We were sat on the beach today and witness what we can only describe as a diabolical liberty being taken by the owners of a jet ski outfit on the beach
The name is In For Motion and is opposite Gracelands hotel.
A nice Aussie family next to us rented jet ski and they also went para sailing etc when returning wiith the jet skis the owner came up to them and said that there was damage to the jet ski they had done nothing to them in fact the guys that worked for this out fit had been riding them up the beach earlier and driving them really hard.
He made really disparaging remarks aboout the aussies and was very abusive the family went to leave and he grabbed the "Dad".
It was a real performance and the reason that some are turning their back on Thailand.
an english expat who was sat next to us said the guy is well known for being a nutter.
Be warned do not use this outfit. This must have spoiled was was a good day for this family and maybe the holiday. Fair play to him he did not retaliate back I don't know if I would have been able to keep control when I said something i was told to but out.
By the way the owners english became very good when needed.
oh and another thing the tuk tuk mafia are out in force ......200bhat they wanted for a 300 yrd journey.........I walked and spent the 200baht on beer.
Phuket get rid of these elements or you will drive people away.
Hot by the way

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.

Hi Jax,
hope you's are having a great time. Remember to have one for all of us!!!
I have heard they try the same scam with motorbikes. Advise was if you are renting anything to take photos of it before you take it. If they see you do this they probably won't try one on!!

So the tuk tuk prices/scam hasn't changed. I hope to be able to come upon a driver who hires himself out for the day. Have heard there is one up near gracelands (in a liberal way) near a 7 11 that charges 600bt. Even if you negotiate with him and get his phone number and just call him when you need a lift. Has to work out cheaper in the long run.

But I agree with you...something needs to be done!! Not all of us have oodles of money but it is more the fact that we do not like being ripped off!!

Karin

They make me want to puke Jax. But you can't retaliate back, other Thais jump in, then it becomes a racial issue: the big farang hitting or pushing around the poor Thais. You go to police station and everything is stacked in their favor. We have no rights, not even the right to self defense. And when Thais grab, push, or hit us they know this very well. They can't possibly loose.

While in phuket just under 2 years ago my friends hubby and I would havel loved to go jet sking but another tourist warned us of the "damage scam" it put us off completley.I think it is a good thing that we get to know about the downside --perhaps once their business revenue decreases they will get to realise that less is more and honesty is the best policy
Cheers laurs

...or the best policy could be to ban jetskis altogether. I can't stand the things. They're noisy and dangerous for anyone else who happens to be in the water, especially when the wannabe rich kids decide to show off while drunk.

Google "jetski accidents Phuket" and you will see what I mean.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

the only way i would stay in patong, would be free hotel, semi plush, so no need to leave, w/breakfast buffet, a good one, not the usual warm to cold munch. did i mention free. hmm, do i just love the place or what. personally, if i didn't self drive, i would never leave karon/kata beach area. tuk tuk are a joke.

oh, the jet ski guys on kata beach seem fairly honest, never saw any arguements going on, though not really paying attention, and they don't do a lot of business. but never saw any customers getting into it with them.

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LA
http://www.geocities.com/laphanphon/hp.html

Did you end up using your ebay voucher?

Den

in Thailand are (or were) illegal (unlicensed) and unlawful (no insurance, no training, nada). They are a good yard stick for beaches and areas to avoid as they signal even deeper potential problems. Yes, they get really nasty as well, a friend of mine had his car tooled by some who earlier claimed he had used a beach chair without paying for it; I believe he briefly sat on one to put his beach shoes on. That was Karon Beach BTW. There is an element of nastiness in certain Thais for sure. After someone nearly hit me in a hospital car park (I was leaving) and he came flying around the corner, I then drove across the road to a supermarket and when I cam out someone had taken their key along one side of my car. I earnestly recommend no-one gets into conflict with Thais in such scenarios, and I earnestly recommend avoiding jet skis and tuk tuks in Phuket.

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

A timely warning Jax
My son was in Phuket about 18 months on a business conference... however, it was the wet season and the seas were very rough. My lad being proficient in the water and a bit of a dare devil went out with his two colleagues. He got thrown up into the air and the jet-ski landed on him hitting his leg. One of the others guys almost drowned and the 3rd cracked a couple of ribs. The jet-ski hirers came running to 'help' or so they thought... all they were interested in was the jet-ski and claimed that water was in the 'carby' and the other guy had to pay an enormous 'ransom' before they allowed him to leave the beach.
My son appeared ok at the time, but his leg got worse and during the night he rang reception to take him to the hospital... the driver however, had a better idea and wanted to take him to a brothel first to get laid... he simply told them "Mate... just take me to the hospital"
Cheers Geri