Holiday Budgets And The Tight-Fisted Tourist

[Atmos]

Witnessed a little 'scene' yesterday, at a coastal beach resort

European man (wife, two children aged 2yrs, 8 months) wanting to rent a motorbike, arguing over the advertised price of 400 baht. Offered 200.

Part of his 'argument' was that 10 years ago on Samui he was only paying 50 baht a day.

Employee at the shop had no power to discount even if he wanted to; neither he should - that is the advertised fee.

I didn't try to haggle the price of our icecreams and bottles of water.

Had a chat to the 'customer' outside; they had two days at the beach before heading back to Bangkok, asked what he would do now for transport as there are no alternatives, no taxis/tuktuks in he area.

'Just walk around'

*****

side notes

he asked me 'how easy are they to ride?' as he hadn't ridden an auto (they are Honda Scoopys) before

the 'safety' aspect of two adults, baby and toddler on a scooter, in a foreign country, driving on the unfamiliar 'wrong' side of the road . . .

I know there are cheaper places to rent in Thailand. But not in that beach resort - one option to rent from, and the three bikes were bought new in May this year

and - travel half way around the world for a holiday, then out of spite (?) miss out on seeing the local scenery, coastline that his wife had wanted to see - the reason they came here.

Hope they had a nice day anyway.

Wonder if he'll go home and bad-mouth Thailand as being 'too expensive these days'?

[robblok]

I find it quite expensive 400 bt for a motorbike a day. I expected it to be around 200 bt that was what i paid on Ko chang 2 years ago.

[daoyai]

nothing wrong with attempting to bargain down a rental price or tour package, not unusual to get them down by 50%.

[outofoz]

haha..that's a .funny story..

i rented a bike for 250 a day from a resort recently in koh samui...going price about 200 a day elsewhere....Friend berated me for 'paying too much'..

[outofoz]

haha..that's a .funny story..

i rented a bike for 250 a day from a resort recently in koh samui...going price about 200 a day elsewhere....Friend berated me for 'paying too much'..

[easyride]

They regularly add up to 200% to prices just so you think you got a good deal by negotiating. In Pattaya I wouldn't pay more than 100 baht a day for a moped but go on Beach Road and see what they're asking.

[Atmos]

accept the points made above, but the owner set the price, his decision; as I said the employee has no power to discount; but my main 'point' was, having spent the money for airfares, to get theis far and - with (today's rate) 100 baht being 2.31 Euro - that he chose not to rent for the sake of ? 5E, instead spend two days on foot with wife and babies in tow. Great holiday; unsure if they were staying in the 500b night rooms with aircon/tv, or the 250b ones with fan only.

Comparing a small beach resort with one gas station, one motorbike and cycle rental, to eg Pattaya/Phuket is not valid.

I personally think the owner is crazy having just (2mth ago) bought three brand new Hondas for rental, a range of helmets/sizes, all likely on a hire purchase plan, take a long time to recover the initial and ongoing costs.

[robblok]

accept the points made above, but the owner set the price, his decision; as I said the employee has no power to discount; but my main 'point' was, having spent the money for airfares, to get theis far and - with (today's rate) 100 baht being 2.31 Euro - that he chose not to rent for the sake of ? 5E, instead spend two days on foot with wife and babies in tow. Great holiday; unsure if they were staying in the 500b night rooms with aircon/tv, or the 250b ones with fan only.

Comparing a small beach resort with one gas station, one motorbike and cycle rental, to eg Pattaya/Phuket is not valid.

I personally think the owner is crazy having just (2mth ago) bought three brand new Hondas for rental, a range of helmets/sizes, all likely on a hire purchase plan, take a long time to recover the initial and ongoing costs.

Like everyone said.. 200 bt 250 tops.. and yes i would haggle too. Its not about the extra money its about being ripped off. The price all over Thailand is around the 200bt.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Depends what your renting. I never rent a cheep bike. I want a well maintained Bike with full first class insurance and copies of all the paperwork.

Save me in the long run as well as maybe saving my ass

For 100 or even 200 you can not get a bike, well maintained with full insurance

[Spoonman]

Depends what your renting. I never rent a cheep bike. I want a well maintained Bike with full first class insurance and copies of all the paperwork.

Save me in the long run as well as maybe saving my ass

For 100 or even 200 you can not get a bike, well maintained with full insurance

And if you have an accident do you have to tell the BiB that its your "friends" scoot "wink wink" or is is it the correct commercial insurance for a rental company that they have ?

[jackinbkk]

He probably wouldnt haggle unless he had too. Having just forked out a small fortune for him, the wife and kids to fly there, pay for a hotel, knowing the ongoing cost of food, beach rentals etc he's probably feeling the squeeze that an expat doesnt. Tourists pay the highest prices.

However I can't condone those people who carry their whole family on a motorbike. Why would you put your whole family at risk like that. A single bad driver of a truck or car can plough into you. It doesnt matter who's fault it is, the people on the bike will be the most affected. i.e. maimed or killed.

He probably walked 1km down the road before haggling with 10 other vendors offering the exact same product at a better price anyway.

[4.real]

Unfortunately people like atmos have made Thailand an expensive holiday retreat.

Those that arrive for a 2 week holiday after saving up for it for the last 9 months and then act as if 'money no object' have ruined the place.

Koh Samuii is a fine example as it Phuket.

And you wonder why the jet ski scammers believe all foreigners are dollar millionairs

[Atmos]

^ like me?

don't hurt yourself getting off that horse, will you?

I live here year-round. Not in a holiday retreat, a rural town of 5000 in Chanthaburi province.

Not 'ruining it' for anyone - we see very few tourists in this part of the country - that's one of the appeals of living here; one other English speaker in our town.

Yes I'm fully aware of Phuket having lived there 12 months.

jackinbkk -

as I said - there is no other motorbike hire available.

The one shop has the only three. Closest hire place would be 32km away.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Depends what your renting. I never rent a cheep bike. I want a well maintained Bike with full first class insurance and copies of all the paperwork.

Save me in the long run as well as maybe saving my ass

For 100 or even 200 you can not get a bike, well maintained with full insurance

And if you have an accident do you have to tell the BiB that its your "friends" scoot "wink wink" or is is it the correct commercial insurance for a rental company that they have ?

It is the correct rental insurance, and that is why you just can't rent a bike for 100 or 200 Baht. OK take your chances but for 100 or 200 baht a day my life and savings are worth the little extra

[JSixpack]

Some people have the money but resent being gouged and won't put up with it unless there really is NO other choice. I'm one myself; and he sounds like another. If everybody had the same attitude, the vendors wouldn't be so spoiled.

Motorbike rental fees could well be negotiable.

No problem here. Next.