Razzler1973

Air Asia senior management is sleazy and deceptive. They advertise their prices NOT INCLUSIVE OF AIRPORT TAX with the intention of appearing more competitive with their pricing. It is not until you get to the final stages of the booking that you realise their trickery. Australia pulled them into line and made them advertise the full retail (airport tax inclusive) price, A pity a few other countries like Thailand don't demand the same from them.

Yes, just like Agoda for hotel bookings, you end up paying 17% more than the rooms advertised price. Bludy crooks.

I have been noticing more with Agoda that it's expensive compared to before

There are some rooms where I know the place well and I know how much they cost. Agoga shows it cheaper and then add the tax and *bam* the rate is suddenly back up to the walk-in rate I am familiar with, no problem

Others take the walk-in rate or similar and then bung the 17% on, which obviously makes a huge difference

I'd always prefer to rock up and get a place but the kids are on the 'ol internet these days and you run the risk of places booking up, even in BKK sometimes

Sorry to say your money is gone. I did the same thing and no sympathy from Air Asia at all

At least it's not just me

I don't mind those 700 baht flights but this was about 2400, not that that is gonna make a huge dent but jeez, so happy I didn't do it on a proper long haul flight

"Terms & Conditions" means you don't have to do it ... you can if you want though. Been skulking around moaning to my GF about how stupid I am all yesterday

Oh well, this is a first. When I was booking it there wasn't even a doubt in my mind about where I was coming back from. Been looking at bookings and things and info so I guess it was in my mind, in my mind when I selected it

Appreciate the shared experiences anyway, chaps

As soon as you make a booking error with Air Asia get on the phone to them or visit their office at the airport. They can fix things up. It depends on the person you deal with but i know someone who ending up booking twice on the same flight (he had computer problems). Air Asia cancelled the dupe booking and gave him the ticket cost as credit for future flights. Depends on the person but can vary between free of charge to no help at all.

I literally called them after 5 minutes. I realised instantly but ... nada

I understand it's my fault and the stupid, idiotic error annoys me more than 2 1/2 grand but it's not that I changed my mind or wanted to be awkward, it was a legit error, spotted instantly. I know it's in their terms and conditions, I mentioned that in the OP so I don't need a link to that I am asking if anyone did anything against the norm for T&Cs, as an example (looking like a resounding, NO!) - appreciate the efforts anyway

You'd think they'd be some window for correcting this, cancel and do it again. They can still have my money! Seems like nope. I know they're a 'cheap' airline but Nok are slightly more flexible and also cheap. Even other cheap airlines around the world have various fees for this sort of thing but ... money gone. That's the frustrating bit. You'd think there may be a case-by-case thing especially when you call them instantly, honestly within 5 minutes "we don't usually do this but ..."

Looks like it's not to be but just want to make sure I'd covered as many angles and there's no secret method I am missing out on

It's a one way. I am flying down from BKK and connecting to an island but will be going across to the other coast myself so intention was to fly back from another island connecting thingy. I go to book and for some reason I mark the second one way flight as flying out of the island/connection I will have left a week before

One of the Air Asia guys did suggest using the Hat Yai portion of the flight but seeing as I will be on Koh Pha Ngan I think it's next to impossible to make a 2pm flight from Hat Yai. I could change my plans, leave the day before, blah blah but cost of ferry, buses, taxi and accommodation in Hat Yai ... not worth it. If getting to Hat Yai was doable then I'd do it but pointless breaking my neck to rush around

I will book another flight ... Nok Air this time

Is that a local CC that will not let you stop a payment?

No, Middle East

To be fair I had 'approved' the payment but the vendor hadn't claimed it yet but they said once approved they can't do anything. It was an outside bet anyway

Maybe someone had done it before but did manage to somehow get a refund or change of location. There's a lot of things not in the rules but you get them done anyway

If two people came along and said 'yeah, they said that to me but I did xyz and got 50% back' then that would be a useful experience. If people came here and said 'forget it, tried everything but rules is the rules' ... these would be examples of posters experiences, you see ...

