Bangkok Hotels

[QUOTE=Patty Boy]I do not know when the theft occured exactly, since I had such a fat wad of cash that I carelessly never paid attention to whether it was shrinking significantly (maybe the theft occured over several days), [/quote]Common enough MO, extract a little each day, to avoid suspicion/detection. My wife has this down to an art :)

[QUOTE=Patty Boy]I was not aware that the in room safes could not be trusted.[/quote]A room safe is like the TSA airport security in the US: security theater. It provides the ILLUSION of security.

To see, lock the safe, then report to reception that you forgot the combo, and see how quickly they can open it :)

[QUOTE=Patty Boy]I definitely don't want to be carrying all of that money on my person either.[/quote]Wise move, there are excellent pickpockets about.

[QUOTE=Patty Boy]For future trips, I read that putting your cash in the safety deposit box at the front desk is the safest option? Can I get some feedback on where to keep cash in the future, as I really don't want this happening again in the future.[/QUOTE]I'd say yes, with the added proviso that you put it in an envelope, seal it, and sign your name across the sealed flap. You can always buy a roll of scotch tape at Robinson's to put over your signature.

Yes, a hassle to do EVERY time you extract money, but a lot cheaper than your experience.

Thanks for posting a head's up story.

[QUOTE=11Bravo]I'd say yes, with the added proviso that you put it in an envelope, seal it, and sign your name across the sealed flap. You can always buy a roll of scotch tape at Robinson's to put over your signature.

Yes, a hassle to do EVERY time you extract money, but a lot cheaper than your experience.

Thanks for posting a head's up story.[/QUOTE]Good advice, also could skip carrying the wad and use an ATM as and when needed. I travel with cash as i find it easier, and have never had a problem. I do tend to keep a good track of it though.

Loosing close to half the stash and not realizing it until after, someone was having a great time!

Realistically don't most of us use the in room safe as opposed to the safety deposit box near the front desk? Maybe we (I) will learn from another monger's misfortune.

Call me old fashioned but I still bring traveler checks along to Thailand. They are easier to cash in BKK or Pattaya than most other places in the world. I also use my ATM card often even though Chase Visa charges $3 per withdrawal.

But at the end of the day, yes, I always use the inroom safe. I'll try to keep less cash on hand in the future.

Try using a Debit card in one of the millions of ATM's, that way you only take out the cash you need.

Keep some Travellers Cheques as back up.

Failing everything else on arrival go to the nearest bank, set up a bank account, convert it all to baht and then take out of the bank as needed.

Sorry, but in 2010 why are you carrying cash? Unless of course you cannot deposit it and must use it. Knudge knudge wink wink.

[QUOTE=Patty Boy]Hi all, I am returning from my 2nd trip to Bangkok. I had stayed at the Dynasty Inn, which was recommended to me, near Nana Plaza for four days. I had (stupidly) stored about $2, 500 US in the safe and had not really counted through all of my cash reguarly. I do not know when the theft occured exactly, since I had such a fat wad of cash that I carelessly never paid attention to whether it was shrinking significantly (maybe the theft occured over several days), and any shrinkage I may have just attributed to my own usage. I just took what I needed, but when I was checking out, I counted through and realized that about $1, 000 US (or over 30, 000 baht) was missing. I was not aware that the in room safes could not be trusted. I definitely don't want to be carrying all of that money on my person either. For future trips, I read that putting your cash in the safety deposit box at the front desk is the safest option? Can I get some feedback on where to keep cash in the future, as I really don't want this happening again in the future.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=The Pro]Ask yourself why anyone on a BB would go out of their way to attempt to support a place they have no affiliation with at all. You will never see me do that.[/QUOTE]

In the 23 years I've been participating on internet BBs I have see many things. I ask myself, why does someone go out of their way to attempt to trash a place if they have no personal poor experience or anything to gain themselves. So what is the experience you had that was so terrible? What competing business have you seen suffer due to the marketing by these establishments? In my experience there must be another agenda. So what is it?

[QUOTE=Rambis Youth]My point was that Soi 4 to 19 doesn't have a monopoly on good hotels. Just pick your preferred location and find a suitable hotel. Easy.

I think in essence we agree. I'm not suggesting people shouldn't stay there. I'm saying everyone should stay in the location that is best for them and there will be differences here.[/QUOTE]


Very true. Anyone with young children, for example, would be much better off avoiding this area.

Also, the excellent public transportation along Suk makes it less important, though this doesn't help for the really late night action.

If the so-called Gentlemen's clubs are your thing, Soi 33 is ideal.

I prefer to take my sleaze neat, undiluted by the trappings of "civility", thus lower Suk is my favorite.

Its called making the BB useful, which is the whole point of a BB.

If people cannot be allowed to raise negative opinions then the BB will get overrun by pushers and "paid for, in cash or kind" pushers of certain places, who will attempt to manipulate opinion and sucker in more newbie mug punters to their overpriced and undervalue places.

