diangolf

Thanks again for all lthe advise. I just emailed Ratt and asked her if she could suggest a driver or arrange one herself. Also I orignally told Ratt four full days if we got there and discoved we wanted to do more on our own would it be wrong to cancel the last day? I am now going to go on a search for a driver for Beijing. We were quoted $160 for four peiple from the airport to Hotel Peninsula. I gave Ratt the following places we wanted to see all from looking at this site. Grand Palace Temple of Reclining Buddha Marble Temple Chinatown Vimanmak Palace Jim Thompson's House Suan Pakkard Palace Prasart Museum(will she know where this is?) Floating market and River Kwai Did I miss anything or should I skip ;any of the above. Shopping will of course be on the agenda.

SJLBK

I would also add Wat Arun and possibly a klong tour. Two wonderful things that should not be missed.

The klong tour will give you a good taste of what life in BKK is like.

glorialf

Personally I think it's wrong to cancel on one day's notice as she has held the day for you and may well have said no to other customers. If you cancel she is out the money. She may well let you do that but I think it's very very wrong. The money means far less to you (or any tourist who has the means to take a trip like this) than it does to her. I mean how would you like if your boss called you and said you shouldn't come to work the next day because he didn't want to pay you?
Contrary to what people say Ratt is not rich. She works very hard but not in order to buy gems or expensive clothes but so she can send her son abroad to college so he can succeed and do better than she. She lives in Chinatown --not in one of the new fancy condos.

I overbooked her on my last trip and I did not use her one of the days I had booked her for but I paid her for the full day. She didn't ask for it but believe me when I saw the expression on her face when I paid her I was very glad I did. She told me most people just cancelled. I was glad I wasn't one of them. I was glad I wasn't another "ugly American".

Ok-- I'll get off my soapbox now. But this is something I feel passionate about.

rhkkmk

it was posted earlier that ratt and mr prasart had some sort of disagreement so she may not want to go there...she will know where it is however...

orgy7

after reading the itinuary you posted. I will once again say "check out a map of bankok and use the use the distance scale. you will see that most of the sites you want too see are within 3 miles or less of eachother.

orgy7

diang
how about 2 days with ratt. 1 day all along river. wat arun and floating market. and 1 day on your own. I guess you can also use ratt for the klung trips, so 3 days with ratt may be all you can really fit.
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gloria. lol. she's not rich, yah right. she probably is saving up to 2.5 million baht for her kids collage in america, and has money too build a guesthouse plus ownes her own car.. I don't know about you but that seems rich too me in thai stantards. I could go on and on about why she may still live in a dumpy place in chinatown and so on.. Anyways, She seems to be a very smart person, Thais are not known for saving for the far futer let alone for the end of the month.
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JamesA

That transfer from Laem Chabang is way over the top..!!

Image Limo quote B 2,500 for a large Sedan and B 2,700 for a Van!

These guys have a 'class' service. They are Jomtien based so quite near to Laem Chabang. There is just B 100 for the car of B 200 to add to those rates for the entry of the vehicle to the Cruise Terminal.

Here are the rates:

http://www.imagelimo.com/rates.htm


Their services:

http://www.imagelimo.com/services.htm

JamesA

Sorry orgy I was sleeping, Didn't know it related to Laem Chabang !

I actually see them waxing and polishing their vehicles! They have CD music choice, cold towels and if you behave yourself you also get a candy ( so NO candy for you! )

glorialf

Orgy-- I'm sure she is rich by thai standards but not by our standards. Seems to me if you can spend between $200 and $300 a night to stay at the Pen or Oriental as diangolf you don't screw someone out of a day's pay which is less than half of your hotel room rate. If you cancel a plane or hotel room you often get charged and these are big corporations. Personally I care more about individuals than businesses but I guess I just have different values.

JamesA

Diana, I don't know Beijing but $ 160 sounded high, I checked on Asiaoz and it came up with Gray Line who have an operation there for transfersand it's $25 per person one way or $38 per person return, might be of some use:

http://www.affiliate.viator.com/broc...&AUID=2832

diangolf

I didn't mean I would cancel with one day notice. I meant when we got to BKK. on Tuesday and got the lay of the land we may want to do Saturday as well as Sunday on our own. It's difficult never having been there and not knowing how badly the climate may effect me (I'm more a cold climate lady). I guess we still have a few days to decide. I have another question (one of many) Ratt emailed me the following A license guide driver cost 3000Baht/8hours Out of city more for gasoline. The Mercedes Benz Van cost 3000 Baht 8 hours out of city charge more for gasoline My Husband will be the driver. Is the license guide her husband & will we still have the Mercedes Benz with the guide? What is the difference? I am really beginning to feel dumb. Will Ratt take a charge card or does she prefer cash. Thanks once more for all the help.

BillT

If you have 5 days then I would do at least 3 with Ratt. Maybe the first 3 and then strike out on your own for the last 2. Where do you live? Have you experienced 90+ degrees with 90%+ humidity? If not then you are in for a shock! Thats why I advise using Ratt- you will conserve your energy- hey I live in this heat/humidity 5 months out of the year (Houston) and even I get run down in the BKK heat! Ratt can be your driver/guide- you don't need a professional guide.

glorialf

She only takes cash. She is booked weeks and months in advance. cancelling when you get there means she will not be able to rebook. Thiis is absurd. There are four of you. Divided between you the money she charges is peanuts (less than you will probably spend for dinner). If she was booked every day of the year she would only be grossing around $30,000 and obviously she isn't booked every day. So she can't aford to lose money because rich tourists are too cheap to honor what they booked.

When I had Ratt neither she nor her husband were licensed guides but that may have changed. Just ask her.

But most important -- decide now how many days you are booking her for and stick to it. If you think you only want her for two days, book that and if you discover you want her more when you arrive take your chances on her being available. But, please, don't put her in the situation of losing what to her is a lot of money and what to you is very little.

BillT

Well put Gloria! Sometimes people don't realize that by backing out on her she loses a day's pay as you have said she is booked months in advance- she does not get bookings same day so yes she would loose out.

diangolf

I did not intend to cheat Ratt out of any money and I don't think that I am being cheap. After reading some of the advise on using Ratt the general consenses seemed to be that four days may be too much and we may enjoy having more time on our own. I intend to let Ratt know as soon as possible which is why I asked how far in advance she should be notified. She does not seem to mind that we are booking this late and seemed to be flexible.

BillT

I would say as long as you and Ratt have an understanding as to how much time you will need from her and her flexability with regards to dropping the last day or so- then I think you are fine. My reference was in regards to people who cancell out on her without any agreement upfront that this could happen.

glorialf

Me too -- agree with Bill. Bill, this is happening way too often these days.

BillT

Gloria great minds think alike ( except of course wheh it comes to 5 star hotels!)

diangolf

I think Ratt and I have it all worked out. She will be picking us up at the ship also (or her husband with a van). Having worked in social services and dealing with people just trying to get by I tend to over tip and over pay. It kind of upset me to think that someone would think I would not treat someone fairly. Could someone suggest where we could go at night for some Thai entertainment even if it's touristy since that what we are. Thanks

glorialf

Diane-
Sorry if I misread your post. But so many people aren't like you that I become a bit hysterical on the subject.

Sala Rim at the Oriental Hotel has a dinner and thai dancing. It is definitely touristy. Dancing is good. Costumes great. Food ok but nothing to write home about. Since you're staying at the Oriental it's even convenient.

Say hi to Ratt from me (Gloria Friedman) and say hi to the Oriental -- my favorite place in the world.

When are you leaving?