Money not the end of the world but making the mistake has annoyed the bloody hell out of me!!

Damn, booked a domestic ticket with Air Asia and made an error, return from a different beach (island connection).

As soon as I did it all and pressed print I realised. I called them but got the 'terms and conditions' line and they're basically completely inflexible

I couldn't stop the credit card thingy before the vendor took the money either. I filled out some form on their site but speaking to their call centre I am not optimistic

Anyone had any experiences of this with Air Asia? Have I basically just set fire to 2500 baht? I can understand their terms and it's not a case of someone chopping and changing their mind but literally a pressing the wrong button thing and instantly trying to rectify it!! Grrrr

So annoying

Anyone got anything back? Happy to change it to correct location or completely cancel it and rebook but ... terms and conditions, amirite!

I think the OP has come to his sense but for sure, what's the benefit to you for renting for 5 years up front? Slightly reduced rent ... erm, that's it

All the negatives, take away the scary stuff about going missing but just on a personal level, you fancy a change, meet someone, ANYTHING that happens and you done your money down to repairs and things not getting done as the landlord got 5 years off you and isn't jumping through hoops for good service

Add to the fact are you sure it's even worth 30K a month? I imagine a 30K a month house is pretty decent on the island, could be a 15K a month house he's telling you is 30K and then you 'bargain' down to 20K a month and he's still laughing

Just SO many risks!

I watched them too, weather looked fine

I think for sure I'll head over, thanks

Just deciding whether to book something or wait until I get there. These days I like to plan ahead, no messing about, some good deals on Agoda but wondering if I can get them lower boots on the ground ... hmmmmm!

Not sure why you want to explore the canal but phanfa leelard stop is not too far from Khao San Road, walk up the major road (ratchdamnoern?), past monument and then at the junction go right and there's a 7/11 and next to that.

google maps on your phone? can search within that too these days, find all sorts

Check out Sunny's blog on youtube. He has 10 video blogs about getting there and the island itself. Looks pretty nice to me.

Seems like he uploaded those recently, any idea if he's actually there recently or just managed to upload now?

Lipe is dead and actually you might not be able to cross during this season, the sea is rough and not enough passengers.

I saw from ferry site that ferries go all year round

Also, various sources mentioned the low season is not too bad. I have rarely had a low season on an island but absolutely torrential in my 20 years of being around Thailand to be honest

I don't mind a bit of rain, heavy rain here and there. Koh Chang is always listed as one of the 'most rainfall' places but been many times in low season and had blazing sun mixed with heavy rain later on ... then cloudy for a bit, then ok again

I don't mind that

The fact Nok Air/Air Asia fly and do the boat combo makes me think there is a reasonable stream of visitors, no?

I don't think you can compare food stalls and cocktail vans to some of the other dodgy activities

Without being stupid here but can't the government make all this official? Do proper inspections of the vans and carts, give out licences and make it all official?

Onto 7 pages now and the OP hasnt yet returned, LOL.

It had occurred to me that it was a troll post. What do these jerks get from asking advice when they have no intention of taking it, or even checking the thread again??

Watch the bickering masses argue amongst themselves about the 'right' amount to spend each month and then blah blah teachers, khao san road, get rid GF .... it's all LOLs!

I'm in the UAE ... there weren't any rockets

I know it's Middle East *PANIC* in the States but perfectly safe stop offs here in Dubai or Abu Dhabi

Fancy heading down late this month, I know it's sort of off-season but been many a Thai island in off-season and still get sun with rain and cloud so not a big deal

Anyone done the Nok Air/Air Asia combo thingy?

Accommodation seems more expensive than elsewhere for what you get but kind of fancy checking it out

Anyone been, thoughts, experiences, recommendations?

