I am planning to take book some tours in Bangkok and Phuket and was wondering if I should book with a company prior to leaving for my trip or if I could book it once I am there for the very next day.
The tours I am looking into specifically are 1 - to the Damnoen floating Market in Bangkok, 2 - to Phi Phi Island in Phuket, and 3 - to Krabi Island in Phuket.
In addition, I am wondering if it is worth it to go to the Damnoen Floating Market since it will take up more than half of my day (6am-2pm). I think most of the time will be spent on the 68 mile drive there and back.
Also if you think I should book once I am there, is there a certain tour agency you recommend?
Thanks in advance!

Me again - I was also wondering if anyone has booked any tours with Expedia. It states there is a critical redemption procedure I must complete prior to departure. If you have had any experience with this please let me know. Also would I get better prices once I am in Thailand for tours? For example Expedia sells the Floating Market Tour for $26 but I am not sure if that includes an actual ride on a boat for the market.
Thanks!

IT REALLY depends on what you want out of your trip...

i prefer to go to the floating market with a private guide so you can control the amount of time spent there and at the usual shopping venues that organized tours visit...i also dislike the rose garden which most tours stop at...

i like either rat or tong for such tours and they will cost you about $100 for up to 4 people... and you will get into a little boat which is fun...

krabi is another town not an island... i would not go there from phuket unless i was going to stay over there....i prefer it to phuket actually....

all of those tours can be booked from your hotel in thailand except the private guides mentioned above...

The trip to the floating market usually includes other stops, such as the Rose Garden, and lunch. The price of $26 seems very cheap. I would guess it's a large bus tour.

I'm not sure why you would want to take a tour to Phi Phi.

Krabi is not an island, it's a large province which encompasses several islands including the Phi Phis and Lantas. I'm not sure what tour it is you're talking about. One of the best tours from Phuket is of Phang Nga Bay.

Booking in advance has the advantage of securing the tour you want, with (most likely) a reputable tour company. You might get a better price if you book when you arrive, but you'll most likely be 'stuck' with the tour company that has a desk in your hotel, which may be good or bad.

First, do you really want a tour? A tour you book on Expedia will be a big bus tour. Many of us consider the floating market a tourist trap. The only people I know who have liked it are those who have chosen to take a private tour with a guide.

You can always get a better price by booking locally. Every travel agent will have a floating market tour, often bundled with the rose garden (another tourist trap) and a buffet lunch. If that's what you are looking for, wait and book it in Bangkok. Unlike Michael, I'm not convinced that you'll get a better tour company by booking through expedia.

Remember that you can do all the things you want to do in Thailand without a tour. Taking a tour will insulate you from the experience rather than facilitating the experience.

I'm one who has enjoyed the floating market. We've been twice. Once on our own, which was fun. Another time with Tong which was a delicious and totally fun experience. Both times we used boats that are paddled. Most tours use motor boats which are noisy and big. The groups on motorboats we saw didn't look as though they could top and buy snacks, and they definitely did not visit the small and interesting and quiet side khlongs that we did in our small paddle boat.

Personally, I would skip the join in tour for $26 as I don't think it would be worth the time To go there to ride a motorboat fo an hour and take photos. I would either go on my one using bus or hired car or taxi,or a private tour. In any case, I'd be firm about the use of paddle boat. It's a much nicer time. Also, get there early before the bus tours arrive to avoid their motorboats. They really are intrusive. Skip the Rose Garden on the way to the floating market you can stop at the railway market - on the tracks and moves when a train passes.

From Phuket you might want to try a sea canoe trip. John Grey runs an excellent one that does not cut corners in safety and is environmentally conscious.

Thanks for your input everyone, you all made some good points. The reason why we are doing tours in Phuket is because that is our home base in that area. We thought that it would be easier to get a taste of the islands nearby through tours. We are staying at the Novotel which does have an activities desk offering tours to Phi Phi and Krabi. It also offers a tour to Phang Nga Bay as well. I think they are charging about 130-150 for each or a combination. We are only there for 3 days which was why we figured we can do some speedboat tours to outlying areas.
As for the floating market private tour is "rat or tong" a company? I can't seem to find any info on the web. I just can't seem to get over the fact that it is so far from the city. No matter if I take a bus tour, private tour, or go on my own it seems like it will take half of a day. We are in Bangkok for 4 days. Just wondering if it is worth it...
A little background on this trip - it will be my first time in Thailand - I was supposed to go in 2008. I was in Hong Kong 2 days before departure when the protests caused the closure of BKK. I was sad that I never made it to the Land of Smiles - this will be my second attempt. Fingers crossed!

I say slow down and enjoy your time in Thailand.

Only you can say whether taking a half a day to teh floating market is worth it to you. For me, I'd stay in the city. There is so much to see and do in Bangkok itself you could keep yourselves busy for weeks.

I'd also say slow down on Phuket. It's a beach resort - people go there to relax. I'd choose one excursion. A day trip to phiPhi won't give you a real sense of the place because it will be full of daytrippers. If you are interested in Krabi, stay there next trip. For a unique excuriosn, consider John Grey Sea Canoes.

If you have 3 days in Phuket I would do only one tour. While I haven't done speedboat tours to Phi Phi myself, the reasons are that the tours are crowded into Maya Bay all at once making it far from peaceful or atmospheric, and much of the feedback I've seen about the tours is not so positive - nice but crowded boat, didn't get a feel for the island, gypsy villa was a tourist trap...

From Phuket, with 3 days, I'd spend one doing a tour, if any at all. You might want to see Phuket, too, which is a huge island a very diverse. There are crowded beaches, touristy Patong, Markets in Phuket town, temples, quiet beaches at the north of the island, waterfalls...plenty to keep you busy.

Lots of companies offer tours, most the same. In the majority of cases you get what you pay for. There are something like 30 outfits doing Phang Nga Bay trips with kayaks. All but two go at the same time to the same places. Some don't have great safety standards or care much about the environment.

Tong is a well-regarded private guide. Www.tourwithtong.com. Ratt is a driver. http://www.ratservice.com/index.aspx. You don't need to use either of them. You can easily hire a taxi or a driver yourself.

Whether the floating market is worth the time is your call. Last time we went we were back at our hotel by noon. You could opt to extend the day and see more as well.