gainsbarre

Never use the expat sites, they are overpricing things, If you come often and stay like for one month or more, look for a place beyond Ekkamai, prices are half I have a condo in Bangchak area (one station after Onnut) 8 minutes away from Nana with BTS 60m² with pool and gym and I pay 15000/month - there are small ones from 30m² available for 6 months or one year ar prices between 8500 to 10000THB per month https://propertyhub.in.th/en/listings/regent-home-sukhumvit-97-1-fully-furnish-special-price-ask-more-info-lineofficial-promptyou3---3439682 just an example, 8500/month is like 3 hotel night or less in just a decent hotel

Sofitel is very OK, but a bit expensive for Bangkok standards, there is cheaper with same quality, especially if you have to pay extra for the club lounge Location if of course perfect, maybe prices in low season are better, but I find 160-180€ a night too much I stay in the sofitels in HCM, Manila and KL at prices around 100€

The fun part about the blue elephant restaurants is that the original one was in Brussels and started in 1980 by Thai people who later came back to BKK to set up the one on Sathorn. Unfortunately the restaurant in Brussels did not survive COVID, and is now permanently closed, but the catering division still exists where they started the whole range of products that you can still find now in most of the big supermarkets. I think the actual manager of the whole chain is still a Belgian guy, i met him a couple of times here in BKK during Chamber of Commerce meetings. Not relevant for the quality of the food but a nice story.

Nice tip I am lucky enough to host the occasional business dinner with some important customers, so those places are perfect, mixing Thai culture, thai food, with some luxury and fine dining. Don't get me wrong I can enjoy as much a raw beef salad in the isaan joint on 7/1 with the girls after the bars are closing !

This is great intel. I never heard of it or maybe I saw the name and gave it a pass lol. Monkey Pod? Can't think of a name less classy. Buffalo Knuckle? Chicken Scratch? Etc. A monkey pod is actually a tree, and of course outside there is a big Monkey pod tree

This saturday was a full business day, had people from vietnam and Holland and for lunch we invited one of our Thai partners. We went to the Goji buffet in the Mariott Marquis on soi 22. Not the cheapest (1900THB/p) but value for money. A huge buffet but with outstanding quality food, Western, Japanese, Thai etc.. - yellowfin and red tuna sashimi of the best quality- and huge selection of other Japanese delights - 3 different cuts of Wagyu beef - selection of top shelf cond cuts and European cheeses like prosciutto, stilton, real brie de Meaux, chorizo, etc... - instant diabetes dessert buffet we spent a pleasurable 3 hours eating way too much (still had dinner appointment at 8PM) Good place for a weekend brunch/lunch with friends Like I said, not cheap but very good value for money! As it is buffet style, maybe not the best idea for a romantic date, but excellent if you are with some friends or family.

Yesterday evening I organized a business dinner with some customers, and went to Monkey Pod restaurant on the corner of soi11 and soi 13. Magnificent old Thai style wooden house (one of the only ones left in the area). Incredible service and wonderful setting inside the restaurant, pure luxury but very classy. We went for the discovery menu an 8 course thai style dinner (2200thb/person) The food is just incredible, thai style but on an exceptional level, lots of traditional Thai dishes with a gastronomic twitch that enhances the traditional Thai flavours even more. Huge cocktail list with exotic and dared cocktails (i went for a Rhum based cocktail, with kafir lime, lemongrass and ginger), we paired the food with 2 bottles of Gewürzstraminer (Hugel), which is a slightly sweet and spicy wine that works wonderfully well with thai food. Per menu every body could choose his own level of spicyness he wanted, so no surprises there for those who want it a bit softer in taste. all in all an excellent choice if you want to go for fine dining in a nice setting and still be able to hit the streets afterwards. We ended the business part with a couple of pisco sours in Above11 and closed down the business part around half past midnight. After waving my customers out, I finished a very nice evening at cindy's (300m walk) if you want to have some culinary experience with some friends or a romantic dinner with one of your sweethearts, this is an excellent place to go. I should warn that if you wanted to take a Ladyboy friend out there, you have to make sure it is somebody that can appreciate a high quality meal. The advantage however is that it is thai food and Thai flavour so they most probably will like it. There is a dresscode, but just the obvious one, no flip flops, no tank tops, and I would suggest your girl not to wear bikini's Not for everyday, but worth it for a special occasion or if you want to give yourself a treat.

Pff Belgium not much better, 2 strikes in 2 months time, but here it is not the airline it is the security and luggage people, so no flights depart or arrive, so doesn't even matter who you fly with! As a very regular traveler it really works on my system. Until now i have been lucky, but ...

airfares in may are actually very cheap in europe 600€ return with lufthansa from bxl 370€ one way with TH direct from BXL really ok prices even business class can find a return between 1800 and 2000€

same here

I am actually not sure if most of the sandpit tourists would even know if it is a ladyboy! I have come across a few ones during my many hotel stays, but it is always limited to one single person, as for straight jobs, a lot of them work in beauty related businesses, not surprisingly as they are the absolute masters in Make-up. But I know 2 girls working in an office for customers of mine, and one is even a sales girl with whom i got befriended.

looks good

I get my croques at 7/11 for a mere 28THB each, and they are reasonable,

That would work, I am also self employed, and have 2 contracts stating that I am working in south east Asia, based in BKK, adding a letter from your accountant will also help.

that pool looks very dangerous, if you swim too far you will fall down on the street. it also must use a lot of water