Unavowed

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.

Try this: https://onwardticket.com/en

In the last year I’ve used Nam’s taxis several times and it cost 1500 between Sukhumvit to Pattaya, and 1200 between Suvarnabhumi and Pattaya. I’m pretty sure that on one occasion the cost was slightly higher because they didn’t have a small car available.

Thanks for the review@Denbosch1971 Asking for a 1k deposit per day is ridiculous. You mentioned that you used loyalty points so assume you use Accor hotels regularly in which case I can only guess the deposit request is due to the location and perhaps some ‘difficult’ guests! I’ve stayed at the Novotel in Soi 22 (or was it 24) and find this brand to be a solid choice.

I had a Thai doctor prescribe Norfloxacin 400 some years ago and when I asked a pharmacist for this time ago he recommended Ciprofloxacin as this was a more potent antibiotic for more persistent cases. With the changes in time zone, more boozing, different food etc stomach issues are not uncommon but avoid antibiotics unless it really is persistent. Another good option are charcoal tablets you can pick up from 7/11 which is helpful to settle your stomach after a rough night!

Strictly three days before. Same for Singapore and Malaysia too

The Ban Rak area is also great to visit. Short walk to Talat Noi and then up to China Town. It’s good to have these reviews as I like to take a break from lower Suk. One of my favourite spots even though focused on tourists is Jacks Bar which is not far away. Just a great spot if you want a few relaxed afternoon beers by the river. Cheap prices, decent food and opposite Icon Siam where you can watch the comings and goings on the Chai Phraya.

A vaguely related question since the OP asked about travel, but is the (supposed) crackdown on not wearing helmets on moto taxis being enforced or has this gone back to normal now? If I go to Thonglo I usually take the BTS and then a moto from the corner and don’t fancy a 2,000 baht fine!

I stayed at both the Soi 11 and then Soi 8 locations for around 3-4 nights each recently. I would say you get good value for money, and if I had to choose I would go for the Soi 11 location despite the street noise simply because I found the Soi 8 location too far down the way (and I couldn't get the tuk tuk to collect me using Line!). The gym at each location was pretty basic, but good enough for a decent workout. That said, it's unlikely that I would book either of these again as I think there are better options for the same or marginally higher prices that make up for either the street noise (Soi 11) or distance to the action (Soi 8). For Soi 11 I would go for the Mercure every time, especially as they always put me at the back of the building where its quiet. But as @Denbosch1971 points out in the review above, for a long stay you get a big room for a reasonable price, but don't expect 5 star quality.

Just to add to this, I stayed here for five nights at the end of my recent trip. It was my first stay at this particular Hyatt hotel and it was very good. I had a standard room and found it to be a good size and well laid out; the fixtures and fittings were in good condition; big and comfortable bed with nice bedding, and for they also took account of my request for plenty of towels (I just need to shower more in the heat and I also have guests!). The room service team were responsive and excellent too. I didn't bother with breakfast or go to the restaurant area with all the options available locally, but they had a pretty decent gym, but could do with dumbells heavier than 20kgs but at least you can load the machines up more. The pool area is nice to chill, especially in the evening and I even spotted a video games corner if you're into that too. I went up to the rooftop bar twice. The first on my own where I used a discount voucher I was given when I checked in. The staff gave me an extra discount on a second drink without asking, and the second time with a LB guest. The staff there were nothing but polite, respectful and always helpful. Front desk and concierge were excellent, and of course absolutely no issue with bringing back guests. Sure its pricey, but its in a great location and while it wouldn't be my 'primary' hotel its definitely somewhere I would go if I wanted a bit more luxury.