SAGuy 3,969 #1 Posted January 6, 2019 So as part of my promise to give back to the forum that has been so helpful to me, this is my first new topic. I started visiting the LOS in 2009 and this was the very first hotel that I stayed in in BKK. It was booked as it was close to where I was working on Soi 13. I stayed at S15, which is part of a small chain of 3-4 hotels for 3 visits between 2009-2010 and it is a great location, right on Sukhumvit and in walking distance of Robinsons and Terminal 21 and also the fleshpots on lower Sukhumvit. The hotel is very clean, serves a decent breakfast and is guest friendly. As this was my introduction to life in the LOS, the 'walk of shame' also wasn't too far LOL. I stopped staying there after midway 2010, as their rates kept climbing to around THB 3,500 per night and they weren't interested in a corporate discount deal. I still use the lunchtime buffet from time to time, as it changes every day and its a good venue to take a mixed group of people, with different dietary requirements. This hotel is also the scene of one of my favourite newbie mistakes, of which there have been many over the years, which I'll document in later posts. After checking in I tipped the hotel porter what I thought was THB 100. (It had been a long flight and in my defence I was unused to the Thai currency). Later that night I realised I had actually given him THB 1,000! Even in the States and Europe that would be an extraordinary tip for carrying one bag and also explains the smile from ear to ear that he had! So what do I do? I can't really ask him for THB 900 back? On the other hand, it just didn't seem right to let him get away with it. So a plan was hatched... After a wash and some food shopping I went to see him again and explained the situation and advised that he now needed to do me a favour. He could keep the THB 1,000 but had to procure me a decent looking GG. (Yes I do realise it was a newbie mistake, but it was my first night in BKK and little did I realise that there were GG a plenty literally outside the hotel or down the street outside the Ruamchit Hotel). This was before the days of Holly Coffee, which is also a great pick up spot. So I expected him to take about 30 minutes to 'procure' one, but within 5 minutes he was knocking on the room door with a great selection of 3! This is when I realised that BKK was like no other city I had ever been to before and its when I coined the phrase "you are never more than 10 metres away from a potential jump." Afterwards I also laughed at the difference between BKK and the big London Hotels, where the concierge would use the code phrase "would you like an extra pillow for your room Sir?" It was on my second stay at the S15 that I broke my LB cherry with Eye, from an escort agency, so happy memories! So in summary, S15 is a good hotel, in a great location, but is a bit pricey for what you get and some could find the rooms to be a bit austere. I swapped in 2010 to start staying at the Dream Hotel further down Soi 15. But that's another story and another hotel review. Here ends my first ever proactive post! SAG 3 Jackman11007, Thanks and Geronimo42 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mangatanga 181 #2 Posted January 7, 2019 (edited) Nice report. I am not sure how the rest of your stay went... but I am sure that if you ever needed anything else from the hotel porter, he'd jump through hoops to make you happy. I may be going overboard but on my first day of any trip at the hotel that I am staying at (LOS or elsewhere) - I typically introduce myself and tip porters, reception folks, security guards, maids and bartenders/waiters 2 to 3 times what I would normally tip. After the first day, I tip based on the service. This small gesture goes a long way with some folks - especially those that typically don't get tipped. Same sorta reason I'd buy/tip a mamasan or papasan. Anwyho, I've been helped when in a bad jam by these folks, received room upgrades at no cost, provided free drinks/food etc., received valuable intel/advice and made new friends. So don't worry too much about your 900 Baht, I am sure it went to good use. Edited January 7, 2019 by mangatanga Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SAGuy 3,969 #3 Posted January 8, 2019 13 hours ago, mangatanga said: Nice report. I am not sure how the rest of your stay went... but I am sure that if you ever needed anything else from the hotel porter, he'd jump through hoops to make you happy. I may be going overboard but on my first day of any trip at the hotel that I am staying at (LOS or elsewhere) - I typically introduce myself and tip porters, reception folks, security guards, maids and bartenders/waiters 2 to 3 times what I would normally tip. After the first day, I tip based on the service. This small gesture goes a long way with some folks - especially those that typically don't get tipped. Same sorta reason I'd buy/tip a mamasan or papasan. Anwyho, I've been helped when in a bad jam by these folks, received room upgrades at no cost, provided free drinks/food etc., received valuable intel/advice and made new friends. So don't worry too much about your 900 Baht, I am sure it went to good use. Thanks for the response Manga. No I've learnt over the years never to sweat the small stuff. Regarding tipping, yes I do tip for good service etc. I learnt over the years always to look after the chamber maids, who often get overlooked. More often than not, my room sometimes resembles a crime scene after a 'busy' night and so its the least that can be done! The chamber maids will often reciprocate to make your stay more comfortable. (Extra fruit and water etc.) In the bars, its more of a fine line. You don't want to be thought of as a mug, or an easy mark, but on the other hand, a few extra drinks here and there to mamasans or friends etc. can also make for more fun in an evening. The objective is not to minimise costs, but rather maximise the fun and overall experience. Everyone is different, but that's my outlook on the LOS. Cheers SAG P.S. I saw a LB posting on the board with a similar name - mango tango. You should've copyrighted your screen name. LOL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mangatanga 181 #4 Posted January 8, 2019 LOL...Yes, I totally should have copyrighted my screen name. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hkaus72 543 #5 Posted February 16, 2019 On 1/6/2019 at 6:51 PM, SAGuy said: So as part of my promise to give back to the forum that has been so helpful to me, this is my first new topic. I started visiting the LOS in 2009 and this was the very first hotel that I stayed in in BKK. It was booked as it was close to where I was working on Soi 13. I stayed at S15, which is part of a small chain of 3-4 hotels for 3 visits between 2009-2010 and it is a great location, right on Sukhumvit and in walking distance of Robinsons and Terminal 21 and also the fleshpots on lower Sukhumvit. The hotel is very clean, serves a decent breakfast and is guest friendly. As this was my introduction to life in the LOS, the 'walk of shame' also wasn't too far LOL. I stopped staying there after midway 2010, as their rates kept climbing to around THB 3,500 per night and they weren't interested in a corporate discount deal. I still use the lunchtime buffet from time to time, as it changes every day and its a good venue to take a mixed group of people, with different dietary requirements. This hotel is also the scene of one of my favourite newbie mistakes, of which there have been many over the years, which I'll document in later posts. After checking in I tipped the hotel porter what I thought was THB 100. (It had been a long flight and in my defence I was unused to the Thai currency). Later that night I realised I had actually given him THB 1,000! Even in the States and Europe that would be an extraordinary tip for carrying one bag and also explains the smile from ear to ear that he had! So what do I do? I can't really ask him for THB 900 back? On the other hand, it just didn't seem right to let him get away with it. So a plan was hatched... After a wash and some food shopping I went to see him again and explained the situation and advised that he now needed to do me a favour. He could keep the THB 1,000 but had to procure me a decent looking GG. (Yes I do realise it was a newbie mistake, but it was my first night in BKK and little did I realise that there were GG a plenty literally outside the hotel or down the street outside the Ruamchit Hotel). This was before the days of Holly Coffee, which is also a great pick up spot. So I expected him to take about 30 minutes to 'procure' one, but within 5 minutes he was knocking on the room door with a great selection of 3! This is when I realised that BKK was like no other city I had ever been to before and its when I coined the phrase "you are never more than 10 metres away from a potential jump." Afterwards I also laughed at the difference between BKK and the big London Hotels, where the concierge would use the code phrase "would you like an extra pillow for your room Sir?" It was on my second stay at the S15 that I broke my LB cherry with Eye, from an escort agency, so happy memories! So in summary, S15 is a good hotel, in a great location, but is a bit pricey for what you get and some could find the rooms to be a bit austere. I swapped in 2010 to start staying at the Dream Hotel further down Soi 15. But that's another story and another hotel review. Here ends my first ever proactive post! SAG Hahahah I had something similar a few months ago at Radisson Blu. I was waiting for a guest to arrive and I'd been fcking around with notes in my pocket and then placed the payment in the bedside table for later. I'd intended to get some extra towels and took B100 out of my wallet and shoved that in my pocket as a tip for the cleaning lady. Then I locked away all my valuables in the room safe. Anyway, I asked for the towels, minute or so later there's a knock at the door, I accept the towels, I then pass the cleaning lady the folded up tip. Her eyes go as wide as dinner plates, which I thought was weird, but just shrugged it off. I had a hard cock due to arrive soon, so had other things on my mind. Guest arrives, deed done, make payment, guest leaves. I'm standing there looking at the tv, slip my hand in my shorts pocket, pull out my B100 tip for the cleaning lady. I'm very confused at this point, "Why do I still have B100 in my pocket?", I say to myself. Go to the safe, grab my wallet and quickly realised I'd palmed her B1,000........and immediately her surprised face popped into my head. I had a good chuckle about it, what can you do? Nothing, just learn from you rsilly error. She was obviously extremely grateful for the large tip, as when I came back to my room after lunch the following day I discovered that she'd left me 14 bottles of water!! Again lots of chuckles. 2 1 Thanks, OneTrueSaxon and Boomerang reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SAGuy 3,969 #6 Posted March 2, 2019 On 2/16/2019 at 3:03 PM, hkaus72 said: Hahahah I had something similar a few months ago at Radisson Blu. I was waiting for a guest to arrive and I'd been fcking around with notes in my pocket and then placed the payment in the bedside table for later. I'd intended to get some extra towels and took B100 out of my wallet and shoved that in my pocket as a tip for the cleaning lady. Then I locked away all my valuables in the room safe. Anyway, I asked for the towels, minute or so later there's a knock at the door, I accept the towels, I then pass the cleaning lady the folded up tip. Her eyes go as wide as dinner plates, which I thought was weird, but just shrugged it off. I had a hard cock due to arrive soon, so had other things on my mind. Guest arrives, deed done, make payment, guest leaves. I'm standing there looking at the tv, slip my hand in my shorts pocket, pull out my B100 tip for the cleaning lady. I'm very confused at this point, "Why do I still have B100 in my pocket?", I say to myself. Go to the safe, grab my wallet and quickly realised I'd palmed her B1,000........and immediately her surprised face popped into my head. I had a good chuckle about it, what can you do? Nothing, just learn from you rsilly error. She was obviously extremely grateful for the large tip, as when I came back to my room after lunch the following day I discovered that she'd left me 14 bottles of water!! Again lots of chuckles. I'm glad to see that its not just me and that was a funny story. In the end its just USD 30, so its not worth sweating over and I bet the maid told her family all about the very generous hi so farang that night, so its great that you made her day! Thanks for the story, it was a great one to chuckle over, as I could see myself doing exactly the same thing! Cheers SAG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites