I am getting a bit tired of the bad service I am getting from the airlines.
It is one thing to be penalized for mucking them around at the last minute, but why should a customer be penalized for mistakes that the airlines make?
Mileage Points, Frequent Flyer Points or whatever you want to call them is something that is earned by travelers and is not a gift or favor from the airlines.
I am a member of three frequent flyer schemes and have had arguments with two of them.
The first was with Thai Air. I was peeved when I found I was not credited some miles that were omitted from my account.
When I received the statement and noticed that miles were not credited for one of my trips, I rang them and was told that I had to send in my two boarding passes with a letter.
I informed them that I still had a copy of my ticket but only one boarding pass could be found but they refused to give me the full points credit.
Begrudgingly I accepted their decision and as luck would have it I later found the missing boarding pass and contacted Thai Air to claim the missing points.
They told me that it was too late to do anything about it.
I don’t why they felt the need to cheat me. As far as I was concerned I had sufficient proof but they preferred to deny me rather than offer me fair service.
I have never flown with them since.
More recently, I have experienced problems with Philippine Airlines.
Upon checking my online statement I noticed that they had also forgotten to credit me with some miles. I went through my file box and dug out the copy of the electronic ticket pertaining to that date.
I rang Philippine Airlines thinking all that was needed was for me to quote my ticket number to them and the missing miles would be updated on the phone.
According to the voice on the phone, this was not possible.
Instead I was advised to use the online facility to claim the points. I filled in all the missing spaces and then clicked return and promptly got an email from Mabuhay Miles.
The mail said that the online submission was not successful and I would have to print out a form and send it off to them, enclosing all copies of ticket and boarding passes.
At this stage I have located the copy of the ticket and three of the four required boarding passes. One boarding pass is still missing
I will post these off to Philippine Airlines on Monday.
Guess who will blow their stack if Philippine Airlines don’t give me full credit for the missing points?
One needs to bear in mind that the missing miles points was an error by them not by me and I have better things to do than be on the back foot for a mistake that was not mine in the first place.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Obese People To Pay For Two Seats On A Plane.
I have just come back from an overseas trip and endured eight hours on a plane sitting sideways in my seat.
The reason was that I was wedged between two tremendously fat guys whose torsos did not fit properly in their seats.
I was irritated when I sat in my designated seat and found myself seated next to the first very fat man.
I mean he was huge. His shoulders were so big that they overlapped six inches into my seat.
His flabby side bits were pressed into my side.
I never could have dreamed that a second similarly huge guy would take the aisle seat next to me.
Here was me stuck in the middle with these two fat guys with their blubber pushing into my body.
Do you think there was anything I could do to prevent this from happening?
Not a dam thing.
I anxiously called for a flight attendant and asked if there was an empty seat elsewhere on the plane, but the answer was no.
There was nothing I could do but spend the next eight hours twisted sideways at an uncomfortable angle while the fat guys on both sides invaded my confines.
Has the world gone mad?
Are the airlines too politically correct to say what needs to be said?
If obscenely obese people need to take up other people’s space on a plane, then force them to buy two tickets.
Weigh them as you would luggage. If you have reasonable limits for luggage then why not have weight standards for passengers?
I don’t ever again want to have to spend eight hours on a plane squashed by blubber and lard.
If the passenger is so overweight that he can’t sit in a single seat without spilling over into a second seat, then make him pay for two seats.
This is much fairer than forcing the regular sized passenger to subsidize these
hippos, by allowing them to invade your space.
The reason was that I was wedged between two tremendously fat guys whose torsos did not fit properly in their seats.
I was irritated when I sat in my designated seat and found myself seated next to the first very fat man.
I mean he was huge. His shoulders were so big that they overlapped six inches into my seat.
His flabby side bits were pressed into my side.
I never could have dreamed that a second similarly huge guy would take the aisle seat next to me.
Here was me stuck in the middle with these two fat guys with their blubber pushing into my body.
Do you think there was anything I could do to prevent this from happening?
Not a dam thing.
I anxiously called for a flight attendant and asked if there was an empty seat elsewhere on the plane, but the answer was no.
There was nothing I could do but spend the next eight hours twisted sideways at an uncomfortable angle while the fat guys on both sides invaded my confines.
Has the world gone mad?
Are the airlines too politically correct to say what needs to be said?
If obscenely obese people need to take up other people’s space on a plane, then force them to buy two tickets.
Weigh them as you would luggage. If you have reasonable limits for luggage then why not have weight standards for passengers?
I don’t ever again want to have to spend eight hours on a plane squashed by blubber and lard.
If the passenger is so overweight that he can’t sit in a single seat without spilling over into a second seat, then make him pay for two seats.
This is much fairer than forcing the regular sized passenger to subsidize these
hippos, by allowing them to invade your space.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Swagman Hotel in Manila
When you are visiting a relatively dangerous city such as Manila, it is important to find a safe haven in a city that can be very unforgiving for the uninitiated.
The Swagman Hotel in Ermita gets thumbs up for one main reason.
It is a place of safe refuge for the Western traveler who doesn’t mind paying a bit extra for the services that The Swagman Hotel provides.
When I visited Manila the first time, I was advised by those who went before me to book a room at The Swagman Hotel and to use all their transport services.
Not wishing to have my vacation spoiled by unfortunate incidents that could have been avoided, I decided to heed the advice of experienced travelers.
The rooms at The Swagman are really quite poor compared to other hotels in the same area.
To be honest, I only stayed there once and soon found better places to stay.
The Swagman Hotel does have some other favorable aspects to it and these draw me back to as a regular stop.
They have a great coffee shop called The Outback Café and this Australian themed coffee shop has pretty good food although it is expensive by Philippine Standards.
The Philippines is not famous for their great food, so it is comforting to be able to order meals similar to what you would get at home.
The Swagman also offers their bus service to the airport, and for an expensive price, you can even arrange to have them pick you up from the airport on your arrival.
Taxi drivers in Manila can be aggressive and often take advantage of inexperienced tourists so my advice is to take advantage of their bus service and avoid the pitfalls of dealing with tax drivers.
Fly The Bus is a private bus line that has a base in The Swagman Hotel. The buses ferry visitors to the popular city of Angeles three times a day, and while you can elect to take public transport for less than half the price, the relative comfort and safety of Fly The Bus makes it worthwhile, especially if you have bulky luggage with you.
They provide free and reliable WIFI at their coffee shop.
The Swagman Hotel in Ermita gets thumbs up for one main reason.
It is a place of safe refuge for the Western traveler who doesn’t mind paying a bit extra for the services that The Swagman Hotel provides.
When I visited Manila the first time, I was advised by those who went before me to book a room at The Swagman Hotel and to use all their transport services.
Not wishing to have my vacation spoiled by unfortunate incidents that could have been avoided, I decided to heed the advice of experienced travelers.
The rooms at The Swagman are really quite poor compared to other hotels in the same area.
To be honest, I only stayed there once and soon found better places to stay.
The Swagman Hotel does have some other favorable aspects to it and these draw me back to as a regular stop.
They have a great coffee shop called The Outback Café and this Australian themed coffee shop has pretty good food although it is expensive by Philippine Standards.
The Philippines is not famous for their great food, so it is comforting to be able to order meals similar to what you would get at home.
The Swagman also offers their bus service to the airport, and for an expensive price, you can even arrange to have them pick you up from the airport on your arrival.
