Bangkok Hotels

[QUOTE=Asianatic;1327275]Thanks brother. I want to book for my December stays. I guess its still too early a bit to book as mysterydeal. I love the Aloft.[/QUOTE]I do not know this for sure but it's unlikely you will find Aloft as a mystery deal in December. It's high season and they do not need to discount. Again speculating, but maybe you should see what kind of offer they have right now on their own websites and grab whatever discount you can find.

If it was me, I think the best thing about this hotel is that it is new. The room actually is a bit on the small side. I do not think the location is all that great either but I do not party on Soi 11 so much. With all the choices in Bangkok now I would not stay here for any more money than the mystery deal at 1900 baht.

[QUOTE=Levitraboner; 1327204]I'm thinking Dynasty Grande or majestic suites. I've been to BKK before I think I stayed at the Grand President but that sucked. Is the Dynasty Grande OK?

Thanks[/QUOTE]I stayed here for 5 nights and it was a pleasure. Thier 1BR premeir is huge and has every luxury. Also, has a kichen with Microwave, Refrigerator, Cooking hob where you can prepare a decent meal or just make some pop corn for the night show. Whats beats all this is thier price, I got this room for $52 / night which I think is a steal which included breakfast for 2 and free wifi. Also you get a half day complimentory tour to chose from if you want to be a tourist during the day. Get upto 2 joiners for the night and they don't blink a eye.

Breakfast is not all that great and can be missed. Also, its a little down Soi 4, may be a 5 min walk from Nana Plaza.

Attaching some pics. Sorry for the quality as its my phone cam.

Regards,

A

[QUOTE=Alpanico; 1327735]I stayed here for 5 nights and it was a pleasure. Thier 1BR premeir is
Regards,

A[/QUOTE]Doesn't look too bad. Thanks for the info.

[QUOTE=Levitraboner; 1327204]I'm thinking Dynasty Grande or majestic suites. I've been to BKK before I think I stayed at the Grand President but that sucked. Is the Dynasty Grande OK?

Thanks[/QUOTE]I can recommend Phachara Suites which is (usually) slightly cheaper and same location or The Dawin which is a little cheaper still.

I think I'll go for the Dynasty Grand but it would be nice if it was closer to the skytrain. If anyone has ideas of something decent very near any of the stops along sukhumvit I'd consider that too. I don't have much time to decide but I may check out the secret deals on wotif too. Thanks to all you guys who make regular contributions to this site.

[QUOTE=Levitraboner;1327923]I think I'll go for the Dynasty Grand but it would be nice if it was closer to the skytrain. If anyone has ideas of something decent very near any of the stops along sukhumvit I'd consider that too. I don't have much time to decide but I may check out the secret deals on wotif too. Thanks to all you guys who make regular contributions to this site.[/QUOTE]Try On8 in Suk Road alongside Nana skytrain. Close to all action and GF. Saves fares, waiting for rides etc etc No pool and room views but if all you want to do is drink and fuck. It is value.

Rosco

Does someone got an idea about the link to the Grand Millenium mystery deal at Wotif please?

I am considering between the GM and the ALoft. Aloft because location, GM because it offer such a nice room.

Thank all,

A.

[QUOTE=Giotto;1318652]What I don't understand - [b]I AM HERE AT LIVINGSTONE'S ALL THE TIME. [/b] Why do I have to read about this problem in the Internet, why can I not get the information in the moment when the problem occurs, that I can fix it and make it up to the customer?[/QUOTE]Hi G,

I have stayed at your hotel on a few occasions with a few minor problems, but nothing to get too excited about.

The problem with people complaining, is that [u]most[/u] of us don't like to. I hear people in my industry often saying "why didn't you complain to me?". Well 1) I don't want any "perceived" friction in a holiday (or whatever) environment. 2) I might think you have bigger things to worry about, or 3) There might not be much I think you can do about it whilst I am here. These are only some of the reasons.

I guess the point I am trying to make in my round about way, is that it might be OK to offer to be accessible to fix any problems, but it can be difficult to create an environment where guests freely feel able to.

My two cents worth.

Styk.

