One Thai guy's tour business and transfers ...

[Smiles]

Once again ~ annually in fact ~ I must do my part for my old man and do a little flogging of his business on this Gentleman's Board. I assure you ... you will only see this post once (besides the normal bumping any replies provide).
High season in Thailand starts around the beginning of November, so a post on this subject seems appropriate at this time.

The man in question ~ the genial and courteous Mr Suphot-of-Surin-&-Hua Hin ~ has a taxi / tour guide business which he has on offer to all on this Board and the others ~ and all folks in fact, gay dudes being only a minority of the total ~ to take him up on the invitation and opportunity of enjoying a guided tour of Thailand's pleasures (you choose your own definition of 'pleasures' and decide wherever you'd like to find them. Needless to say I'm sure ... but some 'pleasures' are not available :o ).

He newest vehicle much improves the comfort of your journey ... in the main because the back seat is now a 'full' regular car-style seat rather than the cramped half-seat of the old truck. The wheels are also bigger and wider and the suspension more robust, giving a more plush ride overall.
As always, he keeps it immaculate.


THE THINGS HE CAN DO FOR YOU:


He can pick you up at the airport and bring you to Hua Hin.[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can take you back to the airport (if you are going there from Hua Hin & environs).[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can pick you up anywhere, and then take you anywhere. (A bit of an explanation on this one. Recently we've received emails or PMs from members inquiring about trips which include a start point quite a long way from Hua Hin. Pot has done quite a number of these ~usually the pickup is Bangkok ~ but mostly they are longer trips of 3 or 4 days at the shortest up to 2 or 3 weeks longest. However, a one day trip where Suphot picks up a customer in some remote spot, takes him to his destination, then he drives back to Hua Hin would 'normally' be too expensive for a customer to consider, as he would be paying for distance and time of which he gets no value. Hope that makes sense.)[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can take you on long trips (i.e. overnighters) or short day excursions around Hua Hin and environs. [/*:m:10bxht44]
He can be your guide, or just wait around for you to sightsee on your own.[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can guide you into the dark and erotic gay (or otherwise) bowels of Bangkok.[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can guide you through 'tourist' Bangkok or other cities you may think intriguing.[/*:m:10bxht44]
He can guide you through up country Khymer temples, back country isaan roads, rarely-visited towns along the Mekong, gun fight cities like Mae Sot ..... yada yada yada.[/*:m:10bxht44]
Basically wherever your Thailand adventure calls for a little more personal experience.
He speaks quite fluent English.
Boardies get a discount!


This is the vehicle, a Toyota Vigo 4-door diesel: Very comfy passenger seat & back seats, lots of leg room, full aircon, and a quite impressive sound system. Passengers can watch movies (in the front seat anyway) or listen to their favourite CD's or DVD's.
The back seat is big enough for two big farang plus a small Thai, 5 small Thais, 3 medium-boned farangs, or any combination thereof. Three larger farangs in the back seat is a bit of a squeeze and not recommended for longer trips.

Luggage can easily be loaded into the backseat if only two customers are engaged, or, if more than two, it can be safely stored in the truck's box as it comes with a top quality waterproof cover (shown rolled-up in the photo below).


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/forum%20photos/photo3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/forum%20photos/DSCF1056_resize.jpg



And this is the driver: Mr Suphot is a mature, 42-year old Thai man born in Buriram, but who's family moved to Surin Province when he was very young. His/our home is of course in Hua Hin now.
Phot speaks very good English, and will drive as you ask him ... stop where and when you want him to stop ... speed up and slow down as you'd like it. His passengers' safety and happiness are his main concerns.
He has Number 1 insurance for both car and passengers.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/forum%20photos/DSCF0185_resize-1.jpg



Prices for the 'taxi' part of the service are at the regular going rate for similar vehicles in Hua Hin.
Prices for guided day trips throughout Hua Hin and environs are along the same idea ... a flat fee, discussed in advance, slightly below the rate of other services, although that can also depend on how long you wish him to stay out with you during the trip. Normally the customer would be expected to provide a meal depending on time spent away.

Prices for long, multi-day guided tours include the customer paying the cost of fuel, meals, and accommodations (where necessary), plus a daily stipend (negotiable within reason, in advance). To save you baht ... on multi-day trips he is quite happy to book into a (cheap!) Thai style hotel while you, his customer, lazes about in luxury at The Four Seasons Resort and Spa.

To get a taste for some of the many places Phot has taken customers too, just click on his Google Photo Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/suphot.tours

Anyone interested in such an adventure can email Suphot at << suphot.tours@gmail.com >>
Or, you can PM me on the Board or email me at << dnl7748@gmail.com >>

[cdnmatt]

Looks like a nice truck he has, and hope you manage to get a couple extra customers of this. All the best to you guys!

