Www,phangan-info..... Be Wary.

[chelford67]

When using the internet, looking for accomadation info, regarding Phangan, I came across a really useful site called Phangan-info, very helpful, good communication and then when the shit hits the fan, you can't get a response.... What a surprise!!

I have never used the internet to book accomadation before and have been travelling to LOS for the past 14years, firstly as a young travller eager to see the country and now as a Dad with 2 young kids still as enthusiastic as I have always been.

To cut a long story short, we had only ever spent a couple of days on Phangan and wanted this year to spend a few weeks just relaxing with the kids on a nice beach, on an interesting island. We found what we thought to be an ideal location, Chaloklum Bay Resort on the mentioned website. Everything appeared to be wonderful, we made contact before making a decision to see if what the website offered was indeed correct and also used this forums great members advice about the area, and what staying with kids would be like.

We decided this would be just the place and made a booking, sent a deposit....and all went well, great communication and questions answered when we requested info.

Sadly thats where it ended... The taxi as booked through them didnt arrive, although I rang the day before from Bangkok to confirm our arrival time.

We arrived at the reort to be met with a very very pushty owner basically demanding the outstanding balance there and then. I explained having just arrived and having to find our own way there I had not visited the bank. I was informed they do not collect guests and I would be able to pay the following morning. She was right about that one, I was woken at 8 am by one of the staff informing me they had been sent to take me to the bank!

The bungalow was terrible, half the amenities promised did not exist and the beach was a complete dump. I appreciate there had been storms around Christmas but this was 5th Jan. We spent an enire day clearing debris so our kids atleast had a clean space to play safely. I tried to contact Phangan-info but as to date I have had no comment.

Our stay turned out to be very costly, We lost a lot of money because of changing rooms etc... Phangan is a wonderful and beautiful place, but sadly people and organisations like this do not do the island or country justice. Those using this website either to book accomodation or use them to promote their buisness should seriously think again.

Total cowboys and yet an other cleverly diguised rip off.

I know one thing for sure I will never use a website to find a good house again, I do not think these people realise what effect their false advertising and greed have long term. We met some truly great people and found wonderul inexpensive places to stay next time, and look forward to our return.

Thanks to all those here who helped us decide on Phangan, we really appreciated your comments and advice.

[sbk]

I know the owner of Phangan.info, if that is the website to which you are referring, and wouldn't call him greedy nor it a ripoff organization. If you had problems with Chaloklum bay then you need to contact Phangan.info and report those issues. If you feel they aren't answering their emails then why don't you give them a call? 66-77-238-765--I believe the number is right on the website.

As a bungalow owner, I have to add that there always two sides to every story and I have encountered some less than desirable customers whom have done nothing but make trouble. Not saying that is you, but it does pay to remember that when smearing someone's business online.

[chelford67]

Thanks for your comments SBK, you were one of the kind people to whom i refered to helped us with information. I would like to point out i made contact daily for 3 weeks also e-mail that have gone unanswered. I continued to contact them since i returned home on Monday to no avail. This is what I find unacceptable. The webite recomends the resort we stayed at and advertises a the following amenities... Beach Bar, does not exist, Kayaking, When I asked about renting one they did not own any and added they could send me in a taxi to Had Yao, the list goes on. False advertising.

I appreciate there are 2 sides to every story and as a bungalow owner i am sure you have had your fill of obnoxious guests. I am not proffessing to be a perfect family with 2 young children but i do expect common decency and manners when i am paying a large amount of money to stay some where, and i expect the truth when dealing with a proffesional company!

Why when booking enquiries are processed do you receive a speedy and helpful reply and yet if you make any quiery there after does it fall on deaf ears.

The requests for an expalnation have been polite and to the point exactly as i carry out the rest of my buisness in Thailand. I am not a drug taker, serious drinker, nor trouble maker, just an average person who works hard to earn the money to pay these people to have a good holiday, and when I do not receive an answer to the so called promises i would like some kind of explanation. I am sue you would the same. It is not a smear against one of your friends just a warning to those like myself who pay a shit load of money and receive nothing in return. I am sure if this had happened to yourself you would feel the same.

[sbk]

I am surprised they aren't answering your emails, please PM me and let me see if I can help.

I am very surprised at this since I have never heard of any problems with them before.

[kat]

I definitely appreciate your post Chelford67, and will take note of it for the future. Nothing in your post as you have laid out the details sounds unreasonable to me.

There are a lot of good people and great places to stay, but the scenario you described is not uncommon here at all, and not hard to believe.

Thanks very kindly for the warning.

Kat

[Padkapow Guy]

I learned my lesson the hard way also. I will never book thru any web site again. Since I was taken advantage of I will check out the hotels on the web and then go directly too the Hotel that I like and

take my chances on a walk in rate. The one thing I have notice just about at every hotel is they look alot nicer on the web than in person. Besides when you book on the web they usaully require a deposit that is dam near impossible to get back if you are not satisfied with the room.

Never book on the web!

PKG

[seville]

I must say I tend to lurk around the Phangan Sites to see if there is any interesting things going on and I have seen bad reviews of many of the places listed on The Phangan Info site.

I would assume that the owners of the site read these posts, but maybe not.

You would hope that someone running a site like this would check on the bungalows now and again to see if the standards are kept up, but that's not very practical.

Also, as many of us know already, change can happen quick at these places and sometimes the whole staff changes and the quality goes down.

I did not see anything about Kayak rentals on the site.

[chelford67]

Thanks for your response and also for the offers of help. I have learnt my lesson, albeit the hard and costly way. I did finally receive a reply from Phangan-info, apologising for our Bad Experience and they would look into our claims. They added that the resort would be taken off their Recommended list but as to date this has not happened, also that no other contact had been received from myself.!!!!

By the way the Kayaking is advertised in the restaurant there on a huge sign.... as is fishing, boat trips run directly by the resort and not outside operators..

Anyway, we are back home now, and looking forward to returning to Phangan. Thank you to everyone wh made our stay a welcome one and to all the advice we received.

[cdnvic]

http://www.hotels.thaivisa.com/

If you have any trouble I guarantee we will answer your emails and take it seriously.

cv

[limbos]

CV,

Two hotels I contacted thru your booking site in Phuket didn't even bother to reply.

Edited February 4, 2006 by limbos

[seville]

Thanks for your response and also for the offers of help. I have learnt my lesson, albeit the hard and costly way. I did finally receive a reply from Phangan-info, apologising for our Bad Experience and they would look into our claims. They added that the resort would be taken off their Recommended list but as to date this has not happened, also that no other contact had been received from myself.!!!!

By the way the Kayaking is advertised in the restaurant there on a huge sign.... as is fishing, boat trips run directly by the resort and not outside operators..

Anyway, we are back home now, and looking forward to returning to Phangan. Thank you to everyone wh made our stay a welcome one and to all the advice we received.

Next time check in with here first!!! SBK is on the island full time, as you know, and her place is very sweet, close to everything and on the sunset side of the island and the sea is calm for little ones.

I'm there part time and just LOVE helping people find places that will make them happy. Girlx is on

Thong Nai Pan, which I think is great for families that want to spend most of there time on the beach, kicking back. TNPyai is flat almost all year, has Kayaks to rent and I love most of the Thai people that run the resorts there. I use to live there. If the sea beyond the bay is calm you can paddle to Than Sadat, go to the water fall there, have lunch and paddle back. It takes less then 30 minutes to Kayak there.

You may want to pack life vests for the kids though.

[cdnvic]

CV,

Two hotels I contacted thru your booking site in Phuket didn't even bother to reply.

email the info to [email protected]

cv