Taxi drivers in Manila can be aggressive and often take advantage of inexperienced tourists so my advice is to take advantage of their bus service and avoid the pitfalls of dealing with tax drivers.
Fly The Bus is a private bus line that has a base in The Swagman Hotel. The buses ferry visitors to the popular city of Angeles three times a day, and while you can elect to take public transport for less than half the price, the relative comfort and safety of Fly The Bus makes it worthwhile, especially if you have bulky luggage with you.
They provide free and reliable WIFI at their coffee shop.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pirated Movies And Software In Asia
Pirated movies, games, software and even pornography are a huge industry in many parts of
Piracy is like a cancer. It seems there is no cure for it.
Record companies and Movie companies have millions to spend on anti piracy measures but they can’t seem to prevent piracy from flourishing.
When I travel to
I have been shopping there for many years and can bear witness to the huge amount of pirated movies, software, games and music that is being sold in
About half of the five floor complex is devoted to the selling of pirated material.
The system works like this. There are dozens of small booths set up in the complex where the vendors display the covers of the DVDS.
The actual disks are kept in a different part of the building.
They have touts working for them. The touts entice the shoppers to browse the new movie releases. After browsing the movies for sale, the shoppers are offered pornography, games and business software.
The hottest item of software at the moment is Windows Vista.
It seems odd but many of the computer shops sell new computers without any operating system, and it is almost as if they are saying, don’t pay for a licensed operating system when you can get a working copy for pennies.
The sellers of pirated software at
Lookouts roam the lower floors of Pantip searching for police who are trying to catch the vendors red handed.
I asked a vendor if he was ever caught and he explained to me that the police can only prosecute if they catch you with the actual disks.
If you have the artwork covers but they can’t find the discs, then you have no case to answer for.
When a shopper places an order, he hands over his cash and told to come back in fifteen minutes.
The cost for a new release movie or software title is about two dollars
During that time, the pirated disks are brought over from some hidden location and then passed to the purchaser in a plain unmarked bag.
Amazingly the police never see fit to shut it down.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
America Hotel. Best Value Hotel In Angeles City Philippines
Balibago in
Formerly a
I have always found the place to be safe to visit, but only if common sense prevails.
A traveler needs to be vigilant about his security.
Bearing this in mind, I have stuck to one hotel over the last ten years and in my opinion,
the best value hotel in
The staff has hardly changed over the last ten years. I know their names and faces and they know mine.
Not only does this create a friendly holiday atmosphere, it gives you some extra confidence in the security of your preferred accommodation.
When I lock my as away my passport and cash in the security box I feel confident that it will still be there the next day.
The America Hotel has free WIFI for hotel guests. They have a shaded area near the swimming pool and many guests bring their laptops to take advantage of the service.
Room rates start at about $25 US.
The America Hotel has 24 hour room service.
Should you be planning a vacation to The Philippines, and want to visit
Contact details are as follows.
Email: amehotel@comclark.com
Fax 0456256106
Telephone: 0453221762
0453221785
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Best Value Hotel In Manila
Do you want the best value hotel in Manila?
I believe the Executive Plaza Hotel on Mabini in Ermita is the best value.
It is the best value if you book it in the right way.
Do not just walk in and expect them to quote you the best price because the walk in price is high.
If you want to pay the lowest price for a hotel in Manila you have to book it through a travel agent who has a special arrangement with the hotel.
It seems people are always telling you about the fantastic deal they got on accommodation from here there and everywhere. I have been traveling to the Philippines for many years and have stayed in a few different hotels.
Even though The Philippines is a relatively cheap country, when you are staying in the capital, things can get expensive.
Hotel accommodation is no exception.
Add to this the fact that hotel management likes to charge different prices for different classes of tourists and you find choosing a good hotel for the right price becomes a difficult task.
I remember a few years ago when I was traveling with a friend who refused to book in advance, trekking through the streets of Malate and Ermita.
We were trying to find a good deal on a few nights stay in Manila.
Not wishing to appear a wimp, I followed my friend as he inquired about the nightly rate of various hotels.
It was a tricky affair. We would see a banner outside a hotel advertising a particular promo rate only to find from the manager that there were no more rooms left at that rate, or that the rate only applied to Filipinos not foreigners.
Now that I know my way around Manila, I prefer to have my bookings arranged in advance. Over the years I have changed my preferred hotel several times, and I believe now I have got the best deal on value from using a particular method of booking.
It was about a year ago a fellow traveler put me on to this travel agent who got me a great deal on The Executive Plaza in Manila.
It works like this. You don’t have to actually go to their office. All you do is email them and once the booking is confirmed they send you a confirmation number to take to the hotel. You pay directly to the hotel.
At the time of writing this, I am paying 1850 pesos per night.
The Executive Plaza Hotel would be about a three star.
Here is the web site of the agency I book through, which is called Action Travel.
http://www.actiontravelac.com/about.html
They also have good deals on other hotels in Manila.
I believe the Executive Plaza Hotel on Mabini in Ermita is the best value.
It is the best value if you book it in the right way.
Do not just walk in and expect them to quote you the best price because the walk in price is high.
If you want to pay the lowest price for a hotel in Manila you have to book it through a travel agent who has a special arrangement with the hotel.
It seems people are always telling you about the fantastic deal they got on accommodation from here there and everywhere. I have been traveling to the Philippines for many years and have stayed in a few different hotels.
Even though The Philippines is a relatively cheap country, when you are staying in the capital, things can get expensive.
Hotel accommodation is no exception.
Add to this the fact that hotel management likes to charge different prices for different classes of tourists and you find choosing a good hotel for the right price becomes a difficult task.
I remember a few years ago when I was traveling with a friend who refused to book in advance, trekking through the streets of Malate and Ermita.
We were trying to find a good deal on a few nights stay in Manila.
Not wishing to appear a wimp, I followed my friend as he inquired about the nightly rate of various hotels.
It was a tricky affair. We would see a banner outside a hotel advertising a particular promo rate only to find from the manager that there were no more rooms left at that rate, or that the rate only applied to Filipinos not foreigners.
Now that I know my way around Manila, I prefer to have my bookings arranged in advance. Over the years I have changed my preferred hotel several times, and I believe now I have got the best deal on value from using a particular method of booking.
It was about a year ago a fellow traveler put me on to this travel agent who got me a great deal on The Executive Plaza in Manila.
It works like this. You don’t have to actually go to their office. All you do is email them and once the booking is confirmed they send you a confirmation number to take to the hotel. You pay directly to the hotel.
At the time of writing this, I am paying 1850 pesos per night.
The Executive Plaza Hotel would be about a three star.
Here is the web site of the agency I book through, which is called Action Travel.
http://www.actiontravelac.com/about.html
They also have good deals on other hotels in Manila.
If you are interested in visiting another great fun town, my post on America Hotel. Best Value Hotel In Angeles City Philippines is very valuable.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thai Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
Thailand’s cosmetic plastic surgery industry has become well known in the market place.
This developing country has capitalized on its success as an icon in massage therapy and launched itself into the market of discount cosmetic surgery.
Visitors from Western countries are flocking to Thailand for cosmetic surgery treatments that they could not afford in their own country.
If you check the web you will find many sites touting the benefits of Thailand’s cosmetic surgery industry.
Thailand is well known for its gender reassignment procedures but if you just want to lessen the amount of lines on your face, Thailand’s hospitals and clinics offer many options.
Breast surgery is one of the main procedures and covers breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction.
