hkaus72

No worries, thanks for the reply. I actually took a journey 5-6 weeks ago, was back to normal fare. Around 250-270 fare from near Asoke to Suvarnabhumi, and then throw in the B75 in tolls, it's back to B320-300, which is what it had normally always been. The dude in November clearly had a broken or clocked meter, which I thought at the time because he caved pretty quickly when I started disputing the fare.

https://www.sofitel-bangkok-sukhumvit.com/

Question on general taxi fares in BKK nowadays. It used to be a taxi from Asoke to Suvarnabhumi was about B280-B300 excluding the Tolls (B75). Few weeks ago I was there and the meter seemed to be out of control. I mentioned to the driver when still halfway there, that it shouldn't already be reading over B300. I got the old "my english no good". I insisted and insisted and eventually at the airport, while the meter was showing B615, he said "Okay Okay, B500 okay". I paid him, only because on the way I'd texted a mate that lives in BKK to ask about rate to the airport and he came back with "Oh around B600" which I thought was nuts. When I asked if fares had suddenly jumped, he replied "Ahh you could be right, yeah that seems a lot". So I was then confused, had a flight to catch, so paid him the B500. Anyway, have fares in BKK gone up that much? Last time I had been there was pre-COVID, but the fares had been pretty standard (apart from the odd increase), for many years. It could be that fares really have gone up, or maybe now that tourists are back, taxis are just taking the piss again.

Folks, I would caution anyone transiting through HKIA. I know they are now down to 3 days home monitoring and no hotel quarantine, however prior to this recent change, some transiting passengers that tested +ve were being stopped and sent to Govt quarantine, even where their ultimate destination didn't care about +ve/-ve. Anyone thinking of transiting through HKIA, you really need to check current arrangements there. Edit: Also, I gave up on the place after 16 years and moved to Sing three months ago.

Ha I agree. Then I read the "Our Team" blurb on their website and see it was founded by two Check-in agents from Stansted and thought........."hmmm, this might be a little bit pie-in-the-sky". Its a great idea though, I wish them good luck.

It might be some time yet before they are flying. This article from a year ago, estimated would be at least two years. https://thepointsguy.co.uk/news/will-atmosphere-airlines-launch/

Yeah the bellboys mentioned the toll receipts and then someone said "They don't always give them". Not sure if that was legit or not. Anyway, all good in the end and I think an hour later I was happily sucking on Nicky/Maxx's large appendage. This was in the days when it was always hard.

Unfortunately doesn't always go this way. A few years ago, hopped in a Taxi heading towards Asoke and was head in my phone, scrolling through work emails on the way. Not so deep mind that I didn't notice the driver come off well before Rama IX and avoid both toll-gates. Anyway, arrived at the hotel and he's sticking an extra B125 on the meter for the Airport Fee and both tolls. Told him no way, we didn't go through any tolls. He then gets out of the taxi screaming and hollering , trying to shame me into paying him. I jumped out, told the hotel staff to take my bags to the exec lounge (was checking in upstairs), stood there while he kept shouting and screaming, he even offered to drive me "to a police station to talk with them!". Not a fcking chance my son. At this point the bell-boys are getting embarrassed saying I should just pay him, but I stood my ground and the driver shouted again, "we drive through both gates, you pay me now!". So I politely asked one of the bell-boys to loudly ask him in Thai, so everyone there could hear, "If we came through both gates, we would drive to this hotel along Sukhumvit road. So why did you exit the highway near Rama IX and drive down Asoke?". Quietness followed, I paid the man what he was owed and not a cent more.

Agree on all of the above, the realisation is setting in that this will not return to "normal", any time soon. I have a trip to Bohol, pushed back to November and right now, I'm not confident that will actually go ahead, or even whether the hotel will still be open. I'm supposed to be going back to Australia for Christmas, but if I have to do two weeks in quarantine, then forget it. Lord knows if it would be a good idea to be around my mid-70's parents anyway. Right now, I'm really missing those long-weekend jaunts down to BKK, that I could do at the drop of a hat. That's out the window now, for a very long time.

Would absolutely backup the earlier recommendations for Nam's. You can book on the website, or I actually have a whatsapp from her somewhere, so normally use that. Always on time, female drivers so generally safe, not lunatics at the wheel. Prices are very reasonable. Does what it says on the tin!

Had the same issue for a couple of weeks, except mine is stuck on expanded, I can’t switch to condensed

Ahh yes fluorescent, got it. Like you, I don't see the attraction, even as a kid I never really got into the fluoro zinc. Mainly cause that shit got everywhere and was a bugger to get off.

Nice report SAGuy, cheers. effervescent paint? Like, it was fizzing? That is bizarre. mosquito coils I know, but what are mosquito mars? I’ve never heard of these. Similar to fly paper?

Hahahah I had something similar a few months ago at Radisson Blu. I was waiting for a guest to arrive and I'd been fcking around with notes in my pocket and then placed the payment in the bedside table for later. I'd intended to get some extra towels and took B100 out of my wallet and shoved that in my pocket as a tip for the cleaning lady. Then I locked away all my valuables in the room safe. Anyway, I asked for the towels, minute or so later there's a knock at the door, I accept the towels, I then pass the cleaning lady the folded up tip. Her eyes go as wide as dinner plates, which I thought was weird, but just shrugged it off. I had a hard cock due to arrive soon, so had other things on my mind. Guest arrives, deed done, make payment, guest leaves. I'm standing there looking at the tv, slip my hand in my shorts pocket, pull out my B100 tip for the cleaning lady. I'm very confused at this point, "Why do I still have B100 in my pocket?", I say to myself. Go to the safe, grab my wallet and quickly realised I'd palmed her B1,000........and immediately her surprised face popped into my head. I had a good chuckle about it, what can you do? Nothing, just learn from you rsilly error. She was obviously extremely grateful for the large tip, as when I came back to my room after lunch the following day I discovered that she'd left me 14 bottles of water!! Again lots of chuckles.

Not saying that prices now (high season) are higher than prices 6 months ago (low season), thats a fairly obvious phenomenon. Im saying on average prices at this hotel have generally increased. 50% reduction between high and low season at Landmark Bangkok? I need to start booking on whatever service you are using!