This is Thai time explained!
We’re not talking about how to read or say Thai time (that’s a whole different story), we’re talking about how time is viewed in general within Thai culture and how this may effect your visit or life in Chiang Mai.
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So what is Thai time?
In general, Thai time is a relaxed reaction to time. Many locals will express “mai ben rai” (don’t worry) to someone not arriving on time, or to something not leaving or starting on time. You just have to be prepared that not everything operates on schedule here and try to have a relaxed mindset like the locals do about it!
If you’re visiting Chiang Mai with kids, how will Thai time effect your trip?
Getting picked up for a tour
When you book a day trip or a tour around Chiang Mai, the tour company will offer to pick you up from your hotel. They will state a specific time and you will be ready and waiting with the kids in tow. However, the time given is usually just the time of the first pick up in a string of pick ups from local hotels. You won’t have any idea whether your family will be first to be picked up, or the last. Waiting times can be up to an hour. Make sure you’ve got snacks and activities to entertain the kids just in case you have to wait. Also make sure you have the contact of your tour operator in case you begin to worry.
Funnily enough, tour operators will always manage to drop you off right on time!
Taking the train
Booking a train trip to or from Chiang Mai is a fun way to spend time with the kids and is sure to make travel memories. Thai time is no more prevalent than it is with trains in Thailand. You will be very lucky to have your train leave or arrive on time. That is not to say they are never punctual (they are), but more often than not, you can expect delays – sometimes hours. Make sure activities are handy to keep kids distracted. Also try to book the First Class trains as these are known to be the most reliable.
Traveling by bus
Buses in Chiang Mai, both public and private, are the most reliable source of transportation. They really stick to their schedules and you must be on time. No Thai time here! In our many years taking the bus to and from Chiang Mai, the wheels start to move right at departure time. Don’t be late!
Traveling by airplane
Like the buses, airplanes stick to a strict schedule, unless unexpected delays occur. No Thai time to worry about, just regular airport issues.
If you live in Chiang Mai with kids, how will Thai time effect you?
Children’s classes in Chiang Mai
Classes always end on time, but Thai time can cause them to begin late. It’s certainly not the case for all kids’ classes or activities in Chiang Mai, but it’s common for parents to drop their children off late. This can cause the class to begin late. In our experiences, sometimes classes would begin 15-20 minutes behind schedule and the lost time was never made up for.
We ended up finding different classes because you don’t want your child to lose out on something they enjoy and you certainly don’t want to feel like you’re wasting money or time!
Having a doctor’s appointment
This can take a while to get used to. Where we’re from, doctor’s appointments are set at a specific time and date, and if you miss it even by 15 minutes, you’re out of luck and may have to wait weeks to get another appointment! In Chiang Mai, Thai time is your friend! Hospitals seem to be so used to patients being late that (in less serious cases) appointment times are merely suggestions. The bonus here is that with Thai time in mind you can cancel or reschedule doctor appointments without any penalty!
Typically, you or your child will receive an appointment time between 8 am – 9 am for example. It can take up to an hour (sometimes longer) from arrival to actually see the doctor, although often wait times are less for specialists. Bring snacks, drinks and activities for the kids while you wait!
We’re so used to the system now that if our daughter has an appointment for 1 pm, we simply show up anytime between 1pm – 4 pm as your appointment isn’t actually a predetermined time. Pro tip! We’ve found that if you show up later in the afternoon, wait times are much faster! Keep in mind this is for general medical attention, not specialist care.
Housework and handy-mans in Chiang Mai
It may be no different to other places, but if you need any housework done, (plumbing, electricity, etc) it can be quite difficult here to; one, find someone who actually knows what they’re doing, and two, to actually show up when they say they will.
Some handy-mans take Thai time in jest and may make you wait hours from the set meeting time. In a few cases they won’t show up at all, and in the opposite spectrum, may take forever to get the job done.
Friendships
If you’ve befriended locals or expats (who’ve been here for a while), you’ll notice that they might have relaxed into the idea of Thai time and show up late to meet you. Be mindful because Thai time is contagious and you may end up doing it too!
What things aren’t effected by Thai time?
Your family can expect that buses (from the bus station), sporting events, movies, and airplanes are not affected by Thai time.
