Thanks

I'd read it somewhere, I believe here: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1075473-pharmacy-closing-down/ Probably has not much to do with the crackdown this week on the illegal stalls selling apcalis and whatever around Suk Soi 3 as they are apparently going to reopen at a different location. Anyone in the know where that new location would be? And what will happen to the (I guess precious) real estate of this pharmacy? Another fast food joint? Carl's Senior? Thanks :-!

Sorry for resurrecting such an old thread but I didn't want to open yet another one. While the first post of this thread obviously was just an April Fool's day joke by SiamMan, this is probably for real: According to TV (Thai Visa) and Daily News, the BiB from Lumphini police station confiscated all the Viagra and sextoys from the stalls around Nana, apparently particularly those on Soi 3: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1082752-two-million-bahts-worth-of-sex-toys-and-viagra-taken-off-the-street-in-police-raid/ Has that something to do with the upcoming general election? I think the big and cheap Chinese-Thai pharmacy next to Bully's pub on Sukhumvit near Nana has also closed it's doors or is about to close. So if you need your daily dose of generic Cialis, would you now have to go to a police post? Perhaps to the one on the corner of Sukhumvit + Nana Soi 4? Same price as the street stalls? Just asking for a friend... ;-) Thanks And it's not even April's Fool's day today...or is it?

Wise words, ain't always kind words ... But you're right: I'll go when circumstances "here" are right and not when the weatherman tells me so... Thanks oliver17 :-)

OMG! I was considering a short trip to LOS either in 2 weeks time (avoiding the general elections on 24 March) or actually in mid-March... So better postpone & wait until the rainy season sets in again? Or book a flight soon but don't bother with a hotel with a pool let alone a rooftop bar? Thanks SAGuy, Ropey, BGSC & taaseesanuk! :-)

Sorry mate, but I don't know where to find these mesterolone tablets. I've seen some testosterole tablets though somewhere, but I don't know if this is the same or something different... I've read somewhere that the longer a man's ring finger is compared to his index finger, the more testosterone he has. Do you think that's true? https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/2d4d-ratio-masculinity/

What I like about rooftop bars in Bangkok, but also in other tropical places such as in Rio de Janeiro, is that they provide a welcome refuge from the hectic and loud urban streetlife. Roadside streetbars such as the alcobars around Nana at night are a great place for people watching and having fun, but they are often located by busy, noisy roads. Other tourist focused bars on Sukhumvit such as the overpriced "Beer Republic" near Chit Lom, have a great porch but the traffic noise coming from Sukhumvit road is just too much after a while IMO... Rooftop bars such as Brewski (on the top of the Radisson Blu hotel, quite near the Continent hotel) or "sky on 20" on top of the Novotel on Sukhumvit Soi 20 offer a more relaxed atmosphere than their roadside counterparts, I find... It's just nice if one can sit on top of a highrise building until 2 o'clock in the morning because the temperature is still around 30 C / 86 F. And you don't breathe the exhaust gases from the old diesel buses. However, they are more expensive than "normal" bars. But you don't have to go to a rooftop bar every evening, do you? I like to visit one or two during a one week stay and then it's enough for a while... I guess I'm getting old (I'm old)... :-) Some images I've taken on rooftop bars in Bangkok in the past:

Thanks for the suggestion, TSS! Are you sure it's a good idea to have a cold drink now at the outside seating of a rooftop bar in Gotham City instead of a craft beer at an open air rooftop bar in Bangkok? Temperature Manhattan: -14 C / 7 F Temperature Bangkok: 31 C / 87 F Sooo, what's your next suggestion for a place with a really "cool" rooftop bar and some outside seating: Chicago? (currently -26 C / -15 F)... ;-)

