Sent Tong my deposit almost 3 days ago
Dec 8th, 2009, 01:34 PM
#1
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Sent Tong my deposit almost 3 days ago
and no response or confirmation. I do have the paypal confirmation.
Is this normal? I don't want to harass her by emailing her but I am a little nervous about my $100.
Is this normal? I don't want to harass her by emailing her but I am a little nervous about my $100.
Dec 8th, 2009, 03:01 PM
#2
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I would not worry about it--I'm sure she's just backlogged in her office.
She's the most reliable guide I've ever used--just busy...and for good reason.
You'll be fine. I'm sure she'll get back to you. If you don't hear something by
She's the most reliable guide I've ever used--just busy...and for good reason.
You'll be fine. I'm sure she'll get back to you. If you don't hear something by
Dec 8th, 2009, 03:02 PM
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Sorry my post got cut off:
---
I would not worry about it--I'm sure she's just backlogged in her office.
She's the most reliable guide I've ever used--just busy...and for good reason.
You'll be fine. I'm sure she'll get back to you. If you don't hear something by 5 days, I would send an email reminder.
Again, nothing to fret over.
---
I would not worry about it--I'm sure she's just backlogged in her office.
She's the most reliable guide I've ever used--just busy...and for good reason.
You'll be fine. I'm sure she'll get back to you. If you don't hear something by 5 days, I would send an email reminder.
Again, nothing to fret over.
Dec 8th, 2009, 04:45 PM
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Don't worry. She gets really backed up. I am positive that she will communicate with you shortly. I am also positive that you will enjoy your time. Tell her you're from the same city as Bob and Andy.
Dec 9th, 2009, 04:08 AM
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Thank you. I figured she was busy and will contact me later about details, etc. I will say that her communication was excellent while we were booking.
I should say, when my dear husband and I travelled to Norway in 2007, we ended up booking online through some random site for lighthouse accomodation. We had no diea whether the lighthouse keeper would show up or not to pick us up (and we were in a very remote pat of Norway), and we didn't have a cellphone or any computer, but not only did she show up exactly when and where she was supposed to, but she gave us one of the most magical travel experiences of our lives! So I am not worried.
I will let her (and her crew) know that she was recommended by Bob and Andy! I have never been to the darkest Needham but I do manage to get to Cambridge once in a while. I live in the North End and even walked over to the Similans the other day for lunch.
I should say, when my dear husband and I travelled to Norway in 2007, we ended up booking online through some random site for lighthouse accomodation. We had no diea whether the lighthouse keeper would show up or not to pick us up (and we were in a very remote pat of Norway), and we didn't have a cellphone or any computer, but not only did she show up exactly when and where she was supposed to, but she gave us one of the most magical travel experiences of our lives! So I am not worried.
I will let her (and her crew) know that she was recommended by Bob and Andy! I have never been to the darkest Needham but I do manage to get to Cambridge once in a while. I live in the North End and even walked over to the Similans the other day for lunch.
Dec 9th, 2009, 06:08 AM
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No, but I do pass a jail on the way (the Suffolk DA's office, which is right by the entrance to Storrow Drive near North Station). That's in Boston, though, not Cambridge (Middlesex County)
Dec 9th, 2009, 08:56 AM
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Puttakka-that's the Old Charles Street jail. It's been converted to a luxury hotel. Something that is totally absent in Darkest Needham.
I'm sure that your experience with Tong or her crew will be similar to Norway. There's a rare comparison.
How was lunch at Similans?
I'm sure that your experience with Tong or her crew will be similar to Norway. There's a rare comparison.
How was lunch at Similans?
Dec 9th, 2009, 06:31 PM
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Yay, Tong responded and we are all set. We are excited!
The Old Charles Street jail is now the Liberty Hotel (they annexed the old sandwich shop).
Rhkkmk is correct; I am talking about the jail next to the Fleetcenter/TdGarden/Whatever the Hell they are calling the Old Garden these days. I think it's the Nashua Street jail?
Anyway, the inmates catcall at me when I walk or run by...
The Similans is always good, as is its sister Brown Sugar Cafe, formerly of the Fenway and currently of Allston. I always get Basil shrimp.
The Old Charles Street jail is now the Liberty Hotel (they annexed the old sandwich shop).
Rhkkmk is correct; I am talking about the jail next to the Fleetcenter/TdGarden/Whatever the Hell they are calling the Old Garden these days. I think it's the Nashua Street jail?
Anyway, the inmates catcall at me when I walk or run by...
The Similans is always good, as is its sister Brown Sugar Cafe, formerly of the Fenway and currently of Allston. I always get Basil shrimp.
Dec 9th, 2009, 06:52 PM
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Maybe it's time Tong hired a secretary. I've lost count the number of times I've seen this type of posting on Fodors and I'm a little surprised Fodors allows it to continue.
With all the customers being sent her way from Fodors you would think Tong could afford to pay someone to keep her business affairs in order.
