Thailand is known for its amazing beaches and nightlife among other things. When you scroll through Instagram you’re greeted with beautiful models posed aesthetically among the gorgeous landscapes. When I first traveled to Thailand, I feared my size would be a significant hurdle when visiting. I researched how plus-size women were treated and if it was abnormal to be fat in this country. I drove myself mad and almost convinced myself not to go. I’m here to help ease the anxiety if you’re a plus-size woman looking to travel to Thailand. I’ll be giving you my experience as a reference to help ease your mind in preparation for your trip. Let’s Go!
Understand The Culture
This was a hard pill to swallow when I first visited Thailand. Not because I didn’t accept their culture, it was because I wasn’t comfortable with how forward Thai people were. Yes! Thai people are the most kind people. They truly define their land as the “land of smiles”, but it is likely to hear some unwanted comments from locals. As I traveled this country I heard many comments of “You’re so big” followed by a smile. I felt hurt and overall it made me feel self-conscious in public. Let me be clear! Do not allow different body and beauty standards to dictate how you feel about yourself. You have come to travel the world and there are going to be cultures that think differently about how you look. That is ok. As long as you are comfortable and love yourself then you should have no problem letting comments slide.
Comments On Size
“You’re BIG!” When shopping, I was met with many comments on my appearance. It’s not uncommon to have these experiences. Many vendors advertised having my size which was humiliating in the beginning until I realized how convenient it was. It might hurt at first to hear these comments but please understand that the Thai people don’t mean any harm when they address your size. Renting scooters, outdoor activities, and shopping are all things that might address your weight. When you hear these comments, smile and move on.
Shopping For Plus-Size Clothes
Ugh! This was an interesting experience. I’m pretty large by Asian standards and when I initially started shopping for clothes I was optimistic to know that Thailand had plus-size clothes. In Bangkok, there are a good amount of plus-size shops but you may notice that the shops have specific names that seem to mock those who shop there. Not only did that shock me, but seeing how small their plus-size clothes were was laughable. I didn’t get any clothes from Thailand due to my size not being available. Don’t let this deter you from shopping in Thailand.
Restaurants
Restaurants weren’t as intimidating. I did have a few comments that made me think twice but overall I never had much issues. I encountered people trying to advertise eating at their restaurants and noticed that they would heavily advertise towards me than my skinny fiancé. I thought nothing of it and kept moving. Also, most tables and chairs in Thai restaurants are comfortable and accommodating to large booties and hips so don’t worry about fitting! Overall, restaurants are plus-size-friendly!
Seats & Tables
I commented on this above but I wanted to reiterate that seating in Thailand is overall comfortable. There might be a few plastic stools or chairs at street food vendors but I can personally say that those plastic chairs are strong as hell. If you’re not comfortable sitting on them there is always alternative seating somewhere nearby. Booths are not as common as in Western countries so don’t fret if you usually worry about running into that issue when visiting restaurants.
Walking, Accessibility, and Transportation
When you travel to Thailand, be prepared to walk! If you don’t, you might miss so many awesome street vendors and shops. This country is easy to navigate and is very walkable. The terrain is pretty easy to walk and doesn’t have many hills to scale. Walking was easy for me and I never thought of it as a workout when looking for the nearest 7/11!!! If you’re not comfortable walking everywhere have no fear. Thailand has this awesome app called Grab which is a ride-share app. You can get picked up by motorbike or car and you can order food on days you’re planning to stay in. This is by far one of my favorite apps when traveling to Thailand due to how convenient it is. If you have physical disadvantages that limit you from climbing steps, you might run into issues when visiting certain temples. Not all temples have stairs but some of the most popular temples do. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai has 306 steps and it is said to have good luck if you walk up and down the stairs. If you can’t do so, there is a cable car that can take you up the mountain to the temple. Accessibility for the physical disadvantage might be mixed depending on how touristy and the terrain you’re planning to see.
