Many countries are known for hassling tourists and Thailand is no stranger to this concept. Residents of Thailand are often described as very charming and their pleasant habit is often contagious. What is unusual though is that they will hassle but have developed the fine art of scamming with a smile faultless with an endearing term.
I visited Bangkok and Phuket earlier this year and many scams tried on me. I was able to resist many but succumbed to a few unknowingly. Before exploring these specific scams, here is some useful information.
Hotel Phuket Thailand
Taxis from the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok
A taxi ride from the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok to the same hotel can assuredly range between 400 and 1000 baht. If a tourist is well knowledgeable about possible scams, has read a guidebook or this great article, the price can swiftly be reduced by half! It is prominent to comprehend that they will never fee you a price where they lose money or suffer from. If a price is agreed upon, it is because it is to their benefit. So do not fall into the trap of assuredly agreeing with a price because when converted to other currency, it's miniscule. The issue is setting a principle and a appropriate that not every tourist can be scammed! Well educated tourists do not get scammed!
Taxi to Phuket Night Market
Night markets are a great way to gawk Thailand. After being quoted a mere 150 baht to be taken to a night market, my friend and I swiftly hopped in. We explained where we wanted to go and showed the location on the map. The driver agreed and proceeded. After driving for 15 minutes, he announced that we had arrived. I looked through the window and noticed that he had taken us not only to a night store we didn't ask to go to, but one which seemed to be closing down and did not have many shoppers. We told him that is not what we asked for, he laughed and set off to the other market. During the whole time, we were having good conversation until we felt a scam advent on. Once we arrived at the night store we wanted to go to, I handed him 500 baht and he gave me 150 baht change. I told him he made a mistake and should have given me 350 since the cost for the ride was 150 baht. He then informed me that he had taken us to an additional one store so he charged us for it! That whole view was not acceptable, so we were determined to get the rest of the money and so was he. He started to drive off reasoning that if we had to walk back to our destination, he would not feel cheated! eventually he stopped the car and gave us the right change!
Shopping
I bought an narrative of clothing for 200 baht after negotiating from a beginning price of 600 baht. After wandering nearby aimlessly while I waited for a friend, I found the same item with a beginning price of 150 baht! Now if you do the conversion, all of the prices quoted were limited to nothing in Usd but you don't want to get into the habit of allowing citizen to rob you knowingly. Inspecting the fact that my friend was still making a purchase, when I asked the salesperson why I was overcharged, she smiled sweetly at me and refunded me 50 baht. Now clearly refunding is not a custom that is often engaged in, however my friend was purchasing sheet sets of higher value and it was her way of wooing her to stay.
Grand Palace is complete today!
How unlucky you are that you tour so far to see the world renowned Grand Palace and it is closed! Don't buy that- it's a tourist scam! The scam is you are told it's complete for anyone reason, more commonly known: monks are praying, its being cleaned or it's a holiday! Now you are bummed out because there goes your plan! You will be offered a deal to visit 4 tourist attractions and an expo which "you didn't hear about it, it closes today!) - all included in the price for 30 baht!
This random passerby who informs you the Grand Palace is complete so happens to be an "English teacher" and suggests that you take a "tuk tuk" to these other touristy places. He also cautions you against taking the pink tuk tuks because they will cheat you but the yellow ones are operated by the government, so they won't overprice. Interesting? Haven't seen a yellow tuk tuk, oh look- there's one right there! He hails the tuk tuk and warns the driver not to fee more that 30 baht to go to 4 tourist spots and a Thai expo! Naturally, you are excited because you probably paid a minimum of 150 baht for a 20 min ride so 30 baht for 4 destinations and an expo! Why not? The only calculate it was so cheap is because if you are rushed through all of the other tourist attractions (which was not hard Inspecting one or two of them were complete for cleaning!) but if you bought anyone at the "Thai expo" (which turned out to be just a jewelry store) these scammers would get a commission.
The tuk tuk driver only speaks English conveniently. He didn't understand when it was explained that the tourist spot complete but when we informed of a lack of desire to go to the expo, he spoke very good English as he tries to convince you to go!
If you are reading this narrative after being scammed, laugh and chalk it up to experience. If not, then put on your guard and don't forget these possible scams!
Thailand tourist Traps - Deception in a SmileFriends Link : หางานเชียงใหม่ Hotel Phuket Thailand
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