Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COMMISSION HASSLES
In the popular tourist spots you'll be approached, sometimes surrounded, by touts or transport drivers who get a
commission from the guesthouse for bringing in potential guests. While it is annoying for the traveller, this is an
acceptable form of advertising among small-scale businesses in Thailand. As long as you know the drill,
everything should work out in your favour. Touts get paid for delivering you to a guesthouse or hotel (whether
you check in or not). Some places refuse to pay commissions so in return the touts will steer customers away
from those places (saying it is closed or burned down). In less scrupulous instances, they'll tell you that the
commission-paying hotel is the one you requested. If you meet with resistance, call the guesthouse for pick-up as
they are often aware of aggressive business tactics.
National Parks Accommodation
Most national parks have bungalows or campsites. Bungalows typically sleep as many as 10 people and rates range from
800B to 2000B, depending on the park and the size of the bungalow. These are popular with extended Thai families who
bring enough provisions to survive the Apocalypse. A few parks also have
reu·an tăa·ou
(longhouses).
Camping is available at many parks for 60B to 90B per night. Some parks rent tents and other sleeping gear, but the
condition of the equipment can be poor.
Reservations for all park accommodation must be made in advance through the
central booking system
( reserva-
tions 0 2561 0777;
www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve
)
. Do note that reservations for campsites and bungalows are handled on
different pages within the website.
