Giotto's Lodge in Bangkok

Sam

Did you visit any good restaurants this trip....let us know.

Re ghosts, I'm a believer...if we ever meet up, will trade some stories with ya!

[QUOTE=Sukhumvit Sam]Gentlemen:
...
[/QUOTE]Sukhumvit Sam,

Wow.

I answer tomorrow. Must take care of the ghost now :) !


Giotto

From the Bangkok Hotel thread, a great review of Livingstone's:

[URL]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?p=596136[/URL]

Thanks, Gourmetbob1!


Giotto

Question: Is [size=+2][b]Guido Giotto???[/size][/b]


Giotto Guido

[QUOTE=Sukhumvit Sam]Gentlemen:
<cut>
Overall, the Lodge truly does deliver all that it claims, and is rumored, to do. Quite simply, the ambiance is idyllic, the service outstandingly good, the location excellent. I'd been to Thailand six or seven times over the past four or five years (if arithmetic serves), and never once derived as much enjoyment from my holiday as on this, my first time at the Lodge.

Most impressionably, it was Guido's civility and grace that set the tone for my stay. An unexpected delay in my flight plans didn't fluster him a bit: all my emails regarding reservation dates were answered promptly, personally (not by form letter), and in an eminently civilized, decent way. Other hotels (yes, I did explore other options before settling on Livingstone's for this stay) either answered my emailed booking requests with what amounted to form letters, or (in one case) failed to respond at all. Small a thing as it may seem, the difference in attitude betokened by personalized, timely responses to a customer's emails is quite something, really.
<cut>
In that same spirit of candor, I will, with some hesitation (if only because it seems ungenerous), point out a few minor flaws. There was no soap in my bathroom when I checked in. Shampoo, yes; and even conditioner (in small bottles), but no bar soap at the sink. A quick run down to the corner convenience shop took care of that, but it does seem an unfortunate oversight, still, for a hotel billing itself as above the ordinary not to provide something so essential.
<cut>
Also (and I add this half tongue-in-cheek, half seriously), there seemed to be a ghost in my room.

Lest I be mistaken for a loon, no--I do not normally encounter ghosts. I'm not that sort of fellow.

But immediately upon checking in, when the bellboy flipped on the bathroom light for me, I registered the presence of a young woman standing just to the right of the mirror. Just as suddenly, she was gone. It didn't scare me. If anything, I was baffled. Because this can't be, doesn't make sense. There was a woman standing there, for a fraction of a second, I felt her presence, half saw her, and just as suddenly, she was gone.

<cut>
Livingstone's ranks

A+ for atmosphere
A+ for location (I would have preferred a lower-numbered soi, initially, but had the best few meals of my life at the Robin Hood--lamb chops to die for!--right round the corner from the Lodge, and then discovered the superexcellent Villa Market, where you can get pate de fois gras, Russian vodka, Vegemite, and a thousand other imported goodies)
A+ for service, with a special nod to Guido

with a few points subtracted, candidly, for
1) the absence of soap
2) the presence of a ghost, though this second point must remain essentially subjective, and cannot legitimately be blamed on the ownership, management, or staff (I suppose).

Final grade: A+/A.

Do stay at Livingstone's! It's very much worth it!

Sukhumvit Sam[/QUOTE]

Damn, I always wanted to meet a Ghost but missed out in my stay at Livingstones.

Guido and Giotto are two different persons for those who don't know.
Guido is like the operational manager (Italian) where Giotto is German and the owner.

As for soap, I don't like it and prefer shower gel/creme which was supplied and is more popular in Thailand.
I therefore can't remember if soap was there as well.
Soap is usually alkaline and bad for the sexual areas due to encouraging fungal problems in sticky climates. Slightly acidic wash like "lactacyd" is something that should be used to protect your dick or pussy.
However each to there own and I do understand that many people expect a bar of soap. I get pissed off if a Hotel doesn't supply shower gel/cream as well or instead of soap.
I always wondered what appened to left over bars of used soap in Hotels. Does it get recycled on wasted? Perhaps its fed to the dogs.

Livingstones lodge met all of my needs well.
Great internet. Only went down briefly during a storm power outage.
Beds very comfortable.
Stylish bathroom.
Good pool.
Great food.
Price quite reasonable.
Great bar and hostesses.
World cup cricket was available on the TV. Good set of channels.

Only weakness was that room was quite hot when I first arrived (had been vacant for sometime). Had to be patient till aircon got it down to a nice temperature. Workman came to clean the aircon (had accumulated some dust) and then all was fixed.

Another slight problem for me was that I was a little embarassed that I was seeing more than one girl regularly and was difficult to be discreet about this. Hard to do it secretly. But, hey! Playing up is well accepted at this hotel. Its girl friendly.

[QUOTE=Sukhumvit Sam]...
In person, Guido and staff were no less welcoming. The very warmly offered welcome, the handshake, the offer of any desired help, all these things could not have been improved upon. Is Guido perhaps the world's greatest hotel manager? I certainly wouldn't bet against it!
...
In that same spirit of candor, I will, with some hesitation (if only because it seems ungenerous), point out a few minor flaws. There was no soap in my bathroom when I checked in. Shampoo, yes; and even conditioner (in small bottles), but no bar soap at the sink. A quick run down to the corner convenience shop took care of that, but it does seem an unfortunate oversight, still, for a hotel billing itself as above the ordinary not to provide something so essential.
...
[/QUOTE]Sukhumvit Sam,

Thank you for your excellent report. I nearly feel ashamed about so much positive feedback. It is not as perfect here as you write.

