Pattaya Travellers: Beware of Maneerat Transport & Travel
Apr 7th, 2008, 08:44 PM
#1
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Pattaya Travellers: Beware of Maneerat Transport & Travel
In March, 08, I took a 7 days/6 nights Cambodia package tour with Maneerat Transport & Travel in Pattaya and that was a horrible experience. When you are in Pattaya, don't go to this "dark travel house" for your travel needs.
Here are the mishaps:
1. Visa Scam: When I arrived at a restaurant near the border at Poi Pet, an agent working for Maneerat asked me for 1200B visa cost plus his 100B handling fee (this fee was never mentioned by Maneerat). I asked him if I could pay US$20 (which was the info I had on the visa cost), but he said no. Unwillingly, I paid him 1300B. (1200 Baht is almost twice of US$20.)
Later, I asked some experienced travellers in Thailand about the visa cost issue and they confirmed I was ripped off.
2. Exchange Scam: After I had passed Cambodian immigration, the driver took the group on the bus to a currency exchange place nearby. He told us exchange places were closed in the weekend (that day was Friday) in Siem Reap and we had better get our exchange there. I found out later that there were plenty of exchange shops in Siem Reap that open 7 days a week. I did my homework and knew US$1 can get about 3,900 Cambodian Riels. That place quoted me the rate of US$1 to 3,200 Riels, which was a total ripoff. Of course, I did no exchange in the shop. Unfortunately, other people on the bus did some exchanges for their Bhat and US$.
3. Tour Not as Described: The tour was not what was described in the tour program. Among many unsatisfactory things, I was left stranded in Sihanoukville (Cambodia) when no one picked me up to return to Pattaya. I had to get back to Pattaya on my own!
Again, don't go to this "dark travel house" for your travel needs.
Here are the mishaps:
1. Visa Scam: When I arrived at a restaurant near the border at Poi Pet, an agent working for Maneerat asked me for 1200B visa cost plus his 100B handling fee (this fee was never mentioned by Maneerat). I asked him if I could pay US$20 (which was the info I had on the visa cost), but he said no. Unwillingly, I paid him 1300B. (1200 Baht is almost twice of US$20.)
Later, I asked some experienced travellers in Thailand about the visa cost issue and they confirmed I was ripped off.
2. Exchange Scam: After I had passed Cambodian immigration, the driver took the group on the bus to a currency exchange place nearby. He told us exchange places were closed in the weekend (that day was Friday) in Siem Reap and we had better get our exchange there. I found out later that there were plenty of exchange shops in Siem Reap that open 7 days a week. I did my homework and knew US$1 can get about 3,900 Cambodian Riels. That place quoted me the rate of US$1 to 3,200 Riels, which was a total ripoff. Of course, I did no exchange in the shop. Unfortunately, other people on the bus did some exchanges for their Bhat and US$.
3. Tour Not as Described: The tour was not what was described in the tour program. Among many unsatisfactory things, I was left stranded in Sihanoukville (Cambodia) when no one picked me up to return to Pattaya. I had to get back to Pattaya on my own!
Again, don't go to this "dark travel house" for your travel needs.
Apr 8th, 2008, 01:05 AM
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Why did you use an agent? Its very easy to do this by yourself if you have some experience in travelling.
Secondly it was not necessary to change dollars into riels. Everybody in Cambodia is accepting dollars.
Secondly it was not necessary to change dollars into riels. Everybody in Cambodia is accepting dollars.
Apr 8th, 2008, 06:55 AM
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Alas! Almost any agent can get you on a tour like this. There are dozens of such agents along KSR. I'm sorry you had this bad experience. As wolf says, there is no reason to use a tour to get to Siem Reap. You'll pay less and get exactly what you want when you book it all yourself.
Apr 9th, 2008, 04:36 PM
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I didn't plan for the Cambodia tour. The idea hit me when I was in Pattaya. On hindsight, I could have done much better if I just went by myself.
Again, beware of Maneerat Transport & Travel!
Again, beware of Maneerat Transport & Travel!
