Hotel prices in Bangkok

[Mike Parker]

Never been a better time to go to Bangkok. Hotel prices are dropping like autumn leaves.

Countries are all lining up to announce that its unwise to stay in Bangkok when there's actually never been a better time
if one uses a bit of common sense.Then again if you live in BS why would you want to go ?

[yoursTruly]

Yes, I'm in that fair city now. My hotel (in Banlampoo) hasn't changed prices but then it's already dirt cheap and nearly full all the time. I would like to sample some of the hotels on Sukumvit, though, which have always been too rich for my blood (at say 1,000B a night for a rather small, uninspiring room. (however room service prostitution 24x7). Maybe I could get my own swimming pool and a few Thai mermaids.

Yes, it's tempting, and so far the protests haven't strolled in that direction. Perhaps it's an agreed no-go zone. Don't want to discourage those Western money men in suits. Lack of foreign investment means lack of bribes and corruption opportunities--that has "bipartisan backing" from both political parties.

And the baht is sinking too. Bargains, bargains. Also, due to the blockades, the air quality has never been better!

PS: Mike: how are you monitoring the prices? The 'net? I'd like to keep an eye on them to, without having to go to Sukumvit and nose around.

[yoursTruly]

PPS: Any recommendations?

[yoursTruly]

[Admin edit: links to rival forums not permitted]

[Mike Parker]

Yes, I'm in that fair city now. My hotel (in Banlampoo) hasn't changed prices but then it's already dirt cheap and nearly full all the time. I would like to sample some of the hotels on Sukumvit, though, which have always been too rich for my blood (at say 1,000B a night for a rather small, uninspiring room. (however room service prostitution 24x7). Maybe I could get my own swimming pool and a few Thai mermaids.

Yes, it's tempting, and so far the protests haven't strolled in that direction. Perhaps it's an agreed no-go zone. Don't want to discourage those Western money men in suits. Lack of foreign investment means lack of bribes and corruption opportunities--that has "bipartisan backing" from both political parties.

And the baht is sinking too. Bargains, bargains. Also, due to the blockades, the air quality has never been better!

PS: Mike: how are you monitoring the prices? The 'net? I'd like to keep an eye on them to, without having to go to Sukumvit and nose around.

Friends reported it to me when they received email deals yesterday from various booking sites like agoda, trip advisor etc.They are on mailing lists as they are frequent travellers and the current troubles don't won't worry them at all ,they have been through it all before.I do know Singapore Airlines have cancelled a whole lot of flights into Bangkok, and they would not be alone,so hotels must be hurting.

We are going to Oz in March at we just booked the Queens Garden hotel ,10 mins from the airport, 800 b a night with a pool and they take you to and from the airport.Bargains all over Bangkok but that is standard price.Expect to pay a lot more round Sukumvit for a 4 star but Honey House, Soi 22 ,is around 900 baht,basic but you are in the hub and close to cultural centres like Soi Cowboy

[yoursTruly]

Thanks for the info, Mike...

...close to cultural centres like Soi Cowboy

Yes, I like to be close to culture myself. Nana Plaza has always been a cultural Mecca for me. I did a random foot survey a few days ago, and found prices fairly normal, eg 900-1000B per night around Nana. Nothing fancy about these places (eg swimming pool) but they are clean, close to the Nana Temple Complex, and aren't stingy with mirrors. I found a few in the 600-700 range though, which was new to me. Perhaps they're the "thin edge of the wedge" as far as price deflation.

I've heard that most of the present deals are with hotels quite near the protests, eg near MBK and Victory Monument. Not a lot of culture in these areas I find. Well, we'll see how it all plays out. There's some mighty atrocious air quality out there today. I was at Bumrungrad and the city hung in a brown haze.

Have fun in Oz.

[Mike Parker]

Word of warning about anyone staying Bangkok, which you might be aware of, around Soi Nana you might think you are in Africa or some Arab nation.

In Soi 22 Sukumvit we were constantly fronted by those of Indian heritage selling fake watches, suits and drugs,yes hard drugs.

In Soi Cowboy and Nana the Russians have also moved in and are buying up bars/massage parlours and anything else they can lay their hands on.

The old Bangkok night life that had an air of enjoyment,hassle free and safety is fast disappearing.

[yoursTruly]

There's a very large Arab area (food and hotels centered around Bumrungrad Hospital), and a lot of their presence is due to medical tourism. Farsi is plastered all over Bumrungrad Hospital, as are turbaned men and their black covered wives. Arab men also walk down the street nervously with their temporary Thai girlfriends. But, at least with the Arabs, there's probably nothing to fear. Most are stinking rich, and in my experience many are surprisingly friendly.

Russians on the other hand...at least the Mafia types around the sex businesses, are to be avoided. However there are in general many Russians in Thailand now, many young people at my guesthouse for instance, who are very friendly once you make the effort to strike up a conversation with them. They're dreadfully shy and disguise it as arrogance or disinterest, but if you make an effort they become extremely friendly.