Stares from Locals
I could write so much about the stares you will get but it won’t matter. You’re a foreigner in their country and unfortunately, you stick out to them. You will get the occasional stare but like what I said with the comments, you will not see these people again. Staring happens almost everywhere when traveling to SE Asia. Don’t let it bother you and understand that even smaller people get stared at.
Hostels, Sleeper Trains, Buses
If you’re planning to stay at hostels I advise you to contact the hostels in advance if you’re staying in shared dorms. Nothing is worse than getting a top bunk as a plus-size person. My fiancé was awesome and always volunteered to take the top bunk. Sometimes you want to swing your legs off or need extra room to get your backpack situated which can be a nightmare when you have little space up top. Having a lower bunk is convenient for me because I can stand on the floor while organizing everything on my bed, go to the bathroom quickly without the hassle of getting down, I can comfortably sit with my feet off the bed, and I’m not causing too much noise for those around me. Sleeper trains and sleeper buses also have bunks with less accessibility getting on top. The spacing isn’t as big and can be daunting getting up and down. Plan ahead to have a comfortable experience.
Activities
You’re on vacation so of course you’re looking to have fun. You’re in a tropical place where outdoor activities are abundant. Before you worry about if you’re able to participate in any of these activities we have to think about safety. When signing up for activities that have weight limits or size restrictions please be honest. Being honest about your weight isn’t to embarrass you, it’s to make sure that all the equipment will safely protect you in case of any risk.
Although there are activities that might be limiting there are still activities that you can sign up for that don’t feel like you’re missing out. For example, Snorkeling is an awesome activity that is size-inclusive. Snorkeling was one of the most memorable activities I ever did in Thailand and highly recommend doing it. When signing up for activities that you’re unsure of the limits, call the company and ask if they can accommodate you and if it’s accessible to your level of physical activity.
Elephant Sanctuaries
If you’re in Thailand you can’t miss out on elephants. I researched ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai and finally chose a company that aligned with what I was looking for. I was excited and never thought that I might run into any issues with my size viewing these animals until I saw the photos of the people in uniforms. I continued to scroll and began to see that all of the guests were wearing clothes given by the sanctuary and panicked. I panicked due to knowing that Thialand’s plus sizes weren’t as accommodating towards my size. I chose to wear clothes that matched the outfits of the uniforms just in case I was unable to fit. As I arrived at the sanctuary, they handed me the largest size without asking. As I tried changing into the clothes, I ripped the pants due to my belly and thick thighs. The shirt fit but I was now worried that I wouldn’t be able to see the elephants. I was transparent with the staff and they assured me that I was able to wear the top that fit and the shorts that I came in.
I never thought that uniforms at elephant sanctuaries would be an embarrassing hurdle but you can avoid my same problem by calling in advance about their uniform policy. Don’t be afraid to ask if they have your size and the alternatives if they don’t. I’ve never heard of people being turned away from these sanctuaries but it will save you embarrassment if you go. Please research ETHICAL elephant sanctuaries that rehabilitate and support elephants.
Toilets
When traveling Southeast Asia, you’ll be introduced to squatting toilets at least once on your travels. Many resturaunts and tourist areas have western toilets available also. Trains in Thailand are famous for having this style bathrooms. If there aren’t any available, you might have to use the fun squattie pooper! This can be a task if you’re a heavier person with bad knees. I recommend if you’re not comfortable sqautting or don’t want to use these toilets to use the bathroom before long travel. Unfortunately, you can’t plan when duty calls. If you’re in a situation where you have to use the restroom, widen your stance before squatting (TMI SORRY!!!). Most of the squat toilets have designated areas where you place your feet which is impossible for me to properly support myself so I choose to widen my stance and I have no issues. Another tip is to bring toilet paper with you everywhere. It’s not always common for public bathrooms to not have toilet paper but I’ve run into it this several times. (Remember! Do not flush your toilet paper!!!)
