Bangkok gay guides from Siamroads.com

[Moses]

Meanwhile new feedback on Sunny's tour to Ayutthaya from Bangkok:

Quote

We had a wonderful time with Sunny touring Ayutthaya.  I would highly recommend booking a private tour with Sunny!  Lunch was perfect and we ended the evening with a couple drinks at the bar in our hotel.   Thanks again for the wonderful experience!  We won’t hesitate to book with your company again in the future.

Thanks again!

C**** B******

 

Sunny's profile and photos are here: https://siamroads.com/guide-in-bangkok-sunny-thailand/

[traveller123]

I am pleased we have got back to the subject matter of this post.

I have no time for Moses's political views but a lot of time for The Siamroads business since a straight lady friend had a very good two day guided tour with Mac several years ago.

[Moses]

 

Siamroads Got 2 reviews on Mac's tours:
 

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MAC is a very nice guy, very friendly, attentive, full of good will and good vibes, he knows the city well and has always good tips for his customers, he always endeavours to please them so that they have the best memories of their tour with him. It would be even better if he was a bit better organized because he tends to be a bit messy. But since he is still fairly young, he will learn to improve himself on that point, in his own interest and that of his customers. Ian

Quote

I have recently completed a trip to Thailand.

I had Mac as a companion/guide. I cannot recommend him enough!

His communication via WhatsApp prior to my arrival was excellent. He assisted me with transport arrangements and was happy to help with anything by request and as it happened. I was able to enjoy some of the most beautiful touring sites, get in a lot of the best shopping available. Mac also showed me around the nightlife areas in the later hours whilst advising me on everything i needed to know to safely enjoy the entertainment, also the dangers and traps that lurk for foreigners and how to avoid them.

Not only is he a wonderful, caring and client focused young man, he is extremely knowledgeable about everything from Thai history, culture and customs. He even advised on the best times of day to visits certain areas and when to employ different modes of transport to avoid untimely delays in traffic or otherwise.

When you employ a guide for 14 hours in a day, they will need to eat as well. Mac was happy to source inexpensive food from street vendors to save me money, However I insisted he join me inside the beautiful and cost effective Thai food establishments that he introduced me to. Even then Mac would only have a very basic dish, forever keeping and eye on my expenditure.

Mac, if you read this thank-you! You are an absolute angel and a truly amazing tour companion. I will use him again and again on my future visits.

Cheers Rob

Mac's profile and more photos are here: https://siamroads.com/mac/

[PeterRS]

Deleted

[floridarob]

@reader, I think @TotallyOz must be reminiscing about Brazil and how you can't hate them.....btw, I think the reason I missed most of this thread, I was in Rio, not hating Brazilians 😉   

[TotallyOz]

4 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Deleted

I got email that I deleted this. I did not. No moderator did. It shows as deleted by PeterRS.

[PeterRS]

27 minutes ago, TotallyOz said:

I got email that I deleted this. I did not. No moderator did. It shows as deleted by PeterRS.

Happy to confirm that I did indeed delete the post just after posting as I thought it inappropriate

[Department_Of_Agriculture]

The inability to delete one's own posts within the editing time window has always struck me as odd. Unnecessary work for mods and it would probably result in fewer pointless arguments as things that have been impulsively posted could be removed without a trace.

[Marc in Calif]

On 12/18/2023 at 2:52 AM, Department_Of_Agriculture said:

The inability to delete one's own posts within the editing time window... 

So you're admitting that you still haven't realized that you CAN delete all the words in your post? 🤡

I'm not at all surprised! 😘

[Moses]

To whom it may concern. Mac is still working as guide in Bangkok:

[Keithambrose]

11 hours ago, Moses said:

To whom it may concern. Mac is still working as guide in Bangkok:

Thanks!

[sudoxi]

I booked Mac last year through Siam roads. He was great. Very knowledgeable and I highly recommend!

[Olddaddy]

There seems to be a new guy "Sunny" 

So how does it work?

I pay the Siam roads then obviously "tip" the guy too ?

Do they only take you to places they get commission from ?

What nightlife can they show you

[Keithambrose]

8 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

There seems to be a new guy "Sunny" 

So how does it work?

I pay the Siam roads then obviously "tip" the guy too ?

Do they only take you to places they get commission from ?

What nightlife can they show you

You could try reading their website. 

[Olddaddy]

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

You could try reading their website. 

Always a very positive person aren't you Keith ,must be the life of the party when out with you!💃🕺🕺🕺

 

[sudoxi]

10 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

There seems to be a new guy "Sunny" 

So how does it work?

I pay the Siam roads then obviously "tip" the guy too ?

Do they only take you to places they get commission from ?

What nightlife can they show you

It is clearly listed on the website as well as the restrictions, you are hiring a guide they take you where you want to go. I worked with Mac to plan my itinerary. I wanted to learn to use the transit, sea buses, visit some temples, and malls. He also guided me to some local eats around my hotel. you pay siamroads the reservation fee which is a percentage of the total time you select, then you pay the rest to the guide in cash. Frankly I feel like there reservation system could be a little better as you have to pay before you can communicate with guide so I was unsure, maybe like you, how these things worked. 
 

Mac was very knowledgeable he taught me about Buddhist history and history of Thailand. He was very professional the entire time. 
in addition to the fee, you are reasonable for travel costs, meals, and entrance fees for the guide. However since Mac was certified tour guide all temple entry fees were free for him. 
 