Phuket and the Plastic Surgery Center
Dental surgery is also attracting many people form overseas, who experience savings of about 70% compared to prices in England or The US.
A number of these people will be considering treatment together with their vacation which makes sense given the quality of the Thai dental system and the money they save.
http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/Medical-Services/Clinics-and-Centers/Plastic-Center.aspx
The most well known hospital in Thailand is the internationally accredited Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok.
The following are the procedures they are known for.
bdominoplasty
Blepharoplasty
Breast Augmentation
Breast Lift
Breast Reduction
Chin Augmentation
Face Lift
Facial Implants
Forehead Lift
Gynecomastia
Liposuction
Liposuction (Abdomen)
Liposuction (Arms)
Liposuction (Both Thighs)
Otoplasty.
No amount of plastic surgery can achieve perfection but Bumrungrad has the international reputation and respect
The feedback from patients undergoing plastic cosmetic surgery is largely positive but a word of warning.
Things can and do go wrong sometimes.
The risk increases proportionately as you compare quotes and doctors who charge less than the flagship Bumrungrad hospital.
This developing country has capitalized on its success as an icon in massage therapy and launched itself into the market of discount cosmetic surgery.
Visitors from Western countries are flocking to Thailand for cosmetic surgery treatments that they could not afford in their own country.
If you check the web you will find many sites touting the benefits of Thailand’s cosmetic surgery industry.
Thailand is well known for its gender reassignment procedures but if you just want to lessen the amount of lines on your face, Thailand’s hospitals and clinics offer many options.
Breast surgery is one of the main procedures and covers breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction.
Phuket and the Plastic Surgery Center
Dental surgery is also attracting many people form overseas, who experience savings of about 70% compared to prices in England or The US.
A number of these people will be considering treatment together with their vacation which makes sense given the quality of the Thai dental system and the money they save.
http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/Medical-Services/Clinics-and-Centers/Plastic-Center.aspx
The most well known hospital in Thailand is the internationally accredited Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok.
The following are the procedures they are known for.
bdominoplasty
Blepharoplasty
Breast Augmentation
Breast Lift
Breast Reduction
Chin Augmentation
Face Lift
Facial Implants
Forehead Lift
Gynecomastia
Liposuction
Liposuction (Abdomen)
Liposuction (Arms)
Liposuction (Both Thighs)
Otoplasty.
No amount of plastic surgery can achieve perfection but Bumrungrad has the international reputation and respect
The feedback from patients undergoing plastic cosmetic surgery is largely positive but a word of warning.
Things can and do go wrong sometimes.
The risk increases proportionately as you compare quotes and doctors who charge less than the flagship Bumrungrad hospital.
Thai Massage Parlors. Be Careful
A word of warning for tourists visiting Thai massages parlors.
I have visited many Thai massage parlors for the purpose of enjoying the therapeutic benefits of traditional Thai massage.
Reputable Thai massage parlors offer two types of massage, oil or traditional.
Oil massage tends to focus on the sensual while traditional focuses on remedial therapy.
Thai oil massage can also be remedial. A quality massage parlor will ask you if you want the oil massage to be harder or softer.
Generally, the Thai massage will be an all over affair, where the masseur works from the feet up, starting with you lying flat on your stomach.
In theory, the ritual is simple but disciplined and herein a problem arises.
Thai massage being a disciplined practice, handed down through the generations, does not always allow for flexibility.
Asians like their massages to be harder on the body, while Westerners are not used to the same treatment.
A scenario often occurs where a foreigner visits a shop only to find that the massage is more rigorous than expected.
The scenario unfolds in two ways. The visitor experiences extreme pain but does not want to feel embarrassed by complaining and instead suffers through the session.
The second possibility is that the visitor feels that the massage is a tad too hard but doesn’t think too much of it, because the pain seems mild and muddled with the more pleasurable aspects.
In the second case, sore necks and limbs manifest themselves later on. These injuries often linger for weeks.
Thai massage parlors can be disastrous. I have had dozens of massages in Thailand with varying results. I have had sore neck and feet, but mostly the experiences have been largely positive.
Some of my friends have had worse experiences.
It is important to remember that even quality massage parlors do employ students who only have basic training in Thai massage.
In summation: Do not visit a Thai massage parlor if you have any muscular problems because despite what they might claim, there is a good chance it will aggravate the injury.
Associated reading: Thai Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
I have visited many Thai massage parlors for the purpose of enjoying the therapeutic benefits of traditional Thai massage.
Reputable Thai massage parlors offer two types of massage, oil or traditional.
Oil massage tends to focus on the sensual while traditional focuses on remedial therapy.
Thai oil massage can also be remedial. A quality massage parlor will ask you if you want the oil massage to be harder or softer.
Generally, the Thai massage will be an all over affair, where the masseur works from the feet up, starting with you lying flat on your stomach.
In theory, the ritual is simple but disciplined and herein a problem arises.
Thai massage being a disciplined practice, handed down through the generations, does not always allow for flexibility.
Asians like their massages to be harder on the body, while Westerners are not used to the same treatment.
A scenario often occurs where a foreigner visits a shop only to find that the massage is more rigorous than expected.
The scenario unfolds in two ways. The visitor experiences extreme pain but does not want to feel embarrassed by complaining and instead suffers through the session.
The second possibility is that the visitor feels that the massage is a tad too hard but doesn’t think too much of it, because the pain seems mild and muddled with the more pleasurable aspects.
In the second case, sore necks and limbs manifest themselves later on. These injuries often linger for weeks.
Thai massage parlors can be disastrous. I have had dozens of massages in Thailand with varying results. I have had sore neck and feet, but mostly the experiences have been largely positive.
Some of my friends have had worse experiences.
It is important to remember that even quality massage parlors do employ students who only have basic training in Thai massage.
In summation: Do not visit a Thai massage parlor if you have any muscular problems because despite what they might claim, there is a good chance it will aggravate the injury.
Associated reading: Thai Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Philippines Entertainment and Nightlife
As far as a tourism is concerned, it is my opinion that The Philippines is one the most underrated countries in Asia.
I visit there regularly and over the years have become very fond of the place and people.
I am not a sightseer by nature, and though provincial areas offer some very interesting opportunities, my personal choice is to focus on Philippines entertainment in the capital of Manila.
Although The Philippines entertainment opportunities are varied and in many cases adult oriented, there is one pervading factor that makes The Philippines unique in this area.
The key factor is the overwhelming friendliness of the people.
Once you make an effort to learn a few words in their native language of Tagalog, you will be well rewarded by the warmth you will receive from The Filipinos.
Take this new found warmth and find a local bar, or karaoke joint, and I guarantee you won’t feel like an outsider.
I have had the most fun in really rundown bars. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself, grabbing the microphone for a warble after you have had a few beers.
No need to feel bashful. Even the bus drivers sing while they drive.
The Filipinos all speak English as well as Tagalog, so you will have no difficulty in joining in on conversations, and if you show them that you are interested in any part of their culture, you will be treated as a friend.
Actually I have found that because The Philippines does not get as many tourists as other parts of Asia, Filipinos love it when you talk up their country.
Manila has some great places to go. One of my favorites is The LA Café in the entertainment precinct of Malate.
Here you can find a different rock band every night, and WIFI if you want to bring your laptop while you enjoy your drink.
Many single girls hang out there, if you are looking for company.
The place is open twenty four hours, and you can pop in anytime and they will make you a snack while you surf the net.
