Hotels BANGKOK

[mardhi]

(SamplerDoc @ May 27 2006,11:26) Okay guys ....
after reading this thread twice and doing my own research here in the great white north, I have come to this conclusion....

I am so frickin lost
Too many choices I have narrowed it down to a few.

I have read alot about the majestic and dynasty from your above posts.

but how about these for price, having a nice clean feel and look and being LB and close to the action?

The following all seem to range from 50-90 USD:

Grand President
DMa Pavilion Hotel
Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok
Rembrandt Hotel
President Solitaire
Chateau De Bangkok By Sofitel

Thanks for any input .

I find the hotel search alot dam harder than the airfare,which is all booked

Certainly looks like I have my hotel hat on tonight !!!

Grand President - good location not too far down Soi 15 so an easy walk. I have heard lots of negative comments recently from previous fans talking about huge price hikes - typical of the Suk area at the moment, but overall a nice enough property.

Dma Pavillion - is that on Soi 24/26 or somewhere around there? If it is forget it - its crap and full of package holiday tourists (i.e the husband and wife on their 'exotic' trip to Thailand from Europe and US) - its not considered a first class property by any stretch of the imagination and the location is crap.

Holiday Inn Silom - you might as well be in Pattaya for the time it would take you to get to Nana - nice enough hotel but really bad location just before the bridge and the traffic is really bad there in the rush hour. An hour typically to get to Nana by Taxi. Its not even that convenient for Patpong - if you want Patpong, stay at the Dusit in this price range.

Rembrandt is not guest friendly from what I understand.

President Solitaire - very nice place, was going to be the Kempinski Hotel prior to the 97 crash so rooms are spacious and well equiped - they all have 42" Plasma TV's I believe. Location is not bad - its on the crux of Soi 11 and 13 but quite far down into the Soi - very convenient for Bed Supperclub and Q Bar both a 2 minute walk from there. Nana is a taxi ride or a sweaty 15 minute walk.

Chateau De Bangkok - I have stayed here many times - nice property getting a bit old but well run and recently refurbished. Good quiet location but inconvenient for a taxi to get to Nana - Basically they have to go all the wrong ways on the road to get you there - its way quicker just to walk up the street and across the railway line - but a taxi cannot go that way. Jacuzzis in many of the rooms and the one bedroom suites are great and very good value for money.


Having said all that and having stayed in many of these places, I'd still say your far better off staying at either the Dynasty Grande or the Grande Majestic with the C De Bkk third if your looking for ease of access to Nana and a nice hotel at a reasonable price.
Cheers
Mardhi

[SamplerDoc]

 

Having said all that and having stayed in many of these places, I'd still say your far better off staying at either the Dynasty Grande or the Grande Majestic with the C De Bkk third if your looking for ease of access to Nana and a nice hotel at a reasonable price.  

Thanks for that great post, I feel much better now Dynasty looks okay and seems like a great location and price but what about the bugs?

Is the Grande Majestic same price and location but older?

Should I book one this week for a First week of August stay?  Not sure how this works being a hotel that is half a world away.


Thanks

[Guest]

(SamplerDoc @ May 28 2006,01:35)  

Having said all that and having stayed in many of these places, I'd still say your far better off staying at either the Dynasty Grande or the Grande Majestic with the C De Bkk third if your looking for ease of access to Nana and a nice hotel at a reasonable price.  

Thanks for that great post, I feel much better now Dynasty looks okay and seems like a great location and price but what about the bugs?

Is the Grande Majestic same price and location but older?

Should I book one this week for a First week of August stay?  Not sure how this works being a hotel that is half a world away.


Thanks

Samplerdoc Don't even consider the Dynasty, their is a reason that "nasty" fits in the name. I booked it because D_P stayed there, god I was down in the lobby getting my money back in 10 mins flat. I should of listened a little closer to Socrates who said "that place is a toilet!" I would of stayed at the Majestic but they did not have any room. Stayed at the Omni down the street and that was nice but $$$$$.

incher

[mardhi]

Guys you are getting mighty confused - there are TWO Dynasty hotels in bangkok. The original is the Dynasty which is in soi 4 and spitting distance from Nana Plaza. The new one is the Dynasty GRANDE which is in soi 6, approx 300m/400 yards from Nana Plaza. They are like comparing economy class to First Class on an airline - they may have the same name but they sure aint the same product. The Dynasty Grande is brand new - its only been open for about 5 months. This is a picture of a room. There are no bugs, the rooms have great bathrooms, hi speed internet access etc etc - its really very different from the Dynasty.

