re clear, I’ll get into a little bit about registering a business in Thailand for some context.
Forming a Corporation in Thailand For Running a Business as Foreigner
For my businesses in Thailand I never had my name attached to any of them. Everything is under my Thai wife’s name.
I don’t have an exact statistical number to share with you. But I’m sure, that a vast majority of small businesses in Thailand started by foreigners don’t have their names attached to their businesses also.
Like me, most of them have their business registered to their Thai spouse, Thai girlfriend or Thai boyfriend. It’s the same as a partnership. Except you’re a silent partner.
Thailand is conducive to foreigners starting mid to large sized companies. But not so much for foreigners wanting to open small little shops that don’t require a huge start-up capital. You’ll understand why later.
I have to admit, my view on this will be biased…
To Break Things Down, There are Two Ways to Have Your Own Little Business in Thailand
1. The Easy Peasy Cheapie Way – Pros and Cons
Pros
This is where a Thai spouse comes in handy if you want to register a little business. With the least cost and amount of paperwork. Though if the business is under your Thai spouse’s name, then technically, you don’t really own the business.
Regardless, this is the method most foreigners staying in Thailand use. Because they have a strong relationship with their Thai spouse and also within their family. And they are comfortable with their significant other being the sole business owner on paper.
Steps for Thais to Open Small Businesses
Thais don’t need a lawyer or an accountant to start a small business. For Thai citizens registering a small business is simple and fast. Here’s how easy it is for them:
Go to their local government business registry office.
Show lease contract (if renting) or proof of business address, a photocopy of Thai ID and a printed photo of the shop’s exterior. Answer some questions pertaining to business. Yes, for small businesses you can open first, and then go register later.
Pay fee for administrative work and business registration paper. This cost about 50B to 100B in Bangkok.
They’re in and out of the registry office within an hour.
Cons
I know Thai-Foreigner relationships could be a touchy subject for many. I’m sure someone will ask me, what if my Thai wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend runs away?
I don’t know anything about your personal relationships nor able to tell your future. But if this is your legitimate concern, then maybe you’ll want to hold off on starting a new business venture in Thailand.
Also the thought must’ve crossed your mind about what would happen if your Thai spouse suddenly dies? In that case, you better have children. Or get busy making a bunch of babies.
Practically every single foreigner that I know have children with their Thai spouse. Because the eldest child will be next inline to inherit the business.
If something unfortunate does occur while the child is very young then you should have a serious discussion with your spouses’ family beforehand.
No one likes to sit down and discuss these situations. Thais could consider it bad luck. Wait, let me take that back.
They will consider it bad luck and will most likely hurt their feelings. It certainly wasn’t easy for me when I did the talk. But it was necessary.
2. The You’ll Need a Thai Lawyer, Sign a Bunch of Papers, Expensive Way – Pros and Cons
Pros
If you want to be known as the official sitting CEO then you’re going to have to register your business officially with the Thai government.
You’ll need a registered capital of 2 million baht as a requirement. It doesn’t matter if you’re opening a small low cost business.
I don’t know about you. But that’s a hefty price tag for one planning to open a tiny 10 square meter coffee shop with four tables and some chairs. Good news is you can use the registered capital for company operations.
Though I know many foreigners in Thailand with small business ideas don’t even plan to spend 2 million baht let alone have the budget.
There’s really not much pros for small business owners. Except you’ll have your name on paper as an official business owner.
Cons
As an American citizen I can start a business in Thailand under Treaty of Amity. Which means American citizens can wholly own a registered company Thailand. But going through all the process is unnecessary in my situation.
If you’re not an American than you’ll need to find more than one Thai shareholder or partners.
Like almost every other developed country you have to pay corporate taxes. I don’t want to get too much detailed about this part mainly because I’m not a tax professional in Thailand.
You might want to contact Siam Legal for their expertise on this matter.
You’ll Need Thai Partners
Besides Americans, other foreign nationals are unable to own the entire company alone in Thailand. You will be required to have Thai partners. Three of them to be exact.