There is no cover charge. Walk along the same street and you will find a myriad of other bars where you can sing karaoke, listen to others sing, play pool, eat and drink.
I like to get out to some of the comedy clubs where they present a mix of comedy and music.
I have used to the comedians noticing my white face among the crowd of Filipinos. They always pick on me, and it’s all good natured fun.
Everything is cheap. The drinks and the food are very affordable. You will never break the budget
Mostly I go out to these places with my Filipina friend, and during the weekend when the venues are full, we sometimes share a table with local Filipinos. Somehow it always turns out to be party and there are introductions all round and friendships made.
When the bands are on, they do their local hits, plus requests in English.
Filipinos are excellent musicians.
The custom is to write your request on piece of paper and then hand the paper with a small tip to the waiter.
He will hand it to the band and they will sing it for you.. Chances are that they will ask you your name and invite you to join in.
This can very good or very bad, depending on your talent, but it is always fun.
If you want to sample more adult oriented entertainment, then Manila will not leave you wanting with things like bikini bars, hostess bars and go-go bars.
I do not intend to go into detail about them in this post but maybe later.
I visit there regularly and over the years have become very fond of the place and people.
I am not a sightseer by nature, and though provincial areas offer some very interesting opportunities, my personal choice is to focus on Philippines entertainment in the capital of Manila.
Although The Philippines entertainment opportunities are varied and in many cases adult oriented, there is one pervading factor that makes The Philippines unique in this area.
The key factor is the overwhelming friendliness of the people.
Once you make an effort to learn a few words in their native language of Tagalog, you will be well rewarded by the warmth you will receive from The Filipinos.
Take this new found warmth and find a local bar, or karaoke joint, and I guarantee you won’t feel like an outsider.
I have had the most fun in really rundown bars. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself, grabbing the microphone for a warble after you have had a few beers.
No need to feel bashful. Even the bus drivers sing while they drive.
The Filipinos all speak English as well as Tagalog, so you will have no difficulty in joining in on conversations, and if you show them that you are interested in any part of their culture, you will be treated as a friend.
Actually I have found that because The Philippines does not get as many tourists as other parts of Asia, Filipinos love it when you talk up their country.
Manila has some great places to go. One of my favorites is The LA Café in the entertainment precinct of Malate.
Here you can find a different rock band every night, and WIFI if you want to bring your laptop while you enjoy your drink.
Many single girls hang out there, if you are looking for company.
The place is open twenty four hours, and you can pop in anytime and they will make you a snack while you surf the net.
There is no cover charge. Walk along the same street and you will find a myriad of other bars where you can sing karaoke, listen to others sing, play pool, eat and drink.
I like to get out to some of the comedy clubs where they present a mix of comedy and music.
I have used to the comedians noticing my white face among the crowd of Filipinos. They always pick on me, and it’s all good natured fun.
Everything is cheap. The drinks and the food are very affordable. You will never break the budget
Mostly I go out to these places with my Filipina friend, and during the weekend when the venues are full, we sometimes share a table with local Filipinos. Somehow it always turns out to be party and there are introductions all round and friendships made.
When the bands are on, they do their local hits, plus requests in English.
Filipinos are excellent musicians.
The custom is to write your request on piece of paper and then hand the paper with a small tip to the waiter.
He will hand it to the band and they will sing it for you.. Chances are that they will ask you your name and invite you to join in.
This can very good or very bad, depending on your talent, but it is always fun.
If you want to sample more adult oriented entertainment, then Manila will not leave you wanting with things like bikini bars, hostess bars and go-go bars.
I do not intend to go into detail about them in this post but maybe later.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Police Scam Tourists in Asia
The challenge for overseas travelers is to plan their vacations in a manner that provides flexibility in their travel, but at the same insures personal safety and security.
Travelers have enough information flowing through on the web to equip themselves with a knowledge base that will guard them against generic tourist scams.
In practice however, the ability to prevail against certain unexpected scams will boil down to resolution, courage and vigilance.
Here are some of the annoying and slightly scary things that have happened to me in my ten years of traveling in Thailand and The Philippines.
The most recent caught me completely off guard. I was arriving in Manila from an inbound flight from Bangkok. After clearing immigration and collecting my luggage, I made my way to the taxi rank situated in the international departures area. I deliberately avoid the International arrivals area because there is a mafia style operation there, where only airport taxis are allowed to collect customers, The prices they charge are about four times the real meter fare.
If you use the International arrivals taxis, you can pick up a standard meter fare. When you see the taxi drop off the the departing passengers you just ask the driver for a meter ride to your hotel.
On this occasion, I had experienced a particularly hectic day, and I did not notice that the markings on the car in the taxi rank were actually a police car. I opened the door and the diver said he would take me to my hotel for slightly above the standard meter rate.
I agreed to the price, threw my luggage in the boot and sat in the car. It was then that I realized I was sitting next to a Manila police officer. He noticed my surprise and with a silly smile on his face, told me not to worry because I was in safe hands and would deliver me to my hotel.
I was not sure what my next move should be. Cursing myself, for my lack of observation, I decided not to make a fuss and let the policeman take me to my hotel.
After a short way into the trip, he started to hassle me about the amount I should be paying for a personal escort to the hotel. I stood my ground and said I would only pay him the agreed amount.
He soon pulled into a gas station and while filling the tank, he told me that his friend would be taking me the rest of the way.
This really wasn’t getting any better. His friend got in and as soon as he was back on the highway, he started hassling me for extra money for the ride. I refused and he kept hassling all the way to the hotel.
It was an uncomfortable experience.
A week later, I was coming back from a club at about two in the morning, and the taxi I was traveling in was hailed down by a group of Quezon City Policemen.
They shone their flashlight into the cab, checked the taxi driver’s id and asked me to get out of the taxi. I was frisked and then the police asked me to produce my passport.
I had planned to photocopy my passport but never got around to it and now I found myself in a position where I had no id on me. My driver’s license was locked away in the hotel along with my passport.
I apologized to the police for my oversight but they were most unsympathetic and declared that I would have to pay a penalty.
Maybe having a couple beers in me gave me some extra courage and I knew that the police were trying to pick up some extra pocket money for the weekend, so I decided to call their bluff. I told them that they were welcome to come to my hotel, whereupon I would produce my passport for them.
When I told the head cop that I only kept the cash I would need for the night plus one credit card, he replied to me that they did not accept credit cards.
At that point, the four police seemed to lose interest and they let me go with a warning.
It is hard to believe that these things can happen, but they do.
There are plenty of fine police officers in The Philippines but when you are a white skinned foreigner, you have to accept that you may be targeted.
Travelers have enough information flowing through on the web to equip themselves with a knowledge base that will guard them against generic tourist scams.
In practice however, the ability to prevail against certain unexpected scams will boil down to resolution, courage and vigilance.
Here are some of the annoying and slightly scary things that have happened to me in my ten years of traveling in Thailand and The Philippines.
The most recent caught me completely off guard. I was arriving in Manila from an inbound flight from Bangkok. After clearing immigration and collecting my luggage, I made my way to the taxi rank situated in the international departures area. I deliberately avoid the International arrivals area because there is a mafia style operation there, where only airport taxis are allowed to collect customers, The prices they charge are about four times the real meter fare.
If you use the International arrivals taxis, you can pick up a standard meter fare. When you see the taxi drop off the the departing passengers you just ask the driver for a meter ride to your hotel.
On this occasion, I had experienced a particularly hectic day, and I did not notice that the markings on the car in the taxi rank were actually a police car. I opened the door and the diver said he would take me to my hotel for slightly above the standard meter rate.
