When exploring Bangkok’s vibrant streets, ancient temples, and bustling markets, having the right guide can make all the difference between a standard tourist experience and an unforgettable journey. Two popular options for Bangkok tours are Your Thai Guide and Showaround, but they offer vastly different approaches to showing you Thailand’s capital city.
Waree ‘Apple’ Singhanart
Tour Guide License No. 1-029055
What Are These Services?
Your Thai Guide
Your Thai Guide is a small, friendly and professional tour company licensed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (License No. 14/02864), offering private customized tours in and around Bangkok with experienced, licensed, local guides available seven days a week. The company has over 4,000 five-star reviews and focuses on providing professional, tailored experiences.
Showaround
Showaround is a marketplace for tours with locals who are ready to show you the best their cities have to offer and tailor activities to your interests. It’s important to note that Showaround does not offer professional guide services but instead connects travelers with thousands of locals who want to share their city.
Charinee ‘Oil’ Jitburus
Tour Guide License No. 1-009772
The Benefits: Your Thai Guide
Professional Expertise and Licensing
Licensed and Regulated: Your Thai Guide operates with official Tourism Authority of Thailand licensing, and individual guides hold specific license numbers, ensuring they meet professional standards and regulations.
Deep Knowledge: Guides specialize in different areas including history, culture, food, and sports, with extensive knowledge of Thai culture and Bangkok’s attractions.
Quality Assurance: The company strictly limits the amount of work they take on to ensure quality time for each tour, and they encourage client input in creating customized experiences.
Patthicha ‘Ticha’ Sinaudomphaisan
Tour Guide License No. 1-034630
Comprehensive Service
Full-Day Experiences: Tours typically run 8 hours with private, completely customizable itineraries covering major sights like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Chatuchak Market.
Transportation: Guides help navigate Bangkok using various transport methods including tuk-tuks, taxis, BTS Skytrain, and commuter boats, with vans available for day trips out of Bangkok.
Cultural Immersion: Guides share fascinating insights into Thai history, culture, and hidden gems that tourists typically miss.
Nattapatch ‘Gwen’ Sajjadhammakoon
Tour Guide License No. 1-023160
Reliability and Safety
Established Reputation: The service has been operating for over a decade with thousands of successful tours and consistently positive reviews.
Professional Standards: Guides undergo training and maintain professional conduct throughout tours.
Patthicha ‘Ticha’ Sinaudomphaisan
Tour Guide License No. 1-034630
The Benefits: Showaround
Authentic Local Experience
Local Perspective: Showaround connects you with locals who can provide insider knowledge and show you places beyond typical tourist attractions.
Cultural Exchange: The service offers excellent opportunities to make international friends and experience genuine social encounters with like-minded locals.
Flexible and Spontaneous: Tours are more flexible and spontaneous compared to rigid group tours, allowing for on-the-spot decisions and discoveries.
Cost Structure
Hourly Rates: Locals set their own hourly rates, and you can organize tours for as many hours as you like.
Variety of Options: Multiple locals available with different backgrounds, specialties, and pricing options.
Personal Connection
Customized Interactions: Locals often tailor experiences based on personal conversations and shared interests.
Unique Experiences: Every tour is unique and unpredictable, offering experiences you won’t find in typical guidebooks.
The Cons: Your Thai Guide
Higher Cost
Pricing: Tours can be more expensive than some cheap competitors, though the company emphasizes you get more value for the slightly higher price.
Full-Day Commitment: Majority of tours are designed as full-day experiences, which may not suit travelers with limited time.
Structured Approach
Professional but Fun: While highly knowledgeable, the experience may feel less edgey or wild and less spontaneous than some local alternatives.
Moderate Spontaneity: Despite every tour being a custom creation for each client, tours are planned before commencement, compared to casual local hangouts who may take things as they come.
‘ChooChai’ Boonsrangjamrus
Tour Guide License No. 1-017815
The Cons: Showaround
Quality Control Issues
Inconsistent Standards: User reviews indicate concerns about inactive profiles, potentially fake guides, and inconsistent service quality. The platform has little to no control over the quality of each tour.
Safety Concerns: Some users have reported inappropriate behavior from guides, with concerns particularly for women travelers seeking professional cultural tours. As the tours are not run by professional guides, they are exempt from safeguards and licening by the Tourism Authority of Thailnd, and are unlikley to be insured.
Limited Professionalism: Since Showaround doesn’t offer professional guide services, you may miss detailed historical and cultural information that licensed guides provide.
Recent Platform Changes
Subscription Fees: Showaround now charges monthly subscription fees (around $20/month or £10/month) to contact locals directly, making it expensive for occasional travelers.
Technical Issues: Some users report problems with the app’s messaging system and receiving offers from locals.
Variable Experience Quality
No Guarantee: Reviews indicate mixed experiences, with some guides not taking the service seriously or lacking proper knowledge of attractions.
Language Barriers: Not all locals may have professional-level English skills compared to licensed tour guides.
Which Service Should You Choose?
Choose Your Thai Guide if you:
- Want professional expertise with licensed, insured, knowledgeable guides
- Prefer planned, comprehensive full-day tours
- Value reliability and consistent quality
- Are willing to pay more for professional service
- Want detailed historical and cultural insights
- Need assistance with complex logistics and transportation
Choose Showaround if you:
- Prefer authentic, casual local experiences
- Want flexible, spontaneous hang outs or exploration
- Are looking for social connections and friendship opportunities
- Have a limited budget for hourly rates (but consider subscription costs)
- Are comfortable with variable quality experiences
- Want to experience Bangkok like a local resident
Phumek ‘Time’ Brahmasakha Na Sakolnagara
Tour Guide License No. 1-023169
Final Recommendation
For most first-time visitors to Bangkok, Your Thai Guide offers superior value despite higher costs. The professional licensing, extensive local knowledge, and proven track record of over 4,000 five-star reviews provide peace of mind and comprehensive cultural education that’s especially valuable in a complex city like Bangkok.
However, if you’re an experienced traveler who values authentic local connections over planned tours, and you don’t mind potential inconsistencies in service quality, Showaround can offer unique experiences that go beyond typical tourist activities.
Consider your budget, travel style, time constraints, and comfort level with uncertainty when making your decision. Bangkok’s rich culture and complex layout often benefit from professional guidance, but the city also rewards those willing to explore through genuine local connections.
