Thailand reopening: Deceitful hotels tricking tourists are "letting the country down and damaging its image"

[Bangel72]

7 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

 

I went to Koh Larn a few weeks ago. The blue pickup truck wanted 600 baht to take two people to the next beach. 

Motorcycle taxi was asking the same amount. 
 

They have learned nothing from the pandemic. And those who were ripping people off before, will do the same again.  

I think it was 250 baht to hire a bike for the day, last time I was there. 100 to 200 baht any trip for 3 of us.

[sandyf]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I booked Radisson (Ratchada) as an SHA+ booking....   (fully refundable up to the day before)

That makes a big difference. My booking was standard cancellation and became partially refundable before the Oct 1st changes were announced.

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, sandyf said:

You may have read my post but you certainly didn't try and understand it.

When I applied for COE I had to book to book and pay for 15 days quarantine in line with government regulations which I did through Agoda.

By the time I arrived in Thailand the regulations had changed and I was only required to do 7 days quarantine but Agoda were only prepared to refund 4 of the 8 days difference.

Had quarantine increased rather than decreased would there have been an additional charge of 4 days or 8?

I was scammed by an American owned company so I would certainly agree that scamming is not a Thai trait.

Usually, in situations such as this Agoda are very fair and provide refunds. 

 

Last year I booked a ‘non-refundable’ long weekend stay (4 nights) through Agoda (a good deal).... then the hotel e-mailed to inform that due to Covid-19 new government regulations meant the pool would be closed, that the main restaurant would close (room service only).

 

I cancelled and asked for a refund. The hotel and agoda said no-refund as per terms and conditions. 

 

I argued that the terms and conditions had changed (pool closed / restaurant closed).

 

Agoda Cash (i.e. a Agoda voucher to spend within 6 months) was offered... I rejected this on the grounds that I’d not purchased with a voucher, I’d used credit card.

 

Agoda agreed to refund to my credit card - I’ve used them numerous times since, but I’m not keen on the way they make us ‘fight’ for reasonable service / conditions. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

This comes as no surprise to many seasoned expats who live here. Thais will if given the chance do anything to buck systems, inflate prices and generally scam tourists. 

Before it went noticed but no problem with over 30 million tourists a year, NOW it is news because Topurists are obeying the Governmental edicts and the Hotels know this so they can scam but this time they are being fopund out.

perhaps hotels that do this should be immediately removed from SHA listing and treated as pariahs, they will soon learn. ...maybe, but that is logical.

[sandyf]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

Usually, in situations such as this Agoda are very fair and provide refunds. 

I wouldn't have normally disputed that, been with them many years.

There isn't any precedent for "situations like this".

I am not going to go into detail but several problems arose and the intransigence was unbelievable. 

[natway09]

This cannot be worse than actually serving a beer in a licenced establishment can it ?

[Cake Monster]

7 hours ago, Guderian said:

What a weird article. It starts off as clickbait with a headline purportedly showing the authorities are on the side of foreigners being exploited by unscrupulous Thai businesses, yet no solution to the problem is mentioned so presumably nothing will be done about it other than a bit of moaning for show, no fines or enforcement measures are discussed. Then in no time at all, of course, we're back to complaints about foreigners in hotels not wearing face masks (sorry, I meant dirty foreigners) and how much they should be fined for such perfidy. If Thailand and/or Asean Now think that this kind of approach is going to win the hearts and minds of all those dirty foreigners thinking of a visit in the next few months, they really need to think again.

And we already have a report that Mr. Strongarm of Pattaya has been ordered to step in and stop the price gouging by Speed Boat Operators at Bali Hai.

What is wrong with all these people.

The Country has only been " open " for 23 Days, and already there are these reports of Thais scamming the Tourists they desperately prayed to Buddha for.

What a load of sick Individuals. They got what they prayed for, and still they need to Lie, cheat and steal

Shameful

[LivinLOS]

Letting the country down ??

"Dont Thai to me"... Where exactly do they think that comes from ? 

[ChrisKC]

Not sure I have been to as many hotels in Thailand as some here but I have certainly been to quite a few over the years. I have never been cheated as far as I know.

 

The situation prevailing right now is that certain hotels have been allocated the business of Quarantining and generally managing tourists during this covid time and it seems to me they are simply taking advantage; well, alright, ripping people off, who are effectively being held to ransom due to their already-burdened guests, being stressed out and therefore more vulnerable.

 

It is nevertheless very bad business practice and won't help in the long run when visitors ultimately return in reasonable numbers.

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

My friend, top earner, is the tourist TAT dreams of. He only books top hotels, visits the best seafood restaurants and spends a lot of money.

Now his girlfriend comes flown in. He booked a room for himself and his girlfriend for 4 nights for 3040 Baht per night. In addition, for the first night of quarantine a SHA + room in the same hotel for 11900 Baht including transfer and PCR.

