World Federal Travel Co., LTD. T. A. T. Bangkok, Thailand, T. A. T., World Federal Travel, Rip off in Bangkok, travel agent, journey across Thailand Bangkok, Other

As many tourists in Bangkok, we were looking for some information how to travel South
Thailand in ten days and see as many places as possible. One Buddhist monk we have met
recomended T. A. T. We thought it might be a good place to book a trip when a monk said so.
That was the first terrible mistake we have done.
After entering the office on Pitsanouk Road a smiling officer started looking after us.
We told him our rough plan and he said he can taylor-make an offer for us.
He surprised us with a high price which was almost 13000 baht per person. We had a Lonely Planet
book to compare prices at the region we are going to. He smiled at us saying that we cannot
really trust the prices in this book. And the package perfectly fits us because it includes
all transports and accommodation and we don't have to pay anything extra. Moreover, there
will always be somebody waiting us with our names so we don't have to worry about anything.
I have been travelling through Asia for couple of months now and learned the rule
"always double-check the price". I asked him again whether the price really includes everything
what is stated. He made us sure that it does. We still hesitated and he tried to
convince us with telling us our fortune as he was supposed to be a fortune teller.
We didn't have that much money with us which he said that is not a problem as somebody from
the office will show us the nearest cashpoint.
Eventually we decided to book the trip with him. When we returned with money his attitude
completely changed. That was our second mistake that we continued in booking. He gave us
all vouchers and wished good luck. We didn't realized then that he din't give us his name
neither any direct contact to him. The first trouble actually came to us on the second day
of our trip to Phuket. We got to change the bus and while waiting, the local travel agent
asked us for more money if we want to get to our place at Patong Beach. This bus was
supposed to drop us off at Phuket town only. We protested that we already booked a place to
place package. The woman didn't want to call the T. A. T. as we asked her for and
started shouting at us that we just have to pay. There were some more people waiting and
one French guy backed us up. The woman started screaming at us to get out of the office.
All of a sudden four of her fellows run in the office and with no previous warning started
figting the guy who was trying to help us. They wanted to use a hammer and a wooden stick
with three nails in it. The french guy's wife wanted to support him and they kicked her.
It the end the French guy got hit with a chair. Fortunatelly they weren't seriously harmed.
The thing is that the hammer and wooden stick were taken by the attacker from a drawer in
the office. After this incident we called the tourist police but nobody picked up the phone
there. The standard police took all of us to the station and captured one of the attackers.
To our surprise the only tourist police officer there hardly spoke English
and the attacker got a fine of 1000 baht with a result of a steet fight. Unbelievable!!
We still had to pay our own transport to Patong Beach. The second unpleasant experience
waited for us in Ko Phi Phi when we were asked to pay an entrance fee. We refused as we
already paid the package. Those money collecters turned violent and started pushing us.
No matter that we are two girls. In the end we had to pay because we couldn't
enter the island without paying. At the end of the pier there was nobody to pick us up.
We called the guest house twice and somebody came after more than one hour of waiting.
When we called the T. A. T. office to complain the person we spoke to said that there is
nothing he can do with this matter and when we asked for his name he just hung up!
We are in the middle of the trip right now and I can say that bloody cheaters in T. A. T.
partially spoiled our holiday here. And I'm not talking about quality of the accommodation
which is definitely worth just half of the price we paid.
I suggest never book with any travel agent if you want to have a pleasant stay here.