**also, spoke with locals who are in the US, who told me the breakfasts most anywhere should be around $1. They laughed at the price my hotel gave me.

nothing for $1 except street food

and is it safe? They said for them it is because they grew up eating it. The also recommended tuk tuk rides, though I'm hearinng on Fodors they're not safe...

The hotel prices for breakfast are very high - but it makes sense to get it included in your room prices, as the breakfast buffets at the nice hotels are fabulous and enough food to hold you until dinner. But if it isn't included in your room price (it is at most hotel booking websites), go elsewhere. Is street food safe? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. And whether you grew up eating the street food has nothing to do with whether you might get sick. Have you gotten all of your recommended immunizations - especially Hep A and typhoid for food-bourne illnesses.

Tuk tuks expose you to all of the exhaust fumes, so are rather unpleasant. And of course, the tuks tuks near the major wats will all want to take you to gem stores and tailor shops.

a tuk tuk ride is fun--ONCE!

street food can be fine, but we prefer not to take a chance that it might not be... observe their facilities and decide for yourself.

Street food- don't be lulled into eating at a street stall because there is a line of people waiting- the locals are used to some of the bacteria present- your stomach likely is not. Use your common sense- you know that hot weather is not good for meats, and as I always say where does that food vendor go when he/she needs to use the facilities? Do they wash their hands with hot water and soap? How about the utensils used- are they washed in hot water often (or at all?). Yes some on this forum will swear they eat street food and nothing bad has happened- true enough for that person but are you willing to bet your vacation that you will have the same result?