And if you own majority shares you have to file a Foreign Business License. Which cost extra and prolongs the process. But if majority shareholders are Thai then the business registration process will be smoother.
Plus a Thai law firm is required to help you navigate the rules and facilitate the process. Though the Thai government has made it quicker for foreigners to get their Thai business registered. You still need to spend a lot of money.
Aside from the 2 million registered capital I don’t know what the other cost are. But off the top of my head it’s not going to be cheap.
As I mentioned earlier, it seems the country prefers foreigners starting a large professional company with Thai partners.
For foreigners wishing to start a small shop on their own in Thailand it’s nearly impossible.
If you have the necessary capital to fund a medium to large business in Thailand you’re probably wondering, where can you go find Thai partners?
Yes, this part will be difficult and I don’t have any answers. Again, if you’re opening up a small shop, like a specialty candy store it doesn’t make sense to have a bunch of partners does it?
Like I mentioned the system in Thailand is not set up in anyway beneficial towards small and certain medium enterprises.
To Get a Work Permit or Not to Get a Work Permit
In Thailand it is unlawful for foreigners to work in the kingdom without a work permit. As it is in most countries. Though you want to open a very small business in Thailand, this really shouldn’t be such a big issue.
Your Thai spouse can delegate the responsibilities that you have instructed. You can’t serve the customers, work the cash register or clean the toilet (which is a good thing) directly.
Even if you do interact with customers inside your shop the chances of you getting caught by a passing immigration officer with super keen intuitive eye is super, super slim.
Once in awhile Thai immigration run crackdowns on illegal workers. But they are focused more on illegal workers from bordering nations like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Thai immigration officers also crack down on English language schools where foreign nationals are teaching English without the necessary documents or qualifications.
They usually go for the bigger fish. It looks better in the news when it gets reported.
I’ve never heard or read about any foreigners secretly working inside their small business get into trouble with the law.
Not All Thai Visa Types Allow Employment
I have a non immigrant O-Visa based on marriage. So I am allowed to be employed as long as I get a valid work permit. But I don’t want it.
If you do, make sure your Thai visa states that you are allowed to work. Because I know with Thai tourist visas, employment is prohibited.
If you carry a Thai tourist visa you are unemployable…
For me, it’s not necessary for me to interact with customers. If it isn’t necessary for you to perform any services then don’t bother. You can lurk behind somewhere in the shop and just watch.
I have seen many foreign owners in Thailand interact with Thai customers. And they have no work permit. I know, because I’ve asked them. And they’ve been working without work permits for years with no consequences. They’re not worried at all. They’re even well like by their Thai customers.
However, if somehow you defied the odds and actually got caught working inside your small business without a work permit you could be imprisoned up to five years and or fined from 2000B to 100,000B.
Okay now that I got the legal (boring stuff) part out of the way you’re probably wondering what’s a good business idea to start in Thailand.
Here are my thoughts.
Everyone’s Got to Eat and Cut Their Hair
The food industry is hands down, 100% the best type of business to start in Thailand. Though I want to make it clear, if you can’t cook a proper meal to save your life then you might want to skip the food business.
Second thing that comes to my mind are mens’barber shops. You can find Thai barbers for hire but you yourself must have some experience in the barber business.
There are a few other small business ideas I think can do well in Thailand and I’ll briefly touch on them. But the food business and barbers shop idea are two of the most recession proof businesses in Thailand. It may not be for other countries. But below you’ll see why.
First let’s talk about starting a food business in Thailand.
Why Food?
Did you know that Thai residential buildings do not have kitchen gas stoves?
I grew up in apartments in NYC most of my life. A gas stove was as common as a refrigerator and toaster oven.
When I looked for apartments all those years ago when I decided to live in Bangkok long term, I was looking for a place with a spacious kitchen. I went around like an idiot asking for one. I couldn’t find any. Because there aren’t any.
Though most upscale Thai condominium today have a decent sized kitchen. But again, no gas powered stoves as they are considered dangerous fire hazards inside Thai condominiums and apartments.