I agreed to the price, threw my luggage in the boot and sat in the car. It was then that I realized I was sitting next to a Manila police officer. He noticed my surprise and with a silly smile on his face, told me not to worry because I was in safe hands and would deliver me to my hotel.
I was not sure what my next move should be. Cursing myself, for my lack of observation, I decided not to make a fuss and let the policeman take me to my hotel.
After a short way into the trip, he started to hassle me about the amount I should be paying for a personal escort to the hotel. I stood my ground and said I would only pay him the agreed amount.
He soon pulled into a gas station and while filling the tank, he told me that his friend would be taking me the rest of the way.
This really wasn’t getting any better. His friend got in and as soon as he was back on the highway, he started hassling me for extra money for the ride. I refused and he kept hassling all the way to the hotel.
It was an uncomfortable experience.
A week later, I was coming back from a club at about two in the morning, and the taxi I was traveling in was hailed down by a group of Quezon City Policemen.
They shone their flashlight into the cab, checked the taxi driver’s id and asked me to get out of the taxi. I was frisked and then the police asked me to produce my passport.
I had planned to photocopy my passport but never got around to it and now I found myself in a position where I had no id on me. My driver’s license was locked away in the hotel along with my passport.
I apologized to the police for my oversight but they were most unsympathetic and declared that I would have to pay a penalty.
Maybe having a couple beers in me gave me some extra courage and I knew that the police were trying to pick up some extra pocket money for the weekend, so I decided to call their bluff. I told them that they were welcome to come to my hotel, whereupon I would produce my passport for them.
When I told the head cop that I only kept the cash I would need for the night plus one credit card, he replied to me that they did not accept credit cards.
At that point, the four police seemed to lose interest and they let me go with a warning.
It is hard to believe that these things can happen, but they do.
There are plenty of fine police officers in The Philippines but when you are a white skinned foreigner, you have to accept that you may be targeted.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Best Value Budget Pattaya Hotel. From a guy who stays there
Hotel stays can be a hit or miss affair. Reviews can be misleading and online deals are not always the best value.
That is why I prefer to take my advice from reviewers who stay in the hotels they review and recommend.
I love going to Pattaya. Despite its seedy reputation, Pattaya is a great side trip option from Bangkok.
The beach in Pattaya is not the best beach in the world but the hotels that surround Pattaya have great pools, so the beach can be best used for strolling on the promenade.
I have visited Pattaya about thirty times and whenever I happen to pass by a hotel that someone has mentioned to me, I ask to see the room and ask what the rate is.
As the saying goes, you don’t get something for nothing, but you can still get a good deal on a Pattaya hotel.
Even though I have inspected many other hotels in the same price range, some being more expensive too, I have not found one that compares.
The one I choose to stay in is The Intown Holiday Hotel. It is located in Soi 10 in South Pattaya. The street is also known as Soi Honey.
Let me give you a tip for you if you decide to stay there. Don’t bother with the breakfast. There are much better breakfasts within walking distance of the hotel.
The rooms in the Intown Holiday Hotel are large and each one has a balcony. There are two elevators. It may seem strange to mention the elevators but there are many budget hotels that do not provide elevators.
The average price of the room is rate is about 600 baht which is less than $20 US.
This price does vary upwardly in the high season.
The Hotel employees are a quiet lot but honest and efficient, and I see the same people working there year after year, which is always a good sign.
Security guards patrol the floors during the night time, and security boxes are provided for the guests on request.
The top floor features a nice pool and guests are allowed to invite their friends for a swim.
At various times of the year, this hotel is fully booked, so I make it a practice to ring them for a firm booking.
They are busy so they don’t bother much with returning email inquiries.
One other thing, they don’t accept credit cards.
I won’t waste your time giving you their email because they probably won’t answer you.
If you decide you want to book in advance just call them
6638420696
That is why I prefer to take my advice from reviewers who stay in the hotels they review and recommend.
I love going to Pattaya. Despite its seedy reputation, Pattaya is a great side trip option from Bangkok.
The beach in Pattaya is not the best beach in the world but the hotels that surround Pattaya have great pools, so the beach can be best used for strolling on the promenade.
I have visited Pattaya about thirty times and whenever I happen to pass by a hotel that someone has mentioned to me, I ask to see the room and ask what the rate is.
As the saying goes, you don’t get something for nothing, but you can still get a good deal on a Pattaya hotel.
Even though I have inspected many other hotels in the same price range, some being more expensive too, I have not found one that compares.
The one I choose to stay in is The Intown Holiday Hotel. It is located in Soi 10 in South Pattaya. The street is also known as Soi Honey.
Let me give you a tip for you if you decide to stay there. Don’t bother with the breakfast. There are much better breakfasts within walking distance of the hotel.
The rooms in the Intown Holiday Hotel are large and each one has a balcony. There are two elevators. It may seem strange to mention the elevators but there are many budget hotels that do not provide elevators.
The average price of the room is rate is about 600 baht which is less than $20 US.
This price does vary upwardly in the high season.
The Hotel employees are a quiet lot but honest and efficient, and I see the same people working there year after year, which is always a good sign.
Security guards patrol the floors during the night time, and security boxes are provided for the guests on request.
The top floor features a nice pool and guests are allowed to invite their friends for a swim.
At various times of the year, this hotel is fully booked, so I make it a practice to ring them for a firm booking.
They are busy so they don’t bother much with returning email inquiries.
One other thing, they don’t accept credit cards.
I won’t waste your time giving you their email because they probably won’t answer you.
If you decide you want to book in advance just call them
6638420696
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Patpong drinking scam
The longest running scam in history.
My understanding of a scam was that somebody played you, took your money and then absconded with your cash, never to be heard of again.
It seems that some scammers stick around for eternity and never have to suffer any consequences for their scamming.
The biggest and longest running scam I know of is the Patpong drinks scam, which has been running for at least twenty five years.
When I refer to Patpong in Thailand, I am not talking about some out of the way back street where only the lost solitary traveler has ventured, because Patpong is one of the most famous tourist precincts in the world.
Patpong in Bangkok is primarily a two street entertainment area in the heart of the city, frequented by tourists, seeking a wilder experience than is offered in most cities of the world.
The area offers a busy night market, an abundance of restaurants and eateries, and a multitude of bars. As is the case with Patpong’s world wide reputation, both of the area’s main streets are bounded by girlie bars, and navigating your way through puts you directly in the path of the sprukers.
This where your trouble is likely to begin.
In the tradition of the most famous red light areas, curiosity plays a vital factor and this has not escaped the attention of the experienced Patpong spruker, whose job it is to lure the customer into a particular bar.
This is how it works.
The spruker approaches you with his banner which read,” singha beer 50 baht.”
He studies your face as you nod towards your companion in agreement at this very cheap price for a beer in a bar that has dancing girls on poles.
When the spruker senses your apprehension, he gleefully offers you the spiel of there being no cover charge.
Felling relieved that this is the case, you follow him and are led upstairs to the bar. The spruker disappears back downstairs in search of another customer.
This is where the bar manager steps in. You are seated near the bar and two drinks are brought to you by the waiter. Within seconds the dancers are focused on you and begin doing their “wild thing” act in your face.
Nobody asks you if you are comfortable with this but nevertheless the attention of the dancers is concentrated on you. The acrobatics and the smiles are all for you.