With all the customers being sent her way from Fodors you would think Tong could afford to pay someone to keep her business affairs in order.
Dec 9th, 2009, 09:21 PM
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>
Since when is it that a company should ever editorialize the content of their public forum (other than removing offensive language/posts?)??
Isn't that considered censorship?
Everytime someone asks for a good hotel to stay in in Bangkok, perhaps Fodor's should automatically delete that post?
Since when is it that a company should ever editorialize the content of their public forum (other than removing offensive language/posts?)??
Isn't that considered censorship?
Everytime someone asks for a good hotel to stay in in Bangkok, perhaps Fodor's should automatically delete that post?
Dec 9th, 2009, 11:16 PM
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It is a great credit to Tong's customer relation skills and the services she provide, that she retains such a loyal and supportive following amongst fodorites despite the numerous negative posts she gets about here admin/post sales service. That said I personally would not consider using an operation who adopts such an apparently lax approach to responding to client enquiries. The impression that I get from these posts is that she is trying to retain every baht she receives herself rather the using some of her revenues to improve her client service. Perhaps some of her many fans would help her by pointing this out to her (maybe she does not appreciate the concern this causes).
I do of course agree with filmwill that it is not up to fodors to censor these posts. If tong was blatantly adverising, then yes. Otherwise, fodors should concentrate on removing those posts which are straight advertising, which, they seem to be doing with increasing effectiveness.
I do of course agree with filmwill that it is not up to fodors to censor these posts. If tong was blatantly adverising, then yes. Otherwise, fodors should concentrate on removing those posts which are straight advertising, which, they seem to be doing with increasing effectiveness.
Dec 10th, 2009, 01:39 AM
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Maybe zeer is really responding to the sheer ubiquity of this Tong phenomenon in Fodor's. It's like groundhog day. If it's Bangkok - it must be Tong.
I'm sure she's great; her many fans have left me in absolutely no doubt of that. They have every right to sing her praises - and they do. She must be special. Of course, it may be that the more people Fodor's 'sends' her, the more out of control her scheduling becomes, the more chaotic her bookeeping.
But I'm more concerned with another, bigger point. There seem to be no other options in here on this topic - at all.
Something about the politics of this worries me. I can't quite put my finger on it.
I'm sure she's great; her many fans have left me in absolutely no doubt of that. They have every right to sing her praises - and they do. She must be special. Of course, it may be that the more people Fodor's 'sends' her, the more out of control her scheduling becomes, the more chaotic her bookeeping.
But I'm more concerned with another, bigger point. There seem to be no other options in here on this topic - at all.
Something about the politics of this worries me. I can't quite put my finger on it.
Dec 10th, 2009, 06:00 AM
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i'm not sure whether to respond or not.... i am one of tong's most ardent supporters... here is my take...
#1 she is not getting rich.... #2 she is a small one person business, with other workers she employs from time to time.... #3 she is a mother, a wife as well as a guide... #4 she lives about 1.5 hours outside bkk and all her business starts in the city center.... #5 no one i know has more interest in her clients having a good and interesting time while visiting bkk.... #6 her day on average is about 14+ hours.... #7 like many small business owners hiring a person to just do the paperwork is pure expense and likely that person would not have the dedication that the owner has...
i could go on and on...
can't you just imagine the e mails you get from potential customers: " how long will this take"... "can you tell me this or that..." "can i change my pick-up from 8 to 8:30"...
"who will be my guide..." "should i add the floating market"... "is pattaya near the floating market?"...
my point is that the woman is having amazing success, she gets lots of referrals from fodors, from trip advisor, and from other sources.... give her a break.... should she spend the extra $$ for an assistant--- i'm not sure... and i'm also not sure that it would solve impatient people's problems 100%.... if i were waiting for an answer from her about my trip next july, yes i would be anxious, but i hope i would also cut her some slack...
now i wish i had not written this but....
#1 she is not getting rich.... #2 she is a small one person business, with other workers she employs from time to time.... #3 she is a mother, a wife as well as a guide... #4 she lives about 1.5 hours outside bkk and all her business starts in the city center.... #5 no one i know has more interest in her clients having a good and interesting time while visiting bkk.... #6 her day on average is about 14+ hours.... #7 like many small business owners hiring a person to just do the paperwork is pure expense and likely that person would not have the dedication that the owner has...
i could go on and on...
can't you just imagine the e mails you get from potential customers: " how long will this take"... "can you tell me this or that..." "can i change my pick-up from 8 to 8:30"...
"who will be my guide..." "should i add the floating market"... "is pattaya near the floating market?"...
my point is that the woman is having amazing success, she gets lots of referrals from fodors, from trip advisor, and from other sources.... give her a break.... should she spend the extra $$ for an assistant--- i'm not sure... and i'm also not sure that it would solve impatient people's problems 100%.... if i were waiting for an answer from her about my trip next july, yes i would be anxious, but i hope i would also cut her some slack...
now i wish i had not written this but....
