The Far East has become an increasingly popular vacation destination for North and South Americans, Europeans, and even other residents of the region who simply want to experience the various cultures within their own part of the world. One popular country is Thailand, with its rich culture, architecture, and, of course, it pristine coastal beaches. Beautiful hotels and beach resorts now dot the coastline, particularly in Koh Samui, Pattaya, and Phuket, and a variety of boating and water sports are now offered to tourists.
As in any country, scammers are plentiful in Thailand, in the markets, at the airports (e.g., tour guides and cab drivers), and even on the beaches. Recently, I read an article at http://i-pattaya.ru/forum/10-doska-pozora-i-moshenniki/280-tourists-alert-beware-of-thailand-jet-ski-scammers.html about a prevalent scam involving the rental of jet skis. Because I was planning a trip to Thailand, I was searching about the Internet for information on beaches and ran across this informative piece regarding scammers in Thailand, and jet ski rental scammers in particular.
Specifically, the author describes the scam as follows: A tourist decides to rent a jet ski and selects one of perhaps several vendors along the beach. Upon returning, the vendor insists that the renter has damaged the ski, usually with scratches, and then demands an exorbitant fee for repairs. Sometimes, these scammers have weapons or friends with weapons who quickly appear, and the tourist is intimidated enough to pay up. Even local police officers may be involved, receiving a kick-back for siding with the renter. According to the author, Pattaya may be the worst, but other beaches have their share of scammers as well.
While local governments are attempting to “clean up” this situation, they have not been entirely successful, and the process is rather slow. The ultimate solution, according to this article, is to select a beach resort which offers jet skis as an amenity, thus precluding the need to rent the item from a beach vendor.
http://i-pattaya.ru/forum/10-doska-pozora-i-moshenniki/280-tourists-alert-beware-of-thailand-jet-ski-scammers.html does far more than simply warn tourists about scammers in Thailand. Relative to the jet ski rental problem, a would-be traveler to Thailand is provided a great list of cautionary actions to take in order to avoid the scammers. For example, some local governments are now requiring that renters of boating equipment now be registered and insured. Asking for these two documents in advance of a rental will help ensure that the vendor is legitimate. Further, if a renter sees the insurance policy in advance, s/he knows that damage will most likely be covered by that policy, not by the renter. An additional important piece of advice is, of course, to inspect the jet ski carefully and take pictures from all angles, so that there is a record of scratches and dents before it is taken out. The full list, of course, can be found on the site, and anyone considering a beach vacation in Thailand that includes water equipment rental should read the full article.
Thailand is a beautiful and exotic country, and most travelers to this paradise have the experience of a lifetime. If you plan to engage in water sports activities, however, check this website for invaluable information!
As in any country, scammers are plentiful in Thailand, in the markets, at the airports (e.g., tour guides and cab drivers), and even on the beaches. Recently, I read an article at http://i-pattaya.ru/forum/10-doska-pozora-i-moshenniki/280-tourists-alert-beware-of-thailand-jet-ski-scammers.html about a prevalent scam involving the rental of jet skis. Because I was planning a trip to Thailand, I was searching about the Internet for information on beaches and ran across this informative piece regarding scammers in Thailand, and jet ski rental scammers in particular.
Specifically, the author describes the scam as follows: A tourist decides to rent a jet ski and selects one of perhaps several vendors along the beach. Upon returning, the vendor insists that the renter has damaged the ski, usually with scratches, and then demands an exorbitant fee for repairs. Sometimes, these scammers have weapons or friends with weapons who quickly appear, and the tourist is intimidated enough to pay up. Even local police officers may be involved, receiving a kick-back for siding with the renter. According to the author, Pattaya may be the worst, but other beaches have their share of scammers as well.
While local governments are attempting to “clean up” this situation, they have not been entirely successful, and the process is rather slow. The ultimate solution, according to this article, is to select a beach resort which offers jet skis as an amenity, thus precluding the need to rent the item from a beach vendor.
http://i-pattaya.ru/forum/10-doska-pozora-i-moshenniki/280-tourists-alert-beware-of-thailand-jet-ski-scammers.html does far more than simply warn tourists about scammers in Thailand. Relative to the jet ski rental problem, a would-be traveler to Thailand is provided a great list of cautionary actions to take in order to avoid the scammers. For example, some local governments are now requiring that renters of boating equipment now be registered and insured. Asking for these two documents in advance of a rental will help ensure that the vendor is legitimate. Further, if a renter sees the insurance policy in advance, s/he knows that damage will most likely be covered by that policy, not by the renter. An additional important piece of advice is, of course, to inspect the jet ski carefully and take pictures from all angles, so that there is a record of scratches and dents before it is taken out. The full list, of course, can be found on the site, and anyone considering a beach vacation in Thailand that includes water equipment rental should read the full article.
Thailand is a beautiful and exotic country, and most travelers to this paradise have the experience of a lifetime. If you plan to engage in water sports activities, however, check this website for invaluable information!
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