Bangkok Hotels

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1842291]This is because all Starwood properties (and Marriott and Hilton) use "rate parity". The lowest rate available online must be matched by the rate available in the companies official distribution channels. If a Starwood SPG member can find a publicly available rate lower on a website than the official Starwood channel, they can claim compensation etc etc. All Starwood managed properties abide by this.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the clarification. My post to the effect I have not seen lower rates on third-party websites for the SPG hotels I stay at was a reaction to GDreams post stating "They all have best rate guarantee programs so you can book the same or better rate via the hotels system. For SPG they reward you with a further 20% off the alternate websites rate. These days I rarely pay full rates from the hotel websites. " My response was essentially that with SPG "not in my experience." But YMMV I suppose, and it is possible a lower rate on an SPG hotel might slip by on a third-party website every now and then (particularly given SPG adjusts its own rates on its website from day to day to reflect projected occupancies and so forth).

There is one other thing I wonder. You stated all "Starwood-managed properties" abide by this, yet Starwood has a number of franchised properties that display a Starwood brand name but are locally managed by non-Starwood General Managers (who often do not follow the SPG rules for upgrades and so forth). Although Starwood seems unwilling to release a list of such properties, if one complains to Starwood about the performance of such a property, it is not unheard of to receive a letter back stating among other things "Starwood is not involved in the day to day management of this particular property" (I once did receive such a letter regarding a Sheraton that turned out to be a franchised property under local management) Did you mean to exclude such properties from your statement about Starwood enforcing rate parity on its Starwood managed properties?

Let me first say thank you to all your contributions as they have been very helpful for my short trip to BKK. Going to be there this Sunday morning and spend two nights. I'm choosing between Mermaid Hotel (corner suite room) and The Fusion Suite (Deluxe room). Other than the location which seems to me that Mermaid is the winner is there anything else any I should consider? I'm thinking about having some sessions in MP's and take a WG with me to tuck me in at night. Therefore I don't mind to stay in Fusion and traveling the extra mile in order to go to the MP's that are located nearby Phrom Phong such as Cherry's, Addict and perhaps Tulip a bit further. Seems that both hotels are lady friendly? Anything else I should consider before booking? How about the local food in both areas? Any recommendations? Comments would be highly appreciated.

Cheers

[QUOTE=MusicalToM;1842040]I searched for some hotels within the price range of $30 & not quite decisive to final one. Although I kind of made my mind if nothing I find better in next few days will book "Rajah Hotel".

May be someone can suggest me a better place in my price range. Hoping for the best.[/QUOTE]At your price point for lower Suk take a look at the Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel.

SL.

[QUOTE=Sunlover2;1842461]At your price point for lower Suk take a look at the Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel.

SL.[/QUOTE]Thanks a lot for sharing the name. Hotel looks wonderful. I'm going with the bookings.

I hope the hotel is 100% girl friendly. Some good discount sale is going on, if somebody else is looking in the specified price range, must have a look.

Dear all,

Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel is having some bad repo in terms of behavior towards it's guests. I know people are booking it for it's cheaper price & location, but be prepared to face any bad behavior by the staff if you are not lucky enough. I changed my mind to not book this hotel since I'll be staying for 3 nights & bringing girls to my room. When I pay to stay any kind of bad behavior is not acceptable at all.

Again requesting all to suggest a nice girl friendly hotel in $30 budget.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1840899]That was a bit brief. Can you teach us more about how this is done?[/QUOTE]I visit BKK around 2 times per year. As a Platinum member I prefer the 5 stars as I get the free breakfast and drinks included and also regular upgrades to suites on the base rate.

I usually look first at Hotelscombined and if I can't find a better rate then look further afield to other aggregations. I also look at the best rate guarantee thread in flyertalk for websites that are regularly providing BRG opportunities. If I find a lower price on SPG I book a cancellable rate and then apply for the BRG on the SPG website. If they approve it they will send a confirmation with rate set at the competitor minus 20% rate. There is an option to get 2000 points but I only look at this option for 1 night stays. If they refuse the BRG for one of their technical reasons you can look for an alternative or cancel the booking. Even though the original booking is refundable they will compare their lowest nonrefundable booking to do the match but if successful they keep the matched rate refundable whereas if you use a non refundable rate then you are stuck with that booking.

For SPG the Royal Orchid is almost a certainty to find but I avoid it because I don't like the location. The W is a regular. I have booked a couple of times and received rates of 3300 ++ which is pretty good for that standard hotel. Plaza Athenee usually available at similar or less than W. Standard rates for these hotels are +5000. Westin I have had high 2000 to low 3000. These three I just keep looking until I find a rate I can BRG and have never failed in finding one. I am usually are there in July and Dec / Jan. Aloft is sometimes available for low 2000's. The other SPGs are more difficult to find BRGs but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I haven't done BRGs for other chains but they all have programs with their own processes so if you want all the benefits of points and status read up on how to apply them for your chain.

I am sure other hotels are cheaper but my plat benefits are worth 1500 to 3000 baht per day for breakfast and drinks for 2 people not including the value if I paid for suites which in many cases would cost another 5000 - 10000 baht a day if I were paying the SPG website price. In January I decided to burn a few of my points as SPG are to merge with Marriott. I spent 16 nights (15 in 5* and 1 in Aloft) and didn't get charged one cent.