I frequently wander Sukumvit and side streets, between appointments at Bummy during the day, or for some nightlife after, before I go back home to boring Banglampoo. I've had no problems and have never seen any. The area is more foreign and multi-racial than it has been, but I don't get a sense of danger. And yes, there are aggressive street hawkers and dildo and viagra salemen, but they can be waved away. I agree with you that Indian salesmen can be very aggressive and obnoxious, but are harmless, if annoying.

In the evening, prostitution on Sukumvit Rd, from Nana to Asok is rampant, and sometimes the girls and ladyboys on the street are "forward" to say the least, and engagement with them can be dangerous, at least to your wallet. However, they'll leave you alone if you don't show interest. Occasionally, someone approaches with a scam, something to buy or something to sign up for. I just smile and walk away.

I haven't seen any drug salesmen. (Yes, plenty of drugs to make you hard, but not "hard drugs"). No doubt there are some, but the night crowd is mostly Western tourists (many couples) and Western businessmen stationed in Bangkok or passing through, not really a hard drugs crowd.

[Mike Parker]

The thought crossed our mind while we were being harassed by the Indian sellers on Sukumvit just how do these guys get away with it? Firstly you obviously need a visa to stay, secondly if you sell anything you need a work permit, ha ha, and the restaurant we ate at, the owner, an Aussie ,is sick and tired of these guys wandering in his restaurant/bar annoying customers. Add the young kids selling flowers ,the pseudo "hill tribe" old ladies flogging croaking frogs and trinkets ...its a circus.

The Indian guy,30 ish,trying to sell us drugs is apparently a regular on Soi 22.When the waitress apologised to us for his intrusion we asked her "why don't you call the police ?" she replied, we have, they do nothing,on reflection a pretty stupid question on our part.

[Caller]

The thought crossed our mind while we were being harassed by the Indian sellers on Sukumvit just how do these guys get away with it? Firstly you obviously need a visa to stay

They're probably Thai's! Lot's of Indian Thai's around.

[yoursTruly]

The thought crossed our mind while we were being harassed by the Indian sellers on Sukumvit just how do these guys get away with it? Firstly you obviously need a visa to stay, secondly if you sell anything you need a work permit, ha ha, and the restaurant we ate at, the owner, an Aussie ,is sick and tired of these guys wandering in his restaurant/bar annoying customers. Add the young kids selling flowers ,the pseudo "hill tribe" old ladies flogging croaking frogs and trinkets ...its a circus.
The Indian guy,30 ish,trying to sell us drugs is apparently a regular on Soi 22.When the waitress apologised to us for his intrusion we asked her "why don't you call the police ?" she replied, we have, they do nothing,on reflection a pretty stupid question on our part.

The effing Indians are everywhere. They've got the tailor business, er "sewn up" in Bangkok. They're everywhere, walking across to block you on the street. "Hey Boss, how about a nice suit to take home?". I reply, "What? For my funeral? I've never worn a suit in my life and I'm not going to start now!". This doesn't stop their spiel though. They've got lots of other bad quality shit to try to sell you. Meanwhile these guys own sweat shops where a hundred Thais work in the space of a phone booth for pocket change. (I *really* loathe most Indians--a rude, arrogant, unkind and dirty race...well, I'll go get my rabies shots now). But coming from a bribe culture themselves, I'm sure they know how to grease the Thai bureaucracy to guarantee long repellent stays. (PS: It's no wonder to me that Israelis are so at home in India)

The Hill Tribe ladies are an annoyance, but I can put up with them. At least they understand the word "No", which by contrast given to an Indian seems to mean "Of course I'm willing to consider your kind offer". And they're always women (in my experience) and I'm soft on women. The Indians are almost always men.

The thing about an Indian selling drugs, you'd probably be buying oregano or talcum powder, so I suppose what he's doing would be technically legal. I'm a tremendously immoral person, so I sometimes partake of "recreational substances", but it's extremely immoral to sell false goods, whether they be legal or not. No doubt the Indian is betting you're not going to file a complaint with police because you didn't get what you ordered. Better to grind him into a curry.

[yoursTruly]

They're probably Thai's! Lot's of Indian Thai's around.

The Buddhism part seems to have escaped them.

[yoursTruly]

(repost from "Foo")

And now the cops are blocking off "Sukumvit from Nana to Soi 19?". The "Whore Runway" as I call it, the "Hello Kitty! Catwalk"? Are they insane? This is Tourist Disaster, writ large. Businessmen are leaving in droves: "To hell with that corporate takeover! What about my prosties?!"

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ncy-decree

(perhaps "authorized persons" is a code word for "whore mongers") (maybe they should add "authorized persons on business". What are they trying to do? Bait somebody into throwing a grenade into the tourist area? That may be the unintended result.)

[Little Jon]

Yes, I'm in that fair city now. My hotel (in Banlampoo) hasn't changed prices but then it's already dirt cheap and nearly full all the time.

Hi,

Reading your post I'm just wondering where do you stay in Banlampoo? I've found a cheapie a bit away from there but would be good to know of a place near all the KSR nonsense as it has it's practical uses like being easy to get to/from the "old" airport (AirAsia flights).

Cheers