[bao-bao]

I don't believe I've ever missed a chance to put in a recommendation for Khun Suphot when the topic of guides has come up. You'd have to look a long ways to find a better one - and who wants to waste time doing that?

Last March I had the opportunity to travel with him for a week or so up through Isaan to visit an old friend's family, and although I was somewhat under the weather (thank you, Smog God of Krung Thep) we had a fantastic trip. Over dinner the night before we headed out he'd asked me a little about what I thought I wanted to see, and based on that made suggestions and planned our route to and from my primary destination in Isaan. I saw sights (and sites) I probably wouldn't have ever discovered on my own.

If he were in the US, I would trust him with the keys to my home. My week with him was completely worry-free in every way.

Pot's a cautious and attentive driver, has a fine sense of humor and a generous helping of the easy-going Thai personality. I tend to wander off when I take the lens cap off of my camera, but while he kept an eye on me for safety's sake he kept enough distance that I could feel as though I were really exploring on my own. There's a truckload of stories from that trip that I haven't even begun to post about on my site, but I'll probably get started on them soon.

One of the series I get more requests for on the blog is the one with photos of Thai "Sleeping", although this shot of Phot hasn't appeared there so far. One of my favorite pictures of my late father is one of him on a palm tree on a rocky coastline in Hawaii, and when I was finally ready to leave one set of ruins on the journey last March I saw Pot in an almost identical pose. Although he was already awake again he stayed there so I could re-create a similar shot, about 6,600 miles from the original.

Unless you already have a favored guide you can hire Pot and go with a winner, or take your chances. Up to yooooouuu.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z56/khunbaobao/W-PotatPhanomRungSurinThailand.jpg

[krobbie]

BaoBao, you are quite correct. Subhot has a keen sense of humour and shock horror, even does irony, which is unheard of in a Thai. I think he must get that from another not far from the subject.

He is as Khun BaoBao points out, as honest as the day is long and the concept of overcharging for his services would be appalling to him. A fair price ... that is another story and always open to negotiation depending on the time of year.

I hope to see Khun Pot and Khun Smiles over December/January but may be disappointed given that this is Suphots busy period. Maybe I'll get lucky or maybe I will just have to be happy with one of the duo.

Cheers
krobbie

[ceejay]

I have booked Suphot twice, both times for extended trips of around a week in the Isaan (once to Surin for the Elephant Roundup and once to Ubon Ratchathani for the Candle Festival). I'm happy to have the opportunity to recommend him. He's knowledgable, friendly and a good driver and he really cares for you. The car's modern and comfortable, and the prices are reasonable. I hope to use Suphot again.

[jinks]

Is this an old picture of Pot ?

How old are these random guys on the forum page?
.
[attachment=0:124u5zi3]pot.jpg[/attachment:124u5zi3]

[Neal]

Smiles, you should talk him into an advert on the forum!

[christianpfc]

Can he plan a trip as well? E.g. I know where I want to go (from reports I read on the internet) and may have an address or directions, but of course no map and no idea which is the best way to go and how long it will take.


Prices for long, multi-day guided tours include the customer paying the cost of fuel, meals, and accommodations (where necessary), plus a daily stipend (negotiable within reason, in advance). To save you baht ... on multi-day trips he is quite happy to book into a (cheap!) Thai style hotel while you, his customer, lazes about in luxury at The Four Seasons Resort and Spa.
Is everyone here afraid of numbers? As I never used similar services, I am curious what the daily stipend would be for let's say a five-day tour (in addition to which one would have to pay fuel, meals, accommodation).

[ceejay]

Can he plan a trip as well? E.g. I know where I want to go (from reports I read on the internet) and may have an address or directions, but of course no map and no idea which is the best way to go and how long it will take.
Yes, he can do all of that for you. I've used Suphot's services in the Isaan, and there doesn't seem anywhere much there that he doesn't know. The main trip has been for a specific festival - the side trips off that often on Pot's recommendation. Others on the boards have said that he is equally knowledgeable about other parts of Thailand.


Is everyone here afraid of numbers? As I never used similar services, I am curious what the daily stipend would be for let's say a five-day tour (in addition to which one would have to pay fuel, meals, accommodation).
It's up to Suphot to publish his rates, if he wants to. I guess it's partly dependent on the length of the booking and the nature of the trip. If you've got a trip in mind, why don't you just contact him and ask?

