Health & Beauty
Medical #
You can walk in to all clinics. Dr. Salarin is a good GP on Long Beach. For something more advanced with testing, Dr. Pad in Saladan is a good option. Thonburi Lanta offers 24-hour emergency care.
Dentists #
- Lanta Dente - Only dentist on the island, on Khlong Dao road.
Nails #
Barber and haircut #
Let me cut Barber - next to Slow Bar Caffetaria.
Ann Salon & Barbershop - lovely barber who takes care of stray animals as well.
How to avoid food poisoning #
This is my personal, non-scientific approach for times when getting sick simply isn’t an option. It is nearly impossible to judge a restaurant’s hygiene just by looking at it — so the trick isn’t finding the “safe” restaurant, it’s reducing your overall exposure.
Eat fewer meals. Switching from three meals a day to two cuts your risk by roughly 33%. Simple math, real impact.
Choose low-risk foods. Meat, fish, and raw ingredients carry the highest risk. Opt for cooked or fried vegetarian dishes instead. If you’re also worried about cooking oils, stick strictly to freshly cooked food and skip anything that’s been sitting out.
No salads. Raw vegetables are an easy one to avoid.
Skip the glass, drink from the can or bottle. Ice cubes get a lot of attention online, but in Thailand this is generally a low concern — still, it’s easy enough to avoid. More importantly, avoid drinking from glasses that may not have been properly washed.
Have a Coke with your meal. Not scientifically proven, but plausible: the phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola may help neutralize some bacteria. At worst, it’s a refreshing precaution.
Wash your hands with soap before every meal. This one should go without saying, but it’s easy to forget when you’re settling into a restaurant and the food smells amazing.
Use the toilet at your accommodation. Public and restaurant toilets vary wildly in hygiene. If you can plan around it, do.