[SamplerDoc]

Problem is I guess names of many of these hotels are so dam close

Thanks for the update...btw
You could have a least cleaned the room first man

Just kidding

[Guest]

Gentleman,

I have stayed at Bally's Studio Suites the last 3 times I have been in Bangkok. Small hotel at the end of Soi 20 Sukhumvit which is convient to Emporium Shopping Centre, Villa Supermarket, Soi Cowboy and 2 BTS stations and 1 MRT station.,

The hotel has a free Tuk Tuk service down the soi to the main road or to Prom Phong BTS station. As well in Soi 22 there is a great coffee shop called Coffee Max and numerous restaurants, bars, pubs. laundries, blow job massage places (1000 baht),travel agents etc.,

In travelling to Nana you can jump in a cab for 50 baht or catch the BTS to Nana and walk. Always take a cab back from Nana no more than 5- 10 minutes anytime of the night.

Bally's has a small pool and gym for relaxing and is adding more rooms as we speak. Rate varies from 1400 baht per night for a small studio to 2000 for a large studio. The small studio are still big enough for a short stay and have everything you need.

All rooms come with free broadband internet connection, air, kitchen, micro-wave oven, fridge, safe in the room, phone, TV, DVD, (bring your fav DVD's) or use the free selection in the lobby, free lobby internet, cafe/restaurant. Friendly staff and as you book a room not a bed you can bring back almost anything I would imagine. Never had a problem with staff or guests. The staff will know your business but they all laugh and enjoy the parade of guests and their different tastes. You make friends quickly in small hotels like this and I always buy the front office girls a coffee or chocolate. It really does help if you every have a problem..........

Now I compare this to Omni Tower and Zenith Sukhumvit as those are the only hotels I have stayed in near Soi 4 nana.

Both are more expensive for a short stay but Omni has a great pool and gym area and in house laundry facilities and I found Zenith to have better breakfasts than the other two hotels.
The only thing I dont like is Zenith Sukhumvit's location in Soi 3 as I have to walk past Osama Bin Laden's brothers to head in and out of Nana and you get the feeling they dont like white boys in their patch..........also taxis can't go up Soi 3 (only one-way the wrong way!)

So depends what your needs are and what else you intend to do when your in Bangkok. If anyone wants a good rate for a month at Bally's or Omni Tower send me a PM as I have some information that would save you serious money.

Both are good value for money but I prefer the upper Sukhumvit area. It is not as sleazy as the Nana area.

[SamplerDoc]

Whats the best (as in safest) way to book a hotel months ahead of time?

[Guest]

The easiest way is to have someone on the ground in Thailand to go to your hotel of choice and book it for you and get the rate for 1 month. That way you dont have to part with credit card details over the net and as it might be a fair amount so you dont want this problem if you are not happy with the location and facilities.

If you dont have someone to do that for you, I would book the hotel for 2 nights and then discuss with the manager or staff how much they can discount for you if you stay 1 month. Be sincere that you really want to stay and be prepared to pay some money up front if they get you a good deal.

I regularly shop around for different places to stay as I like to keep up to date on the deals so get your boots on and have fun! Still with the mass of information you get from the forum members I really dont think it is too hard. Decide what is your price point first, then location, then what extra things you need in your room (apart from a ladyboy) and go for it..........good luck Doc! let me know when you decide.

[Guest]

Doc, Here is a check list for you.

Note - Single Room normally means a room for one with a double bed. Double Room means a room for two with two double beds. Although sometimes a 'double' means a room with only one bed but big enough for two. Thats why I say it is always advisable to have a look at the room before putting any money down. Checking rooms before booking in , is par for the course/normal , in S.E.Asia.

RESERVATIONS : High Season , approx November to March. Pays to reserve a room before arriving. Decent accom difficult to get during high season.



Check List - It pays to have at least a mental check list that you run through before handing over any money at the Hotel Front Desk , as refunds are difficult , if not impossible to get , in Asian countries including Thailand. On your first night and after a long flight , you might have to stay at a Hotel that does not necessarily measure up to your requirements. You will then have to get up early the next morning and find something better before check out time of your first hotel. Try and avoid checking into the new Hotel before their check out time (12 noon ? ) otherwise you might be charged for a full days rent. Some hotels will try and pull this stunt on you. Best to ask if you can lob your bags in the room without being charged for a full day.

Here is a check list you might consider. I€™ve arrived at this list after many years of booking in and out of Thai Hotels. If you have arrived shagged, then you most probably won't care too much about your accommodation for the first night and will give the following Check List a miss.


1. Are front desk security boxes provided and is there any extra charge for them ? You will need a security box for your Passport and any other valuables that are not required on a daily basis. Do they have in room security boxes?

