Make sure you know EVERY stop on a tour and other Bangkok, Thailand Tourist Trap Tips

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.

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: Just check all of the options on the tour, and check how the itinerary is arranged around the various choices.

If you are spatially impaired as I am - even with a map in hand - take great care asking locals for directions! They often won't understand - or know - and they will smile and point in a general direction - or seem to know what they are telling you from the map - and you will end up even more lost!

Have spent literally hours wandering - wandering - lost and frustrated with myself. No wonder I was hopeless at maths!

Mind you, on a lighter and brigher note, there are always things to see - and sometimes these lost adventures can be amongst your best!

Leave a Comment

Alternative: Grab a meter taxi - and ask where the nearest wat is - and which one etc. - just get a landmark to get your bearings.

We went on a budget tour - discussed in another tip by me. We went to Kanchanaburi to visit the River Kwai, the cemetery and take a rail ride. My husband and I had been there previously, and visited the cemetery IN Kanchanaburi, where there are hundreds of Australian headstones - our country. On the second tour, we were taken to another cemetery, outside town, and told that this was the "real" one, as the other one only contained headstones - no actual graves. No issue with regard to paying respects to the fallen from any country in the alternative cemetery, but I was unimpressed by the inaccuracy of the information, to suit the guide's itinerary and agenda - as well as wanting our children to visit the cemetery and pay our respects to fallen Australians.

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: Just have a bit of knowledge about your tour destinations, so you don't end up missing out on something you thought you had paid to see - and being misinformed.

We asked to be taken to the correct cemetery, which required a fair bit of backtracking from the tiger temple, at the end of an increasingly long day. Maybe the guide learned a lesson in honesty?

If you are booking your hotel online - this can be totally overwhelming enough - just choosing one! However, my current experience is, that I am booking the same old hotel I always go to - and, having sourced 6 online quotes (including one from the hotel directly), I have 6 different prices. The difference is almost 30%! - ie. US$60+ down to US$43 - and the second highest quote is from the hotel itself.

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: Don't assume that the hotel itself will give you the cheapest quote. Look at a range of sources - and, my experience is, 6 gave me 6 different prices!
Alternative: Take the time to get online - and research your preferred areas for staying - and narrow down choices - and then compare the many prices. Most hotels offer the same services, so little difference in that factor usually.

Happy hunting!

Be aware that the fake clothing at Khao San Road is quite expensive - and on our last visit, a big resistance to bargaining was going on. We are Australians - home of surf brands such as Billabong - and the prices being asked for in the Khao San Road Market were close to the price of originals on sale in Australia!

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: Shop around and bargain hard. Some of the goodies at the markets are quite reasonable quality - and my son has worn some of the boardies as well as the real ones - but pay fake prices!
Alternative: Know the prices before you leave home - and work on the 20-30% principle - remembering that they are knock-offs.

Even if you think you are relatively seasoned as a traveller in Bangkok, you can find yourself engaged in conversation before realising that this charming person is a tout! I am usually wary of anyone who approaches me if I have a map of any kind - and NEVER hand it over. Sometimes these guys appear to be walking along the street going about their business, and just fall into step to "chat", even if you appear to be going about your own day quite happily - and start a discussion. Where are you from? - where are you going? - what are you doing next? - have you done.....? all warning bell questions.

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: The high risk places for touts are the busy places - like The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, or even MBK and other shopping areas - where there is no shortage of approaches. The most common is to tell you that the venue is closed, but they have the perfect acivity alternative for the next few hours. A tuk tuk miraculously appears, eager to take you to a number of designated places for next to no money! I often ignore, and just keep walking in these instances, but remain polite if they pursue or persist.
Alternative: If we are engaged by someone who be believe to be a tout, we state that we are on our way and know exactly where we are going - and how - and try to drop in to the conversation that we have been to Bangkok many times. This often results in them backing off, and not even starting the tuk tuk for 40Bt spiel!

Always remain polite. Touts don't mean you any harm.

The downside the the tout situation is that you can end up ennecessarily wary about anyone who chats to you!