Letters to the Moderator (Giotto)

[Ozzy Indo]

Bill Lee,
Yikes, THB 250.00 . Sorry!
Giotto

Dear Herr Doktor G,

So, you have a comma instead of a period?

So, I take it that once a month you are a bit upset because you are having your comma?

OK. I look up comma in the dictionary... I see FRENULUM!

Once a month??? Ha Ha Ha Ha.

I would not want to wish another comma on you... truely...

Ozzy Indo

[Giotto]

These were very helpful.

Giotto, it's 250.00 THB? Not 250,000? LOL - There's goes my honey money.

Bill

Bill Lee,

Yikes, THB 250.00 . Sorry!


Giotto

[Petemcc]

Bill

The European convention is to put a comma (,) not a period (.) in place of a decimal. So nothing wrong with the German Dr. G's notation.

Exactly right. 250.00 THB to a European means 250 Bhat and no decimal units. Like $250.25 means 250 dollars and 25 cents, and $250,00 means 250 thousand dollars.
They actually tried to get rid of the comma about 30 years ago and just leave a space so it would be 250 000 THB and I think technically that is correct, however most people like to use commas still.

[Duniawala]

These were very helpful.

Giotto, it's 250.00 THB? Not 250,000? LOL - There's goes my honey money.

Bill

Bill

The European convention is to put a comma (,) not a period (.) in place of a decimal. So nothing wrong with the German Dr. G's notation.

[Jeff46]

skype works fine in LOS and G's place has free WiFi.
local sim card can be bought at the shops of the MTR stations, there's one walking distance from G's place...you might need your passport.

Sim card are about Baht 250 you find them in all seven eleven shop and you do not need passport.

[Traveler1234]

I'm not sure if it is worth getting a BKK SIM card for my phone. I assume that BKK and Thailand is on GSM 900 or 850?

Most likely, I will try using the V-Phone, a VOIP phone from Vonage - http://www.vonage.com/device.php?type=VPHONE

I can carry a local U.S. number with me anywhere I go, as long as that orange flash drive phone can plug into an USB port in a computer that's connected to the Internet.

I'll be testing out in BKK and China. Those interested in using it one day, pm me and I'll update you on the test.

No, I do not work for Vonage. But I am a stockholder, which is worst. LOL.

Thanks all,
Bill

skype works fine in LOS and G's place has free WiFi.
local sim card can be bought at the shops of the MTR stations, there's one walking distance from G's place...you might need your passport.

[Bill Lee]

I'm not sure if it is worth getting a BKK SIM card for my phone. I assume that BKK and Thailand is on GSM 900 or 850?

Most likely, I will try using the V-Phone, a VOIP phone from Vonage - http://www.vonage.com/device.php?type=VPHONE

I can carry a local U.S. number with me anywhere I go, as long as that orange flash drive phone can plug into an USB port in a computer that's connected to the Internet.

I'll be testing out in BKK and China. Those interested in using it one day, pm me and I'll update you on the test.

No, I do not work for Vonage. But I am a stockholder, which is worst. LOL.

Thanks all,
Bill

For those of you who wish to remain anonymous while staying at the Lodge, be aware that even using something like AT&T Direct to call back to the states or elsewhere, the hotel number may still show up on the caller ID of the person you are calling. That is how my TGF found out I was in Bangkok instead of elsewhere. At that point all it takes is a quick call back to verify that you are there.

My suggestion if you wish to remain hidden is to only use your own cell phone. It is not the cheapest way to call, but might save you some problems if you are worried about someone figuring out where you are.

As for taxis to the Lodge, the 250 Baht price is about right. From the airport they will add on 50 baht if you use the taxi stand on the lower level. Add in another 65 baht for the tolls if you use the tollway.

On thing I noticed twice was that they wrote down Soi 23 instead of Soi 33 at the taxi stand at the airport. Luckily they wrote it down and I corrected the error. Like G says, if in doubt tell them the Novetel Lotus on Soi 33 and you won't go wrong. At worst you may have to walk the last 50 meters.

I have now left the lodge twice very early in the morning for flights, both times around 4:30am. I never had to wait more than a minute for a cab. There are always cabs on Soi 33, so that should never be a problem.

[Thor93]

For those of you who wish to remain anonymous while staying at the Lodge, be aware that even using something like AT&T Direct to call back to the states or elsewhere, the hotel number may still show up on the caller ID of the person you are calling. That is how my TGF found out I was in Bangkok instead of elsewhere. At that point all it takes is a quick call back to verify that you are there.

My suggestion if you wish to remain hidden is to only use your own cell phone. It is not the cheapest way to call, but might save you some problems if you are worried about someone figuring out where you are.

As for taxis to the Lodge, the 250 Baht price is about right. From the airport they will add on 50 baht if you use the taxi stand on the lower level. Add in another 65 baht for the tolls if you use the tollway.

