A tuk-tuk driver approaches you at a tourist area and offers an incredibly cheap city tour (20-50 THB for hours of sightseeing). The catch: the tour is actually a circuit of specific shops — gem stores, tailor shops, and souvenir outlets — where the driver earns 500-1,000 THB commission per tourist delivered. You are left at each shop for 20-30 minutes while staff use high-pressure sales tactics. If you refuse to enter, the driver may become irritable, leave you far from your destination, or demand a much higher fare. The shops and drivers work as an organized network, especially around the Grand Palace, Khao San Road, and Sukhumvit areas.
Tourist Police Hotline
Call 1155 for English-speaking assistance, available 24/7