[QUOTE=Stykler; 1328359]Hi G,

I guess the point I am trying to make in my round about way, is that it might be OK to offer to be accessible to fix any problems, but it can be difficult to create an environment where guests freely feel able to.

Styk.[/QUOTE]I have a slightly different view. If something is wrong my first thought is 'why the heck did the manager / staff not notice / know about the problem? ' Any well run hotel is well run because everything is monitored / managed by the staff. Why should I be manageing the hotel when I am paying for it to be managed?

One ought to need to approach management for 'extras. '. Eg, an adaptor plug for a computer lead but then a well run hotel would have those in the room.

I have stayed at the Majestic Grande located on 12 SoiPha Suk last time I was in Bangkok. I actually loved the hotel, good rate, close to Nana Entertainment Plaza and right next to Annie's Soapy. I am going back in November and I will probably stay there again.

My question is, can some of you that are more familiar with Bangkok recommend me a better place? I don't want to miss out on a better option.

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=Chilaxin; 1328433]I have stayed at the Majestic Grande located on 12 SoiPha Suk last time I was in Bangkok. I actually loved the hotel, good rate, close to Nana Entertainment Plaza and right next to Annie's Soapy. I am going back in November and I will probably stay there again.

My question is, can some of you that are more familiar with Bangkok recommend me a better place? I don't want to miss out on a better option.

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]I must have tried probably 10 hotels over the years in Bangkok. And, given that the Oriental (definitely not GF) was on 'expenses' I am going to be in the Majestic Grande for a couple of nights in early November and there again at the end of the month.

[QUOTE=Stykler; 1328359].

The problem with people complaining, is that [u]most[/u] Of us don't like to. I hear people in my industry often saying "why didn't you complain to me?". Well 1) I don't want any "perceived" friction in a holiday (or whatever) environment. 2) I might think you have bigger things to worry about, or 3) There might not be much I think you can do about it whilst I am here. These are only some of the reasons.[/QUOTE]Stykler,

OK, accepted.

Still - we try to provide the environment that guests can come to us (management) and talk if there are problems. And I can only encourage everybody staying here: [b]Talk to me, I am here.[/b]

I will respond to some of the reports below in the "Giotto's Lodge in Bangkok" thread. Don't want to fill this thread up with a back and forth discussion about Livingstone's Lodge. But one report describes the actual situation very reasonable, and that's why I reply to it here:

[QUOTE=Scorchin1470; 1322921]I have stayed at Livingstones several times over then years. I have liked it for its convenience, its quietness and its friendly staff including Guido. However it is (I) expensive; (ii) the food was

Better before the fancy menu; (iii) there is nothing special about the WGs in the Sports bar (and the 'bar fine is high in comparison with other place) ; and (iv) Soi 33 has lost its class and has become just another scruffy night club street.

Over the years there has been minimal investment in improving the rooms which are sparse.[/QUOTE]Scorchin1470,

You have some good points here. My comments:

[b]1) Expensive[/b]

There is a price war ongoing right now in the hotel business in Bangkok. And there is no way that a 18 room hotel can compete with those prices. Some new hotels were opening in Soi 33. Check out S 33 hotel, new, reasonable rooms for around THB 1,000.00 ++.

I decided that we will not participate in the price war any more. People should like the space and ambiance of our place. This hotel is different, it is not one of the big concrete bunkers. And we (management) are here to take care of our guests, to arrange tours and to consult about tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping opportunities and night life. That's what you can get when you stay here - and pay our room rates. If you need it cheaper - stay somewhere else.

Furthermore - I still don't consider room rates between THB 1,800.00 and THB 3,000.00 as being expensive.

[b]2) Food[/b]

We cut our menu to half - and took out a lot of those "fancy" dishes. We added more pasta to the international menu, steaks and hamburger as before. The Thai menu was reduced to the specialties and the fast movers we know from the past.

[b]3) WGs[/b]

Livingstone's Lodge is a boutique hotel, not a brothel. There are girls working in our bar, as girls are working in other hotel bars in Bangkok. Some of our girls are good with customers, some are lousy (and will then not work for long here). Still - what happens between the girls and the customers is completely out of my control. AND I WILL NEVER GET INVOLVED INTO THAT.

