SET tour vs. CUSTOM tour

SET tours depart and return on a SET date, from a SET city of origin, with a SET itinerary, SET meals, SET transports, SET groups, SET everything. There is very little flexibility.

CUSTOM tours are not as expensive as you may think and most often, private guiding, group guiding, and independant exploration can be combined for an affordable and satisfying journey.

GUIDE your GUIDE

Tired this AM? Call your guide on his mobile and ask him to come back after your third cup of coffee, then ride the elephant. Want to dine with your sweatheart at the restaurant you just saw a block back with the duck hanging from a hook? Ask your guide to turn around, take you back and meet up again in 2 hours. Then, proceed to the Silk district.

Overload on the 34^th temple in 3 days. Ask your guide to take you for a swim in the nearest lake or to your guide's favorite hang out for "people watching." Want to purchase that request from aunt Sarah, age 90, who likes clay pipes? Ask your guide where to find them without hunting or digging.

Is your guide a little too eager to show you the history of their entire civilization in one week? Ask for some private time, a quiet place to sketch, or a place of live music.

Just driven 3 hours over hand crushed gravel in a Russain jeep, over the mountains of China to see the hill tribes people? Ask them not only for open air relief but a brief stretch before continuing onward up the mountain where billy goats tread carefully.

Can't take another day of guiding at all? Call your guide, and go to the beach for the day.

Guide your guide and you both will be fulfilled.

Guides and Driver

Did the driver get you there safely? Was your guide knowledgable and generous with his information? Would you have enjoyed the trip as much without them? Is there one or two guides or drivers you'd never forget?

Most guides love to be guides for the same reason we all love to travel. They make their living from our appreciation.

GIFTS

Do you still take pencils, crayons, greeting cards, ribbons, hair clips, or napkins as gifts to foreign countries? Many well meaning people do and in most cases children (and adults) just love to receive something. They are then able to make contact, smile, say thank you, and shake your hand.

However, think through thoroughly what a child might like: much the same stuff, really, that a child in your own country might enjoy.

I remember, I gave some coins to a child before I left for the airport to return home. She accepted them and said to me, "I can't spend too much of this on food, because there are other things we need." She became very quiet and thoughtful and placed the coins in her pocket. Be thoughtful in your giving.

Real Estate in Thailand

Looking for real estate to purchase in Thailand? Give us a call with your requests and we can get you started. Land only, land and house, villas, for private use.

888.333.7071

Travel Insurance

It is always wise to protect your travel investment. Minimum coverage would be a basic trip cancellation. About $100 us is well worth it, and would include evacuation in case of emergency.

A comprehensive plan will cover all medical and dental emergencys as well as trip cancellation, trip interuption, missed connection, travel delay, travel accident, baggage delay and loss. This type of travel insurance plan is based on age, duration and cost of the trip.

Inquire if pre existing conditions are covered in your plan. Usually, if you book with in 7-14 days after your first deposit, they are covered.

Best of all, a few cover cancellation for any reason, including if ANY family member, not even traveling, causes cancellation of the trip.

Golden Fish Travels offers all options for travel insurance, and we highly recommend that you consider it.