Siam Man

I have to agree with you all the way around Mick. I learned this way back in my early days. I took a lb (who later achieved star status) from BKK to Patts for a weekend. Shows you how much of a rookie I was bringing my own to Patts. anyway I took her to that Hard Rock Cafe and when I saw the menu I realised the prices where higher than Hard Rocks in some Western locations. Anyway i looked at her and could tell she wasn't thrilled so we finished a drink and didn't order. I told her to pick any place she wanted. We went to this Thai resteraunt not far away. It was fantastic and so much food, and most of all she was happy as.
 
Since I have always let them pick the wherever they wanted pretty much and never get taken from some overpriced grub. Seems like whenever I devaite from this and try some western place I always leave hungry or angry that I spent to much. The only thing I miss is the occasional Pizza. I quickly learned not to eat at Pizza Hut or Pizza Company. They are over priced, bad service, and just not that good. Found a place on Patpong II called Marco Polo's which is open 24/7. It offers a great veiw as barworkers walk by. At 2 A.M. it gets real interesting. you can get Tiger Beers for 60 baht and Heinekens for 70 baht. Its right across the street from Kings Garden and next to foodland. whereever their is Foodland near pay for play areas you know there is ladyboys. A new bar was just going up near the alley that goes to Patpong I.
 
Thai and Western dishes alike. May not impress a ladyboy you bring but good place to go when hunting in that area. You could literally sit there all night and real them in with some eye contact.

Hey bud.
Unfortunately, the Shoutbox is just for Advanced Members.
Hope you understand.
CHeers
LULT

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned these before but they are quite nice.Anyone else try one?They appear to be a new concept in hotels.There are a few in Bangkok.I stayed at Mac Boutique Suites on Soi 7.The rooms were tastefully tailored almost in an artful way,relaxing and quiet.The bedding seemed very plush.To me it was like an upscale hotel at a reasonable price.Oh yeah,the location was great too + I had no problem bringing a ladyboy up to my room.

I see a lot of questions on forums about this hotel - probably because it is part of a large worldwide chain - so I can give you a bit of a rundown.
 
Negatives
 
1. The rates are very high if you just walk in - I think 2550 baht was posted at the time I was there. You can definately get a better rate by booking in advance online - I think I paid 1250 baht. Same goes for the breakfast buffet where you can get a 40% discount by paying in advance, which you can do upon check-in.
 
2. The rooms are on the small side if you are a single. This didn't bother me at all but it may be a concern for some of you.
 
Positives
 
1. Location. It is on Soi 4 and is close enough to the action to be within walking distance but far enough away to be quiet.
 
2. New Hotel. Everything is new and in good repair. Rooms come with in-room safes, nice televisions with satelite hook-ups, and just look stylish.
 
3. Guest-friendly! The staff are very professional in this reguard, taking the ID card for your guest, which is photocopied and returned upon departure.
 
4. Ladyboy-recomended! When I mentioned to a freelance LB that I was staying here, she abandoned the idea of a short time room and wanted to go here instead. I can see why. The staff was courteous to both of us and if they thought there was something funny about me going with a LB, you would never have known it. Not even a smirk.
 
For me, this is the ideal hotel for a stay in Bangkok. It may not be for those who like more space or an upscale plae to stay but for my purposes, it is perfect.

