xmas in thailand family 4 with 2 teens-cost and itinerary check!
Mar 25th, 2008, 04:48 PM
#21
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While in Khao Lak, do the John Gray Sea Canoe Hongs by STarlight trip. Outstanding. They will pick you up from Khao Lak no problem. You can also do a snorkeling trip to the Similan or Surin islands easily from Khao Lak.
Mar 25th, 2008, 04:51 PM
#22
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here are my ideas....flights to there from n. america should be $1000 to 1500 each roundtrip....you might have to go through detroit, chicago or some other american city if air canada can't help you...
the kids would love the beach so krabi is a good choice---sheraton krabi should work...flight $125 r.t. each...
koh samui is also nice, many hotel choices there
chiang mai and chaing rai are also interesting for up country visits, but fly don't train---$150 pp r.t. each...
in bkk stay at the marriott resort and spa on the river for about $175 for 2 times two....
or the sheraton for about the same
or the marriott courtyard (may have double double)--not on the river
expose that travel agent who is trying to rip you off!! who are they??
do it all on your own and we will help you every step of the way....
hire a guide in bkk and also in chiang mai for personal service---about $60-100 per day.....best money you will ever spend...
contact my friend to see how they would set the trip up for you, one you arrived in bkk, if you want
cherry at:
[email protected]
tong is also a good guide in bkk:
[email protected]
the kids would love the beach so krabi is a good choice---sheraton krabi should work...flight $125 r.t. each...
koh samui is also nice, many hotel choices there
chiang mai and chaing rai are also interesting for up country visits, but fly don't train---$150 pp r.t. each...
in bkk stay at the marriott resort and spa on the river for about $175 for 2 times two....
or the sheraton for about the same
or the marriott courtyard (may have double double)--not on the river
expose that travel agent who is trying to rip you off!! who are they??
do it all on your own and we will help you every step of the way....
hire a guide in bkk and also in chiang mai for personal service---about $60-100 per day.....best money you will ever spend...
contact my friend to see how they would set the trip up for you, one you arrived in bkk, if you want
cherry at:
[email protected]
tong is also a good guide in bkk:
[email protected]
Mar 25th, 2008, 05:13 PM
#23
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Other recommendations: two outstanding drivers. One is Ratt in Bangkok and the other is her sister Poon in Chiang Mai. You can do a search on this forum and see lots of reviews of them.
You don't need a guide for your whole time in Bangkok at all. Nor do you need one in Chiang Mai but a driver is useful sometimes in bangkok and much of the time in Chiang Mai.
Beware of hiring any old guide or driver or booking a tour as you will spend half you time being forced to shop at places where they will get rebates. That won't happen with Ratt, poon,Tong, Cherry or any of the people many of us have used.
You don't need a guide for your whole time in Bangkok at all. Nor do you need one in Chiang Mai but a driver is useful sometimes in bangkok and much of the time in Chiang Mai.
Beware of hiring any old guide or driver or booking a tour as you will spend half you time being forced to shop at places where they will get rebates. That won't happen with Ratt, poon,Tong, Cherry or any of the people many of us have used.
Mar 25th, 2008, 07:06 PM
#24
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Thinking about this more...and after looking around a bit...this is one of the poorest value packages I've ever seen.
Your agent has pieced together tours from this company. http://www.goway.com/asia/thailand/index.html
Bangkok plus Northern Thai Explorer plus Krabi free time. Copied and pasted right from their website.
The hotels selected for you are not near close to the price you are paying. In Krabi, your hotel is not even on the beach, and the most expensive room direct booking rate peak season is about $150. Bangkok and Chiang Mai hotels are run of the mill tour group places with nothing special about them. Chiang Mai Plaza about $75/night/room and Century Park hotel under $150 for all but the best rooms, and quite poorly located imo. In the north, Fern Resort is a place to relax and enjoy (and it's cheap too), but you will not have time to do that.