 

[jimmie50]

11 minutes ago, sudoxi said:

you have to pay before you can communicate with guide so I was unsure, maybe like you, how these things worked

I have a reservation in early November for Woody in Chiang Mai.  I have not paid the deposit yet, but Woody has communicated directly with me.  Still waiting to receive the invoice so I can pay the deposit.  Possibly they have changed their policy.  Last year I made a reservation for Mac in Bangkok and, as you said, I was unable to communicate directly with him until after the deposit was paid.  Unfortunately, Mac was having some personal problems at the time and was a 'no show' for my reservation.  Siam Roads did refund my deposit in full once they became aware that he did not show up.  

[sudoxi]

3 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

I have a reservation in early November for Woody in Chiang Mai.  I have not paid the deposit yet, but Woody has communicated directly with me.  Still waiting to receive the invoice so I can pay the deposit.  Possibly they have changed their policy.  Last year I made a reservation for Mac in Bangkok and, as you said, I was unable to communicate directly with him until after the deposit was paid.  Unfortunately, Mac was having some personal problems at the time and was a 'no show' for my reservation.  Siam Roads did refund my deposit in full once they became aware that he did not show up.  

 

If this is a change is now the new normal it is great. One of the things I tried to reach out before hand was if I needed to book Morning/Night or Full Day to do the activities. I got told to book then discuss. If they are now allowing discussion before hand that would make things easier. Disappointing about Mac as he is a great tour guide. Hopefully all is well. 

[Moses]

7 hours ago, sudoxi said:

Frankly I feel like there reservation system could be a little better as you have to pay before you can communicate with guide so I was unsure, maybe like you, how these things worked. 

Looks like your reservation was made very shortly before your tour.

Typically Siamroads receives reservation in 6-10 weeks before tour. Client via email receive contacts of guide as soon, as guide confirms tour (mostly within next 24 hours after reservation), and has time to communicate with guide before to pay, because Siamroads issues invoice 4 weeks before tour. Invoice must be paid 2 weeks prior the tour., so client has 4-8 weeks to communicate with guide before to pay.

3 hours ago, sudoxi said:

If they are now allowing discussion before hand that would make things easier.

There are many "freeloaders" among backpackers and budget travelers. Fifteen years ago, Siamroads had a direct contact system with guides, and guides were overwhelmed with questions from website visitors who were gathering information for free but never booking tours.

Then, at the guides' request, the system was changed: to ask a question, you now had to place a reservation in the guide's calendar. Please note: this is free—no payment is required at the time of booking—but at least it makes it clear when the client wants to use the guide's services.

I read all of Siamroads' correspondence. 50% of the first questions are like this: "I'm planning a trip to Thailand in December, will you be my guide?" What can a guide say to that? "Yes, dear, I'll sit around all December waiting for you to arrive"?

The need to place a tour request in the guide's calendar is precisely for this reason—it gives the guide a clear understanding of which city the tourist plans to visit and when. This is the minimum information a guide needs to tell a client whether a guide is available.

The "place a request first, and then the guide will contact you" system has proven itself 200% effective.

I'll emphasize again – placing a request is free. A request simply informs the guide when the client wants to use their services.

There's another reason why communication with guides only occurs after placing a request. Some people like to plan their trips well in advance, sometimes up to a year in advance, while Siamroads has a 90-day planning horizon. Guides can't work with more than 30-40 clients simultaneously to plan a tour while also leading tours for current clients. Submitting a request in advance allows guides to limit communication to only those clients who will be traveling within the next three months, thus reducing the workload to a reasonable level.

[Moses]

There's another reason why website visitors can't communicate directly with guides until they submit a request in the guide's calendar, and why all email is filtered by the dispatcher.

About 30% of correspondence contains dick pics, asshole shots, and inappropriate offers. All of this is filtered, and guides never see these messages.

[Olddaddy]

7 hours ago, sudoxi said:

 Frankly I feel like there reservation system could be a little better as you have to pay before you can communicate with guide so I was unsure, maybe like you, how these things worked

Wrong 

You don't have to pay before you communicate 

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, Moses said:

There's another reason why .....all email is filtered by the dispatcher.

About 30% of correspondence contains dick pics, asshole shots, and inappropriate offers. All of this is filtered, and guides never see these messages.

at least dispatcher has a feast

[Keithambrose]

22 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

Always a very positive person aren't you Keith ,must be the life of the party when out with you!💃🕺🕺🕺

 

As pointed out the website. Is clear, at least to me. I know you think it's fun to ask questions  to which you already know, or should know,  the answers. As others have offten said, this clearly amuses you, but it becomes tedious after a while.

[Keithambrose]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

at least dispatcher has a feast

I find it rather depressing  that this filter is needed. It is made clear, that although the guides are gay, they are guides, not sex companions. 

[Keithambrose]

17 hours ago, sudoxi said:

 

If this is a change is now the new normal it is great. One of the things I tried to reach out before hand was if I needed to book Morning/Night or Full Day to do the activities. I got told to book then discuss. If they are now allowing discussion before hand that would make things easier. Disappointing about Mac as he is a great tour guide. Hopefully all is well. 

As i have said, I have known Mac for 5 years at least. He is a first class, certified, guide. I have also posted that he has had issues that have meant that he can be unreliable.  I have persevered with him, nevertheless,  and I hope he will prosper. He is a very decent guy who never takes advantage.  As mentioned, he orders modest meals, or no meals at all. I always invite him to breakfast  at the Meridien, before a tour, and it is difficult  to get him to eat anything!