Tourists travel to Thailand but they make one big mistake—”worst nightmare”

A video capturing the logistical challenges of traveling in Thailand with suitcases has gone viral on TikTok.

The clip posted by Manni (@awaywithmanni), taken on her journey through Asia, has garnered over 2.2 million views since it was uploaded on November 7.

The video shows two travelers on Ao Nang beach, heading toward a boat they are aiming to board. But there is no dock, so they have to roll their luggage across the sand and then hoist it into the air, holding it above the water as they wade the remainder of the way to the boat.

An overlay on the video reads: “You may want to rethink taking a suitcase to Thailand.”

In an interview with Newsweek, Manni explained that she captured the footage at Ao Nang beach at around 6 p.m. on May 25.

“I traveled across Asia this spring and summer and went on a two-month trip from May to June after taking a sabbatical from my 9-5 corporate job to recover from burnout and regain inspiration,” she told Newsweek.

Manni said the travelers in the video were heading to Railay Beach, a popular destination accessible only by boat. The method of transport, she explained, posed challenges for suitcase owners. She saw staff occasionally assist, but many travelers had to manage their own bags through the water.

She said: “I saw quite a few travelers, most with suitcases, going on the boats. When they weren’t able to carry it, the boat staff would help them, but most travelers had to carry their suitcases. I think the water was quite deep, but the boats couldn’t come closer to the beach shore.”

The viral post comes as travel was projected to hit “record highs” this year, with global tourism spending in 2024 expected to reach U.S. $2 trillion, according to Euromonitor International, the market research firm.

‘My Worst Nightmare’

Manni opted to avoid Railay Beach due to the effort involved and decided to just people-watch and catch the sunset before heading back to her hotel in Krabi.

However, she noted that not all of Thailand presents the same challenges. “You can travel with suitcases but must do some research about transfers. Some transfers will require you to carry your own suitcase. I think you can ask staff, but you shouldn’t rely on this all the time,” she advised.

Reflecting on her own experience, Manni explained that she avoided such struggles by traveling with a 60-liter backpack. However, she acknowledged that suitcases could still be suitable under certain circumstances.

For instance, during one transfer via a four-star hotel’s speedboat from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi, she did not need to handle her luggage. “The hotel staff did this for me, thankfully,” she said.

Manni said that careful planning could help travelers avoid unexpected hassles. “I saw plenty of people with suitcases in hostels, which was kind of relieving, and I plan to take one on my next trip due to a shoulder injury,” she said.

The viral TikTok video elicited a range of responses, with some users relating to the situation and others downplaying the difficulty.

User Sushi commented: “I literally had to do this myself. Not ideal, but you’ll survive.”

Another user, la_u358, said: “Hahahahhahahha omg my worst nightmare,” while kariina.lii added: “My suitcase would’ve been swept away, because my [stuff] be heavy.”

Others, however, shared more positive accounts of suitcase travel in Thailand. TikTok user Ebonyexploresthecity said: “I didn’t have this issue,” and Daylight Madness remarked: “Never had this problem though, and we went to one of the islands as well. Maybe it depends on locations.”

User delulumunchie said: “I never experienced this and I visited three islands.”

Jason Scot said: “I traveled a month and never had a single problem with my suitcase!”

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