You haven’t finished your first drink yet but another is placed on the table.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the pushiness and slightly bored too, you decide to leave.
The waitress rushes over with the bill, and you are horrified to find that the amount is not 240 baht for the four drinks as you expected but is 1040 baht.
You call the waitress and she listens to you with a blank expression on her face, and promptly calls the manager.
The manager is looking meaner by the second as she informs you that there is a 400 baht per person charge for the show.
When you tell her that you distinctly heard the spruker tell you that there was no cover charge, she explains to you that the extra 800 baht is for the private show not the cover charge.
Indignation rises in your voice as you protest, explaining that you did not request any show. The manager points to the bill and tells you to pay.
From the corners of the bar a couple of mean looking bouncers approach and listen in on the conversation.
You are now in a situation where your personal security is at stake.
What do you do? Do you pay up and put it down to experience or do you stand your ground and make a fight of it?
If you pay up, you can leave and forget about it. Is it worth fighting over?
The bouncers are waiting to see what your next move is.
What do you do?
You do what everybody else does.
You swear under your breath, pay the money and leave.
This scam is still operating in Patpong today. The police seem oblivious to it and no other Thai authority has attempted to shut it down during the twenty five year period I have been visiting Thailand.
My understanding of a scam was that somebody played you, took your money and then absconded with your cash, never to be heard of again.
It seems that some scammers stick around for eternity and never have to suffer any consequences for their scamming.
The biggest and longest running scam I know of is the Patpong drinks scam, which has been running for at least twenty five years.
When I refer to Patpong in Thailand, I am not talking about some out of the way back street where only the lost solitary traveler has ventured, because Patpong is one of the most famous tourist precincts in the world.
Patpong in Bangkok is primarily a two street entertainment area in the heart of the city, frequented by tourists, seeking a wilder experience than is offered in most cities of the world.
The area offers a busy night market, an abundance of restaurants and eateries, and a multitude of bars. As is the case with Patpong’s world wide reputation, both of the area’s main streets are bounded by girlie bars, and navigating your way through puts you directly in the path of the sprukers.
This where your trouble is likely to begin.
In the tradition of the most famous red light areas, curiosity plays a vital factor and this has not escaped the attention of the experienced Patpong spruker, whose job it is to lure the customer into a particular bar.
This is how it works.
The spruker approaches you with his banner which read,” singha beer 50 baht.”
He studies your face as you nod towards your companion in agreement at this very cheap price for a beer in a bar that has dancing girls on poles.
When the spruker senses your apprehension, he gleefully offers you the spiel of there being no cover charge.
Felling relieved that this is the case, you follow him and are led upstairs to the bar. The spruker disappears back downstairs in search of another customer.
This is where the bar manager steps in. You are seated near the bar and two drinks are brought to you by the waiter. Within seconds the dancers are focused on you and begin doing their “wild thing” act in your face.
Nobody asks you if you are comfortable with this but nevertheless the attention of the dancers is concentrated on you. The acrobatics and the smiles are all for you.
You haven’t finished your first drink yet but another is placed on the table.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the pushiness and slightly bored too, you decide to leave.
The waitress rushes over with the bill, and you are horrified to find that the amount is not 240 baht for the four drinks as you expected but is 1040 baht.
You call the waitress and she listens to you with a blank expression on her face, and promptly calls the manager.
The manager is looking meaner by the second as she informs you that there is a 400 baht per person charge for the show.
When you tell her that you distinctly heard the spruker tell you that there was no cover charge, she explains to you that the extra 800 baht is for the private show not the cover charge.
Indignation rises in your voice as you protest, explaining that you did not request any show. The manager points to the bill and tells you to pay.
From the corners of the bar a couple of mean looking bouncers approach and listen in on the conversation.
You are now in a situation where your personal security is at stake.
What do you do? Do you pay up and put it down to experience or do you stand your ground and make a fight of it?
If you pay up, you can leave and forget about it. Is it worth fighting over?
The bouncers are waiting to see what your next move is.
What do you do?
You do what everybody else does.
You swear under your breath, pay the money and leave.
This scam is still operating in Patpong today. The police seem oblivious to it and no other Thai authority has attempted to shut it down during the twenty five year period I have been visiting Thailand.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wallet Skimming Scams
It’s a common problem all over Asia. It may be a common problem all over the world, but as I am a regular visitor to Thailand and The Philippines, my post refers to those two countries.
The practice of hotel staff skimming money from your wallet has now reached epidemic proportions.
It works like this. You are a friendly, trusting traveler who is quite taken by the kind smiling faces of the indigenous and you feel safe in your dealings with the locals.
You find a cozy little guesthouse and check in for a few nights.
Nothing bad has happened to you on the trip, so you can’t see any harm in checking in your valuables, cash and documents to the front desk. The person at the front desk dutifully locks them away in a security box and hands you the key.
You wonder if you should ask if there is any way the hotel staff can open the box without you being present, but you think better of it and you head upstairs to your room.
The next day you decide to withdraw some dollars from your box so you can change the dollars over to the local currency.
Lo and behold, something seems odd. You could have sworn that you had exactly $2740 in cash stashed in that security box. You count it again but there is only $2540 in the box.
Scratching your head, you retrace your spending history but you can’t remember spending the missing $200.
Chances are, you have just been skimmed.
During the last ten years I have heard these stories time and time again. Skimming cash from security boxes or from rooms when guests are out is quite common.
Smaller hotels and guesthouses is where this is most likely to happen.
The skimmers work on a principle that most of the victims will be confused about their cash float and just forget about the missing money. Of course the skimmers know if they take the lot, the police will be most definitely involved and their scam will be over, so they prefer to skim rather than risk police involvement.
The victim will have a rough time proving anything because the money could have been taken during any of the front counter staff shifts.
How does he prove anything was taken?
My friends and I have come up with a good way of preventing being skimmed at hotels.
Every time you open the box, you count the cash and get the hotel staff employee who is working the front desk to check the amount. You then write the amount on a piece of paper, which is duly dated, signed by the employee, noting the time as well. The paper is retained by you as a receipt.
You explain to the staff member that you will be checking the latest receipt against the cash contents each time you open the box.
This will put the fear of god into them and will offer you more security.
Larger hotels have twenty four hour cameras and staff is not allowed to handle the second locking key without the guest being present.
Further reading
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangkok/unsafe-deposit-box.html
The practice of hotel staff skimming money from your wallet has now reached epidemic proportions.
It works like this. You are a friendly, trusting traveler who is quite taken by the kind smiling faces of the indigenous and you feel safe in your dealings with the locals.
You find a cozy little guesthouse and check in for a few nights.
Nothing bad has happened to you on the trip, so you can’t see any harm in checking in your valuables, cash and documents to the front desk. The person at the front desk dutifully locks them away in a security box and hands you the key.
You wonder if you should ask if there is any way the hotel staff can open the box without you being present, but you think better of it and you head upstairs to your room.
The next day you decide to withdraw some dollars from your box so you can change the dollars over to the local currency.
Lo and behold, something seems odd. You could have sworn that you had exactly $2740 in cash stashed in that security box. You count it again but there is only $2540 in the box.
Scratching your head, you retrace your spending history but you can’t remember spending the missing $200.
Chances are, you have just been skimmed.
During the last ten years I have heard these stories time and time again. Skimming cash from security boxes or from rooms when guests are out is quite common.
Smaller hotels and guesthouses is where this is most likely to happen.
