When traveling to any foreign country, one of the greatest concerns of most individuals is safety. So, if you are traveling to the beautiful town of Cha-Am, it is reasonable for you to be worried about yourself as you check out the awe-inspiring attractions in the town. But is Cha-Am safe? Is there any safety concern that you should be aware of when going to the town?
When compared to most other tourist cities and towns around the world, Cha-Am is quite safe. You don’t necessarily need to watch over your shoulder as you move around the town to see its attractions, eat, and do other things. However, like other places, you need to exercise some levels of caution in Cha-Am as you don’t want to put yourself in a difficult situation that may jeopardize your safety.
Having noted that Cha-Am is a safe place to be, you may be wondering why this is so. Well, don’t get worked up over this as we will highlight some of the things you need to know about how safe Cha-Am is. Join us as we shed more light on the safety of this town.
Why Cha-Am is safe
- The crime rate is low
Generally, the crime rate in Cha-Am is low. In fact, it is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia. Apart from some odd crime news, there is hardly any crime issue in the town. But in the last few years, there has been a slight increase in the crime rate in Cha-Am. This is down to some carefree youths that have been showing some violent tendencies. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to be afraid of visiting Cha-Am. Generally, these criminals have specific places they frequent, and these places are usually out of the reach of tourists. So, as long as you are not looking for trouble with the handful of violent locals, you don’t have to be concerned about safety in Cha-Am.
- The roads are safe
When you are going to Bangkok and other busy cities, there are always challenges with road accidents. This is especially true during the holidays or special occasions. But the reverse is the case with Cha-Am. This is because the town is small, and the roads are not usually busy. Besides, most drivers and bikers in Cha-Am are not reckless; hence, pedestrians and other road users don’t have to be too worried about the possibility of experiencing road accidents.
Factually, you can rent a bike in Cha-Am and ride it around the town to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. As long as you don’t overstep your boundaries, there is no cause for alarm. However, when riding a bike in Cha-Am, you should make sure that you wear a helmet.
- The people are tolerant
Another reason for the safety of Cha-Am is the tolerance of the people. Apart from the few violent people in the town, most of the residents are tolerant. They are respectful people who are always ready to welcome visitors with open arms regardless of their differences. As long as you respect the locals, you can rest assured that you are safe irrespective of your age, color, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
- Security guards are often available
Although most security guards may look bored and uninterested in the things going on around them, they are available in the most popular areas in the town. As a result of this, they can easily come to your aid if you are dealing with any challenges. However, there may be communication issues for some of them, so you should be aware of this.
Safety concerns you must know
- The night may not be safe
Based on the comments of many tourists on Trip Advisor, you should not be complacent with your safety in Cha-Am. The majority of the places around the country are not safe at night, and Cha-Am is not different. While everyone can feel safe to go about their business during the day, we cannot say the same thing for the nights. In fact, strolling at night can be somewhat dangerous as most of the criminals in the town often take advantage of the night to execute their evil plans.
There have been lots of reports of robberies at night. So, when you are in Cha-Am, you should try to retire to your hotel early to rest and get set for the next day.
- Complacency can put you in danger
Complacency is a factor that can affect your safety in Cha-Am. Due to the perceived sense of safety, many tourists may be complacent and, as such, expose themselves to vices. You should not make such a dangerous mistake. Make sure you always stay alert.
Don’t keep any of your belongings in places where they can be easily stolen. If you ride a car, you should never leave your valuables inside it while doing something elsewhere. Leaving your items inside the car may be too tempting for criminals that may want to break into the car.
- Malaria may be a concern in some places
In Thailand, some mosquitoes are responsible for malaria. This means that there is always a risk of having malaria when you visit the country. However, Bangkok and the majority of the provinces in the country are safe from the health challenge. Also, in Cha-Am, most places don’t have any issues with malaria.
However, if you are staying in one of the rural areas within the town, you may want to protect yourself against malaria. Don’t wait until you have been bitten by malaria-causing mosquitoes before you will start safety guarding yourself. If your accommodation is in a rural part of the town, you should sleep under a mosquito net. Otherwise, you can use electrical plugs, skin spray, and other forms of repellents. In addition, you have to wear long-sleeved clothes when and where possible.
As we have shown above, Cha-Am is a safe town that tourists can visit and enjoy with little or no safety challenges. However, you shouldn’t look for trouble. Avoid humiliating or provoking any of the locals. Respect both the young and old. Once you have done all these things, you will be safe in Cha-Am.
