alevi7475

We are late booking and Tong is all booked. Do you think it is worth it to use one of her other guides? We usually like to do things on our own, but everyone has had such wonderful things to say about her. Is there anyone else that works with her that anyone would recommend?

Gpanda

We met two of the guides on her team. They both seemed very pleasant and knowledgeable. Their English was very good. Give it a try and report back to us.

TC

Try Tan. We used her one day and Tong another. We really loved Tan. You can reach her via email at this address: [email protected].

Kathie

One other thought... if you really like to do things on your own, go for it. I know it has become very popular here to hire a guide in Bangkok but one certainly doesn't need a guide in Bangkok. Bangkok is a different experience with/without a guide. Do what YOU like.

glorialf

This will be my 19th trip to Bangkok and I have never had a guide. I am using tong for a few days this trip but only to go out of the city. However, I also read a great deal before I go and not just guide books. As Kathie said, you can definitely do bangkok without a guide so don't feel pressure to have one because of other people.

akmarkey

I saw a post by sharon1306 and they used one of Tong's associates and said she/he was excellent. Since Tong is booked, we will also use one of her associates for one day and do the other 3 days on our own. We will be in bkk from Feb. 4-8!!

THanks to all the fodorites and their advice on these boards

alevi7475

We will be in BKK on the 8th too! I still can't decide if we should use one of Tong's associates or just do it all on our own. I guess I better decide soon. Thanks for everyones advice!

sharon1306

I've used Nui and my friends have used Aon (I only met her for a short while) on another trip last year. Both were very good and I would recommend them.

Like others have said, you don't necessarily need a guide in Bangkok, its very easy to get around on your own. But I think its worth using a guide for a trip outside of Bangkok.

TC

Here's my take on using a guide. We used Tong for two days and Tan for one day while in Bangkok this past November. We had a week in Bangkok and could have made our own way around to all the places. We are seasoned travelers, use to doing our own things in foreign cultures. Having said that, we loved having a guide. It made the days so much easier and freer. We all felt that we got more out of each day not having to navigate our way around. While Tong was driving, we were just looking at the sights -- not worried about the next turn. We were stopped on several occassions, as we walked with Tan, by tourists who were totally lost. She would patiently point them to <i>&quot;the other side of town&quot;</i> or correct whatever navigational mistake they had made. She answered <i>&quot;which pier do we get off at&quot;</i> questions and <i>&quot;can you tell us what this street sign says&quot;</i> questions and lots and lots of <i>&quot;what is this&quot;</i> questions for tourists (other than us) all day long . Tong's husband met us at the Grand Palace and took her car to the car park while we were dropped at the front gate. Tong parked the car and met us with it after our morning at the floating market. She always had a cooler filled with cold drinks and cool wet towels in the heat of the day. I can't imagine doing the floating market without Tong's expert direction. She has her own boatman and knows all the best vendors. It just would not have been the same with a huge bus of tourists. We wouldn't have known what we were eating or the history of the market, we wouldn't have seen the exquisit carved wooden temple on the way to the market. We wouldn't have gotten a culture lesson from Tan while walking through the flower and vegetable markets in Bangkok. We wouldn't have understood why several taxis refused to take us when flagged to return to the hotel -- <i>they were headed back to their dispatch and we wanted to go in the opposite direction.</i> We would never have found the fabulous Chote Chitr restaurant without Tan's navigational expertise (and her cell phone) -- even with the great set of directions offered on this board.

Guide services are so inexpensive, we felt that the enhancement and depth it added to our stay in Bangkok was worth every penny. If we went to Bangkok every year (or more) like Kathie and others on this board, it would be a whole different story. However, we may never return, so using the services of Tong and Tan made our visit extremely rich.

jonescurl

TC, I agree with you about using a guide. I am relatively new to this site, and can't seem to find the contact info for the guides. Tong? Tan? Help?

Gpanda

TourwithTong.com

TC

Both Tong and Tan's email addresses are above in this post.

alevi7475

TC-The reasons you mention are the exact reasons I was looking to use a guide.
Tan apparently is not available either, but Tom is and he got great reviews from another Fodorite just today. We will use him to head to the Floating Market and places outside the city. Will he take us to Tong's secret place? Her other guides will go there, right?
Thanks for the help!

kebwcb

I think I was the person who just posted about Tom. He was really helpful. He gave us space, but also made sure we were taken care of. His time recommendations at sites were just right. He allowed us to enjoy ourselves without the worry of what to do and where to go. If you use him, tell him Charles, Kris, Katherine &amp; Anne say &quot;hello&quot;.

TC

I can't really tell you anything about Tom, as we only used Tan and Tong. If he is one of Tong's crew, then you should be able to ask her about where he will take you. I do think that the &quot;secret place&quot; (which isn't much of a secret anymore) is something that Tong has set up, but should be available to any of her crew. Isn't Nui one who works with Tong? She gets good press here.

TC

I've just had a look at Tong's new web site. Tom and Nui and several other of her associates are listed there with complete bios. I'm sure any of Tong's guide crew could do any of her &quot;special&quot; places.