Hubby and I have been planning a holiday for the past 14 years. Every time we think we are finally going, something comes up and we don't go. So, we have now decided we are definitely going to Thailand, and we are doing it in the upcoming school holidays. This means we don't have time to find some excuse not to go. We went to the travel agent yesterday and got the itinerary. I know that is not the cheapest way to do it which is why I am posting here.
What is the best/cheapest way to book airfares and everything else? what things are a must do? thanks in advance (I did note someone had submitted a topic re Thailand travel in January but that was for a young couple, we are a family with a 5 year old daughter so we wont be participating in the nightlife).
thanks in advance
Thailand for a Family
Comments
Thanks. We want to do a few things, river Kwai, phi phi island, fantasea dinner, elephant experience of some kind. I like the convenience of a travel agent, transfers etc all being organised. What do you normally do in terms of transfers?
Being that we are going in four weeks I doubt there will be cheap flights available beforehand
as it's school holiday times you'll most likely be paying full price for your tickets.
Scrap webjet and use other sites like kayak.com and skyscanner.
You can probably do river kwai and elephant trekking in on a one day tour. You're looking at 650 - 1000THB all included per person. Yes it is normal to haggle with the travel agencies in Thailand and don't be surprised if someone paid twice the amount as you did and are on the same tour.
I've never really needed transfers in Thailand, taxis are plentiful (at least in Bangkok…) always insist on the metre.
Do you know the approximate exchange rate? Our itinerary includes these tours. Is it better to book over there? If so, from where? And is it likely as it will be a busy period that things sell out beforehand so we miss out?
@loumick1:
pay everything there.much cheaper.
Nothing sells out.youll be kicking yourself when you find things a fraction of the price you paid.
Haggle and haggle.they say $100 you say $10 then move to the next guy and offer $11.youll start to realise the true price that way.
Don't trust the locals as they try to befriend you as they can lead you to buy stuff so they get commissions from the shops.
Avoid touristy restaurants and go where the middle class locals go.
Don't trust tuk tuk and taxi drivers.they want your cash.
Dont trust nice English speaking Thais offering help.they also want your cash.
Don't trust tailors trying to pass off $100 polyester suits as 100% cashmere@Peanut money:
OMG you are a suspicious person! i have been looking at a map in both Bangkok and Kata beach, obviously looking lost and both times a lovely Thai person with good English stopped and asked me if I needed help, they helped me and then they continued on their way. Not every Thai person has an agenda!I have got the best tip's on where to shop by Thai locals especially local markets with no commission involved.
Of course tuk tuk drivers and taxis want your money, how else do they make a living? this does not mean that they will not take you to where you want to go. when you hire a tuk tuk say "no stops" and they won't take you to any shops. However the price will go up.
However, I do agree about Tailors, be careful, they vary greatly in quality.
When it comes to haggling, treat it like a fun sport but remember in the end you may be arguing over 50 cents, just pay it!
eat street food, it is fresh and quick and cheap.
Use Trip Adviser to do some research, it is really helpful.
@Peanut money:
I am not saying it doesn't happen, But as i said not every friendly Thai person is a scammer.
If you use your common sense you can usually tell pretty quickly if they are dodgy.If an unknown person started talking to you in your home town, you would be a bit suspicious and being on holiday you should feel the same. But some people, just want to help and nothing more. Thai people are very proud of their country and they are also very aware of the scammer reputation and some of them help with no strings attached to show tourists that not every Thai person is a scammer. There are good people and bad people in every country.
Yes, you can haggle there on the tours. At any resort/hotel you go to there will be people on the streets selling tours.
Transfers are not a big deal. There are always buses going to popular places.If you book from here you will pay more and it's not necessary (to book from here)
You're going for a holiday. No need to try and cram stuff in before you even get there. Go there and see what you feel like. As it is school holidays, the places may be packed with tourists and that in itself is not an attractive aspect. You may decide to go somewhere completely different once you get there.
Transfers are seriously overpriced through a travel agent. It is very easy to get taxis from airports in Thailand and a fraction of the cost.
I urge you to do a bit of research on doing the elephant thing - check out what they do to the animals so that they can carry you on their backs.
http://journals.worldnomads.com/responsible-travel/story/810…
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/travel-tips-and-article…We always book our accommodation ourselves - usually through agoda, booking.com or sawadee.com. I always do alot of research on hotels on tripadvisor but it's a good idea to also check the reviews on sites like agoda and booking.com. Tripadvisor reviews are good because there are photos by travellers so you can see what the hotel really looks like (not just the staged photos on hotel websites).
Tours are cheaper when you book in Thailand - and always change your money there rather than here.
Last few times, I checked tickets on Adioso, wound up much cheaper than travel agents.
Since you're bringing a kid, I'd avoid Pattaya and Bangkok's Nana district. I went to the Phuket Fantasea ages ago, and it's a good stage show/dinner experience. I personally wouldn't visit an elephant or tiger park, many of them quite obviously abuse their animals (tourists taking photos with doped tigers, beaten elephants, etc). One 'reptile park' in Phuket actually moonlights as a crocodile farm, so go figure. Southern Thailand is very tourist friendly with great beaches, north like Chiang Mai is mountainous, temples, quieter and you avoid most of the 'doof doof' crowd.
Also, I never book accommodation before I travel and have always managed to find places. Even Koh Samui during NYE full moon party, there will always be vacancies. It's just a matter of showing up, inspecting the room and haggling. Much cheaper than booking online where the company takes a cut.
Our family of 6 travelled to Thailand and had a fantastic time. From Bangkok, if you want a trustworthy tour you can design yourself look at Tour With Tong, not the cheapest you will find but very reliable and trustworthy and can offer experiences you can't get elsewhere as well as organising the timing so you avoid the largest crowds.
Try not to be scared off too much by the advice given, it is all relevant and can happen however my experience is that you may end up paying more and may end up at some shopping place you didn't really think of or want it go to but you will be safe. There is one thing I got caught on and that was asking advice on when the markets were open only to be told not until 1pm and then they suggested some shopping place, we went there didn't buy anything. We found out that the market opened up in the morning.
secret tip- go to a chinese travel agent! they give you the best prices! im not even joking
My wife and I went to Chiang Mai and had a wonderful time. We stayed in a hotel called the Chedi, which was great. All in all we had a fantastic holiday with very friendly people and no hassles.
Thanks for all your tips etc. have taken it all on board.
I did a day trip from bkk pick up at hotel in a posh VIP private van for 2 of us took us to river kwai ate on the river there, walked the bridge then off to swim and play with an elephant each in the river… 10,000 baht it cost but by far best experience of my life
and wasnt one of them screwed up places that abuse the elephants, the mahouts live there in the camp with them and they pray each morning together and it really was a nice place.
be careful a lot of elephant places in thailand they hit them with big steel hooks to force them to do things and abuse the elephants
DONT take your daughter to the Phuket Zoo. It is a very poor excuse of a zoo and the animals are exploited
We go somewhere like webjet and check out the prices. Then we go direct to the airline that had the best prices/travel times and book if we still like the prices/travel times. You can also set a notification in here in case any cheap flights come up, and they often do.
You don't say what you want to do - ie., do you want to travel around or shop or hang out at the beach? I would check out trip advisor for advice. I don't like Thailand.
Once you've decided where you want to go, get the flights to there and then look up hotels on the trip advisor map, and then go straight to the hotel/s online.
This is the only way we've ever traveled.