The Reasons Why Thais Eat Outside Frequently
There are no gas pipe-lines beneath the grounds of Thailand. Portable propane tanks and electricity are the primary fuel source used for cooking inside Thai residences.
Even fast food chains, small and large restaurants, every food type business in the kingdom either use charcoal, propane gas, electricity or a combination.
And propane tanks are not allowed to be used inside apartment and condominiums for safety reasons. To cook Thais have to use electric induction stoves. But electric induction stoves are expensive and also increases electricity bill.
Propane tank usage is allowed inside residential houses and townhomes.
Local Thai Food – The Ultimate Recession Proof Business in Thailand
Also, the newer generation of Thais can not cook. Especially young Thais living in Bangkok. Plus the availability of ready made meal choices make people lazy to cook.
They rather buy small bags of pre-cooked food on their way to work or going back home. They can pop inside a 7 -Eleven for a quickie meal. There are tons of hawker stands set up with plastic seats and wobbly tables to eat on. There’s no need to wash pots, pans and dishes at home.
So the good news is that the food industry is still a very good small business idea in Thailand. The bad news is the food industry in Thailand is super competitive. Either way, people still have to eat regardless the condition of the economy.
Though a major cost of any business is rent. But, if you’re interested about a food industry in Thailand then you might want to consider a home based food business.
Home Based Food Delivery Business and Leveraging the Power of Social Media in Thailand
If You Can Cook or Bake – You’ve Got a Fair Chance
If you can bake a kick ass strudel or a bake a cheesecake better than Junior’s then consider a door to door food delivery service. It’s the perfect opportunity to have a home based business in Thailand today.
Commercial electric and propane gas powered ovens are readily available. You can find them at Makro. Commercial ovens that use propane tanks cost about 25,000B. Electric ovens cost about 35,000B. Second hand equipment are plenty.
And you’ll have to pay to promote your Instagram photos and videos or boost Facebook posts to reach a wider audience.
Good news is in Thailand not too many businesses advertise on social media. At the moment. Which means that the advertisement cost is lower due to less competition. But I wouldn’t count on it staying that way much longer.
A Prime Example – Fat Girl at Heart
My wife ordered a cheesecake from Fat Girl At Heart after seeing one of their sponsored post on Instagram. I’m sure they spent a lot of money on promoting their eye catching yummy cheesecakes on Instagram ads. As a result they’ve gained a lot of attention in Bangkok.
Her mouth watering dessert photos worked their magic. My wife and I bought from them twice already since writing. Judging from her comments and reviews on her Instagram account she’s got plenty of satisfied repeat customer.
Not bad for a home based business that started off without a full commercial kitchen.
Thais Love Seafood – Especially When It’s Spicy
Spicy seafood boil is a good business idea too in Thailand…
Seafood boils are very popular in Thailand. Every single night market has one these days and they’re usually full of customers. It’s not a cheap meal but Thais love seafood, especially when it’s spicy.
This is a perfect easy home business. I might kick my own ass in the future for telling people about this. Seafood boils are easy to make at home. I’ve got my own secret seafood boil recipe. But you can research your own.
You get the sauce right. You boil the shrimps, squid and clams just right (don’t overcook it), drain the seafood thoroughly. Then dump the seafood inside a sturdy kitchen bag full of spicy sauce and you shake it around vigorously until every single morsel is covered. Voila.
Then use one of the any food delivery service available and you’re in business.
Pizza – Even Thais Love Pizza Too
I live just right on the outskirt of Bangkok and I’ve got a home with a backyard. I was thinking about building a wood fired oven behind the house.
Thanks to some instructional videos from youtube I’m confidant I can build one too. Once I finished building out my oven I can start testing pizza recipes. Then, when I’m satisfied I’ve got a great tasting wood fired oven pizza I could advertise on social media.
Wood fire ovens for making delicious pizzas. I would love to have one of these in my yard.
Start giving my neighbors samples. I actually think Thai people would prefer thin crust Neapolitan style pizzas. Over popular thick crust like Pizza Hut and Pizza Company. If they like it and get hooked I’ll start charging them. Sounds like a great plan to me.
