I’d start by saying that Thailand is an amazing country with welcoming citizens and picturesque opportunities to explore nature. So, it’s worth the trip no matter how you go about it. For us, however, going with Intro was a no-brainer. We have never traveled to Asia before, so we wanted a little more guidance. From the moment we booked, we had received correspondence from our group leader, Loz, giving us a basic outline of the trip—what to expect, what to bring, organizing transportation from the airport on arrival, etc. Between her efforts and those from the rest of the Intro team, the rest of our trip was effortless. Our accommodations, transport between places, etc. were all booked. Not to mention, they do a great job varying experiences throughout the 18 days—you take part in cultural experiences (e.g. a Thai cooking class, visiting Buddhist temples, etc.), visit multiple islands, etc. They have longstanding relationships within the various communities we visit, so we get information from local guides/businesses which makes the experience even more authentic. (It is also great to know that the locals personally relay their appreciation of Intro, so it isn’t a system where you feel like the locals are being taken advantage of in any way.) It also helps to have a group leader, like Loz, because throughout each experience, you have someone to go for guidance, handle any unexpected issues that come up (someone had to leave due to an emergency during our trip and Loz found her transport, a new flight, etc all within an hour). In summary, while it may be more costly to travel with Intro, it’s definitely worth it if you are looking for a varied, authentic experience without the stress of needing to do a bunch of planning, etc.!