 

Sure that he did the math for himself.

11900 - 3040 = 8860 Baht

room paid.

8860 - 2600 = 6260 Baht

PCR test paid

6260 - 700 = 5560 Baht

VIP transfer (BKK -Asoke)paid.

 

Now he asks himself for what service he paid the 5560 baht?

That's $ 170 US. additional expenditure without an additional, specified service. He takes it easy, but it sticks in the head of a tourist for a long time.

I would love to have seen their reaction if you took these figures to the manager and asked them to explain them to you. It would have been priceless to see them squirm.

[Mr Meeseeks]

You think its bad now? Wait another 6 months. 

[bkk6060]

Not sure about the article but people must be pretty dumb if the book TP and don't contact the hotel to confirm transport and the time of PCR test and results with associated costs.

Edited November 23, 2021 by bkk6060

[Exilerunner]

7 hours ago, John Drake said:

Hotel scam

Limo scam

Covid Test scam

Insurance scam

 

Please check all the appropriate boxes to make sure your Thailand Pass is complete.

I have no problem with the scam by locals such as hotels and cab drivers etc.. They wanna make cash. But being screwed by the government is an entire different story. PCR test, Mask rules, quarantine and hospital stay BS if positive that is just nuts

[dutchweller]

 

My advice to anyone asking me about Thailand..

Go to Vietnam..

[Almer]

What is the Nationality of the owners of these deceitful hotels?

[Bangkok Barry]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

many foreigners were not complying with mask wearing rules and gathering in groups for parties.

Just like they can in other countries that are 'open'. Oh, wait.............

[aussiexpat]

11 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Not sure about the article but people must be pretty dumb if the book TP and don't contact the hotel to confirm transport and the time of PCR test and results with associated costs.

That's what the SHA+ certification was supposed to mean. Since Phuket opened 1 July, transport and PCR were required to be pre-paid through the hotel or you wouldn't get a COE.

 

As these were SHA+ hotel bookings approved for a Thailand Pass, it's not "pretty dumb" guests as you say, the hotels should be banned from the program and guests refunded the extra costs

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by aussiexpat

[Andycoops]

Rather than just saying these hotels are letting down the image of the country, they should close them down or at least remove them from the Thailand pass process.

Why isn't that being done, oh probably the brown envelope virus.

I totally agree about mask wearing, fine the buggers kick them out and put them on the visa blacklist, arrogant tossers.

I have to wear a mask when I go shopping, show some respect for the law.

[Bangel72]

Had a interesting discussion with agoda, turned up at the apartment and nobody there to let us in. Phoned agoda and they said they would follow up, an hour later nothing so I told them to cancel it and I did a walk-in to place next door, agoda told me I would not get a refund on my cancellation as had to be cancelled 24 hours before, I told them not to worry as it was a cash on arrival deal even though it was no refunds was in the small print.

 

Normally I pay by card but it was a last minute booking so went with the cash option, this was a lesson that cash on arrival has its meritd. 

[GrandPapillon]

7 minutes ago, Bangel72 said:

Had a interesting discussion with agoda, turned up at the apartment and nobody there to let us in. Phoned agoda and they said they would follow up, an hour later nothing so I told them to cancel it and I did a walk-in to place next door, agoda told me I would not get a refund on my cancellation as had to be cancelled 24 hours before, I told them not to worry as it was a cash on arrival deal even though it was no refunds was in the small print.

 

Normally I pay by card but it was a last minute booking so went with the cash option, this was a lesson that cash on arrival has its meritd. 

well played, and good to know for the reaction of Agoda in that situation

[Dont confuse me]

Not just Thailand but most of SE Asia look upon the West as fair game.

And until governments start to take responsibility and care for their citizens nothing will change!

From top to bottom it's corrupt, I consider myself well travelled but Thailand is the only country where police/customs/immigration officials have openly asked for 'tea money' so a few hotels jumping on the band wagon isn't surprising. 

[aussienam]

7 hours ago, smedly said:

Gathering in groups for parties ????

 

you told them Thailand was open when in fact in places like Pattaya very little is open, all it took was a few hundred extra tourists in town and certain places like TreeTown are crammed with people every night - there simply is no other place to go at night 

 

You cannot invite tourists to Thailand claiming it is open when it clearly isn't - it's a blatant lie and is now causing severe overcrowding in the limited palces that are open and clearly breaking existing rules 

 

something needs to change

5555. True. So many people mention 'Tree Town' like it is some amazing new hub in Pattaya.  It is literally about 100 meters long, has a row of bars, a Thai club, a big food court, restaurants and drink/snack shops. 