Thanon Phra Ahtit , by the river and behind Kao San rd

The Paddington of Bangkok

A riverside Park , cool little boutique restaurants and tiny pubs , a remanent of the old fort , educated old Bangkokians and groovy happy young folk - and a Jazz Club over the bridge ( just ask )

Yes, it's all very arty and square glasses, hipster around there

I like the street though

I like how no one has realised the OP just lobbed a troll grenade in here and didn't come back, leaving everyone to bicker about the usual subjects of cheap charlies, teachers, visas, "this is how much I spend" and all that other fun

He got real advice already, 2nd job, cheaper room, don't feel you need to spend money taking GF out if you can't afford, find alternative things to do that aren't as expensive, parks, etc

OP ... did you book your cheap room yet ? you might want to stay somewhere around the bar they call cheap charlies, that way you won't have far to walk for a beer.

Have you thought about going over to stay at Khosan road ? there's alot of cheap places over there.

Troll, unlike you i do not fly in for 2 week holiday to be a 2 week millionaire.

Try reading before posting rubbish to appear at least little bit intelligent.

It was top LOLs, mate

Thinking of the cheapest places he could think of and mentioning them ... TOP BANTS!!!

Connecting Soi 6 and 8, bit up from that bar on Soi 8 and across there's the Crown (?) that used to be ok

Soi 3, past the Grace and then next right there's a couple down there 700, 800 ... PJ or PB being one I stayed at in the past. Was decent enough for couple of days

Is the soi 6 and 8 connected?

Sent fra min SM-G900F via Tapatalk

Yes. If you're on soi 8 and you walk down the second sub-soi to the right (7-11 on the corner, across from The Kiwi) you can cut through to soi 6. I'm relatively certain you can go all the way through to soi 4.

That's the one. The hotel in question was right on the corner and as mentioned, good shortcut into other streets around there too

Is this house of your GFs in the provinces and you and her live elsewhere in Thailand?

Or, do you live in farangland or elsewhere and just visit the GF on an annual basis for an extended period of time?

If it's the latter then I'd have a good look at just how much you like this girl and do you want some kind of future. If no or unsure then there's no benefit to sticking around. The situation will not change and you're the 'visitor' that isn't dealing with this 24/7, 365 days a year

If you're living in country and come up to the provinces then just try to spend reduced time, let your GF know why. Not that it's anyone's fault just you not comfortable

You don't want to change him, can't change him and your GF will do whatever she thinks is best, no matter what you suggest. It's best not to suggest too much, don't be the guy solving all the problems in a situation you come into when it's most likely been happening many years and will continue no matter what you decide to do

GF must arrive at any conclusion herself and be comfortable with it. All YOU can do is avoid the drunk guy as much as possible, stay in room, go out more and longer and don't engage in any kind of extended communication to the point he thinks you're in any way 'friends'

Personally, I'd just go stay the whole time in Phi Phi

You won't be missing much avoiding Phuket to be honest. It's a big holiday spot but if you want some drinking, diving, etc you can do all that on Phi Phi

Have you tried Suk11 restaurant?

http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/suk11-restaurant.htm#promo

Should be in walking distance, or a single stop with BTS.

Been there several times, and always enjoied it.

Is that the place that was a guesthouse/hostel type place? Is it still one or just a restaurant now?

Dubai just opened a Jokibee, Filipino fast food ... queues were upwards of 4 or 5 hours for a few weeks. Calming down now

Pfft, 15 minutes to an hour ... that's not a queue, gentlemen

Jolibee, absolutely disgusting

Oops, spelling error

Yes, it's not great and no pork here in the Mall either but they love that stuff!!

Each culture has their own breakfast.

Thai's like fried chicken.

European's like cheese and bread.

Jamaicans eat fish.

Chinese: porridge with 100 year old eggs!

So, the English and American breakfast are quite similar except for the beans and pudding instead of the hash browns (potatoes)

No big deal.

Americans destroy their bacon to a crisp, I find

Perhaps you meant to say, "Americans prepare their bacon to a delightfully crispy and mouthwatering texture."

They damn well pick it up and eat it it's so crispy

One thing from the States I am a big fan of is hash browns, love 'em

Also, the whole 'bottomless coffee' thing they do and probably started in other places. If I have a buffet breakfast anywhere I am making my money back on coffee alone