Hi Everyone. First time posting and just want to thank everyone who posts here, especially the regulars. I don't know how I planned trips before the internet. I have been reading this forum extensively and it's been so helpful while planning my first trip to China and Thailand. There are three of us who will be together in Beijing and HK, with a fourth joining in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. We're spending 3 nights in CM and 4 in BKK. Based on the glowing reviews, I tried to book Tong, but sadly she's already booked the days we are there (and we're going end of March--I thought I would be requesting early enough, but nope). Any rec's as to whether we should use someone else in her group, or is there another guide we should try instead? I believe Cherry (?) has also been highly recommended. We want to do a trip outside BKK (Tiger Temple maybe, River Kwai area) and one day with a guide in BKK. The rest of the time is on our own.
Second question is how much time do you think we need to give ourselves in BKK to connect to CM. We're flying HK->BKK->CM. I want to fly out early to get to CM as early as possible, but it's turning out to be quite expensive (almost $500). I can't tell you how excited I am to get to Thailand; been wanting to go for years. Thanks again and I appreciate any input. Kate

Too bad Tong is busy. I've not toured with her, but she came to my BKK apartment hotel a couple of weeks ago, and she is just delightful. I can see how people would enjoy her for a day of touring.

Cherry is a friend of Bob (rhkkmk) who posts on here. He may chime in with info about her.

Have a great time. I just returned from my 11th trip to Bangkok. Each one gets better than the one before...
Carol

i'm here....tong is wonderful...i actually received an e mail from her today....

cherry is my friend and i think she is overall the best guide mentioned on this forum for one and only one reason---her english is fantastic....the best of the bunch...

cherry is sometimes a bit more expensive but she tours with a driver and a van which most others charge more for, above their regular fees...

tong is a bundle of fun....i guess based on other's reports, not just about tong's group, but about groups as a whole....i would want only the principle person to take me around....
some reports have been good but none have been exceptional like touring with the owner....

do you have cherry's address??

inter asia flying can be quite expensive....you might try eddie in bkk for good deals...

[email protected]

he is an american express agency and has great deals sometimes....

Thanks so much. I searched for Cherry's email and found it. I'll shoot Eddie an email about possible flights. I'm just concerned about how much time is needed between the HK->BKK and BKK->CM flights. Is 2 hours enough?
Thanks again.

of course it all depends on the flight on time situation...a delay can create havoc....
i prefer to allow plenty of time and i do not like to run through airports...

the new bkk airport is huge also....it can take quite a while to get from one gate area to another....but of course your gates could be side by side as well but this is not likely....

Also, note that some domestic flights leave from the old airport. So you want to make sure you are booking a flight to CM that leaves from the new airport.

If you are flying Thai from Hong Kong, they will likely treat you as a transit passenger and have you go through customs and immigration in CM which makes a two hour connection much easier to make.

Kate-- do you live in chicago? If so, many we can meet. I've been to Thailand 18 times in the past 22 years.

Yep, I live downtown. That's a really generous offer, and yes, if you are similarly located, would love to buy you drink/coffee/whatever sometime and pick your brain, hear your stories. My email is kae0208@yahoo

Kate-I just checked a round trip on Thai Air Hk-CM through BKK and it was $432 in April. If you use this with a stop in BKK, your uggage will be ch3ecked through to CM and you will not have to worry about connections.

Tong is superlative. You might think of switching CM and BKK to see if she's available for alternate dates. The secret place is unbelievable.