[QUOTE=Pita123]In the 23 years I've been participating on internet BBs I have see many things. I ask myself, why does someone go out of their way to attempt to trash a place if they have no personal poor experience or anything to gain themselves. So what is the experience you had that was so terrible? What competing business have you seen suffer due to the marketing by these establishments? In my experience there must be another agenda. So what is it?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=The Pro]Try using a Debit card in one of the millions of ATM's, that way you only take out the cash you need.

Keep some Travellers Cheques as back up.

Failing everything else on arrival go to the nearest bank, set up a bank account, convert it all to baht and then take out of the bank as needed.

Sorry, but in 2010 why are you carrying cash? Unless of course you cannot deposit it and must use it. Knudge knudge wink wink.[/QUOTE]

My bank charges $3.00 per ATM withdrawal and Thai banks charge me B100-150. Frequent ATM usage is costly. I keep traveler checks in reserve and use an ATM every 3 days or so. On a 2 week trip I'll spend about $15 in fees. Some of that $15 in fees is offset by a favorable exchange rate offered by most ATMs. I still need cash in case my ATM card gets shut down by my bank's security.

[QUOTE=Allover]My bank charges $3.00 per ATM withdrawal and Thai banks charge me B100-150. Frequent ATM usage is costly. [/QUOTE]Up until a couple of years ago (well, maybe more than that :) ), using an ATM card was convenient and not expensive - like you say, maybe a $3.00 not-my-bank atm fee. But reasonable exchange rate...

These days, because they can, American banks have jacked up, and inserted, every fee imaginable. Seems that Thailand has joined the atm cash cow mentality. The not-my-bank atm fee is $5.00, and there's "this side's" 150 baht fee. That comes close to $10 USD's every time I make a withdrawal. For security reasons, I limit the amount of cash I can withdraw every 24 hours.

I would never use my visa card as any withdrawal is viewed as a cash advance, with its own outrageous fees, plus foreign transaction fee, plus low exchange rate ("to protect bank against currency fluctuations" - yea, right). I remember once when I needed to make a quick withdrawal as I was expecting a visit from an a-lister in a foreign land. In my excitement/hurry, I mistakenly used my visa card rather than my atm card (both looked alike, except for a small "debit card" printed on the atm). Once cash withdrawn, realized my mistake - an extra $15 "stupidity" tax.

It seems that time might have reverted back 25 years, when traveler's checks were the norm, especially since I can get them free from the bank (bit of a surprise when I found out Amex no longer offers 'checks by phone' - obviously the demand has collapsed over the last 20 years). But it's only about a $1 per check stamp fee to cash here.

The other alternative would be a wire transfer to a bank account here, but, if joint, you might have to explain where that money is going... Maybe the atm fees aren't that bad after all :)

[QUOTE=The Pro]Its called making the BB useful, which is the whole point of a BB.

If people cannot be allowed to raise negative opinions then the BB will get overrun by pushers and "paid for, in cash or kind" pushers of certain places, who will attempt to manipulate opinion and sucker in more newbie mug punters to their overpriced and undervalue places.[/QUOTE]There is a difference between having and presenting a negative opinion and taking it upon yourself to raise that opinion every time a place is mentioned. You actually are not making the BB or anything more useful but just showing that you have some agenda to drag down some businesses. What happened? What is the terrible experience you had? What is your agenda?

[QUOTE=11Bravo]It seems that time might have reverted back 25 years, when traveler's checks were the norm, especially since I can get them free from the bank[/QUOTE]I agree. I did a lot of research on this before my trip and I brought traveler's checks for my main funding and my ATM cards as backup. I used all $100 denomination checks as the fee to cash them in Thailand is per check. I can also get them for free so I'm planning on doing the same when I go back.

[QUOTE=Methos]I agree. I did a lot of research on this before my trip and I brought traveler's checks for my main funding and my ATM cards as backup. I used all $100 denomination checks as the fee to cash them in Thailand is per check. I can also get them for free so I'm planning on doing the same when I go back.[/QUOTE]If they charge per check then why not get $500 checks instead of $100? Not being a smart ass but just trying to learn as I am hoping to get to Thailand in the near future.

After reading on the Forum tried this place for 6 days recently. Pretty good value, very modern & clean & good staff. Short walk to the Nana Skytrain, and very central to all the other local "attractions" I will use it again for sure.

I get my traveler checks through Chase Bank. They offer AMEX checks for free but they don't have the $500 denomonations.

[QUOTE=Allover]I get my traveler checks through Chase Bank. They offer AMEX checks for free but they don't have the $500 denomonations.[/QUOTE]OK, thanks, but I know that AMEX does have $500 since I have purchased them before but maybe your bank does not carry it. I just wanted to see if there is a problem with Thai banks cashing $500 checks.