Overall, the more I think about what has been proposed to you, the more I am sure that the agent is getting a 50% cut on everything. For that kind of money, you can stay in top places and have private tours with well known guides here. The itinerary as presented should cost more like $2600 for hotels total, $1200 total for tours and transportation..so $3800 total, or $950 per person. You can check it yourself by pricing out the hotels and airfare and adding a bit for tours (say $100 - $150 each tour total).
I can't believe the price they are trying to charge you.
I also found on expedia.com Cathay Pacific flights for $100 less per person than you were quoted, and expedia is seldom the cheapest.
Your agent has pieced together tours from this company. http://www.goway.com/asia/thailand/index.html
Bangkok plus Northern Thai Explorer plus Krabi free time. Copied and pasted right from their website.
The hotels selected for you are not near close to the price you are paying. In Krabi, your hotel is not even on the beach, and the most expensive room direct booking rate peak season is about $150. Bangkok and Chiang Mai hotels are run of the mill tour group places with nothing special about them. Chiang Mai Plaza about $75/night/room and Century Park hotel under $150 for all but the best rooms, and quite poorly located imo. In the north, Fern Resort is a place to relax and enjoy (and it's cheap too), but you will not have time to do that.
Overall, the more I think about what has been proposed to you, the more I am sure that the agent is getting a 50% cut on everything. For that kind of money, you can stay in top places and have private tours with well known guides here. The itinerary as presented should cost more like $2600 for hotels total, $1200 total for tours and transportation..so $3800 total, or $950 per person. You can check it yourself by pricing out the hotels and airfare and adding a bit for tours (say $100 - $150 each tour total).
I can't believe the price they are trying to charge you.
I also found on expedia.com Cathay Pacific flights for $100 less per person than you were quoted, and expedia is seldom the cheapest.
Mar 26th, 2008, 11:02 AM
#25
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Work your calculations with some of these
Fern Resprt peak December including tax, service, breakfast CA$55 a night for 2 ( CA$ 27.50 per person )
Muang Pai resort ( sorry can only see up to end Oct rates ) CA$ 38.80 per 2 inc tax service and breakfast ( CA$ 19.40 per person ) or a Family room for CA$65 per night
Thaton River Resort about CA$52 for 2 ( $ 26 each ) again inclusive of tax, service, breakfast
These att CA$ with tax, service, breakfast
Rimkok Resort $ 39 for 2 ( $ 19 each )
Tipa resort Krabi probably around the CA$100-120 for 2
These all seem to be mid range, nothing special, although I would say just fine for a family vacation they are not top range, e.g Tipa is not beach place and you have quite a walk down to the busy part of Ao nang which is not really beach place nowadays. Tipa is a hillside location.
All those I got from http://www.beachsiam.com
Others all are experts on the airfares, do remember that when packages are done they are 'per person' and this is where it often gets expensive because 'most' rooms in Thailand are sing;e/twin/double, although quite a few might list a single room rate you are looking for either 2 bed or a family room, they are priced 'per room' !
Fern Resprt peak December including tax, service, breakfast CA$55 a night for 2 ( CA$ 27.50 per person )
Muang Pai resort ( sorry can only see up to end Oct rates ) CA$ 38.80 per 2 inc tax service and breakfast ( CA$ 19.40 per person ) or a Family room for CA$65 per night
Thaton River Resort about CA$52 for 2 ( $ 26 each ) again inclusive of tax, service, breakfast
These att CA$ with tax, service, breakfast
Rimkok Resort $ 39 for 2 ( $ 19 each )
Tipa resort Krabi probably around the CA$100-120 for 2
These all seem to be mid range, nothing special, although I would say just fine for a family vacation they are not top range, e.g Tipa is not beach place and you have quite a walk down to the busy part of Ao nang which is not really beach place nowadays. Tipa is a hillside location.
All those I got from http://www.beachsiam.com
Others all are experts on the airfares, do remember that when packages are done they are 'per person' and this is where it often gets expensive because 'most' rooms in Thailand are sing;e/twin/double, although quite a few might list a single room rate you are looking for either 2 bed or a family room, they are priced 'per room' !