The skimmers work on a principle that most of the victims will be confused about their cash float and just forget about the missing money. Of course the skimmers know if they take the lot, the police will be most definitely involved and their scam will be over, so they prefer to skim rather than risk police involvement.
The victim will have a rough time proving anything because the money could have been taken during any of the front counter staff shifts.
How does he prove anything was taken?
My friends and I have come up with a good way of preventing being skimmed at hotels.
Every time you open the box, you count the cash and get the hotel staff employee who is working the front desk to check the amount. You then write the amount on a piece of paper, which is duly dated, signed by the employee, noting the time as well. The paper is retained by you as a receipt.
You explain to the staff member that you will be checking the latest receipt against the cash contents each time you open the box.
This will put the fear of god into them and will offer you more security.
Larger hotels have twenty four hour cameras and staff is not allowed to handle the second locking key without the guest being present.
Further reading
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangkok/unsafe-deposit-box.html
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Retiring In Pattaya
Retiring in Thailand is a thought that crossed my mind several years ago.
I am a veteran of about thirty visits and even though successive trips have occasionally dimmed my view, Thailand remains an intriguing retirement alternative.
Over the time I have visited Thailand, affectionately known as The Land OF Smiles, I have met many expatriate westerners who have made the move and chosen to reside there.
Whilst some move to the far flung provinces, most choose to reside in the main cities, where the western influenced surroundings comfort them during their more nostalgic moments.
In no other place is this more evident than Pattaya, which now hosts a mixed population of Thais and Foreign immigrants.
With its modern and developing infrastructure, Pattaya has become the Mecca for early retirees who are still young enough to appreciate this burgeoning city’s delights.
If I was to compile a short list, I would offer these as the main points of focus.
Great weather
Cheap prices
Relaxed lifestyle
Interesting cultural exchanges
Western influenced infrastructure.
There are many discussion boards dealing with a myriad of issues concerning Pattaya and all of Thailand.
These links will guide you to illuminating forums which you will find very comprehensive.
Thai Visa Forum
Thailand Travel Forum
I am a veteran of about thirty visits and even though successive trips have occasionally dimmed my view, Thailand remains an intriguing retirement alternative.
Over the time I have visited Thailand, affectionately known as The Land OF Smiles, I have met many expatriate westerners who have made the move and chosen to reside there.
Whilst some move to the far flung provinces, most choose to reside in the main cities, where the western influenced surroundings comfort them during their more nostalgic moments.
In no other place is this more evident than Pattaya, which now hosts a mixed population of Thais and Foreign immigrants.
With its modern and developing infrastructure, Pattaya has become the Mecca for early retirees who are still young enough to appreciate this burgeoning city’s delights.
If I was to compile a short list, I would offer these as the main points of focus.
Great weather
Cheap prices
Relaxed lifestyle
Interesting cultural exchanges
Western influenced infrastructure.
There are many discussion boards dealing with a myriad of issues concerning Pattaya and all of Thailand.
These links will guide you to illuminating forums which you will find very comprehensive.
Thai Visa Forum
Thailand Travel Forum
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tips for Having a Great Holiday in Thailand.
Here is a short list of factors to consider before you leave for Thailand. I have tried to cover the most common pitfalls.
Buy a money belt that you can wear underneath your outside clothing and use it.
Tourists toting handbags are targets. They are followed and preyed upon by thieves with razor blades who cut the bottom of the bags.
They are good at it and you won’t know how good they are till its too late.
Most tourist congregation points are so crowded that you can’t tell who is trying to push past you or who is trying to create a distraction so they can commit the crime.
Carry only the cash you need on the day.
Leave your credit cards locked up in the security box with the hotel staff.
Only carry your credit cards if you are sure you will need them on that day.
Make a photocopy of your passport and carry that with you at all times.
Foreigners are required by law to carry a copy of their passport at all times, and must produce it to the police on request.
Keep your passport under lock and key until you have to use it.
Do not involve the police in your arguments with Thai vendors, or taxi drivers.
Thai police have unusual procedures that may seem unjust to foreigners.
Do not hire a motorbike or car. If you do so then realize that if you are involved in an accident, you will be at fault, no matter what.
Thai law projects the Thai citizen, not the foreigner.
Always ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter when you get in. If they quote you a fare for a destination, then realize it is higher than what you need to pay by meter.
If you want to travel in a TukTuk, and the driver wants to take you to certain shops, realize that he is getting free gas for his trouble, and the prices will be high.
Do not buy any Thai gem stones such as jade without expert advice.
The merchants are well known for charging many times the actual worth of the stones.
When you order food, order the meal with mild spice.
Mild in Thailand can still be very spicy to the foreigner.
Try eating at the food courts of the department store, Big C.
They have great variety and cheap prices. The hygiene standard is higher than from the food vendors on the street.
Do not use the hotel facilities to make an overseas call.
Use the internet cafes to ring overseas.
Follow this simple advice and you will have a great time In Thailand.
Buy a money belt that you can wear underneath your outside clothing and use it.
Tourists toting handbags are targets. They are followed and preyed upon by thieves with razor blades who cut the bottom of the bags.
They are good at it and you won’t know how good they are till its too late.
Most tourist congregation points are so crowded that you can’t tell who is trying to push past you or who is trying to create a distraction so they can commit the crime.
Carry only the cash you need on the day.
Leave your credit cards locked up in the security box with the hotel staff.
Only carry your credit cards if you are sure you will need them on that day.
Make a photocopy of your passport and carry that with you at all times.
Foreigners are required by law to carry a copy of their passport at all times, and must produce it to the police on request.
Keep your passport under lock and key until you have to use it.
Do not involve the police in your arguments with Thai vendors, or taxi drivers.
Thai police have unusual procedures that may seem unjust to foreigners.
Do not hire a motorbike or car. If you do so then realize that if you are involved in an accident, you will be at fault, no matter what.
Thai law projects the Thai citizen, not the foreigner.
Always ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter when you get in. If they quote you a fare for a destination, then realize it is higher than what you need to pay by meter.
If you want to travel in a TukTuk, and the driver wants to take you to certain shops, realize that he is getting free gas for his trouble, and the prices will be high.
Do not buy any Thai gem stones such as jade without expert advice.
The merchants are well known for charging many times the actual worth of the stones.
When you order food, order the meal with mild spice.
Mild in Thailand can still be very spicy to the foreigner.
Try eating at the food courts of the department store, Big C.
They have great variety and cheap prices. The hygiene standard is higher than from the food vendors on the street.
Do not use the hotel facilities to make an overseas call.
Use the internet cafes to ring overseas.
Follow this simple advice and you will have a great time In Thailand.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Your rights at a restaurant when you are ripped off.
Last trip to Thailand I found myself in a war of words with the management of a certain well known restaurant chain in Bangkok.
It was near closing time when I walked in for a late dinner.
The waiter brought me the menu and pointed to the daily special, which was sweet and sour fish.
Realizing it was near closing time, and that much of what was on the menu would not be available; I tapped the picture on the menu to signify that I will take the sweet and sour fish as suggested.
A few minutes later he brings my order, which looks too large for one diner.
I looked at the waiter as I was thinking how to politely phrase my grievance. He didn’t stick around and I am faced with a giant size platter that I will never finish.
Once again I try and attract the attention of my waiter who has made himself busy at other tables.
I eat what I can and I have a fairly good appetite, but I can guarantee that this was a family size platter.
I motion for the bill.
The waiter returns and I notice that I have been charged big money for the dish.
