In emailing with Tong regarding our upcoming trip, she provided me with a detailed list of the rates for her company that I thought I would post for everyone's convenience. Then I got to thinking that maybe this would seem more like advertising or some other no-no. So, Kathy, Kim, Bobs etc. any reason that anyone feels I should not cut and paste the full rate schedule for Tong into this thread?

I understand your hesitation.

I think there's also a chance that Tong might not want her rates posted here because she may need to change her rates depending on the situation.
People might expect her to stick to what's posted here.

How about just posting her email address and letting people contact her themselves? I think she always provides a detailed price list in her emails when people ask.

I agree. I think it's OK to give a rough idea (basically 3000 baht per day give or take plus entrance fees and such), but beyond that I would say that it should be up to her to send her rates to interested parties. Maybe once her website is up and running (right now it is "under construction&quot she will have her rates posted, but in the meantime I think people should just e-mail her and work it out that way.

I am definitely looking forward to touring with her and with Nui (woman who works for her) while in Bangkok.

Thanks. I agree.

Post her rates!

Thats what this forum is for information for the travelers not protection of the vendors

With the amount of work she receives from this forum she should be giving fodors readers a special discount

Aloha!

In order to resolve this issue, I sent an email to Tong (which I should have done in the first instance)and asked her if I could post the contents of her email regarding her rates onin this thread. Tong was apprecaiteive of the fact that I would aske her permission and also had apparently discussed the issue with Gpanda. In light of the fact that she has still not been able to establish her website where she intended to post her rates, Tong was amenable to a full post here.

Hi Amy Hartman,
Below are the flat rates of guides / drivers in my team and myself ; Flat rate gives you more flexibility for the tour.


Licensed guide :

- 1,000 – 1,800 baht for guiding service without a car. All the expenses (transportation, admission fees etc.) will be paid by tourists.

- 2,500 baht for a full day guiding service in a normal air conditioned sedan or a taxi with a licensed guide in our team.(10 hours). Half day tour is 2,000 baht. Over than 10 hours = 250 baht/an additional hour.

- 3,000 baht for a full day guiding service in a large air conditioned sedan with a licensed guide in our team (10 hours). Half day tour is 2,300 baht. Over than 10 hours = 300 baht/an additional hour.

- 3,000 baht for a full day guiding service with Tong in an air conditioned SUV or a large sedan (10 hours). Half day tour is 2,300 baht. Over than 10 hours = 300 baht/an additional hour.

- 3,500 baht for a full day guiding service in a van with a driver and a licensed guide(Tong or guide in our team)(8 hours). Over than 8 hours = 350 baht/an additional hour.

- 4,000 baht for a full day guiding service in a VIP van with a driver and a licensed guide(Tong or guide in our team)(8 hours). Over than 8 hours = 400 baht/an additional hour.

- Gasoline is included for Bangkok Tour only.
- If out of Bangkok, charges more for gasoline on real cost or 3 baht/km. (the price for gasoline is fluctuant, if it's not too much different, we will stand on this price)
- This price doesn't include any meal, entrance fee, parking fee, express way, boat fee if needed.
- This price doesn't charge per person.
- Tong does a drive for SUV or a large sedan but sometimes there’s a driver, depending on the tour program...there's a driver or not...the price is still the same...
- Guide fees at the Grand Palace and other places are included.
- we do the tours in Bangkok, Floating Market and other sightseeings in the area, Samutsongkram, Nakorn Pathom, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, fishing village and Pattaya. Other places are upon requests.
- Package tour is upon request. Tourists need to do on a program settled in agreement. (whereas private tour, the program can be adjusted according to your time, requirement and preference, so entrance or other fees will be paid by tourists)
- There's a driver working with the licensed guide or not, the price is still the same. No additional charge.


Remarks : If you want to do the tour with Flat Rate(s);
- Floating Market (Ratchaburi) / Nakorn Pathom / Samutsongkram / Ayutthaya / Pattaya / Kanchanaburi / fishing village are considered as Out-of-Bangkok tour. it means gasoline will be charged on real cost.
- Floating Market & Kanchanaburi (1 day trip) seems to be the longest program. It normally takes around 10-14 hours depending on itinerary. If it's over than 10 hours. Over time fee will be charged for this case.
- Don't wear any hot colours if you want to go to the tiger temple in Kanchanaburi.



