Hmmmm... guess I got it wrong huh?
Hmmm... I guess I got it wrong in suppossing that Giotto would not want a shouting match. I certainly don't want one!
On the other hand - that statement "..though we have of course a different version of it here.." does cast aspersion on me. Please advise what exactly you mean? I was the one who brought the matter up of possibly being undercharged - and now you are suggesting that I did something underhanded etc?
And then you wrote "...the phrase "(Ps. whoever got the above credit card - I'd suggest you check your credit card bill this month VERY carefully!)" sends the clear message to readers that they might be ripped off here at the Lodge..." Well Gioto - all it sends is the clear message that your staff is still NOT up to the minimum standards that one would expect. 1) How is it that I've got - and still got - the full Visa Card number - of whoever was charged that 2,295.15 Bht on MY BILL? 2) Why does it need me to point out to your staff that the ISG voucher - although clearly written on the bill - was nonetheless NOT deducted from my total bill? 3) Is it not reasonable for me to warn others who may be contemplating staying there that your staff is not up to standards? Guido wrote me - "....Unfortunately our Front desk girl was sick that day and the replacement is quite new and her English is not the best. Many things to improve here..."
And then you state "...I got your message! I understood, I can read between the lines...." so what IS MY message? If you truly understood what "not suffering fools gladly" means you certainly would NOT been getting all disjointed as now. JEEEZ!
Look-it – I’ll say it again – I DO admire your business acumen, I do think that your Lodge is OK and a fair deal – but I will also say that not everything is hunky dory – and you and Guido has as far as even admitted this fact yourselves. You’ve also said that you want a true critique on the Lodge – which I thought I was doing all along. So why can’t you accept that Napa leather or whatever else you call it – IS plastic! Why is it so hard to accept that your staff STILL requires further training? Why do you think it’s so bad that one cannot readily get a taxi from the Lodge earlier in the day (So What? – there’s tons of places where its worse!). I can even tell you that your Ladies are NOT as well run as you might think - that they DO go with customers whilst by-passing the Bar fine system you have. So there!
As I said – I do NOT want to get into a shouting match with anyone – but your latest reply is certainly not what I had thought to have expected – especially when lots of parts of my reports had been quite complimentary..
So…. Am I still welcome to stay at the Lodge in the future? Yowich!!
SE Asia Joe
[QUOTE=Giotto]........I did not even comment on your check-out story, though we have of course a different version of it here. I also don't find it very helpful to post nearly a complete credit card number here on the forum. And the phrase "(Ps. whoever got the above credit card - I'd suggest you check your credit card bill this month VERY carefully!)" sends the clear message to readers that they might be ripped off here at the Lodge. I got your message (though you always describe me as "straight", but then an "astute business man" who does "NOT suffer fools gladly")! I understood, I can read between the lines. And it really makes me feel bad, but what can I do, it is your opinion! You want me to censor your report? No, I will not.
Nothing more that I can say. Thanks for staying with us at Livingstone's Lodge.
Giotto[/QUOTE]
Where did I leave those 40 Chinese hookers?
hey giotto- i hope i didnt give you a big head with my response to poor old joes playboy analogy- admittedly i visited in january but i was only giving an honest assessment for newbies. i was on sonya,s arm but it was still intimidating walking past the bevy of black cat beauties all dressed in short, short white mini skirts.i wont forget that mental picture for quite some time. there would have been 9 or so clustered around the bar, there were another 4 or 5 drinking with their customers in the dark at the rear of the bar, there were another half a dozen congregated around a very athletic spinner go-go dancing on a small podium just below the wall mounted tv. with another 5 or 6 rep001tered around the pool table -you get the idea- just exactly how slow is the so called slow season. this is bangkok afterall and i ve never noticed a slow season on isg.
The Lodge - my experiences
My experiences with the Lodge has been mixed. As with all hotels, Livinstones is not immune to the fact that it has some deficiencies as well has many good things in its arsenal.
First of all, it is NOT EASY to run a hotel. It is NOT CHEAP to run a modestly upscale hotel. It is NOT POSSIBLE to make everyone happy all the time. As a fellow businessman, I have great respect for Giotto for trying his best. Is everything at his hotel great? No. Is everything bad? No.
In my opinion, Livingstones is a work in progress. It has still to be finished. It will have it's ups & downs but as days and months go by problems get fixed. (Except for the dungeon. I still don't have my set of whips and chains.:) )
So let's talk about the good and bad. I have stayed in the cheapest room as well as the infamous Room 15 (or is it 14) with the double jacuzzi. So here are my observations.
1. Entry
The cobbled walkway to the front desk is nice and pretty but a hell on my rolling luggage wheels. Since I stop in LOS on my way to India, I have two heavy full size suitcases, carry-on, a laptop and the booze bag purchased at King Power it is a herculean task. If you come in at odd hours, there is no one at the entry. So do I leave half my stuff on the street while I go in to leave the other half? Big dilemma.
My suggestion: have some luggage carts at the entry way, or a call button on the elephant tusk so someone can be called from the check in desk.
2. Check-in/front desk
Used to be that the front desk was not manned 24-7. So if you arrived late/early you would have to wait around. One time I came in around 4 am and had to get my room keys from the wall behind the desk.
The problem has since been fixed.
3. Rooms
I like the rooms with their wood floors and simplistic designs. I like the teakwood furnitures. And the NAPA LEATHER (definition: Napa leather, or Nappa leather, is extremely soft and supple and is commonly found in higher quality wallets, toiletry kits, and other personal leather goods.) The ACs works very well.
4. Bathrooms
Nicely done with upscale hardware. Drawbacks: No room at the wash basin to keep your own toiletries, and no hooks.
5. Common areas.
Very well maintained. Clean. Good landscape. Good poolside tables. Nice job. And I love those masks.
6. Food
Excellent and priced accordingly. I would not be able to afford it every day for lunch and dinner, so I just have them occasionally. The breakfast is good but I wish they had some variations on different days. Also, weiners are not sausages. I have no idea why they are called that in LOS.
7. The lounge and the ladies.
Not an extraordinary place but nice and well done. The ladies are nice but some just stay at the entrance. I wish they ALL would come over and say hello. I find it uncomfortable to look at them and pointing out and motioning them to come over, or have another girl to tell someone else to come over. It feels like you are at a cattle auction. I must say at this point, this is not particular to Livingstones but in many other bars as well. However, it could be that I am not the hansum man they want to be with.
The bar fines are a little out of range for me at 1500B, but then I have also splurged a few times with excellent results. As for ST and LT rates, I have negotiated 1000 B ST and 1500/2000 B LT. And they like it when they find that you are staying at the Lodge.
As with any other bars mistakes are sometimes made. So it is a good idea to check the bar tabs every time a slip goes in your cup.
8. Service
Overall excellent. Very helpful staff. No complaints there. Issues are taken care of promptly and both Guido and Giotto could not be better hosts.
9. Checkout
I wish they had a full fledged billing software. I suspect, but I could be wrong, that the billing problems some have reported could be avoided if they moved away from manual billing. (I won't elaborate but Dr. G probably knows what I am alluding to.)
10. Taxis
Yup, they are not always there in front of the hotel, but a simple request to the staff takes care of that. They will go out and get you a taxi, so I don't see that as an issue.
Did I leave anything out? Ah yes, the dungeon. I am still waiting it to be finished. :D
If you look at it overall, the issues are minor and they are in line with the industry, and in many cases the amenities and service provided are much more superior. And the personal touch makes it even so.
Duni
TQM Bestard Manager