I haven't yet been to 8 rooftop bars in Bangkok, like onebraveaussie, but I'm getting there... The Axis & Spin rooftop bar on top of the Continent hotel is one that I've visited for example. It's close to Asok junction and therefore near Soi Cowboy. I found it a bit difficult to find as the entrance to the Continent is a bit hidden. Once inside the hotel you just forget about the reception / front desk and head for the elevators. No one will stop you, just the opposite. I didn't see any cowboys but instead many hotel guests in the generation X age bracket. The two top floors that make up the Axis & Spin area are therefore full of people in their 30s and 40s. The skybar restaurant is mainly an indoor location, unlike some other rooftop bars I'm familiar with. Only a small part of the skybar has access to the outside. No tables there outside. Just enough space for a few people. But you have a great view of the lower Sukhumvit area! The night I was there they were pretty busy. Just to have a good view from the skybar you don't need a reservation. But if you want to dine with your LB it's better to RSVP. Dress code for dining: smart casual recommended. To just have a look from the skybar observation deck: go as you please. http://www.thecontinentdining.com/axis-and-spin.php View from the skybar outside area:

I also went to the neighboring Citrus Suites hotel for breakfast because I prefer buffet spreads over "a-la-carte" as I like sampling different items. Also, buffets usually are less expensive than eating a-la-carte from the menu, particularly when you want your brekkie to be a substitute for your lunch. The neighboring Citrus Suites hotel offers its above average breakfast buffet, as you've correctly stated already, for 250 Baht to non-hotel guests which is a steal IMO. They have a good variety there, from cold cuts, fruits, pastry, grilled tomatoes to excellent hot and spicy Asian items. They also have an egg station. The beverages you get are from coffee and juice machines. As long as they have enough space for their own hotel guests, you should be able to get a table if you're staying at the Dynasty Grande or at the Phachara Suites. Official closing time is 10:30 am by the way.

Why do the dancers at Straps ladyboy a-gogo at NEP wear panties? Because it's the law in LOS! The Thai health and safety act clearly states: (7)(c)1: "All manholes must be covered when not in use."

Another excellent hotel review, OTS! The relatively nice pool (for a 3 star hotel that is) is a big plus for me to shortlist this hotel for my upcoming trip to Bangkok in a few weeks. And there must have been some roadworks lately on Soi 13, so that this stretch of the road down to Sukhumvit is now asphalted I believe. They have a special offer in cooperation with a neighboring restaurant: 1.500 THB per night including brekkie. That's about 150 THB cheaper than the official rate on their website for my travel dates (including breakfast) and about 200 THB cheaper than the other hotel booking sites that I was checking.

According to the Bangkok Post, Swampy is one of the best airports in the world when it comes to punctuality. I can confirm that both, arrivals and departures are usually pretty much on time from my experience. And I use different airlines. Waiting time at immigration (on arrival) was also not sooo bad the last few times I was there. Waiting time at immigration on departure was even excellent. I guess they want you to have enough time to do some duty free shopping... Used priority line only once lately at BKK as I rarely travel in business class anymore these days. I was also quickly through that line. Despite flying in economy class out of BKK I've used one of the smaller Miracle lounges there recently and it was okay, not much food variety but enough to compensate for the foregone breakfast at the hotel due to an early flight out of Bangkok. Are your experiences at Swampy any different?

Thanks everyone! Well, guess it's better to go to the Mexican with farang only, not with Thai LBs. Which leads me to my next thought: Have you ever had any negative experience with bringing a lb to a restaurant in lower Suk? Any places that don't allow them in and that we should avoid? I don't mean when they are wearing sl.. ahem, work wear but 'normal' street clothes. Thanks :-)

The owner, a really nice guy from Texas in his early 60s, said they broke even the first year already. Highlighted the quality of the food and the food ingredients and that there weren't any other authentic tex-mex restaurants around. They must have lots of fixed / overhead costs but seemingly they are still profitable even at way less than 50% capacity utilization rate, even on weekends. Said that regular / returning guests would make up lion share of his business, compensating for not so many "typical" soi 4 tourists. The US embassy isn't that far away either (don't know if they are also doing deliveries there) and they are surrounded by 10 hotels. The Hilton DoubleTree Ploenchit (ex Majestic Grande) down the alley looks almost finished and should open in Q2 / 2019. Also, the Marriott, where many Americans stay, is also basically just around the corner. Americans just love Tex-Mex! They have pool billiard tables at the Mexican, always popular in Bangkok. Staff is nice and look after their guests. The ambiance in general and the Mexican themed furnishings are also good IMO. Didn't see (m)any Thai guests and not a single Thai lb anyway. Tex-mex is probably really not such a popular food with Thais - as mardhi already pointed out. Didn't try much food there but the bar is well stocked and their spirits I think are the real deal and they don't cheat with quantity either. As Youngone already said, it ain't cheap though... Anyway, I would give it a shot when you're craving for something authentic US style in Texmexkok.

