After considering all the positive and negative reports here on the this forum, I contacted Ratt via email asking about her service for one day in BKK. She was unavailable, but offered the services of a "guide." She explained that she was only a driver and that a guide was better, knew more English, etc. (this difference is discussed elsewhere on this forum). I answered her email, clearly stating my concerns about using one of her employees instead of Ratt herself. Her response was extensive and, I felt, honest and sincere. She explained her side of some of the bad experiences that have been stated here, giving her side of the story. In the end, I felt comfortable hiring her company, and I am damn glad I did! Her guide, a young woman named Mink was outstanding, her car was a nearly new Honda Accord (her father's she explained), she made suggestions for places to go that were perfect and made our day as perfect as possible. She personally guided and explained our way through the Grand Palace, V. Museum, Suan Pakard Museum and Garden (her suggestion and a great one!) and Jim Thompson House (which we should have skipped - boring after Suan Pakard), where we also had lunch (lovely room, good food, but nothing that we couldn't have gotten at home). We wanted to do the dinner cruise that evening and Ratt made reservations by phone for us on the Queen Mary, a very new boat, and we had reserved seats at the front of the boat, perhaps the best on the ship. Mink was entirely perfect, a lovely host and guide, caring out about of needs and interests, and this was one of the best decisions we made in Thailand. I would easily, without hesitation, recommend Ratt.

That's great to hear because we will be using Ratt next month and good to hear positive feedback...

Evceryone can have a problem in their business or a bad day but I would recommend Ratt to anyone. She is very concientious, works hard and cares. Glad you had a good experience. But not at all surprised. I know there have been some negative reports but, like you, I heard her side of the story.

Some of us here would never use Ratt & would never recommend her. What she did to us was inexusable. No matter what she said to you or any other poster here. The fact is she can be & sometimes is, unreliable, as others have noted here.

When one is on a a holiday of limited time one does not need unreliable people stuffing up one's plans.

Fair enough - but the largest business can be be unreliable as well. I know - I've been stuck twice with the two major airlines, in major airports - with 6 - 12 hour delays that I paid full price for coach seats with.

And, of course, there are unreliable, demanding and insufferable tourists. If one is in the people business, one always meets someone who thinks the whole world is out of step with them.

When reading reviews of any service, one must look at the preponderance of evidence. One of the great values of this forum is that one is able to see a variety of opinions and make better choices.

Ratt was perfect during our 3 days in December of 2005. Reliable, friendly, flexible, courteous, patient, knowledgeable. Our time in BKK was enhanced by her services.

I would recommend her without hesitation. We reserved out dates with her in June of 2005 and glad we did. By December 2005, she had many bookings through July of 2006.

And of course, there are people here who attempt to discredit others simply because their own experiences & opinions need validation.

Ratt is & was unreliable and anyone thinking of using her should know about her short-comings!

Have an extra nice day.

So what did Ratt do wrong BTW??

As I've always said, every one and every business can have an off day. People on this forum have complained about the Oriental and the Peninsula but that doesn't mean that the vast majority of people who go there have a wonderful experience. I had a terrible lunch at Face but that doesn't mean that others haven't had wonderful meals. Same is true of Ratt. Some people on this list have reported problems but the vast majority of people have had very positive experiences. I venture to say that there will be positive and negative reports about every hotel, restaurant and service. it's up to each of us to read the various comments and make a decision.

Oops -- obviously it was too early when I wrote the last post. I meant that the majority of people DO have a good experience when they stay at the Penn or Oriental even though there have been people who have had problems at them.

I am using Ratt at the end of this month and will give a full report - I'm betting that she will be fine.

, was it Shakespeare that wrote: "Methinks she doth protest too much"?

"'Tis better to be brief than tedious"
Richard III, Act i, Sc.4

jkgourmet:

Glad you had a positive experience with Ratt as MOST of us here have had.

We are using her and her services a number of times this trip to bkk (in two weeks) .

We have Ratt herself reserved for 1 whole day and are using her airport pick up and drop off service on 6 different occasions so there will be plenty of chance for the "unreliable" or "inexcusable" circumstances.

I'm confident she'll come through for us again.

Aloha!

Our experience with Ratt 5 months ago was simply outstanding and we recommend her without reservation.

we're not sure about the guide named Tong through Ratt, might be the same who was with us last month. But she's a freelance licensed guide, not just a driver. We got her card from our friend. She speaks English very well and knows much about Buddhist ritual, very informative for GP and others. Highly recommended for anyone who's looking for a caring & informative service.