Because there is ⅘ of f*** a** open in Pattaya, the place (mostly the food court) is stuffed with people.  The adjoining kerbside to Soi Buakhaow  is where the loitering expat alcoholics (with their 7-Eleven Leo beers) and hookers hang out.  

Walk any direction from Tree Town and the nightlife is D-E-A-D.

 

 

[MrJ2U]

Hotels packed with that 40% promotion.

 

Hallways littered with Grab delivery boxes.  There not spending money around town much.

 

 

 

 

[kennw]

8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Gotta make money somehow. Underhand sneakiness at its best to drain the walking Foreigner seen as nothing but an ATM.

Used to be a regular article written in a Pattaya magazine, headed "The Walking Wallet" had some great stories.

[kennw]

2 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

1) There's no such thing  in Thailand as a 'set price', especially not for taxis

2) Motorcycle rental was double that

3) Yes, that's what they asked for five minute journey

 

As I said, Thais see tourists returning and dollar signs light up in their eyes. Taxis in Bangkok are up to the same tricks again. 

Set price? The law is that lottery must cost Baht 80 each. Try and get one at that price. Just an example.

[VBF]

3 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

I didn't come when it was 14 days quarantine or 7 days, but when they said Thailand was opening back up I was really excited to return.

 

To see everything in Pattaya closed, masks mandatory everywhere, no groups allowed, no drinking except on the curb and huge fines for any offense. How is that open, in my country, that's a pretty serious Lockdown!

 

Add on all the well publicized scams for hotel, taxi and insurance

 

Return to 'Amazing Thailand' is just getting further and further away in my mind (only need to come back to sort my condo).

 

Got it in one! ????

[Opossum]

 

I have a hard time to understand, why the government has a problem with all these, after a court has decided in a case:

 

"The pricing was set on an appropriate basis of socioeconomic status, and it benefits Thailand, so it therefore doesn’t count as discrimination.”

 

I will never forget this...

[zzaa09]

8 hours ago, Guderian said:

What a weird article. It starts off as clickbait with a headline purportedly showing the authorities are on the side of foreigners being exploited by unscrupulous Thai businesses, yet no solution to the problem is mentioned so presumably nothing will be done about it other than a bit of moaning for show, no fines or enforcement measures are discussed. Then in no time at all, of course, we're back to complaints about foreigners in hotels not wearing face masks (sorry, I meant dirty foreigners) and how much they should be fined for such perfidy. If Thailand and/or Asean Now think that this kind of approach is going to win the hearts and minds of all those dirty foreigners thinking of a visit in the next few months, they really need to think again.

It's about unscrupulous profit - in one manipulated manner or another - from the guilty parties of your mention above. 

[freedomnow]

9 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

 

They have learned nothing from the pandemic. And those who were ripping people off before, will do the same again.  

Should have an app where you can snap their license and upload it and after a few warnings they get a suspension..yes, there has always been a bit of negotiation with rides historically but when its an out-and-out rip-off it would be good to have something to fall back on to take this conning <deleted>s down a notch

[zaZa9]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Usually, in situations such as this Agoda are very fair and provide refunds. 

 

Last year I booked a ‘non-refundable’ long weekend stay (4 nights) through Agoda (a good deal).... then the hotel e-mailed to inform that due to Covid-19 new government regulations meant the pool would be closed, that the main restaurant would close (room service only).

 

I cancelled and asked for a refund. The hotel and agoda said no-refund as per terms and conditions. 

 

I argued that the terms and conditions had changed (pool closed / restaurant closed).

 

Agoda Cash (i.e. a Agoda voucher to spend within 6 months) was offered... I rejected this on the grounds that I’d not purchased with a voucher, I’d used credit card.

 

Agoda agreed to refund to my credit card - I’ve used them numerous times since, but I’m not keen on the way they make us ‘fight’ for reasonable service / conditions. 

 

 

They all are doing it , and it is  most annoying.

My airline cancelled my flight home to another Continent  as covid arrived and when I requested a refund they gave very convincing reasons as to why I should take a 'credit' , most logical of all being if everyone took the money back option the airline could fold and nobody would be paid .

Since that had happened to me long before I took  the credit option and a voucher number was issued which I duly recorded.

When I recently bought a new flight with the same airline to the same place  I was greeted with a welcoming pop-up and a good deal of my fields already completed.

Nice .

But when I clicked on  the voucher number box  , it did not fill in  automatically , even though the airline issued the number ( about 20 digits long ) to me . 

Instead , another pop-up informed me I would have to 'apply' to get my  credit ( ie  in the form of the voucher number ) if I didnt know it to enter the box.

As if THEY didnt know it ...

So everything was done to facilitate my purchase of a new ticket ,  but little  effort was made toward refunding my thousand dollars they had held interest free for near 2 years.

Nice one.