Hi all, I’m Iooking for a first-hand hotel recommendation around Nana for a 1 week stay later this month. Where would you rather stay: At the Chateau de Bangkok or at the Dynasty Grande? I’ve read some (mostly positive) comments here about the DG but it seems I cannot find anything up-to-date on the CdB… I’ve been to Bangkok more than five times over the last years, so I am not a newby anymore but also not really an expert such as obviously so many BMs here. Last time, summer 2018, I stayed at the relatively new Citrus Suites on soi 6 and it was just so so… What’s important to me: a nice pool area for daytime relaxing, a good or very good brekky, should be near Nana (max. 10 - 15 minutes on foot to NEP), clean rooms (no cockroaches, ugh!). Approx. price range: 1800 - 2500 Baht. I intend to go to ST rooms with the girls but I also would like to have zero problems bringing back a girl if things turn out that way… I’ve already read some tripadvisor and booking.com reviews and both a.m. hotels seem to be okay. But can BM who have already stayed at both hotels shed some light on what hotel they think is better? BTW: Alternatives for me would be the Grand Sukhumvit soi 6 or the Phachara Suites just across the road. Also, may I add here another question: What hotel booking site(s) can you recommend for the hotel you recommend? I usually prefer booking on the hotel’s own web page because they often have special offers and "member deals" there that are not available on Online booking sites such as Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia. Often they give you free room upgrades there or extras such as free brekkies or restaurant vouchers and so on. Can you recommend 'local' booking sites such as Thaihoteldiscount.com? Are there any other (Thai or otherwise) hotel booking sites that give you agency rates (or any other "top secret" online booking sites with better rates than Agoda & Co.)? Thanks - and sorry for the numerous questions - but perhaps other BM would also be interested in your answers! Thanks ;-)

Chateau der Bangkok Well, the story about the CdB is quickly told. When I wanted to book a room, 3 days before arrival, all the booking sites I looked at said that it's sold out (high season). I therefore had to book a different hotel. However I did pay a visit to the CdB one afternoon. The distance from Nana Plaza to the hotel on foot is less than 15 minutes, perhaps even a bit less. However the street the hotel's located in, the boring wireless road (official name is "Soi Ruam Rudi" I believe, enter where the Novotel Ploen Chit is), isn't such a fun place. 20 - 30 year ago that must have been different: there must have been street walkers at night there. But no more! I did check out the lobby of the CdB. The guests I noticed there were middle eastern people and farang couples. The building itself looks impressive. And the better suites I think are equipped with jacuzzi features in the bath tub - a definite plus for bringing back the ladies. The CdB is probably not the most obvious choice for a fun holiday. But I shall keep it on my list for future travels. Thanks for reading. Thanks :-)

I couldn't find anything interesting there for my travel dates. Secret member prices for the hotels I have checked seem to be around the ballpark as those you can find on any of the big online travel sites or by booking through the hotel's own website. Have you booked your room there, hughjass85 and if so what was your experience? Thanks :-)

The main advantage of this hotel is its location close to NEP. Breakfast is good, even very good IMHO. I booked on the hotel's own website (special offers tab) and paid around 2100 Baht on average for a week (w-ends are more expensive) during low season. I brought back a girl to my room at 2:00 am. No problem at all as the front desk person was walking around the restaurant area and didn't notice us until we were already in the elevator . So no ID check in this instance. Brought her in the morning to the restaurant, but had to pay I think 200 Baht extra for breakfast despite having booked for 2 guests including free brekkie. Other guests looked a bit bewildered at us and she obviously didn't feel too comfortable and wanted to leave soon afterwards. Never mind. In the rooms facing Soi 6, the morning traffic can be clearly heard, particularly in the lower floor rooms. The pool area is depressing. Difficult to get a metered taxi on Soi 6. Shower temperature issues and water was coming out of the shower stall and onto the bathroom floor. Overall an okay option but certainly far from perfect. Looking for a better option with a nicer pool area within 15 minutes on foot from NEP for under 2500 Baht during high season. Any advice? Thanks! Thanks :-)