Tag Archives: scams

Where are my reviews Viator??

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Damneon Floating Market. Tour guide seemed frazzled and frustrated.

Damneon Floating Market. Tour guide seemed frazzled and frustrated.

I booked two day tours in Bangkok through Viator in advance on my recent trip to South East Asia in June. Total cost: roughly $110 Canadian.

Upon my return, I received an email from the company asking me for reviews.

I quickly reviewed the two excursions honestly, noting the unadvertised side trip to the gem factory/store (see gem scam entry) and the unprofessionalism of the guide and problems with sufficient air conditioning in the transport van on the floating market trip. These were fair characterizations of the excursions.

Do ya think Viator published these reviews??? NOPE.

I will NEVER book a tour through Viator again. While the company only serves to market tours on behalf of suppliers, it needs to vet these suppliers and publish truthful reviews.

I urge you to NOT book through Viator. Also, spread the word.

See images from Bangkok … See more images from Bangkok temples

Viator reviews on Damneon Floating Market … Viator reviews of Grand Palace

Tank versus the Thai market merchants (I win, I think)

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Good deals can be had. But you have to work for them.

Good deals can be had. But you have to work for them.

Yeah, I know. It’s a tourist trap of the worst kind. Still, I decided to check out the Damnoen Floating Market about an hour from Bangkok. I’m a mermaid, you see. I like being around water. This was water you definitely didn’t want to fall into. Yuck. Polluted.

Window shopping was the goal. Maybe make a purchase. If the price was right.

A fabulous handbag caught my eye. “2500 Bhat” was price the quoted to me. That’s about $82 Canadian, $80 American and 60 Euros.

“Too much”, was my reply and off I went in search of food, which turned out to be the best meal I had in Thailand.

I later returned to the stall and made the very generous offer of 500 Bhat, roughly $16.00 Canadian.

“NO WAY LADY”,  the sales girl shrieked. I countered with 600 Bhat. She went off to confer with a colleague then counter-countered with 650 Bhat.

More images of the market and other Tank’s Travels pictures…

When I dug into my purse to see if I had 650 Bhat, she dropped the price to 600.

SOLD. For less that $20 Canadian.

Got my purse. Finding room for it in the suitcase, well that’s a story for another day.