Chiang Mai Travel Forum

can any one recomend a travel agent/tour agent who does a fair priced visa trip run across the Laos border and back. PS heres a little story. I dropped my wallet containing $120 in the street and went to the banglampuh police station to report it. the officer thought it humerous and asked me for 1000 baht to file a report.--i declined and next day bought a ticket to Changmai. as i was crossing the street the same officer called me over and when i told him i was going to Changmai He asked where I was going to stay and looked horrified that i had no hotel reservation. "It is peak season now from september to january and there is a big festival in Changmai all the guest houses are full you will have no where to sleep".you must go to T.T.A (THAILAND TOURIST AUTHORITY) and they will book room for you" he flagged a tuk tuk down and pushed me in. "this man will take you there and back for 30 baht now go!" (he was calling on his mobile as i left probably to his partner atT.T.A) when i arrived they tried to sell me a expensive hotel and tour package.so i quickly left. the tuk tuk driver was also annoyed i hadnt booked. when he dropped me off the fare was 100 baht. When i got to Changmai all the guest houses were nearly vacant.(and of course no festival)

It'difficult to say because things change so rapidly. I'm sorry of what had happened in BKK, but TAT is often helpful: you may try to TAT in Chiang Mai that offers a list of good agent travel. Someone have recommned me (but I didn't prooved) North Pearl Travel 332/334 Tha Phae Road. You pay about 20 or 30 USD for 30 days VISA.

The TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) does not sell any tours, only provides information, so you were sent to a travel agent not a government office.

I used Thaifocus to book a run into Laos and then we used them to book other tours. They were fine.

Check out the website - their offices are easy to find in Chiang Mai:
http://www.thaifocus.com

I don't talk to anyone that walks up to me on the streets when I travel anywhere. Peak season? There are always hotel rooms in every city in Thailand, every day of the year.

Try at http://chiangmaitotravel.com
with TAT. license realiable and reasonable.