Thailand is indeed the paradise of the East

[NanoSpeed]

I have just completed a few bookings via Agoda and Expedia for flights and hotels.

I'm a thrifty chap but the hotels I picked have to be clean and not too old.

Now guess what I have got ? Chiang Mai B900 per night for 2 persons with international breakfast, Bangkok B680 for two persons without breakfast and Pattaya B680 for two persons with breakfast.

Oops...forgot to book the flight for CNX - BKK.

 

[stuffycunt]

I'm a thrifty chap but the hotels I picked have to be clean and not too old.

the girls you pick must also be clean and not too old rite?

 

[bushtucker]

not surprising lah, there are many good hotel deals in LOS.

3 years ago, 5 of us shared a 4-star serviced apartment in Sukhumvit for 3 nights. Each of us only paid SGD100 for all 3 nights!

 

[NanoSpeed]

not surprising lah, there are many good hotel deals in LOS.

3 years ago, 5 of us shared a 4-star serviced apartment in Sukhumvit for 3 nights. Each of us only paid SGD100 for all 3 nights!

Bro, B680 per night with breakfast @ Pattaya for a twin bedded 44 sqm room. That surprises me. And if you want to speak about splitting costs, then is B340 per person equivalent to $13.60 in SGD.

We all know Thailand is cheap, but it also tells us that things in Singapore need not have to be so expensive.

As for Bangkok, I am returning to the same hotel next to Ramkamhaeng Airport Link. $27 for a twin bedded room. Just have to add B140 if you want the breakfast. But I have a better option. Subway Fast Food is just opposite, 59 baht for a half-foot with brew coffee. You know Subway sandwiches are freaking expensive in Singapore and Johore.

This is insane.

 

[eErotica69]

Yes Chiangmai is a great place to rest and relax and not expensive.

 

[NanoSpeed]

Yes Chiangmai is a great place to rest and relax and not expensive.

Bro, any tips on Chiang Mai ?

Last trip was almost 7 years ago. Together, only visited CNX 3 times. Always wandered around Night Bazaar, which can be pretty boring. Will get up to Doi Suthep again. Apart from those two, and Kaed Suan Kaew and Airport Central Plaza, I know very little about CNX.

I read there is a Walking Street in Old City.

 

[eErotica69]

Bro, any tips on Chiang Mai ?

Last trip was almost 7 years ago. Together, only visited CNX 3 times. Always wandered around Night Bazaar, which can be pretty boring. Will get up to Doi Suthep again. Apart from those two, and Kaed Suan Kaew and Airport Central Plaza, I know very little about CNX.

I read there is a Walking Street in Old City.

Sorry I am not familiar with Chiangmai also. Only know those that you mentioned above.

 

[yinyang]

...Always wandered around Night Bazaar, which can be pretty boring. Will get up to Doi Suthep again... Kaed Suan Kaew and Airport Central Plaza, I know very little about CNX...read there is a Walking Street in Old City.

CNX had much more to offer. Kad Suan Kaew is now passé, poor retail mix and in sore need of upgrade. Got to do new Central Mall (2 years?), way more impressive than airport one.

There are 2 walking street markets in old city, open from late afternoon -more fascinating than night bazaar.
Forget Doi Suthep, do side excursion to Mae Rim 45mins from CNX. Nice hilly terrain, views enroute, parks and resorts. If you drive there, go to Mon Jam for day trip (accessible).

There's also the zoukish area in Niman, near CMU (Chiangmai U). Clubs like Warm Up, Monkey, Infinity, Maldives and Tawandeng

Am sure you are resourceful to catch up on CNX info. Low season in LOS, so prices are soft now.

 

[syed putra]

I have just completed a few bookings via Agoda and Expedia for flights and hotels.

I'm a thrifty chap but the hotels I picked have to be clean and not too old.

Now guess what I have got ? Chiang Mai B900 per night for 2 persons with international breakfast, Bangkok B680 for two persons without breakfast and Pattaya B680 for two persons with breakfast.

Oops...forgot to book the flight for CNX - BKK.

Thai electricity tariff probably cheapest in ASEAN amongst the founding member countries. This translate to cheaper cost of living and businesses.

 

[NanoSpeed]

CNX had much more to offer. Kad Suan Kaew is now passé, poor retail mix and in sore need of upgrade. Got to do new Central Mall (2 years?), way more impressive than airport one.