Pizza ingredients are readily available in Thailand so you should have no problems finding good quality cheese, tomato sauce and flour.
A real NY pizza slice in Bangkok… If you can make this at home and do delivery you can do well…
Just a side idea. There are companies that sell wood fired ovens in Thailand. But not many. If you’re good at construction and can learn how to build these ovens, then I believe you can go around and try and sell this type of service to homeowners.
Healthy Foods in Thailand
So eating pizzas on a regular basis isn’t ideal. As much as there are unhealthy foods in Thailand, healthy food alternatives are making strides into the eating habits of local Thais and especially expats.
The health food industry in Thailand will be risky, due to scale and complexity. But it’s a niche market with not a lot of competition. Younger generations of Thais are becoming more health conscious.
Most are aware and educated about the dangers of an unhealthy diet. And the health risks of eating a high salt and high sugar diet.
Paleo Robbie in Thailand is serving the paleo diet niche and seems to be doing very well
Sad to say, eating healthy in Thailand is not cheap. Salad bars are expensive inside supermarkets and restaurants. Thai people want to eat healthy. But unhealthy food choices are much cheaper than healthy ones.
I always like referring to this online specialty grocer Paleo Robbie and as their name states focus on the paleo diet. You can order pre-cooked gourmet meals and have it delivered to you on a scheduled basis. Or shop for organic vegetables, free-range poultry, hormone and anti-biotic free meats from New Zealand and Australia.
Their prices are reasonable. The majority of their customers from what I can tell on their Facebook page are Thai and foreign professionals.
I don’t know how well they’re doing financially. But I’m assuming they’re doing okay. Because they’ve got a lock on this niche business.
What If You Can Do This on a Smaller Scale…
There’s no doubt Paleo Robbie is a registered company in Thailand. With big financial backing. Perhaps more than 10 employees, a large kitchen and warehouse storage facility.
But if you’re on a smallish budget I think you can work the same but at a smaller, specialized scale. And grow as your customer base grows.
If you can cook really well and knowledgeable about ingredients as well as find out where to source organic meats and vegetables you can create a small menu and start from there.
I only found out about Paleo Robbie through Facebook and Instagram. You too can leverage the reach and power through social media in Thailand.
However, I would do something differently.
I’ve never seen videos of Paleo Robbie’s staff cooking food. They only have photos showing prepared foods, or pictures of happy customers with their groceries. And that’s a great way to promote their brand.
It’s the Personality or The Face of the Company That Sells, Not the Food
But I believe if they showed a human aspect to their company they will be able to connect and reach even more customers. Not just through photographs.
They should focus on making videos. For example have chef or a cook prepare a healthy fresh meal from start to finish. They can showcase their specialty ingredients which customers can order. Everything is filmed and uploaded to Youtube.
Maybe they’re concerned about people stealing their recipes. Thus no one would order from them. True this could happen. But the numbers would be miniscule.
Emeril Lagasse – You might not recognize that face. But for a long while he entertained millions of people with his cooking shows, pre-Youtube days.
If this were true across the board, famous chefs wouldn’t be writing cookbooks at all. Or doing cooking demonstrations and shows in public and record a series of cooking shows.
The fact is, people want to be entertained first. They don’t have the time to cook. Let alone shop for all the ingredients. I’ve watched hundreds of hours of cooking shows. You might’ve watched more than me.
Have you cooked everything you saw on television or internet? I think not.
And a lot of people have a fear of cooking, literally. The idea of showing a video to a viewer interested in the Paleo diet is just to create a bond that photos can not achieve.
Thais are fickle eaters. Better bring your A game to retain customers…
I don’t know about you, but whenever I watched cooking shows like Emeril Lagasse, I felt like I’m inside the studio watching Emeril cook from the comforts of my sofa.
We can’t taste what he made through the television. For all we know, it could be too salty and bland. But because Emeril is so likable, we’ll take the leap to assume that whatever he cooked is delicious nonetheless.