2. Do they allow overnight guests and is there any extra charge for them ? Normally only (overnight guest) friendly hotels are listed on this website , but Management and policy changes some times. Best to confirm that there is no problem with having a lady or ladyboy overnight before you check the room.

3. Checking a room beforehand is quite normal in Asia. Do not be backward in this regard. If you do not ask to check the room they might allocate you an inferior room.

Ask to see the room and check the following - General condition of room (any cockroaches scurrying around ? : ) ; Air con/fan working ? and does it make a noise (rattle etc) ? Hot water system works (turn on tap and test); Excessive street noise ? ; TV and cable/satellite channels work ?. And for the €˜fire freaky€˜, you might like to check the Fire Escape. Some hotels have them permanently locked to prevent people from skipping out before paying the bill and also to keep crims out. Keep the tenants in and the crims out.

4. Ask if there is a Hotel Laundry service. Usually there is.


If the room is unsatisfactory, ask to see another. They might then pull out their best. Sometimes hotels try to offload their less than satisfactory rooms first , in the hope that someone takes them, and if that fails they get serious and show their better rooms. Make sure the better room is the same price.

5. Pay for one or two nights only, with promises of more the next morning when you change money. Its a ruse just to give you time to €˜road test€™ the place for one or two nights.

Next morning ,if the hotel proves to be unsatisfactory , move out before check out time and try the same routine as explained before, at a new Hotel.

Make sure you get your Hotels business card. They are handy for showing tuk-tuk/taxi drivers, as they are written in both English and Thai. Avoids misunderstandings with taxi drivers , when you want to return to your Hotel. They might not understand your verbals (accent).

Hope that helps.

[SamplerDoc]

Great checklist Newcomer, Thanks

[dummy_plug]

(katoeylover @ May 27 2006,20:49) DP's moving up in the world for his next trip. Seems Eye, Jane and Film don't like the cockroaches in the Dynasty!      

Film didn't get to see the cockroaches in my room...

[dummy_plug]

(mardhi @ May 28 2006,00:55)

(dummy_plug @ May 27 2006,19:58) Any had recent experiences with either of these hotels - Hilton Bangkok, Westin Grand Sukhumvit, or Sheraton Sukhumvit? If so, can you comment on the room quality and amenities in the hotel you stayed at? Thanks.

Hilton - there used to a Hilton on Wireless road but its know managed by Raffles and is called I think the Swissotel Nai Lert Park.   There is a Conrad on Wireless which is part of All Seasons Place a big office complex and mall - that is a very nice hotel.

The new Hilton is down on the River and on the wrong side of the river as well - I would not even consider it - it would take you anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours to get to Nana, averaging around an hour in a taxi.

Sheraton Grande is WAY better than the westin - they are opposit each other at Suk Soi 19 - the only redeeming feature of the Westin for a fast food junkie like yourself DP is the McDonalds on the ground floor.    The rooms whilst OK are nothing great and they are by 5* standards very small - certainly smaller than the new Dynasty Grande as an example.   The hotel has a funny feel to it I find and I think its way overpriced for what it is - basically it was a shoddy 3* hotel and then was acquired by the people who own the Sheraton and they upgraded it.   But its not a real 5* hotel in any shape or form and the pool area is crap.

The Sheraton Grande is a nice hotel but its now very expensive - typically around US$200 night and its not in the same league as other US$200 hotels such as the Four Seasons or Hyatt.     Rooms though are very nice and very spacious.     Has a nightclub in the hotel as well and some rooms have a butler service to bring you tea and coffee free of charge (or at least used to).  Pool area is also very nice.   basically it was newly built just before the '97 crash and  everything was done properly for a 5*deluxe hotel.    

I used to stay a lot at the Sheraton before moving here but that was when it was charging US$75 night back about 7 years ago - those days are long gone and I just cant seem to justify spending that much money on a hotel that used to be 30% of its current price.

Hope this helps.
Cheers
Mardhi

Mardhi, excellent info! It's much apprecaited!

Based on your info, I'm going have to rethink my stay at any Starwood or Hilton properties. Looks like I'll be going Marriott-style.

[dummy_plug]

Good info Newcomer. Geez...why didn't you help me out this much before? Haha!

[katoeylover]

I think i'll try Dynasty Grande in August. Great Location, nice, new property and 1000bt a night cheaper than Majestic Grande.

[PigDogg]

(newcomer @ Jun. 01 2006,12:13) 4. Ask if there is a Hotel Laundry service. Usually there is.

IMHO hotel laundries are more expensive and MORE likely to lose your stuff. laundry is generally a one minute walk.