As I was researching my first trip to Thailand, it hit me that I was going to a country that I had never been to and knew virtually nothing about. And I was going alone.
I say why not use a guide? Especially if you are going alone or it’s your first time in Thailand. But it still depends on your level of confidence traveling to a place with a very different culture.
To use a tour guide or not to use a tour guide?
I think a good place to start your Thailand vacation is to learn some of the Thai culture and language. There is no better way than to learn it from a local Thai person.
Now, this can mean different things. You can learn lots of things online before you even get to Thailand. And I do suggest everyone do that. But a local can help you with more hands-on situations. Depending on what type of guide you choose, this will make a world of difference. Here are the most common types of guides.
- All inclusive tour guide that you typically book your entire vacation through. These usually book everything on a time schedule and it is also with a group of other travelers. They will give you a list of destination packages to choose from and they will book everything from your flight to lodging and even sometimes restaurants.
In between all that, you will follow the group on sightseeing adventures that are included in the package you chose. Some of these companies will also have more personal guided tours with all the booking done for you.
If you don’t mind going with a group of people and letting someone have complete control of your itinerary, then this is the way to go for you. Just open up your browser and search “all inclusive tours Thailand” or call a travel agent and see what fits best for you.
For me this is probably the most non authentic way to go. I want that local Thai guide that knows everything about Thai culture, more to myself. After all, you pay for the guide. You just can’t beat a local person explaining the sites you visit and all the ins and outs they will tell you while you are in transit with them throughout the day.
I was in a taxi with an English speaking Thai driver. I’ll tell you what, if you can get a local Thai that speaks English talking, you will learn a lot more things in that taxi that you just can’t get from a bus driver with a full bus.
- Freelance tour guides are exactly that. They are not associated with any agency. These guides can often be very good because they are local and need to build a good reputation to keep the money coming in. They can also be found on web sites like “viator”. Kind of like a Craigslist for private tour guides. Lots of their business also comes from word of mouth on travel forums.
Typically they will do half day and full day tours but might do overnight travel as well. These guides are also not bound by an agency’s packages, so they might be more open to less touristy areas if that is what you are looking for. Ask lots of questions and find one that speaks fairly good English and you should be fine.
I like this choice for guides because they are more in control as they create their own tours and it cuts out the middleman. These guides might be willing to help you with just about anything. What are the good local places to eat? What are the best night markets, how do you say “thank you” in Thai etc…
Before you book with a guide, ask them what they are able to do for you. Chances are, they will help you. They are also usually less expensive than the bigger agency’s.
- Driver guide also called a “city guide”. This type of guide will drive around and comment on highlights in any given city. They will sometimes get out and do walking tours also. Good if you want a smaller perspective of a city. One thing to keep in mind. They can be distracted by the driving so the information might be less thorough.
- Agency tour guide or Staff guide, works for an agency. The agency will typically set all the tours and the staff will guide the tour. This method will be somewhat like the all inclusive agency without all the help booking flights etc.. Some will take large groups and small groups depending on the price.
As an example, these tours can start in Bangkok then Phuket and on to Krabi for around $3,000 per person for 10 days. There are hundreds of these kinds of tours to choose from between all the agency’s on the web.
If you don’t like a strict schedule, this is not for you. Just ask the agency if they have any loose tours. It is quite possible they can accommodate you or suggest someone who can.
This choice is rather expensive, but you will get a lot of bang for your buck. Depending on the tours you pick, from 10 days up to 20 days and more, that is a lot of traveling. You will definitely be seeing and doing many things all over Thailand.
This is also probably better suited for people that don’t intend on going to Thailand often. They want to see as much as they can in one trip.
- The personal or private guide is a somewhat overlooked guide. This guide is like a freelance guide but they usually have no credentials or TAT, ( Tourism Authority of Thailand ) license. Maybe they are just starting out or only rarely guide for extra cash so they just don’t bother with it.
This does not mean they wont be good at the job of guiding you to a few local places they know. Like I said before, nothing better than a local to know everything about the area they live in.
How to find them? When I was on websites looking for info on Thailand, I noticed an add that kept popping up for a popular dating site in Thailand. I thought, maybe I could meet someone online and get to know them a little and they would be willing to show me around my first few days? Or longer if it worked out.
Well what do you know. I found my soulmate. She is now my wife. Now, she wasn’t a tour guide but before we met online there were several Thai’s on the site looking for work as tour guides.
One Thai I was chatting with said she charged 650 baht a day ($20). And if we traveled out of the area, I was to pay for her food and her own room and she would show me anywhere I wanted to go.
Now, if you aren’t single like I was, you can look on Thailand’s Craig’s List instead. As with everything, be careful and ask a lot of questions before meeting anyone. Ask them to video chat if possible. That is a great way to begin to know someone and trust them.
Be your own guide.
- Why not? You can go online and book just about anything these days. If you booked your own flight, you can book your own destinations. Getting around Thailand is quite inexpensive. I took a taxi from Bangkok airport to Pattaya ( about 1.5 hours drive) and it was $15.
Rent a motorbike and do some exploring in the area that you are staying. You can fly from Bangkok to Phuket ( Southern Thailand ) for around $35 per person round trip. Then you can go to Chiang Mai ( Northern Thailand ) from Bangkok for around the same price as going to Phuket. Spend a week in each destination just exploring all of Thailand.
While you are in each city, look for a local guide to show you around for a day or two. Ask them where they eat and shop. Ask questions. That’s the whole point of a “personal” guide.
Once you have an idea about the area you are in, go on your own and explore. Vacations can be structured a lot or not at all or somewhere in between. Find what makes you comfortable and go for it.
Thailand has so much to offer, it would probably take months to see and do everything there is to do in Thailand. Whether you use a guide here and there or for your whole stay, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
Happy Thailand Travels!