it all adds up. if i know the real price i pay it.

you probably pay $1 to go somewhere on a motosai instead of the correct price which is 2000 riel.

Plenty of crimes go un-reported in the uk.

I have paid more than that. I get great pleasure out of giving money to dirt poor people.

I've never taken a cyclo. How much are they. Nit price, and decent human being price?

they don't think you're generous just stupid.

inb4 100 lines of debate on whether you should pay the local price to not 'corrupt the locals' or if it's not cool to haggle too much as guests of a country

Do you take the 50c you save down to the shop to buy some mixed lollies?

I don't do it to appear generous to people I will never meet again. I do it for selfish reasons. I also give chump change to charity in the UK.

why would a guest pay double what a local does?

Philanthropy (from Greek φιλανθρωπία) etymologically means "love of humanity" in the sense of caring, nourishing, developing and enhancing "what it is to be human" on both the benefactors' (by identifying and exercising their values in giving and volunteering) and beneficiaries' (by benefiting) parts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy


I guess you don't believe in giving to charity either ?

I'd guess you are taking the term "guest" way too liberally.

You are invited to come and spend your money in their country, and that's about it.

Bottom line is that you should always arrange for a hotel car transfer if it is your first visit to a country, with the exception of backpackers as all your stuff is with you everyday anyways. Landlord makes a very valid point that if you get robbed during that critical journey from the airport to the hotel you are well and truly screwed. The chances may be tiny, but I'm sure you have all been one outed on the river before. The only countries in Asia that I don't think this is necessary is Singapore and Macau. Hong Kong is safe, but it's a long journey and sometimes I just can't be bothered.

are you for real?

Which part?

That you are in actuality a "visitor" and not a "guest" to these countries you travel to?

Or that you can't imagine that to some people, an extra 10 percent or less of their flight ticket (for example I'll use UK or USA) to ensure they get to their hotel safe and without further delay or hassle at the destination is worth it?

i never realized traveled and living in foreign countries was this competitive.

well, both.

i don't know why i should pay 100% more than a local does because i'm visiting. that's stupid.

as for getting a hotel transfer if you're in a new city, it sounds like you haven't traveled much. i just jump in a cab (or tuk tuk in phnom penh) and give them my hotel name. if they need more information i tell them the street. if that's no good i give them a phone number.

i have lived to tell the story...

Some Cheap Charlies in Asia, will go to any length to stop people being generous to locals. Name calling, spin it that the locals don't like money, and that they respect cheap payers etc. I think it's to stop people outspending them, and having a better time.

i give people more if it's deserved or i like the person. paying more than the real price for no reason to some random person just makes you a soft touch.

i am a life nit, its easier to save money than it is to make money, i probably save 3k-4k a year by being a life nit, and its not hard


some people in this thread are making "walk to tuk tuk, get in tuk tuk, tell tuk tuk your hotel, hold on to your bags" into being some very difficult journey......... if you cant handle that then you shouldnt be traveling


if you have money and dont mind spending it on pick up from the airport then thats fine do what you like, but to say "if its your first time in a country you should always get pick up" is similar to saying "i wont live in any building over 5 years old"



i used to never carry my atm card, now i always do, i havent lost a wallet in 14 years, i wear shorts that are almost impossible to pick pocket

You also don't drink though, that's when most people lose it when they're sh*tfaced and don't know what they got upto.

what is the gym situation in pp?

I didn't say you should pay more for being a tourist rather than a local. Just that it exists and that's just how it is sometimes.

As for not travelling much, I'm closing in on a million miles, and I can only think of North Korea as a country I've missed.

And yes, I still advise newbies to get a hotel transfer the first time. It may be overly cautious, but it's the smart thing to do when you know nothing about a country.

I'm willing to bet most of you don't have health insurance, and so far, it's worked out for you too... So far anyways.

You cant compare statistics from the developed world to the developing world. Government is what takes statistics. Government in these countries does not run well.

Lol69 do you pocket the 100 and 500 reil notes when you get them as change in a shop?

Hi everyone! I'm actually on a plane right now for the first leg of a three week adventure to SEA, and it will be my first time. I'm traveling with my girl and we are planning to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. I've been combing through this forum and finding some really good info but Have a few specific questions I'd like to ask:

1. I want to play as much live poker as possible while I'm there, can you give me some reccomendationsnon for casinos in: Ho chi Ming city, Malaysia, Singapore, and some reap? Also are there any different rules or customs I should know about before I sit at a table? I'm mostly interested in just NLH and safety and security of the game are paramount for me. I'm just a weekend warrior and am interested in this playing for the entertainment value more than anything.

2. I saw some references to "Samui" being very dangerous- is that discusion regarding koi Sumai? The island in the bay of Thailand? We have a room there for 4 days and I thought it was up scale-ish??

I saw the Xmas poker tourney in PP- I'm going to miss by one day-bummer!!!

Thanks in advance!

Not getting into this ******ed argument but a taxi is quicker than Tuk tuk from the airport to downtown.

If it is your first time in Cambodia then a tuk tuk from the airport can be a very nice culture shock and nice experience. And btw, the price I paid last time was not $5 but $4 from outside the airport gate. So Dante you got scammed by paying $5!! haha