frenchbuddha

The secret to avoiding tourist traps while traveling is doing your own research and contacting your hotel directly to schedule a car, driver, and tour guide.

I find the best rates for the most luxurious or hip hotels. After booking, I do research on the web to find the most interesting places to visit. Then, correspond with the hotel’s concierge via emails to get their feedback as well as planning a car, driver, and tour guide if needed. So many foreigners are looking for work in this economy, and a private tour can be less expensive than a group because you are cutting out the middle man. Only book through a five-star hotel.

Before vacationing two weeks in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Sydney, and Hong Kong, I spent a couple weeks doing just this. For our stay in Bangkok, I booked the Peninsula Hotel. While researching, I found that just about every tour group descends in droves upon the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, about one hour outside of Bangkok. Even worse, you have to get there by 6:00 am if you want photos that have more Thais than tourists.

I found an obscure floating market about one and a half hours outside of Bangkok that began at 3:00 pm. Even better, once it was dusk, you could take a boat ride along the canal to view the millions of fireflies that light up the trees.

We arrived in paradise. We were the only tourists. Small boats bobbed in the water along the canal’s banks, selling their wares. We ordered pad thai that was made in the boat. We had corn that was char-grilled on an open fire. Then, we had a magical boat ride along the canal to view the fireflies.

We piled back into our private Mercedes Benz van with driver and enjoyed a relaxing ride back to our hotel.

Our little jaunt was at just the right time of day and completely private with the delightful guide. We avoided all the dreadful throngs of tourists and amazingly spent a fraction of the typical tour group prices!

Bon voyage!

Amphawa Floating Market