Dec 10th, 2009, 06:33 AM
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I am also a strong Tong supporter. I agree with Bob's comments, but can put it simply:
We have tremendousl;y enjoyed every minute we've spent with Tong. Those days are some of our most memorable from any vacation.
Consequently, her non-hyper-efficient mode of communication is a small blip in the totality of the experience.
We have tremendousl;y enjoyed every minute we've spent with Tong. Those days are some of our most memorable from any vacation.
Consequently, her non-hyper-efficient mode of communication is a small blip in the totality of the experience.
Dec 10th, 2009, 06:44 AM
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dogster, i know you've mentioned this before...and perhaps I think i've said this before in response too...but you are right: a lot of folks on here like here and recommend her.
if there's another guide in BKK (ratt, cherry, etc.) that people have used and liked, they absolutely should (and i think do) recommend them. i don't think i've ever seen anyone on here dismiss other guides full-stop just because they're not tong. all they've said is 'we used tong and we loved every minute of that experience.'
if potential travelers on here are taken by the endorsements (which it seems they are) and choose to perpetuate the tong usage, then i'm not quite following your logic about how a) that's troubling or b) it's worth something putting your finger on. it's a choice folks make independently--no one is forced to use tong. just because 1 guide is more popular than another doesn't mean that guide is the only one to use...and I don't think anyone here has implied that...just that they think tong is great.
I guess I'd pose the comparison: why do folks shell lots of money to go see the latest no-plot, big action movie? People just like seeing those kinds of films--as many varied faults as those movies tend to have--there's something about the mindless entertainment of those films that brings the masses coming back for more. Nothing will ever change that. Those movies will always make money. Does that mean that those movies shouldn't be made or they have no merit? Certainly not. There are plenty of other independent films out there to see--and anyone has the choice to see one of those movies. Of course you're probably only ever going to hear about the bigger movies, as they get more press. Can't really blame anyone for that.
So my advice for those who aren't interested in using Tong: do some digging, look for other guide recommendations on Fodors (or other boards.) After all, let's not forget, this is still a choice.
if there's another guide in BKK (ratt, cherry, etc.) that people have used and liked, they absolutely should (and i think do) recommend them. i don't think i've ever seen anyone on here dismiss other guides full-stop just because they're not tong. all they've said is 'we used tong and we loved every minute of that experience.'
if potential travelers on here are taken by the endorsements (which it seems they are) and choose to perpetuate the tong usage, then i'm not quite following your logic about how a) that's troubling or b) it's worth something putting your finger on. it's a choice folks make independently--no one is forced to use tong. just because 1 guide is more popular than another doesn't mean that guide is the only one to use...and I don't think anyone here has implied that...just that they think tong is great.
I guess I'd pose the comparison: why do folks shell lots of money to go see the latest no-plot, big action movie? People just like seeing those kinds of films--as many varied faults as those movies tend to have--there's something about the mindless entertainment of those films that brings the masses coming back for more. Nothing will ever change that. Those movies will always make money. Does that mean that those movies shouldn't be made or they have no merit? Certainly not. There are plenty of other independent films out there to see--and anyone has the choice to see one of those movies. Of course you're probably only ever going to hear about the bigger movies, as they get more press. Can't really blame anyone for that.
So my advice for those who aren't interested in using Tong: do some digging, look for other guide recommendations on Fodors (or other boards.) After all, let's not forget, this is still a choice.
Dec 10th, 2009, 07:12 AM
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Why not give Ratt some business (we will use her on our trip to BKK in January). Ratt is a fine driver- ok her English is not the best- but otherwise she provides good service and maybe she will respond to your request in a timely fashion as well. Also she will not push for these "secret places" and other things - you just tell her what you want to do.
Dec 10th, 2009, 08:37 AM
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I can't dispute that logic filmwill; you always add clarity to my confusion.
I've been puzzling over this phenomenon for some time. Sometimes I just have to puzzle aloud.
I don't think it's some kind of evil Fodor's-Asia-group-think, a conspiracy or a cyber-disease - quite the contrary, I see it as one big-lovefest of quite amazing proportions.
As I now represent at least 95 classified minorities I just want to stick up for the other guys, on principle. My big problem, at this point in my odd little argument, is that I don't know who they are.
I'll try not to dwell on it too much. I'll fret and hair will fall out.
I've been puzzling over this phenomenon for some time. Sometimes I just have to puzzle aloud.
I don't think it's some kind of evil Fodor's-Asia-group-think, a conspiracy or a cyber-disease - quite the contrary, I see it as one big-lovefest of quite amazing proportions.
As I now represent at least 95 classified minorities I just want to stick up for the other guys, on principle. My big problem, at this point in my odd little argument, is that I don't know who they are.
I'll try not to dwell on it too much. I'll fret and hair will fall out.