It was launched on 9th December 2009, inital areas covered include
 
Siam Paragon
Emporium
Central World
Ma Boonkrong
Siam Center
Siam Discovery
Kesorn Plaza
Central Silom
Big C Rajdamri
Fortune Tower (CP2)
True Tower Ratchadapisek
CP Tower Silom
Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani and surrounding areas
Challenger Hall Muang Thong Thani and surrounding areas
Thunder Dome Muang Thong Thani and surrounding areas
Erawan Hotel
Pathumwan Princess Hotel
Police General Hospital
The Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Chulalongkorn University and surrounding areas
Srinakarinwirot University and surrounding areas
Thai Chamber of Commerce University and surrounding areas
Assumption University Bangna and surrounding areas
Assumption University Hua Mak and surrounding areas
Mahidol University Salaya and surrounding areas
Rajamangala University (Sathorn)
Siam Square areas
Lumpini Park
Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Rama I Road from Supachalasai Stadium – Rajprasong Intersection – Ploenjit Road
Wireless Road
Rajdamri Road from The Royal Bangkok Sports Club –Rajprasong Intersection – Pratunam Intersection
Phyatai Road from Chulalongkorn University – Ma Boonkrong Intersection –
Hua Chang Bridge – Petchburi Road
Rama IV Road from Lumpini Park – Sam Yan Intersection
Sathorn Road from Lumpini Park – Narathiwas Road
Silom Road from Saladaeng Intersection – Narathiwas Road
Surawong Road from Saladaeng Inersection – Narathiwas Road
Petchburi Road from Bantadthong Road Intersection – Wireless Road
Yaowaraj Road and surrounding areas (soon)
Sukhumvit Road from Sukhumvit 1 to Prompong Intersection
Asoke Road from Sukhumvit Intersection to Rama IX Road and right to Cultural Center Intersection
Suvarnbhumi International Airport, Samutprakarn
Phuket International Airport
Patong Beach, Phuket
Cha-Am – Hua Hin route from Cha-Am District, Long Beach Hotel Cha-Am until
Hua Hin Blue Wave Beach Resort

SM,
 
There have been plenty of unsecured WiFi Hotspots around Lowewr Suk Rama I and Silom for years, then there are plenty of bars that advertise free WiFi where one has to buy a drink in order to get a password to gain access and there are others that have total unlimitied.
 
It was only 4 years ago when O2 (HTC) WiFI enabled cell phones became realisticly priced in the handset market that I began to sniff out WiFi whilst on walkabouts but since EDGE has become more widespread / cheaper and 3G is being established in certain areas I am getting less interested in WiFi.
 
I can go anywhere in Thailand now tether my 3G iPhone to my lightweight Asus Eeepc Netbook and be online 24/7 for lesss than 1200 THB / Month. But as I said not an option to most visitors so FREE Hotspots where one can get online from ones own Netty / Lappy is a good second option. Personaly I reccomend Molly Mallones on Soi Convent (Silom Area) one of the few bars that not only allows smoking of Ciggies but also Cigars upstairs, great place to while away an afternoon with a beer and western food whilst online if that is ones wish ... I set up and encrypted their network for them, the managers both ex and current are good friends of mine.

This is one that I didn't learn until i left BKK the first trip and saw several taxis dropping off people at departures.
 
Would like to recommend to everyone arriving and needing a taxi to avoid people offering taxi service outside baggage and arrivals.
For an example if you going to Nana, Sukhumvit they will charge you around 600-700 baht. If you go outside to get a metered taxi, they have to pay an airport tax (surcharge) straight away. This journey can be up to 450 baht.
 
However by just going upstairs to departures you can easily catch a taxi that just dropped some on off. Just insist on metered and this same trip can be done just under 200 baht. Don't let them try to add on a service charge or airport tax, becuase they didn't have to pay it, by not getting in that que downstairs.
 
They have elevators as well that you can easily fit a luggage trolley on. You get those trolleys at baggage claim for free.
The escalators are moving sidewalk types, not steps. You can fit you trolley on them easily as well. When you get up top and go outside look to your right and see the metered taxis. They are across the first lane. Keen drivers will actually be looking for you, and be more than willing to assist you with your bags. Just make sure you establish that your on meter rate.
 
Once I had one try to get an extra 100 baht on top of meter after arriving at my guest house. I asked why and he said for airport tax? I told him he didn't have to pay it, so I'm not either. He was happy to take his meter fare only. For him it was worth a try, thinking the average farang doesn't know any better.
 
I have done this several times now. Thai governement had recently had a big crackdown against the illegal taxi services that were operating which has helped from what I have heard.
 
When you get to the top floor which is departures, you just cross these lanes of traffic. you can actually see the taxi's who have just dropped off people sitting with open doors waiting on the suave travellor.
 
In my case I had a driver searching me out, and on the way to taxi did the usual questioning of meter. 190 baht to Nana. the driver in the center Taxi is actually looking for a suave customer using the departures drop off. I have also used this same principle in Viet Nam (Ho chi Min ) Airport paying about 5 USD instead of $15.