I will look into the soap issue, we are right now re-thinking the procuement of all hotel-bathroom amenities. But soap should of course always be available in the rooms - it was obviously a mistake of the room maids. But it might make sense to add shower gel/cream etc. etc. . Will come back with news as soon as we made the decision here.

I even did not meet you! I believe you thought that Guido is Giotto? Good for me - then I can retire now! Nobody needs me...

Thanks for staying at the Lodge. Regarding the ghosts - I always thought Mrs. Giotto is the only ghost here, but obviously I am wrong. I will write a report about all those ghosts stories happening here already.

Thanks again.



Giotto

[QUOTE=Piper1]...
As for the ghost - a shiver went down my spine. Looks like it's time for Giotto to tell the story of the woman who lived and died in the large mansion years before it became Giotto's Lodge.
...[/QUOTE]Piperman,

Yes, it was clear - the ghosts, that's what you are interested in. Let me prepare a report about that...I will have a lot of time in the future when the Lodge is empty :) !

[b]BESTARD!!![/b]


Giotto

[QUOTE=ArchieLeach]I would like to request a room without ghosts, unless of course they provide ST. What is the bar fine for ghosts?

:p[/QUOTE]ArchieLeach,

No barfine, they come for free! But they don't leave again ... :) !


Giotto

I had an experience in a hotel in Haadyai too.Never went there again.I found
out late at night and it was too late to change hotels.So I kept the room lights on the whole night.Declined offer from reception to have middle aged masseur for company the rest of the night

Giotto

If this gets to be a problem, I will gladly stay in the ghost room, for a discount of course. I have stayed at many haunted places in the British Isles and experience nothing. A ghost could BBBJ,CIM with me and I would just think it was a mishap, I am that insensitive. Bring them on. If it saves a 1000B barfine, I'll stay in a room with a Thai girl ghost and put the whole thing down to being over excited.

[QUOTE=Giotto]Sukhumvit Sam,

...

I even did not meet you! I believe you thought that Guido is Giotto? Good for me - then I can retire now! Nobody needs me...

Thanks for staying at the Lodge. Regarding the ghosts - I always thought Mrs. Giotto is the only ghost here, but obviously I am wrong. I will write a report about all those ghosts stories happening here already.

Thanks again.

Giotto[/QUOTE]


Dear Giotto,

You and I did meet, just once, about two years ago, when a friend (another ISG regular) and I visited the Lodge for dinner. So no, I did not have you and Guido confused. If we didn't meet this time, it's only because I was out and about most of the time, and simply using the Lodge as a hotel room. Next time (I plan to return in July), I'll have to visit your restaurant and bar once again.

I did think twice about including the "ghost story" in my post, but decided that it might be worth something in entertainment value. Maybe I should clarify that I'm not at all *certain* I did see a ghost. In fact, I didn't really "see" anything. Once again, I simply "registered" that someone was standing there (if that makes any sense!), and then saw that she wasn't . . . It was, make no mistake, a very strange sensation, but it may simply prove that I'm crazy! (I know too well what some people think about me already.)

If in fact others have seen ghosts at the Lodge (which you seem to suggest, though it seems you may be joking?), it definitely would be fun to read about!

Thanks for offering such a great service for all of us who travel to Bankgok!

[QUOTE=Mick Licker]...
Guido and Giotto are two different persons for those who don't know.
Guido is like the operational manager (Italian) where Giotto is German and the owner.
...
[/QUOTE]Mick Licker,

That's true, Guido and me a different persons. But Guido is not Italian - though he has an Italian name. He is German, too.


Giotto

[QUOTE=Member #3173]I had an experience in a hotel in Haadyai too.Never went there again.I found
out late at night and it was too late to change hotels.So I kept the room lights on the whole night.Declined offer from reception to have middle aged masseur for company the rest of the night[/QUOTE]Member #3173,

Hmmm...scary. I think I better change the hotel tonight :) . Do they have ghosts in Orientals, too ???


Giotto

[QUOTE=Petemcc]...
If this gets to be a problem, I will gladly stay in the ghost room, for a discount of course. I have stayed at many haunted places in the British Isles and experience nothing. A ghost could BBBJ,CIM with me and I would just think it was a mishap, I am that insensitive. Bring them on. If it saves a 1000B barfine, I'll stay in a room with a Thai girl ghost and put the whole thing down to being over excited.[/QUOTE]Petemcc,

Sorry, you misunderstood something. YOU ARE the ghost!!! And the word "discount" does not exist here at Livingstone's :).


Giotto

[QUOTE=Giotto]Petemcc,

Sorry, you misunderstood something. YOU ARE the ghost!!! And the word "discount" does not exist here at Livingstone's :).


Giotto[/QUOTE]

Funny you should say that. I was babysitting a fruitloop yesterday who told me that as soon as I left him I was dead. Perhaps I am a ghost, in which case I will not have to pay BFs or any bills, as I don't really exist.
I suppose the word 'free' doesn't exist either?