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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 7:04 am Post subject: Is everything in Thailand a scam????? |
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Or am I just an exceptionally stupid tourist????
Ask for a city tour and get taken to see a tiny Budha statue and then get dragged into a tailor's shop...as if I want to buy a 3-piece suit...walk out of there...driver gives me a sob story about having to take me to all the scam shops on his list or he wont get paid...drags me off to a jeweler's...
have no interest in buying anything, but get the sneaking suspicion that if I don't buy something, I may not make it back to the hotel. Buy some fake jewellery so that they will let me go...get really overcharged... hand the driver double what he asked for and ...run away.
Go on another ..."tour" and more of the same...what's with this place?
Is there nothing that is what it's supposed to be?
I was under the impression that Thailand would be inexpensive, but so far everything seems a lot more expensive. Perhaps I just don't know where to look or something, but this is turning out to be a very costly vacation. |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:30 am Post subject: |
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It is best to plan your own tour, rather than to ask a local to give you one. If you do, of course, you will then be taken to everywhere that offers a commission if you purchase anything.
Don't buy ANYTHING because you feel you are supposed to.
No, not everything is a scam. If you get out of the tourist areas you will see a whole different Thailand.
Get away from the touts and just experience wherever you are. Try the local restaurants - you may need to use a Thai phrase book to help you - not many Thais speak English. Those that do - may have something to hustle.
If you go to the Thai areas - you will find things exceedingly inexpensive. B25 (US$0.75) for a good meal would not be unusual in Bangkok or other cities - a bit more in Phuket or other resort areas. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:23 am Post subject: |
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If I have booked with a local travel agency? (trip to Chang mai)
and it's looking a lot like it's overpriced, (I wish I'd read the warnings beforehand)
I've already paid for it, by credit card.
Should I even show up for the trip, or will it turn out to be scam after scam after scam? (it's a "VIP" bus trip)
Will it be safe, even if it's overpriced?
Or should I just call it a lesson, walk away and find my own way?
I need to know by tomorrow...please, can someone tell me? |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:48 am Post subject: |
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xxxx
Last edited by Kent F. Kruhoeffer on Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:15 am; edited 5 times in total |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:08 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear that your tour isn't going well. But live and learn and put it down to experience. Stuff like this has happened to all of us. The important thing to remember is to relax. 
| Quote: |
| I was under the impression that Thailand would be inexpensive |
This is a common myth that was true about ten years ago. Of course it is more expensive in Bangkok and popular tourist areas.
| Quote: |
| B25 (US$0.75) for a good meal would not be unusual in Bangkok or other cities. |
25 baht will get you a bowl of noodles, a plate of rice and something or some fried noodles (Mr. Pat Thai), but not a good meal. That will be around 200 - 300 baht, still relatively inexpensive though.
| Quote: |
If I have booked with a local travel agency? (trip to Chang mai)
and it's looking a lot like it's overpriced, (I wish I'd read the warnings beforehand)
I've already paid for it, by credit card.
Should I even show up for the trip, or will it turn out to be scam after scam after scam? (it's a "VIP" bus trip)
Will it be safe, even if it's overpriced?
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If it is just a trip and not a package tour, then it should be OK. The thing is that it is New Year's weekend and literally tons of Thais are heading to Chiang Mai to experience cool weather and go to the Royal Flora Expo that is happening there.
http://www.royalfloraexpo.com/
I would suggest that you do some research. Kurt Kreuhoffer has put together a lot of info on the Master Index page:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12862
Check out some of the tourism pages and decide what you really want to do. If you do go to Chiang Mai think about going to Mae Hong Son province or to Pai if you have time. |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 25 baht will get you a bowl of noodles, a plate of rice and something or some fried noodles (Mr. Pat Thai), but not a good meal. That will be around 200 - 300 baht, still relatively inexpensive though. |
When working in Bangkok only a few months ago, I regularly had chicken fried rice, phad ke maow, and other excellent dishes - for B25. You just have to go to a Thai area. I lived near Kasetsart Univeristy - so prices were decent. Okay, that and some stir-fried veggies - B50 total.
Northeast corner of Phahonyothin and Soi 41. Check it out.
B200-300 is a lot of money and will buy you a good Western meal in a tourist zone. In Phuket, this afternoon, I got a huge BLT for B175 from a Western deli (Siam Deli) just outside the Laguna Resorts - probably one of the more expensive areas on the island.
Yes, things can get expensive, but they don't have to be.
Happy New Year! |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:36 am Post subject: |
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xxxx
Last edited by Kent F. Kruhoeffer on Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:16 am; edited 2 times in total |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:54 am Post subject: |
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It is a package tour deal.
Bus, hotel,daily activities, return on train, then on to a beach town, in the south, hotel.
I'll have to go back to the hotel and get the name of the tour company.
The guy that took me there has his station just outside the Trang Hotel in BKK, if that helps anything.
The price was $800.00 US, which I don't mind as long as there are no more hidden costs. |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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xxxx
Last edited by Kent F. Kruhoeffer on Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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The company name is Tong Chai Tour 3,
101 Rangnam Road, Rajchetewee, Bkk
Anyway, I'll try calling.
Thanks for all the help, I hope I can return the favor someday.
Cheers. |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:30 am Post subject: |
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xxxx
Last edited by Kent F. Kruhoeffer on Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:17 am; edited 2 times in total |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: |
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Thank you sir! You are indeed a gentleman and my hat goes off to you.
I appologize for the inconvenient, stressed-out phone calls. I've forgotten what it's like to be alone in a new country and not knowing who I can trust.
I knew the price was a bit high when I bought the package, but my main concern was that I might end up having to pay twice for things.
(or having a bunch of hidden service charges or some other variant)
If I can ever be of service to you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Anyway,
Thank you so much sir.
Happy holidays.
WH |
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