On thing I noticed twice was that they wrote down Soi 23 instead of Soi 33 at the taxi stand at the airport. Luckily they wrote it down and I corrected the error. Like G says, if in doubt tell them the Novetel Lotus on Soi 33 and you won't go wrong. At worst you may have to walk the last 50 meters.

I have now left the lodge twice very early in the morning for flights, both times around 4:30am. I never had to wait more than a minute for a cab. There are always cabs on Soi 33, so that should never be a problem.

[Giotto]

That's exactly the reason why I named the thread "Giotto's Lodge" in the beginning. But of course you cannot hide that long time...

No chance, I would not work. This is a small hotel, not too much staff - and it is Thailand.

It would not work.


Giotto

Here's another thought.

I did a Google search for Livingstone Lodge and the first 19 matches were related to your location through your own website or other online travel booking website.

But wouldn't you know it, the 20th match was related to ISG.

This gives me pause to give out my contact information at your place to my love ones and business associates.

Just a thought, maybe expensive and maybe not, how about offering a registered guest, fake hotel name and another telephone number answered by your staff that can transfer the outside calls to our rooms?

Bill

[Bill Lee]

Here's another thought.

I did a Google search for Livingstone Lodge and the first 19 matches were related to your location through your own website or other online travel booking website.

But wouldn't you know it, the 20th match was related to ISG.

This gives me pause to give out my contact information at your place to my love ones and business associates.

Just a thought, maybe expensive and maybe not, how about offering a registered guest, fake hotel name and another telephone number answered by your staff that can transfer the outside calls to our rooms?

Bill

[Traveler1234]

These were very helpful.

Giotto, it's 250.00 THB? Not 250,000? LOL - There's goes my honey money.

Bill

G actually limo service, includes champagne, two TG, BBBJCIM/AR, guaranteed two shots from time you board at airport and before you arrive to the Lodge...that's what costs 250,000....RLMAO

[Bill Lee]

These were very helpful.

Giotto, it's 250.00 THB? Not 250,000? LOL - There's goes my honey money.

Bill

Bill lee,

Yes, the new airport is open. Airport code is still BKK (I hope I understood your question correctly).

Taxi costs: THB 250,00

The best way to go is still the highway above Rama 9, leave it close to RCA and then turn left to Petchburi Road. From there through Soi 39 (Prompong) to Soi 33.

Most of the taxi driver do not speak English, but they understand you basically with your English pronounciation of the target. In case of problems ask to go to Novotel Lotus in Soi 33.


Giotto

[Giotto]

Has it opened? What is the name and airport code designation?

What the expected taxi cost from old airport or new airport to your place?

Finally, I have read some posts that to get to Nana Plaza area, to (or not to) take the highway with the toll? Does that apply to your place?

Dumb question, but do all taxi drivers speak English? I guess they probably do if they want to make a living in a tourist city.

Thanks again,
Bill

Bill lee,

Yes, the new airport is open. Airport code is still BKK (I hope I understood your question correctly).

Taxi costs: THB 250,00

The best way to go is still the highway above Rama 9, leave it close to RCA and then turn left to Petchburi Road. From there through Soi 39 (Prompong) to Soi 33.

Most of the taxi driver do not speak English, but they understand you basically with your English pronounciation of the target. In case of problems ask to go to Novotel Lotus in Soi 33.


Giotto

[Traveler1234]

bill - i've never had a problem with cabs to giotto's. simply say "soi 33, sukhumvit". go slowly down soi 33 (you can only go slowly), and it's less than 100 metres on the left (the sign is high and obscured by trees). i've suggested to giotto that he might put a sign at car-level on the street. last time i went too far and had to walk back a few minutes (but discovered the location of peep inn in the process!)

as for english speaking cabbies - most speak a little. ironically, the cabbies that have the "i love farangs" sticker on their cab tend to speak the least english.

tell taxi, novotel lotus, sukhumvit soi 33. when you turn onto soi 33, ll is about 25 meters past novotel lotus - entrance impossible to see. it's just before the line of bars on your left (on your right you'll see an open alley with some more bars).

if you drive past the row of bars on your left, you know you passed ll. look for elephant tusks.

with 10 pm touch-down, assuming normal immigration, customs, taxi and traffic, you'll arrive by 12 midnight. check in, lock your stuff in the safe and come down to the sports bar, next to pool. remember it's pool party that night - if you're the adventurous type, don't bring you mobile phone lest you decide to jump into the pool with the pesky one

[Piper1]

bill - i've never had a problem with cabs to giotto's. simply say "soi 33, sukhumvit". go slowly down soi 33 (you can only go slowly), and it's less than 100 metres on the left (the sign is high and obscured by trees). i've suggested to giotto that he might put a sign at car-level on the street. last time i went too far and had to walk back a few minutes (but discovered the location of peep inn in the process!)

as for english speaking cabbies - most speak a little. ironically, the cabbies that have the "i love farangs" sticker on their cab tend to speak the least english.