Bangkok Hotels

[Sainter21]

I've stayed several times at the Dynasty Grande in the past and really liked the place, but when I recently tried to make an reservation on their website it wanted me to pay in full in advance. Has anyone stayed there recently and can comment on this change?

Did they actually ask for a full payment, or just your credit card number?

The Dawin Hotel (same group of hotels) ask for my credit card number to hold the room and protect against a no show. To get around this and to protect my CC, I just change the last few digits of my card and email it through. Its worked everytime and my reservation is honoured. I guess they dont 'run' the number to see if its valid until its time to charge against it.

[BionicMan]

I've stayed several times at the Dynasty Grande in the past and really liked the place, but when I recently tried to make an reservation on their website it wanted me to pay in full in advance. Has anyone stayed there recently and can comment on this change?

It is a pretty much standard practice to protgect the hotel from "no-show's"

Especially in presence of attracting rates or promotions

[Gaolei]

I think it all started when they got the new computer service for making reservations. I used it one time and found it difficult to maneuver through. It seemed to get lost part way to the end. I sent them an email saying the new system was messing with me. I would be there on a certain date, please give me the special rate. They took care of me, no problem and no need to use the computer to register.

[Gunthonungo]

Does anyone know if the Crowne Plaza Hotel is girl friendly or not? I'm getting a supersweet deal there on rates and it is hard to turn down.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions on good ST places close by Soi Cowboy or Nana Plaza that I should look into?

I'm going to be landing in BKK on Jan 27th and am trying to get a game plan set up so that I can actually do some site seeing while I'm there. Go figure.

[Weasal]

Hello,

Can somebody tell me what kind of action, if any, is near the Sky Hotel? And then how far (or inconvenient) it is from Soi or Nana?

[Run Mann]

I've stayed several times at the Dynasty Grande in the past and really liked the place, but when I recently tried to make an reservation on their website it wanted me to pay in full in advance. Has anyone stayed there recently and can comment on this change?

You can also call or email them to make a reservation but generally if you do not show up by 6 pm they may give your room to someone else who needs it. The advance payment guarantees the room will be available for you when you check in.

[Kogal_Lover]

I've stayed several times at the Dynasty Grande in the past and really liked the place, but when I recently tried to make an reservation on their website it wanted me to pay in full in advance. Has anyone stayed there recently and can comment on this change?

[Tiny 12]

Please ignore my previous message, which I can't seem to delete or edit.

Does anyone know if Siri Sathorn is Girl Friendly?

[Tiny 12]

Any recommendation for an upscale, serviced apartment in the Silom area that's GF? If I can't find anything, I'll probably pick from Lebua, Shangrila and Mandarin Oriental. I've read that Lebua and Shangrila are GF and Mandarin Oriental is not. Is this still true?

Thanks.

Tiny

[Goyave]

... And nobody returned my email, by the way...

They are sometimes a bit slow, but usually they reply to their emails within 48 hours maximum (according to my own experience). I suppose that it depends on the time you've sent your own email. It seems that they check their mailbox only once a day.

...I noticed one person (here?) said not to take their taxis. But I did take one once to the airport. After the typical niceties (the 500 baht offer by him, the sly grin by me) I was able to get him down to a reasonable 300 baht at 4am or so. But if not, can just go out to the street just outside the hotel and flag a meter taxi down as it passes, just a few steps away...

Yes, that was me who explained that (about their own taxis). It's probably a bit more difficult at 4am (never tried at that time of the night there), but indeed, I usually flag a regular meter taxi on the street just outside the hotel and if I am not mistaken, I haven't paid more than 200 baht so far (and often lesser than that) from this hotel to the airport.

...The ones you describe as 1000 baht are upstairs on the inside side. Those are ok except that they have pretty heavy-duty smoking stink in them...

I usually stay in their Single Deluxe NON-SMOKING rooms. They are located on the second floor (or third if you consider that the reception level is the first floor).

...I once stayed in one of the nicer 3000 (?) baht rooms and they were definitely a good step up, lots more space, included sitting area if I remember right. But for that price you can be in an actual nice hotel, with a swimming pool that's bigger than my room...

The most expensive rooms are their suites at 1500 baht per night (maybe a bit more nowadays as this rate was given to me a little bit more than 2 years ago).

[Wendella]

actually, so far, i have never stayed in their cheapest rooms (i mentioned them in my previous report because another member was looking for a room in the 700-900 baht price range then) , but quite often in their single deluxe rooms at 1000 baht / night with refrigerator. those single deluxe rooms are great value imho, and if i am not mistaken, they are still available at the same price.

by the way,"on the ground floor" was honey hotel reservation officer's own term for the location of the cheapest rooms. i found an old email from this person mentioning the various rooms and rates:

i don't know if those are the current rates for each kind of room because this email is more than two years old.

i don't think that you will get a discount there, even as a returning customer. but it never hurts to try getting one.

yes i think that hotel must have excellent word of mouth since they don't even have a proper website set up. that one you linked to seems to have been set up for free by a loyal customer out of the goodness of their heart. and nobody returned my email, by the way. hopefully they answer their phones.

and yes that is a very generous way to describe those rooms, 'on the ground floor' indeed. you can tell that the guy who did the site is a true friend. yes, and for your convenience there are some taxis parked right in front of your room. i noticed one person (here?) said not to take their taxis. but i did take one once to the airport. after the typical niceties (the 500 baht offer by him, the sly grin by me) i was able to get him down to a reasonable 300 baht at 4am or so. but if not, can just go out to the street just outside the hotel and flag a meter taxi down as it passes, just a few steps away. which the drivers there realize, so unless they know some ripe target is heading to the airport in the next hour or so, they realize you're going to walk those few extra steps, and so it's a choice between your reasonable fare or a longer nap.