Bottom line is, if you can produce a cooking video where you can make the viewer like you for your wit, charm and cooking expertise, then you’ll have better chances of getting orders from viewers.
Establishing a bond with your customer base is the key to any business, whether small or large. This is essential to any business.
So you might not need a kitchen space this big. But it is best to get the biggest that your budget can afford.
Food Sounds Great. But I’ve Got No Space…
Any food business you think about starting up in Thailand you should have plenty of kitchen space. Big kitchen space inside Thai apartments and condominiums do not exist. Even large Thai homes don’t have adequate cooking space.
Most Thais who own their own houses typically have to do their own renovations to expand kitchen space. Or build one from ground up.
If you have the money, you can rent an old small townhome. There are many decades old townhomes all over Bangkok for rent. No one lives inside because it’s an older building and it could be deep down a Soi. If you’re doing a food delivery or catering business you don’t have to worry about dining spaces.
Thai townhouses are usually three floors. That’s plenty of enough space for a kitchen on the first floor. Storage on the second floor and the third floor you or your staff could live in.
Since you’re not opening an eat-in restaurant, you don’t have to worry about designing restaurant decor. Not unless you want to make a chef’s table.
That’s just an idea. You just need to make a nice, clean kitchen space that will look good on video when you’re cooking. Then train your staff to prepare and cook meals properly.
You Don’t Have to Hire In-House Delivery People
When hungry customer orders food or desserts from you, you’ve got to get it to their hands quickly. One reason why home based food business can do well, particularly in Bangkok is due to on demand delivery service providers.
For a nominal fee based on distance and charged to customers, messenger app company Line created Line Man door to door delivery service. There’s also Lalamove a newcomer delivery service based in Hong Kong. Grab food delivery is everywhere today in Thailand. Food Panda charges too much money and not feasible for home based food business.
Everything is delivered on a motorbike. So orders can get to the destination quick while hot.
I’ve used these services before and it’s really reliable. Which is one of the reasons why I think home based food business can do very well.
These days as long as you have the right products and a solid social media presence you don’t have to open a sit-in restaurant and pay exorbitant rent.
Finally, I don’t recommend opening a sit in restaurant. Not unless you own the building or property.
What I’ve Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand
My wife and I have a couple of nail salon businesses in Thailand. So our salons were ordered to shut down by the government to stem the infection rate. All non-essential businesses were ordered to close as a matter of fact.
Except businesses in the food industry. Though there are health rules restaurants and food businesses had to adhere to they could still stay open and earn a living.
I’ve always wanted to open a food business. And just recently I’ve got the chance to start one up. I won’t go into too much details about what style of food nor where I’m opening my food business.
But like I’ve been preaching, to promote a food business start making videos.
Support my channel by subscribing and liking the video. And do try these recipes!
I’ve always loved the food business and I can’t wait to get back in! So my biggest advice if you want to do a food biz in Thailand is to promote, promote, promote! Use social media as much as you can to succeed.
Next Big Idea – The Old Fashioned Men’s Barber Shop
If there’s one business that comes close to being recession proof it would be mens’ barber shops. The past few years I’ve seen an uptick of barber shops with a newer, fresher look.
Behind those flash yet vintage looking barber shops are young Thais running their own barber business.
Night market spots are really popular for young Thai men to get a trim or buzz cut. You’ll see plenty in this super famous night market in Bangkok.
Thai men like to have their hair cut short and neat. Some like the side fade look. Some like quiff. Having shorter hair is practical in Thailand.
Just think about yourself when you were in your younger days and started discovering girls. Didn’t you primp your hair and put a single strand of hair in place? In Thailand multiply that 10x. Thai men love to keep their hair in good order to attract the opposite sex.
It doesn’t matter if the economy is in the crapper. Thai guys want to look good. Period.
There Are Practical Reasons Too
For instance many Thai males own a motorbike. Most wear helmets so having shorter hair makes wearing helmets more comfortable. And shorter hair makes messy helmet hair less noticeable.
