Ive asked this before but not really got any firm replies. We want to do these 2 day trips when we are in Phuket in April. Ive looked in brochures and the prices range from about $60-$120 an adult for what seems like a similar tour. Someone said you can arrange them cheaper and bargain for best price on the streets, but then other people say they would only do it via their hotel or somewhere like that, and therefore pay a little bit more. Im happy to pay $100 an adult for a full day tour ..... is this about the going rate when you book them over there. Im not talking about booking it now in Australia before we leave, but arranging them when we get there. Or ... are we better to go for the cheapest price we can get for the same trip????
Any help in this regard would be appreciated - thankx!!!

The hotels will sell the same trips as the travel agents on the road. Most problematic: neither of these salespersons has ever gone on any of the trips so neither will be able to give you any real inside information.

Reliable IMO: John Gras Seacanoe for the Phang Nga trip, Phuket Island Hopper to Phi Phi. Hope this helps you a bit.

Hi I paid 4300baht for two people to do both trips. This was in one of the litle tour shops in Patong. I was picked up at my hotel on time and both trips included a buffet lunch. The James Bond one included sea canoeing.

I hope this helps Dave.

PS. I never book any tours etc. through hotels or at home before I leave. You always get better prices on the street.

Thanx Steven and Enpi for yr info. Im amazed at the price of 4300 baht for 2 people to do both trips, cos that works out to only about $38 Australian dollars per trip - which is very different to the prices quoted in the travel brochures of b/n $60-$120!!!!! I guess we will just wait and see what happens when we get there. It will depend also on the family Im going with and what they want to do, cos Im quite easy when it comes to things like that - Ill just go with the flow!!!
ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION!!?? (Oh ... so many questions!?) Can anyone give me an idea as to what is the best thing to do with luggage on flights - ie. to padlock it OR to cable tie it OR to bubble wrap it?????
I have used padlocks and cable ties before with no probs. The family Im goin with say this is their biggest worry - that is, to have luggage tampered with, drugs, etc. etc. Has anyone ever had a prob with tampered luggage and/or lost luggage en route to Phuket/Bangkok?????
SORRY ABOUT ALL THE MANY Q'S ......... ONLY 54 MORE SLEEPS TO GO!!! yep THATS ME JUST BOUNCIN OFF THE WALLS CANT WAIT TO GET TO THAILAND!!!!!

Hi Kitty
We always use a padlock and Tampertel which can be bought in RAVC shops and other travel shops.
Cheers Geri

Yes that is correct under AUD$40. It all started at Bt4150 each but the first place reduced it immeditley by Bt1000 from the brochure cost, then I went accross the road and they reduced it another Bt1000 per head.

So dont pay list price or hotel costs. There are tour places everywhere in Patong and the tours to these places were leaving everyday in Jan. Don't worry until you get there and just go for a walk and be prepared to bargin the price down.

As for luggage, I have only been to Thailand once, but have been to Indo many times, I have never locked or bubble wrapped my luggage and have never had any problems.

So I would suggest a small lock would suffice, and relax your friends.

Regards,

Dave

Geri - can you please tell me what Tampartel is??? Ive never heard of it. Im in Australia so it might be something we dont have here. Thanx for all your helpful replies - Im always thinking of new questions to ask!!
Dave - thanx so much for the info on tours. Im happy to bargain the price down if it means saving that much money!!! There will be 6 of us altogether too, so that might make the bargaining a bit easier - 3 adults and 3 children. I cant believe you've never even padlocked your luggage going to Indonesia??? You are a brave soul - have you never heard of Schappele Corby???? I think Ill stick to padlocks as I already have them - my friends will make their own minds up but I think they are going with cable ties. So .... did you like Thailand??? Where did you stay and go etc???
Lindy

Difference between me and Schappele Corby is, she's a criminal, I'm not.

Good luck with your tour bargaining.

Dave

I thought Thailand was good. We stayed at Bangkok, Pattaya (Jomtien), Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, Phuket (Patong and then Kata).

Loved the food courts in Bangkok especially MBK.

Didn't think that much of central and south Pattaya (too many people and the beach is ruined with deckchairs and umbrellas shoulder to shoulder the length of the beach), but everywhere else was good. I preffered staying outside of Patong. Really liked Kata Noi beach and Surin beach in Phuket, great little cafes at the beach at Surin. I also really liked the Night Bazzar in Chaing Mai and going on the Elephant Tour, and the Tiger temple in Kanchanaburi.

Nowhere in Thailand did I pay more than AUD$40-$50 for a full day tour with lunch. So don't let them charge you more than this.

Have fun

Dave

Thanx Dave - now I know to go in and bargain hard until I get it to at least AUD$50 each tour. Gee they must rip some people off big time if they pay straight up the $100+ as in the brochures.
You have really seen a lot of Thailand - this time we are only doing Phuket and Bangkok. Im glad you mentioned how good the food court is at the MBK as we are staying 5 mins walk from that - so thats definitely handy to know - thanx again!
We are planning to do an elephant trek tour in Phuket and have only found one in the brochures that involves ONLY elephant and not a whole heap of other stuff, like white water rafting which we dont want to do. I think it was with Siam Safari and was about 2-3 hours long. Would you recommend any others? We also want to see Phuket Phantasea - the kids will probably enjoy that. I know most people say its quite expensive but I think its one thing that you JUST HAVE TO DO especially the first time you are in Thailand.
And ... YES ... WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE FUN
(only 53 more sleeps!!!)
Lindy