Unavowed

I don't know much about Grande Centre Point hotels, but can comment on the other hotels you've mentioned. The Grand Hyatt fits the bill for R&R without being too far from the action and is in a very nice area. I didn't bring back any guests when I stayed there but you would have no problem or judgement if you did.Both the Hyatt Regency and Sofitel are excellent hotels that are almost next door with all the facilities you need, but Sukhumvit can be chaotic although very close to the main LB bars. Mercure is a solid choice for the convenience of Soi 11 but it's a distinct step down in terms of quality. I'm sure others can comment on whether Gande Centre Point is a good place to stay but from my experience the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Sofitel can give you R&R and convenience. There are plenty of YouTube reviews on all of the hotels to help make your choice.

My experience there was waiting for 30 minutes for my food to appear. It might be busy but that’s not a sign of a well organised kitchen. Decent food (nothing special) but I won’t go back because of the long wait even though it’s a convenient location. A better option at the same price point is Roast. I’ve been to their restaurant in Emquartier and the Commons in Thong Lo and love the Turkish eggs.

Directly opposite the Mercure entrance, same lane as Cindy’s you’ll find one next to Breakfast Story. They’ve been my go to for several years and do an express service .

Sorry one point of clarification. You do your arrival card within the app, but the app I also does other immigration services and not just the TDAC. For a regular visitor it’s worth using the app just so you can save your passport details in your profile making it easier to fill out your arrival card.

@CanadaVisitor - they are the same thing. One is a webform and one is an app. You’d get a QR code and your trip will be registered with immigration whichever option you choose.

Yes it’s live and I’ve used it in the last week. It’s not an additional thing to do, and it’s the same information that you need to enter into the webform. The difference is that you can create a profile to store your passport and personal detail which will pre-fill most of the requested information before each trip.

I buy a roaming pack from my local provider in Aus. It’s not too expensive and i know i might get a better deal with a Thai eSim but I’m too lazy to figure out how it works and if I have to somehow switch between two different numbers e.g. if I get 2FA texts to my home number etc.

I've only flown Singapore regionally but I would be pretty annoyned had I paid for a full service airline and got a crap experience. Thai fly the A350 between Sydney and Bangkok and I find economy to be more than bearable as someone around 178cm and 90(ish!) kgs. Pretty good food and service too, and while it's business class is not in the top tier it's pretty good especially when there are sale fares. Qantas and the Finnair wet-lease A330 is pretty terrible by comparison even though the price is comparable to Thai. Tighter seating, noisy cabin, and poor to average service and food. I'll only use Qantas/Finnair if I have points to burn. FYI - the Thai authorities have released the "Thim" app (Thai immigration bureau) where you can pre-fill your personal details, including a scan of your passport and then when you're ready to travel you can put in the dates against your profile for your travel declaration. It saves having to put in all the details for every trip on the website and is similar to the Singapore immigration app if you've used that before.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257580/thailand-ends-60day-visafree-stay?tbref=hp Not law just yet but expect the changes to go through soon

Hotel rates will depend on the season. In Bangkok I will spend most of my stay at the Mecure on Soi 11 and rates have varied between AUD$140 in the low season to $210 over New Year. The Hyatt Regency and Sofitel seem to be anywhere from AUD$240 to $300+ for a basic room (more if you want lounge access). In Pattaya I'm more than happy with the Holiday Inn Express which can range between AUD$65 to $85 a night. Personally, I do like the extra luxury at the end of a trip, but as a minimum I do want a modern, quiet and clean room with decent bedding, towels, good cleaning service and air conditioning - and all in a good location too. A good gym and pool is nice too. I won't compromise much as I'm past the age where I'm out all night and day and being able to have a comfortable space to rest and relax is important to me. But everyone has their own priorities and budgets.

With my frequent visits to Thailand to see the temples and eat street food (*cough*) it has made sense for me to sign up to the Accor+ program as it more than pays for itself. One of the main benefits is the free nights offer and I used this recently to stay at the Sofitel. I usually stay in mid-level hotels like the Mercure on Soi 11 and the Holiday Inn Express in Pattaya but often like a nicer hotel to finish my trip when the rates are good in the off-season. My usual go-to is the Hyatt Regency which I very much like, and this was my first time at the Sofitel where I spent 4-nights. I booked a 'luxury' room with club access so I could compare it to the Hyatt, but I was upgraded to a junior suite which makes it an unfair to compare rooms. What I will say is that the size of the bed, its comfort and the quality of the bedding is on par with the Hyatt. The bathroom amenities are similar as is the quality and responsiveness of the cleaning services. The main difference was the rooftop bar area, lounge, gym, and overall quality of service. Spectrum at the Hyatt is a more 'showy' place, it's got spectacular views and its where tourist like to visit for the skyline and the vibe. Belga at the Sofitel is really an outside terrace and lower key with a discreet service sort of vibe. I've taken LB guests to both and they enjoyed it and the staff treated them with respect. Also, you can get a 30% discount on food and drink at Sofitel with Accor+ which is a good benefit. I have been given a couple of free drink vouchers at the Hyatt but not always. The lounge at the Hyatt is small and can get busy, but the lounge at the Sofitel is one can get lost in and takes up an entire floor, but most people congregate near the food area. Food and drink offerings are broadly on par, maybe the wine is better at the Sofitel The gym at both hotels are good, but the Sofitel is far better for my needs. Unfortunately the pool at the Sofitel was closed for refurbishment so can't compare those. Service standards are very good at both hotels, but I would put Sofitel ahead here. Its just that bit more attentive and personalised. You can also walk direct from Nana BTS to the Hyatt under the covered skywalk, and from Asok to the Sofitel using the footbridge but the Sofitel access is covered all the way so you won't get caught out if its raining (although not sure if that access is 24/7). I will still be using Hyatt as part of my points collection strategy and to maintain my current status but the main driver when deciding between either will be the cost, including club access. Hyatt is usually cheaper but using Accor+ benefits and reward points can balance this out. Overall, both are very good hotels that you can spend all day in especially if you have lounge access, and of course its very guest friendly! It's a case of give each one a try and see which one gives you the best value. Either way I don't think you will go to far wrong if you want a better standard of accommodation near the action.

It’s scary how good it’s getting. Still a lot of contextual clues give it away, but no doubt it will get better and better. With that video it reminds me of a joke: My son told me he’s dating a model. You can imagine how disappointed I was when I found out he meant AI [emoji38]

Always original@SAGuy - keep up the tradition! I was only suspicious because of the AI image and the sign is not even written in Thai. …anyone want to open a ladyboy themed cafe with me? [emoji38]

If you're a regular traveller and like Accor hotels then the Accor Plus membership is a good option. It's been refreshed recently and the main benefit is if you book two nights or more, you can get one night free (the most expensive night). You get two of these, plus 15% off above your usual member rate, discounts on dining (never used) and higher status which can give you late check-out options. I've used it to book a few nights at the Sofitel for the first time to end my upcoming trip (I'm curious to see how it compares to the Hyatt). I've found that Accor Plus has more than paid for itself, but of course you need to run your own numbers to see if it benefits you.

Unless you have history of overstaying you will be fine. I've been asked once or twice when I'm leaving Thailand and have showed them my (genuine) return flight booking in an app. They're not going to get it forensically analysed, all they want to know is if you're a genuine tourist and not going to overstay. If you're really worried then book the cheapest flight you can find to Cambodia, Malaysia or Indonesia.