A consultation of the menu details the fact that the fish is sold by the gram. I have no problem with that.
The fact remains that the waiter served solitary me a family platter of fish and this is my issue.
Eventually the waiter returns to my table and I manage to communicate my anger to him.
He points out to me that the policy is that once the dish is brought to the table the customer has to pay. He then promptly walks off as if to say, end of discussion.
My face is getting redder by the second and it's time I spoke to the manager.
The discussion with the manager went something like this.
The serve is family size. There is only me here and if the kitchen has only a family size serve, they should have informed me beforehand.
Any fool can see that one person could not eat that serving.
The manager spun me the same line as the waiter.
At that stage I had planned on getting an apology or some sort of explanation then I would have paid and left, but the manager seemed really aggressive, so I decided to make a stand and demand an explanation.
After a mutual exchange of blank looks, the manager backs down and asks me to pay half.
Victory was mine.
I am not a petty person but my view is that an established restaurant chain in a third world country should be capable of offering professional services to their customers, bearing in mind they add a 10 % charge for service.
What would you have done in my place?
It was near closing time when I walked in for a late dinner.
The waiter brought me the menu and pointed to the daily special, which was sweet and sour fish.
Realizing it was near closing time, and that much of what was on the menu would not be available; I tapped the picture on the menu to signify that I will take the sweet and sour fish as suggested.
A few minutes later he brings my order, which looks too large for one diner.
I looked at the waiter as I was thinking how to politely phrase my grievance. He didn’t stick around and I am faced with a giant size platter that I will never finish.
Once again I try and attract the attention of my waiter who has made himself busy at other tables.
I eat what I can and I have a fairly good appetite, but I can guarantee that this was a family size platter.
I motion for the bill.
The waiter returns and I notice that I have been charged big money for the dish.
A consultation of the menu details the fact that the fish is sold by the gram. I have no problem with that.
The fact remains that the waiter served solitary me a family platter of fish and this is my issue.
Eventually the waiter returns to my table and I manage to communicate my anger to him.
He points out to me that the policy is that once the dish is brought to the table the customer has to pay. He then promptly walks off as if to say, end of discussion.
My face is getting redder by the second and it's time I spoke to the manager.
The discussion with the manager went something like this.
The serve is family size. There is only me here and if the kitchen has only a family size serve, they should have informed me beforehand.
Any fool can see that one person could not eat that serving.
The manager spun me the same line as the waiter.
At that stage I had planned on getting an apology or some sort of explanation then I would have paid and left, but the manager seemed really aggressive, so I decided to make a stand and demand an explanation.
After a mutual exchange of blank looks, the manager backs down and asks me to pay half.
Victory was mine.
I am not a petty person but my view is that an established restaurant chain in a third world country should be capable of offering professional services to their customers, bearing in mind they add a 10 % charge for service.
What would you have done in my place?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hua Hin. Great side trip from Bangkok.
Hua Hin is a destination I enjoy visiting whenever I get the chance.
Most tourists think of Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya when they think of Thailand, but for those who want a less hectic and less commercialized holiday destination, Hua Hin fits the bill perfectly.
One of the things you will notice when you arrive there is that the lack of commercial development on the beach and its surrounds.
This is quite extraordinary, especially for a country such as Thailand which is known for its rapid rate of development, but the city’s governors have elected to keep the beachfront unspoiled by pressures of progress.
Stroll on the beach and you will see the remnants of an old fishing village, with boats moored in the bay and seaweed decorating the old decaying vessels.
This gives the beach a sleepy, old fashioned feel.
Horse riding is a Hua Hin tradition and you can still hire a horse and go for a gallop on the beach.
Where else in the world could you do that now?
The food is great in Hua Hin. Everybody loves Thai Food, but unfortunately many of the establishments in the touristy parts of Thailand are not dishing up the best on offer.
Hua Hin does things better. In keeping with the slower pace of the place, meals take longer to prepare and more care is taken in the quality that is served to the customer.
I found the best meals were served in the guesthouses of Hua Hin. .Things took a little longer to cook but the meals were excellent. If you fancy European cuisine, there is plenty of that on offer throughout the town
A word about guest houses. The term guesthouse brings to mind an image of low cost backpacker style accommodation.
Nothing could be further than the truth.
The Guesthouses of Hua Hin are wonderful. They are small, family owned businesses that offer large, clean rooms with big well appointed bathrooms. Typically they will also have air-conditioning, plenty of hot water and cable TV.
Nightlife is more or less a quiet affair, with a couple of streets of bars and discos.
Yes, this pales in comparison with Bangkok or Pattaya but if you are looking for plenty of night time action then Hua Hin is probably not the place for you.
Golf however is another story. Hua Hin is noted as a world class city for golf in Asia.
Two more luxurious golf courses are opening soon. You can even organize a golf holiday where things like green fees, caddies, equipment and tuition are prearranged for you.
I really feel totally relaxed when I visit this place.
My favorite guesthouses are Leng Guesthouse
A and B Guesthouse.
The rooms are nice and reasonably priced. Both these guesthouses had large balconies which are just thing for afternoon reading.
A and B. Guesthouse http://www.abguesthouse.com/adress.htm
Leng Guest House http://www.lenghotel.com/
Most tourists think of Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya when they think of Thailand, but for those who want a less hectic and less commercialized holiday destination, Hua Hin fits the bill perfectly.
One of the things you will notice when you arrive there is that the lack of commercial development on the beach and its surrounds.
This is quite extraordinary, especially for a country such as Thailand which is known for its rapid rate of development, but the city’s governors have elected to keep the beachfront unspoiled by pressures of progress.
Stroll on the beach and you will see the remnants of an old fishing village, with boats moored in the bay and seaweed decorating the old decaying vessels.
This gives the beach a sleepy, old fashioned feel.
Horse riding is a Hua Hin tradition and you can still hire a horse and go for a gallop on the beach.
Where else in the world could you do that now?
The food is great in Hua Hin. Everybody loves Thai Food, but unfortunately many of the establishments in the touristy parts of Thailand are not dishing up the best on offer.
Hua Hin does things better. In keeping with the slower pace of the place, meals take longer to prepare and more care is taken in the quality that is served to the customer.
I found the best meals were served in the guesthouses of Hua Hin. .Things took a little longer to cook but the meals were excellent. If you fancy European cuisine, there is plenty of that on offer throughout the town
A word about guest houses. The term guesthouse brings to mind an image of low cost backpacker style accommodation.
Nothing could be further than the truth.
The Guesthouses of Hua Hin are wonderful. They are small, family owned businesses that offer large, clean rooms with big well appointed bathrooms. Typically they will also have air-conditioning, plenty of hot water and cable TV.
Nightlife is more or less a quiet affair, with a couple of streets of bars and discos.
Yes, this pales in comparison with Bangkok or Pattaya but if you are looking for plenty of night time action then Hua Hin is probably not the place for you.
Golf however is another story. Hua Hin is noted as a world class city for golf in Asia.
Two more luxurious golf courses are opening soon. You can even organize a golf holiday where things like green fees, caddies, equipment and tuition are prearranged for you.
I really feel totally relaxed when I visit this place.
My favorite guesthouses are Leng Guesthouse
A and B Guesthouse.
The rooms are nice and reasonably priced. Both these guesthouses had large balconies which are just thing for afternoon reading.
A and B. Guesthouse http://www.abguesthouse.com/adress.htm
Leng Guest House http://www.lenghotel.com/
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