my thai travel agent has closed its doors...can someone suggest a new one with whom they have had good luck via the internet? thanks

ttt

You might try thaifly.com. They seem to respond fairly quickly and you have the ability to communicate with a live agent over the internet 24-7.

Try Global Union Express - http://www.guetravel.com/

I used www.asiatravel.com for hotel bookings and in country flights on Thai Airways. Didn't have any problems at all.

ttt---thanks all...does anyone have an independent agency they have dealt with??

If you haven't read my post already, we just came back from northern Thailand using Chiang Mai Tours -- EXCELLENT! Their web site is www.chiangmaitours.com. Or e-mail: [email protected] Also: [email protected]

I can't say enough good things about them.

thank you all again....perhaps i should state my intent again...i am looking for a travel agent not a tour company....just someone who will book primarily air reservations within asia for a usa resident at reduced rates...thanks

rhkkmk--most travel agents do tours. If all they did was book flights at reduced rates they would not be in business very long.

Try STA Travel in Bangkok - we used them a year ago to book flights from Bangkok to Hanoi, and their prices were competetive - at that time it was $220 CA. The woman we dealt with was Jub Jang - she was good. Here is the email address:
[email protected]

There are very few tickets you an get from a travel agent any more that are less expensive than those you can book yourself online. If you are flying with say, Thai or Bangkok Air, for example, the price is the same no matter where you buy it (except that a travel agent may add a service fee). If you are buying tickets not available online like Lao Aviation or Biman Air, a travel agent may be able to get you lower prices. I'm afraid that the days of cheap tickets from Asian Travel Agents are over.

Sorry, Kathie...that is not true. I have been looking at Bangkok-Densapar, Bail tickets and the best price for business class on Thai Airways I can get via the conventional U.S. websites--Expedia, Travelocity, UAL etc is $300 more than the price I was quoted from a Bangkok travel agent. It is still cheaper to buy from a Thailand-based agent if you can.

Thanks for feedback about your experience, Craig. Was the price you were quoted by an agent less than the price at Thai's website?

I often find that websites like Expedia and Orbitz have higher prices than the airline's own website.

If you're finding significantly lower prices at Bangkok travel agents, I'll have to find the one I used to use and get a price quote for my Bangkok to Mandalay, Rangoon to Bangkok flights in November.

Here is a tip. Log on to Bangkokpost.com website and there are advertisements with links for travel agents in Bangkok, simple. Or you can try Phuketgazette.net for southern Thailand. I guess if you check the newspaper online editions for any city you will see links for local agents.

If you are flying from Singapore airfares.com.sg is very very good.

Kathie, actually no but Thai will only issue e-tickets to certain destinations (check out their terms and conditions). Unfortunately Bali and Mandalay are not included in those destinations. If you are buying domestic tickets or tickets from Bangkok to Los Angeles, Tokyo or a few other destinations you can do this. Otherwise, Thai requires you to pick up your tickets in Thailand or the US office in LA within 72 hours which for most people is rather difficult, especially if like me, you plan everything well in advance. I have contacted Thai directly and there is no way to get around this. As a matter of fact their recommendation was to contact a travel agent in Thailand for the best price. If you find out or know of any better way please let me know as I have not yet purchased my ticket.

Craig, that's interesting that Thai now requires you to pick up tickets within 72 hours (if they aren't e-tickets). That's the kind of thing that is always changing. The last two trips I took to SE Asia, the flights I needed within Asia were on Bangkok Air, which allows you to buy online and pick up your ticket anytime at least one hour prior to departure.

The flight I want to take from Bangkok to Mandalay is actually on Phuket Air but is a code-share with Thai. I'm hoping Thai will make their internet purchasing easier in the next few months, otherwise I will need to work with a Thai travel agent again.

Kathie, I too have booked tickets on Bangkok Air in advance. Their policy is more flexible than Thai. Thai has not recently made their policy more restrictive--actually in the last 6 months they have made it less restrictive. Prior to that you could not book a flight anywhere over the internet without picking up your tickets within 72 hours. I do not know much about their code-sharing policies but I would not expect much to change within the next few months. Good luck!

my experiences are the same as craig's...you can save piles of money from thai travel agents, including on bangkok air and especially on thai air...a recent ticket (fall 2002) was booked with a thai TA; they then went out of business; the reservation was in the thai system and i picked it up on silom rd at thai air a couple of days before the flight...the reservation was made months in advance...i have had deep discounts on air france tickets as well (bkk-hanoi rt)...this is why i put this post out there hoping to find a new reliable agent with whom to deal over the internet for future tickets...and that may include some land arrangements as well....i find them welcoming of any business you give them---i just need to find someone new....i do have a list of agents from the web, but i thought that some fodorite might have a favorite...

For the past 2 years I have booked flights to SE Asia at Unique Travel out of San Jose, CA. Give them a try and compare. Talk to Natalie Truong, the owner. 408-292-2223.

thank you all very much...i will gladly accept more suggestions...