Thanks to Mr Sam- Tour Guide

Once again we have spent a lovely 12 days in Phuket.

It was sooo nice to be back.

As usual we had organised for Mr Sam to pick us up from the airport, but due to Malaysian airlines cancelling our flight (for the second time!!) we arrived a day late which meant that Sam couldn%26#39;t meet us as he was pre-booked. He rang us to say that he would send his friend Mr Sope, who although doesn%26#39;t speak English as well as Sam, was absolutely lovely. He greated us with our name and welcome on a big sign and soon had us in his car and off we went.

We were almost in Patong when he pulled to the side of the road, and there in front of us was our old friend Mr Sam. He had finished his job with a customer and had decided to meet us along the way to take us to our hotel and settle us in. Well I have to say we were really greatful, because when we arrived at our hotel, the Baan Boa Resort, we were really disapointed with the place. It was going through major renovations both inside and out, including a big black screened off wall right outside our balcony, which was supposed to be our seaview.

We all decided we weren%26#39;t going to spend the next 12 nights here, so with the help of Sam, we went to a travel agent where he found us accomodation at the Patong Merlin at a very good rate. This hotel was fantatic. 3 beautiful swimming pools, two retaurants with entertainment every night, just about evrything we love in a resort. It is right on the beach road at one end of Patong Beach which meant we only had to walk out to the beach and we were in the middle of eveything, including the massage ladies across the road. Surat (my lady), was fantastic!!)

As we were meeting up with friends who have never been to Thailand before, we had organised several trips with Mr Sam. He took us all on a round island tour which as always was very informative and very entertaining. Sam is always funny and witty!!

He also took us to the elephant rehab centre where our friends enjoyed their first ever elephant ride. So Cool!!!

Over the next 10 days we had lots of fun with Sam discovering new places to visit as well as some old ones. We even did the Phang Nga trip again with him as we loved it so much the first time.

He took our 15 yr old daughter go-karting which she absolutely loved and also organised our island and snorkelling trips for us. It is so much easier when you have someone you trust to book these tours as the prices vary so much. Sam always got us the best prices. I used to cringe every morning when I%26#39;d see new tourists arriving and the hotel tour agency and others like Tour East charge up to doulble what we were paying.

Having your own guide like Mr Sam makes life so much easier. He even went to the trouble one day of finding us our own private beach where you could actually snorkel off the beach. the water was so clear. Usually you have to take a boat trip to get out to clear water, but there were two of us who don%26#39;t do too well in deep water. So we spent the day on this gorgeous little beach without another soul. (Not far from Bang Tao). He also supplied a beautiful picnic lunch which him and Mr Sope carried down this really steep track we had to climb down. I swear Thai people must have goat in their genes (ha ha)

I complained one morning about my sore neck from the hotel pillows so Sam took me shopping to buy a new one. He is so sweet!

We also had the chance to catch up with his beautiful wife Joop and son, Sum who we really adore. They are just the nicest family. So humble and really honourable people.

As usual, Phuket is our favourite holiday spot and probably always will be thanks to our lovely guide and friend Mr Sam. He always makes our holidays just that more special with his thoughtfulness and kind ways.

I can%26#39;t emphasise enough about the value of hiring a guide. We also spent two weeks in Vietnam prior to Phuket and I have to say the best times we had (and the safest) were when we had a guide with us. (I will write about this in different post).

Holidays can be hard work sometimes when you are not sure what you are doing. Do yourselves a favour and hire someone like Mr Sam or any of the other guides on this forum. It sure makes a difference. (...and no I%26#39;m not on commission ha ha). But we have been to Asia 6 or 7 times now and will always have a guide on hand.

Wow what a long post sorry!!!!

Cheers for now

Liz

Thanks to Mr Sam- Tour Guide

Hi Liz,

Thanks for your glowing report on Mr Sam, we have booked him for a day in November, can%26#39;t wait to meet him.

