Bangkok long-tail rental
 

Has anyone rented a long-tailed boat in Bangkok? If so, could you share information on rental location, cost other tips etc.
Thanks in advance

Last month I rented a long-tail boat at Tha Chang pier. It was a vendor at a booth, as opposed to an individual walking around hawking rides. For a two-hour ride through Thon Buri, I paid 100 baht less than the published price which I'm reasonably certain was either 700 or 800 baht.

For what it's worth, my wife was initially leery of a two-hour ride, thinking it might get boring after one hour. She still mentions how glad she was that we opted for two hours.

I explained to the guy selling tickets that I wanted the driver to stop anytime I take pictures. When it became my turn in line to get in a boat, I had to remind the guy assisting passengers to mention that to the driver. Any time I saw a photo op, I would extend my arm over the side of the boat in an up-and-down motion to indicate a desire for him to slow down. When I was done taking the picture, I would turn to him in thanks with a smile and a thumb-up. He was so accomodating that eventually I had to be careful about raising my camera to my eye for fear he would come to a stop. Needless to say, he got a healthy tip.

Thanks for the excellent response - you anticipated my follow-up questions perfectly. With digital the term "photo op" takes on a whole new meaning.

It will be helpful if you determine in advance what you do and don't want to do. Visit the barges museum? Visit an orchid farm? Be certain that the driver knows what you want to do. Be politely firm about what you don't want to do because, based on my experience, he'll provide an opportunity for you to get out at all of the places that typically attract tourists. (Maybe to earn a commission on anything you buy?)

A few days ago I wrote that I had paid 600 or 700 baht for a two-hour boat ride through Thon Buri. I just found a note indicating that I actually paid 900 baht.

We got taken to the snake farm although we certainly did not suggest to the driver that he take us there. It was well worth seeing. Our photos with boas draped around us are great. they also had some very interesting animals. I'm glad were were taken.

Thanks for the update Mike. Elainee - Thanks for the warning, will strongly request no snake farms!

We have always hired our boats from the boat captain at the Shangri La hotel. They help you on and off the boat, very useful if you're a bit ancient. Typically we pay about £10 (600 baht for an hour).

Only thing to look out for is every time we have hired a long tail boat there appears to be an obligatory pull in next to a lady selling her wares (drinks and hats etc). The prices are very high!

Hi!

How long is the journey by long tail from Shangri-La to the the klongs? Is it ok with children, 5 - 9 years, livewest's, booring? How long time do I have to plan for a klong-tour by long tail? Recommended stops?

Thank's

A good trip without stops will take about an hour. They probably have a set route. Access to the klongs is about 10 minutes up river and down river of the hotel. A long tail boat ride up the river is v exciting.

Kids will find it great fun.

braxen,

I assume you're asking how long in advance you need to plan your long-tail ride. There is no need to make advance reservations. You simply go to your chosen pier, arrange the rental and immediately leave.

I can't make recommendations about the stops you should take, but if that's important, you do indeed need to make considerable plans. That's because not all boats take the same route. Based on the frequency of boats departing the pier I used, I would have thought our boat ride would have been part of a parade going through the canals. Yet we could see no boats ahead of us (other than a few coming toward us) or behind us.

The location of the pier also has a lot to do with the route the boat takes. As an example, if it's important that you go to a snake farm, I assume it's best to depart from a pier relatively close to it.