2003 Bangkok Hotels

[Jaimito Cartero]

You'll almost always get the best deals direct through the hotel. It doesn't hurt to contact a broker, as it may give you a good idea on pricing.

You do want to make sure you're near the action, if you're bringing girls back to your room. December and January are high season, so you'll probably pay more.

[Bizzie]

My first post in BKK section..
My dream will come true in December, so I'll need to ask a few questions to help with reservations:

Hotel PresidentSolitaire has caught my eye, especially the internet, DVD/CD, plasma TV.
Any one have any thought on this hotel? Is the website misleading?
Seems like the Grand President is not worth the effort.

Any other hotels that have similar accomodations/amenities as PS, and are in a good location (not in a noisy neighborhood).

What is the best website (Asiatravel.com?) to get good rates? Or should I go through the hotel?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I will ask the senior citizens..errr..senior members, about the best mongring strategy for a BkK-newbie later-

[Jaimito Cartero]

Tang - Yeah, well I paid $25 a night for my GP stay, and I guess that after the great service I got last time at Majestic Suites it was just a let down.

I do have some pictures of my first room, I'll have to load the CD into the computer, and photoshop them together.

And not to give anyone the impression that the GP is a dive, it's not. It's just that with the great variety of good hotels around, I think it's been over pumped up.

[Jaimito Cartero]

Freeler - Well, I checked around a bit in the Sukhumvit area, and 100 baht a kilo was the cheapest I could find. I thought it was a bit high. I saw a 4 hour laundry near Gullivers that charged 2-3 times more, and let's not even talk about what GP charges for stuff.

[Joe Zop]

I'll second Freeler's comment on earplugs -- they're a standard part of my travel gear (along with a sleeping mask, which I don't use as often) and have been for years. Also, combine them with a pair of noise-dampening headphones on the airplane and you end up less fatigued from the trip.

[Freeler]

GettingTang & other none sleepers,

Simply buy some earplugs.
Since I started using them on the road my life has improved considerably from its already high standard.
Silence...
The most beautiful sound in the world.

[GettingTang]

Jaimito Cartero
Great pics! I plan to try and soon post some photos from my room also. You should do the same. The photos from the website are a bit misleading, IMO. Way too much interest in this hotel from this board, considering the price it costs. I'm paying $47.00 per night and for half that the ambassodor is only one notch below this place. Will shoot many phtos of the room, the view, or lack of, and the surrounding areas. I went out and bought a high powered fan, just to try and drown out some of the street noise. It's starting to Fuk with my head all the horns and loud buses etc. I thought all the pesky chirping birds stayed at the Ambassador only. I noticed them chirping away their little beaks off at 6AM this morning also! Must be a conspiracy.

GETTINGTANG~!

[Freeler]

Jaimito Cartero,

Laundry: 100 baht per kilo.
I have to assume you made some kind of typo there....
All of your recent remarks/reports were right on the money, this one seems more than a little off...

PS The girl in picture - helluva little fuckmachine! B300.

[Jaimito Cartero]

In my last stay of a week at the GP, they put me in a higher floor room, but again, no renovated room. The tub took 20 minutes to drain, the hot water volume was pathetic, and carpeting in the hall was in sad shape. One chair support was broken, there was some sort of dark mold in the bathroom, and the A/C would not adjust correctly. (Too cold all the time, and I like it a tad cold!)

One thing during my stay was problems with my room card. I've used this same system in hotels all around the world, and have never had 1/10th the problem I had here.

At first I thought carrying the key in my shirt pocket with my digital camera was demagnetizing it. I stopped carrying them together. Sometimes the key would work, sometimes not. A few times I was able to walk up and down the hallway, holding the key, and then it worked. (The same thing happened in both rooms, on the 3rd and 6th floors).

The last night, I came back, and it didn't work. I used the phone in the hall and called the front desk. It took them 15 minutes to send someone. It had worked 45 minutes earlier with no problem.

[Jaimito Cartero]

I tried to post some more info about the GP when the messaging server screwed up a couple of weeks ago.

While the GP isn't horrible, the desk staff aren't too helpful. Get a room on a higher floor, and *do not* take a Jade room. They say it's an upgrade, but it's a corner room that's slightly bigger, but not updated lately.

The only one I'd tip was the maid. The guard downstairs didn't do anything for me. Room service was not great. They messed up orders two times out of four.

Though I never saw a room, Bright City Towers a few buildings (north?) up Soi 11 seems decent. Especially for a month stay or longer. 17,000 baht for a month for their small (25 SM), and free laundry service. Only 40 rooms though.

You can get laundry done at the Fondue restaurant/bar upstairs near the 7-11 that is across from the Ambassador hotel. 100 baht per kilo. I looked around a bit for cheaper washing, but it's not like Buenos Aires where you can get 8 kilos done for $US2.

At the Apex hotel in Pattaya, the rates were much cheaper. 8 baht for ss shirts, 5 baht for underwear.

[JackDaniels]

Phuquer

This is the link to President Solitaire.

http://www.presidentsolitaire.com/hotels/presidentsolitaire/default.asp

It is part of the same group and is a lot more luxurious and more expensive too. It is located further down Soi 13 - there is a map on the site.

Cheers.

[Phuquer]

President Solitaire??? I hadn't heard about that one. If you go, let me know what you think about it. Where exactly is it? As far as email goes, I prefer to talk to the clerk by phone, and if there is a problem with the price I want to pay, I can ask to speak to the manager right then and there. I always ask for the clerk's (or manager's) name, and always get a confirmation number. I also ask them to make a note that breakfast is included. Lastly, I ask them to email me a copy of the confirmation. But I do prefer to do the dealing over the phone. That way, any confusion is cleared up as we speak. Just my way of doing things with them. Probably not the best, but it works for me.

[Aardvark]

Actually email workls quite well, then you can carry printouts of the rates they have emailed you. I was able to solve a problem at checkout once this way. Many others have fixed problems at checkout this way also.

[JackDaniels]

Phuquer

Thanks for the feedback. I am quite tempted by President Solitaire. Its a little further away (10 minutes walk ?) but with transport provided, it should be OK. Prices are higher than GP, RP and PP but it does look amazing. Both RP and PS said guests are OK.

Cheers.

[Phuquer]

I wouldn't do anything with Grand President by email. Give them a call. Yes, Grand President, Royal President, and President Park are owned by the same group. But the prices are a little different, and the others aren't as willing to lower the prices as Grand President. Also, GP is right in the middle of everything. If you stay in the main buildings, the rooms are quite nice. Not run down at all. The rooms in building C (across the street) are a bit on the worn down side, but you don't have to pass the lobby at all to get to the rooms. And you don't have to cross the street to eat breakfast. I prefer this building. More private. But to each his own. If you want nicer rooms, the main building is the way to go. Oh, and you can get a DSL line in your room, for an additional cost. I think it is expensive, but it is available. I prefer to use the internet computers in the travel agency on the other side of the Ambassador Hotel. Very inexpensive, and private. Cheers.