Monsoon Valley entrance charge

[Gregjam]

Went to Monsoon Valley (Hua Hin Hills) vineyard for lunch today and was surprised to be charged a 200 baht per person entry fee refundable against food etc. Not set up well as you have to turn just before you approach the Sala and pay for the coupons then circle back to be permitted past the barrier. I have been there many times and never experienced this, not sure if it is a New Year gimmick or new policy.
Also the road down to the elephant area was blocked off and I understand you would have to use their transport. During recent visits it cost 100 baht for food to feed the elephants. Double that now for a basket of fruit for the elephants.
I am not sure if this is a temporary or permanent thing, when family who work there were asked they were not sure. Sounds like there is new management.
Does anyone know for sure?

[Dannie Boy]

Sorry I can’t answer, but sounds like they’ll be shooting themselves it the foot - tourist numbers are down so don’t scare them away with extra charges!!


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[stretch]

Thai mind set yesterday going to show guests the so called floating market got to entrance Thai family of about 6 or so persons 200 baht the guy paid when my turn and 3 others she said 800 baht say no more off we went.

[Big Boy]

Yes, the business model originally introduced by Venezia - these are all places I used to take visitors to until cover charges were introduced. I will only take visitors these days (and we get a lot passing through) if they specifically request it. If they do, I sit outside.

[europtimiste]

I always discourage people to go to such places with a gangster behaviour.

[PJG]

Used to enjoy a trip out there even though the prices were a rip off. If entrance charge now introduced on top of the rip off prices will no longer be on my visit list. Could be just because we have just been through holiday season.

Went in to Sizzler in Blueport yesterday to have the B139 salad as advertised on a big poster outside the restaurant. Wife and I walked straight out again when told "oh no today it is B199, holiday prices".

Maybe lettuce is more expensive during the holidays ,anyway that's another shop lost my business.

[B6PTW]

Hi All
I do not have aproblem as long as the fee is refundable against food and drink.
I have in the past sen minivans drive in people exit them walk around and take many photos and leave without spending anything. That would peeve me if it was my business.ñ

[stretch]

No problem with the entrance fee but why should you pay 4-5 times the Thai pays what do they call it in your home country racism .

[B6PTW]

Personally to me it is an unofficial means test that I have been subjected to in many countries as well as official means testing in the UK to see how big my speeding fine should be or how much I had to pay for my parents care. The difference being it is optional you do not have to pay it. So no not racism to me.

[Lost]

Personally to me it is an unofficial means test that I have been subjected to in many countries as well as official means testing in the UK to see how big my speeding fine should be or how much I had to pay for my parents care. The difference being it is optional you do not have to pay it. So no not racism to me.

Spot on. Not racism. Most westerners have spent a lifetime earning more PER HOUR than the average Thai gets in 2 days or more.

Why shouldn't we pay a bit extra supporting local attractions?

[Gregjam]

As they have not increased their food prices and the coupon is refundable against this I don’t view this as a problem as I would always be eating when I go there. Not so happy with the doubling of the price for the food for the elephants and we did not bother with that.
Monsoon does not do dual pricing which I despise and avoid. If a place has done extra to cater to foreigners such as information in languages other than Thai there is a certain amount of justification. What I really abhor are places like San Kamphaeng hot springs near Chiang Mai and other places in this area where Thai language both letters and numbers are used for the Thai price and English (Roman) used for the more expensive foreigner price with no mention of the word foreigner or tourist. How many of those places benefit from the local foreigners who bring guests there only to be financially penalized for bringing them business I am like Big Boy in that I will wait outside rather than be ripped off. You can be sure it is not the employees who benefit from these charges. Regardless of a persons income it is discrimination. When my son has to produce his ID card to prove he is Thai just because he does not look like a typical Thai that is also racism.
I initially raised this topic to raise awareness of the procedure change and stress that I have never experienced either racism or discrimination at Monsoon Valley. Also to try and find out if this is a new policy or something adopted over the busy period to perhaps enhance the experience of those dining there.

[stretch]

Some people on here say it's ok to pay 4-5 times a Thai will pay because you have earned more in your life time. So if a Thai pulls up in his 20 million baht merc you don,t mind paying more than him which happened to me at the floating market.things and attitudes to farangs will never change.

[Big Boy]

I look at it differently. Yes, I was what could be classed as an infrequent visitor, but I regularly took visitors. We'd often stop for food, but for medical reasons, my wife and I would struggle to eat 200฿s worth of food each. However, our friends would generally far exceed 200฿.

In my opinion, attractions should be paying me for taking my regular visitors to their establishments, not make me pay a cover charge to fill their coffers. I wonder how much drivers of official tour buses are charged? As such, it is one place off my visitors itinerary.

[buksida]

I don't think racism comes into this at all. Its just the typical Thai business practice of hiking prices when there are fewer customers, it happens across many services here.

[handdrummer]

I don't think racism comes into this at all. Its just the typical Thai business practice of hiking prices when there are fewer customers, it happens across many services here.

As usual, opposite of the rest of the world, who, when there are fewer customers, lower the prices, in order to attract more customers.