What I can say is that for the three (add one to Dansai this June to the above two) extended journeys I have hired Suphot for I have found his fees very reasonable and his service excellent.

[Patexpat]

My only objection to your promoting Suphot's splendid business is that it makes me think 'jeeze, another year flown by!'

Good luck for the coming high season!

[Khor tose]

Not only is Suphot a great guy, and a fantastic guide, but he has a far better personality then his old man. :tongue1:

PS: Suphot is also a very good and very safe driver. You can completely relax with him at the wheel. Something I can't say about many Thai taxi drivers/guides.

[Smiles]

Prices for long, multi-day guided tours include the customer paying the cost of fuel, meals, and accommodations (where necessary), plus a daily stipend (negotiable within reason, in advance). To save you baht ... on multi-day trips he is quite happy to book into a (cheap!) Thai style hotel while you, his customer, lazes about in luxury at The Four Seasons Resort and Spa.
Is everyone here afraid of numbers? As I never used similar services, I am curious what the daily stipend would be for let's say a five-day tour (in addition to which one would have to pay fuel, meals, accommodation).
Not afraid at all. Suphot's in-the-pocket guide fee is 1600 baht a day. His tour guiding is very personal and he takes care of his customers in the friendliest as well as professional manner possible.
I hesitated originally to include the daily fee because that opening post above normally lives in the 'Resource Forum' and is thus un-editable by me should the fee (as well as other details) change. It now seems to have escaped the Resource Forum confines ... how I don't know.

[jinks]

Smiles, cancel the possible booking for me. The ferry Hua Hin to Pattaya is no more. I shall not now be visiting you.

Do you think the picture, several post back, is Pot much younger?

[krobbie]

A better man as your guide you could not wish for. As honest as the days is long and actually a great sense of humour.

Chok dee Suphot for the coming season. I hope it brings much business.

[Smiles]

Thanks Krobbie for the very kind words.

This Board, and others, have over the years landed many jobs for his taxi/touring business. And they have been most appreciated for sure because most of them received through the Board have been multi-day tours . . . a very different kind of job than the airport and Bangkok taxi runs he does as his primary business.
I would make a reasonable guess that 60% of his business is the latter, taxi-like job ... mostly to or from Suvarnaphumi Airport or into Bangkok. Another 20% consists of one-day tours around Hua Hin and environs, and the last 20% are the multi-day tours all over Thailand: the ones he enjoys ~ and is best at ~ the most.

To bump the message one more time:

To get a taste for some of the many places Pot has taken customers too, just click on his Google Photo Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/suphot.tours

Anyone interested in such an adventure can email Suphot directly at << suphot.tours@gmail.com >>
Or, you can PM me on the Board or email me at << dnl7748@gmail.com >>

[newalaan]

Although I dont have any experience of using Suphot's services I can certainly recommend the sentiment behind the service he offers regarding the multi-day trips around Thailand. After about 3-4 years of visiting Thailand regularly but only visiting the usual Bkk, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai I took the plunge and started to drive myself around Thailand. At first I would hire a 4x4 for 7-10 days and drive to the many great places in Thailand I would never have otherwise seen. It made my visits so much more fun, rewarding and interesting. Now I borrow a Thai friends pick up for the whole time I am in Thailand and the flexibility is great. Also my bf had never really been able to travel around his own country and he has enjoyed the travelling too.

So if you are not confident about driving yourself, or just dont enjoy driving as part of your holiday the services offered by suphot would seem to be an excellent opportunity to add to your Thailand experience. As far as his costs are concerned when you compare it to the hire price of an equivalent vehicle at more than Bt2000 per day plus fuel and time it would appear to be a very reasonable cost for being chaufeurred around, as well as getting the value of his experience.

The other ways of getting around Thailand lack the flexibility a personal car tour offers, as you are tied to their times and routes as well as not being able just to stop where you like and find the gems which are off the beaten track.

I dont know suphot or smiles apart from this forum, but going by the feedback I have seen over the years about his business it would appear he is a very safe pair of hands as a driver so you wouldn't have the 'uncertainty' aspect of picking a tour operator from the internet.

[ceejay]

I have just posted a report for a trip I made to Dansai earlier this year. Once again, I availed myself of the services of Khun Suphot. Reliable and prompt as ever for the pick up (at Khon Kaen) and drop off and all points in between. Totally uncomplaining about being up at three in the morning to take me to the festival, and it was Pot who suggested the side trip to Phitsanulok and Sukothai when the second day was cancelled. I also doubt that I ever would have found the Phuphanam resort, where I stayed, without him. I've always recommended Suphot when I can, and I'm glad to have the chance to do so again.