Licensed Driver : in case you dont wanna use a guide.
- 1,800 baht for a normal sedan (10 hours) with a driver. Over than 10 hours = 180 baht / an additional hour. Half day is 1,200 baht (5 hours). Minimal charge = 2 hours / 500 baht. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.

- 2,000 baht for a normal sedan (10 hours) with fluent English speaking driver. Over than 10 hours = 200 baht / an additional hour. Half day is 1,400 baht (5 hours). Minimal charge = 2 hours / 600 baht. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.

- 2,200 baht for a large sedan (10 hours) with a driver. Over than 10 hours = 220 baht / an additional hour. Half day is 1,400 baht (5 hours). Minimal charge = 2 hours / 700 baht. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.

- 2,400 baht for a large sedan (10 hours) with fluent English speaking driver. Over than 10 hours = 240 baht/an additiona hour. Half day is 1,600 baht. Minimal charge = 2 hours / 800 baht. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.


- 2,800 baht for a van (10 hours). Over than 10 hours = 280 baht/ an additional hour. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.

- 3,200 baht for a VIP van. (10 hours). Over than 10 hours = 320 baht/an additional hour. Out of Bangkok will be charged for gasoline on real cost.


** Gasoline is included for Bangkok tour only. But it doesn’t include any admission fee / parking fee / toll way / express way.

That was a great idea to ask Tong about posting them. Her construction site website looks like it will have some great info - I can well imagine she's anxious to get it up and running. Then she'll be even busier than she is now !

Along the same lines...

I'm trying to get an idea of the additional costs when we tour with tong in Bangkok. I understand that none of the entrance fees, parking fees, etc. are included in her rates.

Any idea where I can find this info? I tried to do a search with no luck.

the additional costs are not all that much within bkk....a few admisson costs (all available on line at specific sites)....the usual price for mileage outside bkk is 400-600 B, but it all depends on where you go....

i would ask tong for an approximate cost estimate...

we did a very extensive tour with her with lots of add on costs and i think it cost about $120 per person (total for the full day of about 12 hours), but that included gifts to an orphanage, a dinner for 40,kids at the orphanage, bannanas for monkeys---like 50 lbs, and more.....outside city driving

This is helpful. I have written to tong to ask her, but she seems especially busy these days, the last couple times I've written her it's taken over a week for her to get back to me.

How about tong's "secret place"?

Yes - what is this "secret place" (of course if I get an answer, it's not a secret) and would it be something that one of the people who work for her (specifically Nui) would take us to?

When we went to the fishing village in January it was 850 Baht each over and above Tong's fees (and mileage/gas). That was for Reed and lunch - worth every penny!

Secret village shots here

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...th_tong_2.html

The few drivers that most on this forum use use a 250 mile radius of BK where they do not charge the extra km cost which is minimal. To and from the market might add $10US tops.

stan i don't know any driver who does not charge mileage outside of bkk with no free miles...

the 'secret place' came about last fall when one fodorite was taken there by tong.....tong wanted to make it sort of a unique destination that only she had access to.....a good marketing idea...it is trully unique as is tong...

when gpanda and i wanted then to visit it last year it got even more play on fodors....it is still a bit secret but it is known that it is south of bkk on the sea...

essentially you embark on a small boat from a small fishing village....you motor down a river for a couple of miles into a bay....at the edge of the bay you enter two narrow inlets...while there reed (the fisherman) calls out for monkeys by making a loud noise....shortly what seems like hundreds of wild monkeys appear in the trees, swim out to the boat, hang over the boat in trees....you then spend 1/2 hour or so feeding them bannanas that reed's wife has purchased---you pay reed for them--cheap...you take thousands of pictures and have lots of fun...

from there you motor out into the bay....you pass some stilt houses, one of which is reed's property....you continue out to see some fishermen in boats and also to see the "seed" beds where shellfish is grown....

from there you head back to reed's stilt house....you climb up a bamboo ladder to the bamboo deck and there reed's wife has prepared a delicious seafood lunch for you...

there is a western toilet there as well..."air conditioned"...

after lunch you motor back to reed's house....

it is one of the most unique experiences we have had in any of our travels...

i guess its not so secret anymore

bob

Thanks, Bob. When I asked about the "secret place" I mostly wanted to know the cost. But you provided so much more!

am in bangkok now...does anyone know how i et a hold of tong to do a tour....thanks

i'm getting her phone # for you

here is the number: 081-835-0240