Took a break from nomading during Covid and was excited to do my first Asia trip in several years once countries started opening up again. It's been once of the hardest trips of my life. For example I was planning to go to Thailand from Japan, booked some hotels in Thailand and I've had 3 separate spots try to scam me before I've ever arrived. I had one hotel charge my card two weeks ahead of the arrival on a pay at property booking (full amount, not a pre auth) another tried to charge my card on a free cancellation and right before songkran a major hotel (ascott embassy) sent me a message demanding my details to send me an advance payment link or else 'they can't guarantee my room' literally the night before my flight Tokyo -> Bangkok. Again this was another pay at property booking. Thailand has always had scams but it's generally been an east chill destination. I'm not even there yet and I'm having to deal with chargebacks etc! There just seems to be an element of unpleasantness to travel now that never seems to be there for me. Has anyone experienced the same?

I was excited to finally go on a trip and honestly I'm feel really over it right now.