Wrong tourist information

Lung Addie has been living in the South of Thailand for quite some time, in the countryside, so by no means in a large tourist city. Lung Addie has worked to become well established here, he respects the Thai locals with their own way of life and culture and the Thai people around him respect him as well.

Pathiu is on a designated cycling route, the science route, which runs from Pratchuap Khirikhan via Chumphon further south along the coast. Although not too busy, cyclists regularly pass this route. Usually the Dutch, Belgians and French, countries where cycling is very popular. In Pathiu Lung Addie knows a friend who owns a beautiful resort, Pathiu Beach New Resort, which is located on both sides of this coastal road: 10 double rooms on the beach, 13 double bungalows, 1 1 and 6 95 person house across the road . This resort is occupied 5% by Thai people and a 500% by casual Farang tourists. The prices of the bungalows are indicated on a large sign at the entrance: 40Baht/night (with aircon, TV, hot water) …. Prices of the beachfront rooms depend on the season. Since Lung Addie lives close to the resort and knows the owner well, she even speaks Dutch because she has lived in the Netherlands for XNUMX years, in case of language problems, Lung Addie is often called in for help. Lung Addie speaks fluent Dutch, French, English, German and also babbles some Thai.

The story now:

A couple of French cyclists, packed and with their bags, arrive at the resort. Exhausted by a wrong estimate of the climate and the route. People expect a flat course along the coast, as in the Netherlands and Belgium, but that is not the case here, it is a very undulating course.

Big difficult negotiations with the owner who does not speak French and the French who of course speak nothing but French. She calls in the help of Lung Addie because she sees that those people really need some rest. In the meantime, Lung Addie already knew what the problem was.

The French tourists are invited by Lung Addie for a free drink to continue the discussion and also to clarify something for these people. They wanted to get a double bungalow for 350 Baht/night, breakfast included for two. This was impossible for the owner because then she would actually have to lose money. After departure, the sheets must be washed, electricity costs, soap, towels ....

Lung Addie asks the French why they demand such a price. They had received information from THAILAND EXPERTS. Friends of theirs, who had already been on holiday in Thailand twice, for three weeks, and thus had been EVERYWHERE in Thailand, had informed them well. So those were the "Thailand connoisseurs". They had told them that they could NEVER and NOWHERE pay the asking price, but had to bid at least 1/3 because they would have been rolled otherwise by the Thais. At the other places along the course, these tourists had always received the answer, after their proposal, that everything was full.

So Lung Addie went to talk to the French. Lung Addie is a Farang and not a Thai, so can talk in a direct, open way and say what's on his tongue, something a Thai will never do as the Thai always wants to be careful and super polite.

You drive around here on bicycles that have cost at least 2000 euros. You both have a digital reflex camera with a super lens hanging around your neck, which also cost at least 1500 Euro each, so clearly no paupers, and now you come to discuss a fair price of 12,5 Euro for both, so 6,25 Euro/p. In a cheap hotel in France, a Campanille, you pay at least 60 Euro per person, so 120 Euro for the night and then 12,5 Euro, a price that is clearly indicated here, is too much. Instead of listening to those Thailand connoisseurs, use your common sense and realize what you are asking the people here. They already call the bicycle tourists here kiniou, stingy, and poor. They see you coming from afar and would rather you drive on than to stop and waste their time with unrealistic demands. You give the local people the impression that they are cheaters or thieves.

That everything was fully booked in the other places was just an excuse for the Thai owners not to appear rude by flatly refusing you, as they would do in France. Out of sheer courtesy they said everything is full.

Apparently I was not believed and they still made an attempt, despite my honest explanation, with an offer of 400Baht with breakfast, something that was not possible for me. Then Lung Addie showed his spicy character, because for him the measure was now full. I just heard here that the owner has received a reservation for the last two free bungalows and receives 500 Baht from the Thai guests without any comment. Sorry, but we are now fully booked.

Yes, what should we do now? …. Cycling another 40km to Chumphon? Yes you can do, but I have another solution: do you want a place to sleep for free with free breakfast? I can't possibly offer you a better alternative. Here 1km further, at the pier, is a bridge, I still have a large cardboard box from a purchased freezer, I will give it to you and under the bridge you are dry and it is quiet. Tomorrow morning, when the fishermen sail in, they always have some fish that they can't sell and feed to the chickens, you can get it for free and it's live fresh. I'm giving you my lighter, which cost 10 Baht in 7-Eleven, for free so that you can prepare your free breakfast with some gathered wood.

They understood and…. They were gone. Saw them again the next day when I was in Chumphon with the motorcycle and they hailed me. They had found a room, even for 300 Baht, but without breakfast, without air conditioning, without a private shower or toilet. However, both were not happy as they were overbitten by mosquitoes and fleas. They were indeed served according to their request, but got what they asked for: a lousy cheap room and all this by being very well informed by so-called Thailand experts.

Lung Addie also advises them to, once back in France, inform people that you have to be very careful in a Thai HOTEL because they are not comfortable or insect-free. But don't tell them that you slept in, at your own request, room of 300 Baht on the coast in high season.