I just spent a few nights in the Landmark, my place of choice when I pass through Bangkok, usually on business (I live in Manila).

I got an upgrade to the Premium Floor and it was superb, with drinks and food available in the Lounge.

I like this place although at $110 usd per night it is relatively expensive, but I like the bars in the property and the food is good too when you don't wish to struggle along the nearby sois for the street food (which I also always enjoy).

I went to the Huntsman Pub on 2 evenings and on Sunday evening there were 3 very stylish-looking FLs sitting at the bar (each in separate places, not together) and eyeing off the farangs scattered around the tables. I was working and needed to behave myself so I didn't test the waters but after I had done a run through Nana (just around the corner from Landmark) I came back for a final ale and by that time 2 of them had landed a victim so I guess it ended well for all. For those of you who like the 5-star experience, the Landmark is in the A plus position and well worth it.

Had some trepidations about this hotel after learning they only allowed one girl per day into your hotel, if you went over you'd get an extra 1000 baht charged to your room. It never happened though, found for the most part that I'd only take one girl back per day and spent the rest of my hobbying at either the BJ clubs or the oil massages. Did find that most girls complained about the walk to the hotel so its unlikely I'll bother staying here again.

Just past soi 6 on soi 4, half the price of the Phachara suites. Was a decent hotel, I'd give it a 2 star rating at most. Not bad since your on soi 4 but not the best setup for hanging out in the room. No problem with bringing girls back to the room, they gave them a visitors pass at the front gate after getting your room number.

Nice hotel. Guest friendly. 4 star at most.

Citrus 11 3.5 star. Nice room and VFM.

Never brought a girl to my room yet but at dream hotel many punters bring ladies to the room.

Stayed in Hotel Mermaid for a couple of nights. Booked a corner suite. Price was about 2100 Bath per night. Can't really fault it except for the first day when I noticed that there were some empty bottles of shampoo / bath gel left in the shower area.

Spacious and quiet room with small balcony, AC, mini bar, coffee / tea making facilities, safety deposit box that allows you to store a 13"/14" laptop in and a comfy king sized bed with some purple ambient light behind you. Glass partition between bedroom and bathroom which is a nice touch. Nice bathroom with bath tub and separate rain shower.

Friendly staff. While check out they checked my room and they noticed me that I had forgotten something which was correct. Going up my room the housekeeper notified me that I forgotten a piece of underwear and a box of condoms. Very thoughtful.

It's positioned between Asok and Phrom Phong. Both in reasonable walking distance. Let's say about 10 minutes maximum.

Didn't tried their breakfast nor did it tried to bring in a WG. Not that it should be a problem as I have seen quite some men bringing in exotic ladies. I think that if you want to pickup somebody from Soi Cowboy she won't fancy to go along with you for ST. Not that it should disturb you as there's a ST hotel nearby Soi Cowboy where you can amuse yourself with the girl. Not sure where the place is but if the rooms are as nice as the room you can rent in NEP (350 Bath /1 hour) then you're safe.

Maybe I was lucky this time meaning that I could hear some talking in the room next door. So if you have a very active neighbor it might be best to have some earplugs with you just in case.

All in all a highly recommendable place.

I used to stay in this hotel for years and it was my favorite in BKK (just next to Soi cowboy, GF without any questions, etc) but it seems to be the last Time. They recently move the reception on the ground floor now. At your arrival they force you to sign a note with a lot of points including 1000 bahts joiner fees for any Guest. If you really want to invite somebody in your room, everybody can watch the scene because the reception area is filmed on the TV Channel of the hotel (Channel 1 for everybody).

Booked her with a Superior room in the Tower wing. Anyone been here? I read the Climax bar in the hotel has a good selection of freelancers? I chose it because it appears to have large rooms and had one of the larger pool areas for daytime leisure. I still have time, if I were persuaded otherwise.

Cheers.

[QUOTE=Nixonbd;1850466]Booked her with a Superior room in the Tower wing. Anyone been here? I read the Climax bar in the hotel has a good selection of freelancers? I chose it because it appears to have large rooms and had one of the larger pool areas for daytime leisure. I still have time, if I were persuaded otherwise.

Cheers.[/QUOTE]Great location but the hotel has been in need of a renovation for a long time. If it has been upgraded recently then it would be ok. I would stay at Grand President on the same soi about 300 meters away. Grand Prez rooms should be nicer than Ambassador. Aloft, also on Soi 11, would be even nicer but pricier. Soi 11 is a great place to stay.

[QUOTE=Nixonbd;1850466]Booked her with a Superior room in the Tower wing. Anyone been here? I read the Climax bar in the hotel has a good selection of freelancers? I chose it because it appears to have large rooms and had one of the larger pool areas for daytime leisure. I still have time, if I were persuaded otherwise.
.[/QUOTE]I dropped into the foyer of the Ambassador some 3 weeks ago around late morning in order to check out some rooms to consider for my next trip and it was filled with middle eastern gentlemen and women as well as lots of small kids running around.

I never stayed or bothered to check a room.

This may not be of concern to you Nix but it's a heads-up just in case it is.