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Even though I read all about it here on VT, I still ended up on a tuktuk tour. Basically we happened to be in Bangkok on a public holiday and because of this, when we were told the Grand Palace was closed, we had no reason to disbelieve (see my other Tourist Trap tips for more details). A random Thai man flagged down a tuktuk for us who said he'd take us on a tour of various cool places (the Marble Palace etc). Of course, along with the pretty palaces comes the silk and gem shops.
Unique Suggestions: Luckily for us, our tuktuk driver was very honest. He simply told us if we spent five minutes browsing then he would get his petrol voucher from the shop owner and we didn't have to buy anything. At our second stop we were told that we didn't spend long enough browsing so the tuktuk driver didn't get his petrol voucher. Our "punishment" for that was to be taken to a third shop. We could have hopped off the tuktuk but we had no idea where we were (some dodgy backstreet) but the third shop was the final and we did get to see things we wouldn't have otherwise seen (the palaces not the shops) so we just went along with it. When we eventually got to the Grand Palace we paid our driver 100 baht and he went on his way. No harm done.
Fun Alternatives: The alternative would be to go via taxi but if you do that make sure you negotiate a fare beforehand!
Updated Mar 6, 2009
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A tuk tuk driver will quote you 10 bahy for a trip somewhere, but will then stop at a tailor and a jeweller on the way. They get petrol vouchers for dropping tourists at these places
Unique Suggestions: If you use a tuk tuk, the way you go about it is to ask the price, but WITH NO STOPS. If this is the price they give you, they will take you right there with no problems, and it is a lot of fun. The price is also for the tuk tuk, and not per person, so ask in full, then you have no hassels, eg. " what is the price for the 2 of us to MBK, no stops"....The price you are then quoted has no Hidden agendas
Written Dec 23, 2008
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A tour which has optional extras that you don't take - can have you left stranded at the side of the road.
My husband was dead keen to visit the Tiger Temple, near Kanchanaburi - and we found it relatively difficult to find a tour which went there. Thought we had jackpotted somewhat when we found one that encompassed River Kwai and tain ride plus tigers. However, we did not know that there were additional things which were juggled from the same vehicle. We were left at the side of the road near a swimming spot while others went off for elephant rides - and left there for over 90 minutes. Other stops and collections later, we were dropped off at the tigers. The day was much longer than needed.
Unique Suggestions: Just check all of the options on the tour, and check how the itinerary is arranged around the various choices.
Updated Jun 18, 2007
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Scenario
First time visitors to the Grand Palace will be filled with awed until some license guide will approach you and say that in order to get around the Grand Palace ..."you need a guide."
Solution
You can rent a "self audio tape recorder guide.
Unique Suggestions: If you really need extensive explanation of the Grand Palace, you may need a guide.
HOWEVER, you can rent a "self-audio tape recorder guide" for free adjacent to the ticketing counter.
Just provide your credit card details (as a securitiy for the recorder) and off you go ....on your self guide of the Grand Palace.
Its fun in a way coz you can re"start" the sections if its going too fast for you
Updated Sep 5, 2006
I don't know whether this should be regarded as a tourist trap. First we supposed to go floating market in the morning. This tour is supposed to cost 850baht including afternoon rose garden. However, the tour guide will say that there is a lot of time in between and will take us to elephant ride and snake farm for 700baht extra. Actually, there is a tour inside the agency which cost 950baht total for all this (A 600baht extra per person!!!). It is hard to say no since the whole group seemed to be ignorant of the matter and all agree to go.
Written Jul 8, 2006
They'll make you stop everywhere just so you'll buy jewelry. And offer you useless "boat ride" trips that cost too much when you can go off on your own and join a group of people.
Unique Suggestions: Befriend your "tour guide" so she feels guilty and lowers the cost for you and spends the rest of the day driving you to places you actually want to see. I had a special tour just for me with my own driver which wasnt TOO bad. i liked that i had my own chauffeur hehehe.
Fun Alternatives: skip the boat ride for sure. i think it's called the canal tour. and if the city tour and the temple tour is the same, just go for the grand palace. it's the best. the rest of the little temples all just look like miniature versions of the grand palace. if you're really into temples, than go ahead but if you're more for an overall experience, ask to be taken to the shows. i paid for thai dinner, dancing and a ladyboy show. totally worth it. didn't regret the experience at all.
Written Jun 2, 2006
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I tripped twice with the same stone......if you buy a ticket to cambodia by bus, trust me is a nightmare, they´ll will take time on poupose on the frontier to arrive late to your destination, they´ll stop in every restaurant on the trip ...even if they are late they ´ll stop about 30 kilometers from destiny to arriva as late as they can....tired you arrive to tthe drivers family or friend guest house, not near to others....with no options ....you´ll stay ( i did not )
Unique Suggestions: be patient, I prefer to go like the picture....
Fun Alternatives: Pay the extra money and go by airplane....
Written May 1, 2006
Helpfulness
I tripped twice with the same stone......if you buy a ticket to cambodia by bus, trust me is a nightmare, they´ll will take time on poupose on the frontier to arrive late to your destination, they´ll stop in every restaurant on the trip ...even if they are late they ´ll stop about 30 kilometers from destiny to arriva as late as they can....tired you arrive to tthe drivers family or friend guest house, not near to others....with no options ....you´ll stay ( i did not )
Unique Suggestions: be patient
Fun Alternatives: Pay the extra money and go by airplane....
Written May 1, 2006
I just got done doing the river canal tour and all the sudden we are dropped off at the Gem store, OK, didn't see that coming. Our tour guide is like "do you want to buy some gems" no I am here on vacation, not here to buy some stinking gems.
Fun Alternatives: Tell your tour guide no to Gem stores....inflated prices and they follow you everywhere you go... My wife and I were basically running out the store.
Updated Mar 13, 2006
The tuktuk drivers will say that the Grand Palace is closed for lunch. Then they'll offer to take you around to tour you to other sites or some other tourist attraction but will actually take you to a tailor or a jewelry shop. Another I also experienced is taking a private long boat to Chang Pier. We agreed to a price and thought thats it. But no, when we landed on the other side, I was asked to pay the landing fee. I thought I made it clear that the price we negotiated was already set in stone. I know these guys need to make a buck, but it's really in their best interest to be upfront about their fees and none of this hoodwinking business.
Unique Suggestions: Plan ahead. Research your destination and try to avoid tuktuk drivers and private long boats. Stick to public boats and trains if possible Taxis as not that much more expensive but take only one that will use the taxi metre.
Written Nov 13, 2005
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Write a ReviewThe tuktuk drivers will say that the Grand Palace is closed for lunch. Then they'll offer to take you around to tour you to other sites or some other tourist...
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