There are 2 walking street markets in old city, open from late afternoon -more fascinating than night bazaar.
Forget Doi Suthep, do side excursion to Mae Rim 45mins from CNX. Nice hilly terrain, views enroute, parks and resorts. If you drive there, go to Mon Jam for day trip (accessible).

There's also the zoukish area in Niman, near CMU (Chiangmai U). Clubs like Warm Up, Monkey, Infinity, Maldives and Tawandeng

Am sure you are resourceful to catch up on CNX info. Low season in LOS, so prices are soft now.

Woo....so you are our resident CNX correspondent

Never knew about the new Central Mall until you mentioned. I completely missed the Walking Street markets in Old City during my previous trips. Will see if I can catch a tour bus for sightseeing at Mae Rim. BTW, I'm putting up at Sridonchai Road, in between Old City and Night Bazaar. Hope it's easy to get around.

I read that Chinese travel agents are pushing the hotels in Thailand for low prices, and the Chinese seem to have grabbed the Thai hoteliers by their balls.

 

[Dark Knight]

Does Agoda and Expedia charge you in advance for making your hotel booking?
Or they charge you after check-in/check-out?

 

[NanoSpeed]

Thai electricity tariff probably cheapest in ASEAN amongst the founding member countries. This translate to cheaper cost of living and businesses.

I would like to think it's because I avoided the popular ones like Duangtawan and Suriwongse.

Even IBIS @ Pattaya has gone north despite it being low season. But Second Road is a bit inconvenient when going to either bus terminal. Now I camp at Thappraya, at the foot of Pratumnak Hill. I hate the North Bus Terminal, the crowd and the heat. Having to sit on the Songtaew near Dolphin Circus under the hot sun while the driver waits for passengers to fill up.

 

[NanoSpeed]

Does Agoda and Expedia charge you in advance for making your hotel booking?
Or they charge you after check-in/check-out?

Expedia will always charge you at the time you book. Agoda, at times, for certain hotels, they will charge you one or two days before you check in.

 

[yinyang]

Does Agoda and Expedia charge you in advance for making your hotel booking?
Or they charge you after check-in/check-out?

Both will hit you on booking, with Agoda (only for some deals) allowing a bit of credit -before your checkin to pay up. Almost zero chance in cancellations.

Some other agents do hit you for their handling fee, and you pay up the diff to hotel upon check-in. Don't think you get luxury of paying upon check-out. Even if they did, always a holding charge on your plastic (aka deposit in any other terms).

 

[Dark Knight]

Both will hit you on booking, with Agoda (only for some deals) allowing a bit of credit -before your checkin to pay up. Almost zero chance in cancellations.

Some other agents do hit you for their handling fee, and you pay up the diff to hotel upon check-in. Don't think you get luxury of paying upon check-out. Even if they did, always a holding charge on your plastic (aka deposit in any other terms).

Yes. That's one of the reason why Agoda and Expedia can offer a slightly better rate versus booking directly with the hotel.

 

[shittypore]

Bkk is getting expensive by the yr. Coffee is oridi price to Sinkieland.

 

[NanoSpeed]

[video=youtube;SI_v9tk2SwE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI_v9tk2SwE[/video]

 

[johnny333]

I would like to think it's because I avoided the popular ones like Duangtawan and Suriwongse.

Even IBIS @ Pattaya has gone north despite it being low season. But Second Road is a bit inconvenient when going to either bus terminal. Now I camp at Thappraya, at the foot of Pratumnak Hill. I hate the North Bus Terminal, the crowd and the heat. Having to sit on the Songtaew near Dolphin Circus under the hot sun while the driver waits for passengers to fill up.

If you take Bell Services they will pick you up at the hotel & send you to your hotel in Bkk or airport. This door to door service is also offered by the other transport services. I prefer Bell because they transfer you to a larger coach for the trip to BKK/airport. The other companies usually use the minivans for the whole trip. The problem with these minivans is that they may make side trips. It happened to me once, when I was sharing a minivan with a large family of Sporeans. This family decided to go shopping & I had to wait almost an hour while they did the shopping

However you should clarify before buying a tix the actual drop off point. Whether it is at your hotel or some bus terminal because on one time trip I ended up at a minibus terminal at one of the downtown malls in BKK