I can give certain information to customers, based on feedbacks I get from other customers, but that is it. I will NOT tell the girls what they have to do for a customer in the room, how to perform certain techniques and how many times they have to perform. ALL THIS IS ENTIRELY A DEAL BETWEEN CUSTOMER AND GIRL.

Customers staying at our hotel do not need to take girls from our bar - of course not! There are so many bars out there, beer bars, gogo bars, discos, late night spots. Find your girl wherever you want and bring her back to the hotel room. If you find one in our bar - Ok, but this is definitely NOT what Livingstone's Lodge is all about.

[b]4) Soi 33[/b]

I agree, Soi 33 has a lot of problems, lost a lot of customers. This has advantages and disadvantages for customers.

The advantages are, that prices have come down (beer cheaper than in Cowboy) , that in general it is a buyers market. And though there are less girls than in the years before - it is easy to find somebody now, because many bars are empty.

I personally don't like to sit in empty bars, somehow it's no fun then. I prefer a bit more action. But - for finding girls Soi 33 is still ok. For fun then later in the nights go to Mojo's - life music, many people.

In general the road redefines itself right now. And that will last for some time (same like Soi 11 some years ago). Old fashioned hostess bars are closing (Vincent, Papa, Gaugin gone, Monet merged into the Building of Dali, etc. etc. etc.). Some new Coyote bars are opening up. There is a new one, LIPS, just opened a few days ago. Rumors say that there will be RUSSIAN Coyote dancers. I will have a look soon and provide a report.

[b]5) Investments[/b]

We invested a lot. But most of it into the wrong building. And we lost that building because a bar was moving in next to us, and it was that noisy that nobody could sleep in those 9 rooms any more.

Livingstone's Lodge now only provides 18 rooms in the old villa. All SUPERIOR ROOMS (those with the highest occupancy rate) are RIGHT NOW under renovation. All bathrooms in all rooms are renovated already. We introduced a complete new satellite system, after TRUE-Vision could not be used any more (for some reasons). All important channels are there (CNN, BLOOMBERG, HBO, ESPN, STAR SPORTS, FOX MOVIES, etc. etc.).

The most important investment was done with our new WiFi system. With the upcoming smartphones we had much more demand on bandwith and broadband internet access. We installed 6 access points, and you have real fast WiFi all over our premises. In the rooms you additionally have wired broadband access.

Our website has a new design. We try to get the central 5 messages across to our customers. Check it out:

[URL]http://www.livingstoneslodge.com[/URL]

For our friends we provide all kinds of information on our facebook page:

[URL]http://www.facebook.com/LivingstonesLodge[/URL]

Everybody is invited to like the page and become a friend, but remember: [b]That is a facebook page, for family members as well. It is NOT the ISG. Giotto does not exist there. No comments about night life, please! [/b]

That's it - enough!

Sad that you decided to stay in another hotel this time. But such is life. I still hope that you get over here once you are in Bangkok, and we have a drink together.


Giotto
[URL]http://www.livingstoneslodge.com[/URL]

[QUOTE=Giotto; 1328503][b]2) Food[/b]

We cut our menu to half. And took out a lot of those "fancy" dishes. We added more pasta to the international menu, steaks and hamburger as before. The Thai menu was reduced to the specialties and the fast movers we know from the past.[/QUOTE]The menu on the website looks pretty good to me. I don't see anything important missing.

With the upgrade to the wifi, I may just make a return soon, when I am officially not in Thailand (but actually are). I hope some of the very most popular regular staff still remain. Did Miss "Turbo" (breakfast waitress) return after her break? Never saw a more efficient waitress that always knew what I wanted before I even thought of it.

[QUOTE=Scorchin1470; 1328367]I have a slightly different view. If something is wrong my first thought is 'why the heck did the manager / staff not notice / know about the problem? ' Any well run hotel is well run because everything is monitored / managed by the staff. Why should I be manageing the hotel when I am paying for it to be managed?

One ought to need to approach management for 'extras. '. Eg, an adaptor plug for a computer lead but then a well run hotel would have those in the room.[/QUOTE]Are you working in the Hotel industry?

[QUOTE=NicFrenchy;1328547]Are you working in the Hotel industry?[/QUOTE]I cannot see any justification for the question but in response:

No.