Thanks to Mr Sam- Tour Guide

HI Liz - we are flying to huket tomorrow night - and will be there for 8 niths - how do we find a trustworthy guide? Thanks, Celena

Hi Liz. We will be there in November and would love Mr Sam%26#39;s contact details so that we can book him? What would one expect to pay for airport transfers and day trips etc? Your help would be appreciated.

Hi Liz,

Thanks for your trip report, sounds like you had a great time.

What were some of the new places you visited?

Cheers,

Stewie.

Mr Mor is also excellent for the same reasons and will help with purchases, getting Thai prices at spas, good information for tours etc. Very safe driver and fairly young (early 30s) so v knowledgeable about restaurants, bars, nightclubs... newish car, totally reliable. Very good rates and - very important for me as I like to be able to chat to people about their country, politics etc - excellent English. Never tries to take you to shops/attractions for commission and is 100% honest. Am sure Sam is too but we%26#39;ve never hired him. Day rate is about 1600 B and airport pickup about 600 B.

Hi Liz,

Mr Sam certainly goes the extra mile he is such a lovely person and will help anybody. I have allways liked the fact that his english is so good and upon meeting him it is like you have a friend for life. Glad you had another good holiday.

Julie

Here%26#39;s Sam%26#39;s page and some of the tours he does.

http://samintouch.spaces.live.com:80/

Hi All,

Thanks soooooexcited for finding Mr Sams details,you beat me to it. I bet you end up having more than one day with Sam, as there is so much to see and you get so much more local knowledge by hiring a local guide.

Celena, I can%26#39;t recommend Mr Sam highly enough. He will look after all your needs from shopping, to sightseeing, tours etc as well as lots of good advice. Trouble is he is quite popular so book early.

Here is his phone numer in Thailand. +66846309334

Stewie, I think the best new thing was the private beach that we went to, it was so lovely, plus a few sightseeing spots like the Big Budda, Raiwi, Promthep etc and when we went to Phang Nga we went on the long tail boat with Mart to some lovely beaches (once again no tourists) as Sam knows we like going where there are no tourists.

vicouple1

It is hard to say about prices as they vary. It depends where you are staying, but Sams prices are always either comparible to other guides or cheaper. It%26#39;s about 500/600bht from airport to Patong. have a look on the website listed above.

Jolondon,

I feel like we are old friends. Everytime I put a report on about Mr sam, you always put one on about Mr Mor. No doubt he is good too,

Cheers

Liz

Hi All,

Thanks soooooexcited for finding Mr Sams details,you beat me to it. I bet you end up having more than one day with Sam, as there is so much to see and you get so much more local knowledge by hiring a local guide.

Celena, I can%26#39;t recommend Mr Sam highly enough. He will look after all your needs from shopping, to sightseeing, tours etc as well as lots of good advice. Trouble is he is quite popular so book early.

Here is his phone numer in Thailand. +66846309334

Stewie, I think the best new thing was the private beach that we went to, it was so lovely, plus a few sightseeing spots like the Big Budda, Raiwi, Promthep etc and when we went to Phang Nga we went on the long tail boat with Mart to some lovely beaches (once again no tourists) as Sam knows we like going where there are no tourists.

vicouple1

It is hard to say about prices as they vary. It depends where you are staying, but Sams prices are always either comparible to other guides or cheaper. It%26#39;s about 500/600bht from airport to Patong. have a look on the website listed above.

Jolondon,

I feel like we are old friends. Everytime I put a report on about Mr sam, you always put one on about Mr Mor. No doubt he is good too,

Cheers

Liz

Thank for the contact number. We are in our mid 50%26#39;s and never traveled so far before!!! and are nervous but looking forward. Staying at Centara Karon Beach - which I am sure there will be many other Australians also. Hubby done%26#39;s want to book anything yet - wait until we get there and then plan according to weather. at least we have phone number and if he is not available, may be able to refer us. thanks again, Celena