so the rooms: cheap garage ones outside: not very nice. they're ok i guess once you're inside, but mainly they're kind of embarrassing. the ones you describe as 1000 baht are upstairs on the inside side. those are ok except that they have pretty heavy-duty smoking stink in them, and feel older and more worn down than their counterparts across the hall, which are listed at 1350 baht. i once stayed in one of the nicer 3000 (?) baht rooms and they were definitely a good step up, lots more space, included sitting area if i remember right. but for that price you can be in an actual nice hotel, with a swimming pool that's bigger than my room.

but the location is quite good. just a tad away from the noise and crowds, but still very close. like 3 minutes walking to cowboy, maybe 2 min to thermae. it's kind of nice as you head back to your hotel at the end of the night to get one last peek in at thermae or the ones eating on the street. (tho it is annoying as hell having to walk thru that gauntlet of shirt-sellers earlier in the night in order to get anywhere in the lower sois than 19.) but even if you're at nana and want to head back, you cross suk and jump in a cab and it's about 2 minutes up the road for as cheap a taxi fare as you can get.

but if i had something comparable closer to nana, i might go for that instead. every time i get to bkk, i'm too busy with other things to go checking out rooms in other hotels to compare. maybe this time. i keep getting suggestions for ones that are further out than soi 19, across asok and on the even side. i don't like crossing the overpass catwalks late at night (or day either really) , and i'm not that into cowboy, so i like to stay on the odd-number side of suk so the final taxi ride is quick and simple.

others i've seen / stayed at in the same price range (miami, golden palace) look way rougher in comparison. wouldn't stay in one of those again.

thanks for the info

[K Brew]

Thanks man I appreciate it! A joiner fee means that I have to pay the front desk 500B to let the girl come to my room? Wow. That'd be a really awkward transaction LOL. What's the difference between an outcall escort and an outcall massage girl? Do they provide the same level of service?

[K Brew]

I have time on my hands so I called and they told me that there is a 500B joiner fee, bummer! As for escorts go to Bangkok 2 night dot com for an unlimited supply of outcall and massage girls. I've always had a great time with the girls from Lisa's Massage, she seems to have a wide selection of submissive girls and they are much cheaper than escorts. Or you could just try the Regent's Spa and Massage services, they may have what you want right there on site.

Thanks man I appreciate it! A joiner fee means that I have to pay the front desk 500B to let the girl come to my room? Wow. That'd be a really awkward transaction LOL. What's the difference between an outcall and a massage girl? Do the provide the same level of service?

[Goyave]

OK he talks about 800 baht rooms on the "ground floor" which is a bit misleading: there's no rooms in the actual hotel building on the ground floor, only upstairs. But out in the parking garage there are a few doors, and inside those doors are some very small no frills rooms. It's a bit of a walk of shame going back to a room like that with a girl, not in front of hotel staff and guests but in front of the girl. Having a parking garage as your hallway. I got stuck in one of those once when it was the only room available that night. I don't think the rooms have windows, and the bed goes almost to the opposite wall, the tv just barely fits.

Anyway, I'll email them and find out. But those rooms at 800 baht, due to the rise in the baht, are not a good bargain. This used to be a reasonably priced hotel, and it's not the kind of place that renovates. In its favor it does have a (tiny) pool out in front, which I've never used, and the free breakfast at the attached diner is nice (available all day-perfect for when you're been out all night. Or busy doing something in your room. And wake up in the afternoon)....

Actually, so far, I have never stayed in their cheapest rooms (I mentioned them in my previous report because another member was looking for a room in the 700-900 baht price range then), but quite often in their Single Deluxe rooms at 1000 baht/night with refrigerator. Those Single Deluxe rooms are great value IMHO, and if I am not mistaken, they are still available at the same price.

By the way, "on the ground floor" was Honey Hotel Reservation Officer's own term for the location of the cheapest rooms. I found an old email from this person mentioning the various rooms and rates:

...
Our current room rates:
Every room have air-conditioning, TV, hot - cool with bath tab.
Single Superior 800 BHT/night (on the ground floor & without refrigerator)
Single Superior 900 BHT/night (on the 3rd & without refrigerator)l
Twin room 900 BHT/night (two small beds without refrigerator)
Single Deluxe 1,000 BHT/night (on the 2nd, 3rd & with refrigerator)
Mini suite 1,300 BHT/night (one big bed with the facility)
Suite 1,500 BHT/night (one big bed or two big beds with the facility)
Our room rates have one complementary American Breakfast per room.
...

I don't know if those are the current rates for each kind of room because this email is more than two years old.

ps: if I visited in early Feb, would I have any bargaining power to negotiate any discount? Or are these Sukhumvit hotels pretty much sticker-price and that's it?

I don't think that you will get a discount there, even as a returning customer. But it never hurts to try getting one.

[Run Mann]

I was asking if the Regent Suvarnabhumi was girl friendly. I also would like a girl to come to my hotel (outcall) , if anyone can recommend an agency or even just a reliable escort I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

KB

I have time on my hands so I called and they told me that there is a 500B joiner fee, bummer! As for escorts go to Bangkok 2 night dot com for an unlimited supply of outcall and massage girls. I've always had a great time with the girls from Lisa's Massage, she seems to have a wide selection of submissive girls and they are much cheaper than escorts. Or you could just try the Regent's Spa and Massage services, they may have what you want right there on site.