If you lived in Thailand long enough you might say Thais don’t wear helmets. Well still, having shorter hair makes more sense than having longer hair flailing around their eyes and face on a highway. Thus, they need to cut their hair short regardless.
You’d think barber shops only have male customers. Well they also have females also, but these aren’t your average frilly girls. They’re called “Toms” in Thailand but they’re the same as lesbians. And they keep their hair short, just like men.
The Cutler in Chiang Mai. Check out his youtube video.
The cost of a cut and shave starts about 80B – 100B in the residential neighborhoods of Bangkok. Though popular barber shops with skillful barbers can charge almost double. Doesn’t sound like a lot per cut but you make it up through volume. Because it’s that cheap they go to their favorite local barber shops once a month if not twice to get a trim.
In this line of business you have to open near an area with a high concentration of apartments. With adequate parking for motorbikes.
Even though I personally think starting a barber shop in Thailand is a great business to run I believe the biggest hurdle in this venture would be finding experienced barbers. And I don’t know any.
But this is just an idea off of my head. I know nothing about cutting mens’ hair. But if you’re reading this, maybe you know how to cut mens’ hair professionally. And you can teach Thais that are willing to learn how to cut hair and from there start out a barber shop.
Photo Credit: Coconuts Bangkok
Starting a Barber Shop Franchise
Thais with extra spending cash interested in starting a businesses love purchasing franchises.In their eyes it’s a business in a box model that if have a proven success model could be replicated.
To date, I do not know of any barber shop franchises. There are unisex hair salons but no barber shop specific franchises in Thailand.
Go set up a great looking logo. Design an interesting looking barber shop with consistent look. Again, if you are a skilled professional mens’ barber, you can train Thais, either men or women to cut mens’ hair.
Getting Known – Putting Your Products and Services Out There
No one can deny the power and reach through social media. Facebook and Instagram are on everyones’ smart phone in Thailand.
Coincidentally, Thailand is a country where the usage of social media is through the roof. According to this statistic, in Thailand there were 26.3 million facebook users in 2018. And it’s projected to climb higher.
To be honest, that number is super-inflated. I don’t think they’ve taken into account that Thais have multiple Facebook accounts on multiple phones. Thais also delete Facebook accounts and start new ones frequently.
But let’s eliminate 10% as duplicate accounts. That’s still 23 million Facebook users. It’s safe to say that everyone with a Facebook account will also have Instagram account.
Measuring Success
If you go in to starting a small business in Thailand and think it’ll make you rich. You might have to brace yourself for disappointment. I’m not saying you can’t make money.
Or maybe you can if you are as innovative and business savvy as Richard Branson.
But most small business owners in Thailand do okay. With a little bit of extra income to supplement their laid back lifestyles. Sustaining the business is the hardest part.
The most important thing is you’re doing something that you like. If you are passionate about cooking then operating a small restaurant or catering business would be perfect for you.
If you can’t cook or even have a basic culinary background you should learn first.
Know When to Call it Quits
Sometimes we think we’ve got the perfect idea, the perfect location, the perfect employees and the perfect product. Then the business becomes a money pit. Feeling dejected you throw in the towel and call it quits.
The hardest thing to do in life is shutting down the first business you’ve ever started. I know that feeling all too well. On the bright side after losing your second and third business the pain is little bit more tolerable.
It’s important to have a goal post to measure how well or how bad the business is doing. And from then on decide if it’s viable to stay, or to go. It’s never an easy decision to make.
I’ll end this off with some of my final thoughts. Running a small business is a great way to pass the time, or keep yourself busy in Thailand. You could be retired, or you could be a business owner from another country looking to start something new.
Thailand does have potential. But in my humble opinion there are many more Southeast nations more suitable for opening a business.
You just have to look deep inside yourself and think about the real reasons why you want to start a small business in Thailand. If it’s because you think it’ll make you rich, you might have to think much, much deeper.
For me, I’m married to a Thai, with a baby coming soon, which is the sole reason why I’m here.
And I think with some good planning, perseverance and a lot of good luck you can also run one or two successful businesses in Thailand.
