Discount Hotels in Thailand
October 10, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Lifestyle
Bangkok is Thailand’s major tourist destination that’s why large number of foreign tourists arrives in the city around the year.The city boasts some of the country’s most visited historical places like Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.
Bangkok not only great number of tourists although provide world class lodging accommodation. All the major hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Sheratons has their properties there. The Peninsula Bangkok is among the top ten hotels in the world (according to Travels and Leisure magazine’s top 100 hotel lists). The city also offers numbers of smaller boutique hotels for discerning travelers seeking uniquely designed lodgings. There are large number of discount hotels are also available in the different parts of the city. these discount Bangkok hotels provide all quality services to their guests.
The Imperial Impala hotel, Mandarin hotel Bangkok, Quality Suites Airport, Comfort Suites Airport, Center Point Apartment Petchburi, Miracle Grand Convention hotel, Royal Benja Palace hotel, Merchant Court hotel Bangkok, Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel and The Dusit Thain hotel are some discount Bangkok hotels among the large number of others.
Phuket is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. It is an island there are no land boundaries and the island is served by Phuket International Airport. Phuket is famous for its beautiful natural surroundings and attractions. Old building, Rang House (View point of Phuket town), Rawai Beach, Phromthep Cape and Wat chalong are some popular tourist sites of Phuket.
Phuket also offers world class accommodation facilities from Luxury to discount Phuket hotels. Aloha Villa, Andaman’s House, APK Resort, Baan Boa Resort, Baan Karon Resort, Deevana Patong resort & Spa, Club Bamboo Boutique Resort, Karon Sea Send Resort, Phuket Island Pavilion, Patong Lodge hotel and Kamala Beach hotel & resort are some out of many wonderful discount Phukit hotels.
Thailand: Finding bargains at Bangkok weekend markets – Part 2
September 26, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Travel
Bangkok in particular, and Thailand as a whole, is a thriving, phrenetic, and sometimes chaotic place, and no place embodies this more than JJ Market a bargain hunters paradise, but one that is also fraught with uncertainty and adventure. Everyone that visits the Kingdom, in my opinion, should at spend least a few hours roaming through the crowded narrow sois (alley) of what is billed as the, “world’s largest outdoor market”. Unlike similar places in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, JJ is geared more for locals and sells everything from pets to plants, clothes to art, house wares to used vintage items, but also has its fair share of junky “tourist” stuff.
With so much to look at, and so many sois to maneuver, finding anything that you want, let alone haggling for a price can be a bit daunting, especially for westerners not skilled in the finer points of bargaining. As a result, much of a visitor’s time is spent trying to figure out where they are, where they want to be, and where that shop selling the prettiest silk scarves has disappeared to. As such, a plan of action is essential for maximizing one’s time and minimizing their expense.
Firstly, whenever possible, bring a local or native speaking Thai with you to the market. My wife is Thai, so my JJ experience differs significantly from most farangs (westerners) in that I am accompanied by a walking, Thai-speaking discount card. As with most such markets, tourists are going to get the worst prices, while locals get better prices and their language ability makes their haggling lan formidable (who can blame them after all?). There are JJ guided tours available for hire, and although I’ve never taken one, I would imagine that their familiarity with the markets physical layout alone is worth the fee, especially if you’re time is short. Thais are very friendly folks (for the most part) and if you’ve gotten to know a waitress, or someone at your hotel, ask them if they might come with you, buy them a few meals, and maybe something nice for their time. Believe me, they’ll have fun, you’ll make a new friend, and save a lot of money on purchases.
If nobody is available, or if you’re feeling adventurous, there are a few phrases and tactics that are essential to successful bargaining in Thailand. First is, “Mai Aw Krub” (male) or “Mai Aw Ka” (female) “No Thank You”. Smile, nod a bit, and say, “Mai Aw Krub” when a shopkeeper says, “Aw Mai Krub” “Do you want?” Secondly, if you stop
Bangkok, The City With Many Faces
September 16, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Nightlife
The City of Angels
Bangkok, (in Thai, ‘Krung Thep’, meaning ‘city of angels’), is the capital and largest city of Thailand with population of over 10 million. The city is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is located at 13°45′ N 100°31′ E.
Bangkok is one of the fastest-growing, most economically dynamic cities in Southeast Asia. It is one of regional centers rivaling Singapore and Hong Kong. The World Meteorological Organization has dubbed Bangkok the world’s hottest city. It is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
The Shopping Paradise
Bangkok is full of shopping malls and street markets of all types, especially in the Sukhumvit area. Prices can be ludicrously cheap by Western standards, especially for locally produced items such as clothes, although bargaining is expected and required. Dump a teenager in MBK with a few thousand baht and they’ll stay occupied for the rest of the week!
A major attraction on weekends is the gigantic Chatuchak Weekend Market, in northern Bangkok but easily accessible by Skytrain and Metro. Slightly more manageable in size and open nightly is the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, covered in the Silom section.
The City That Never Sleeps
Bangkok’s nightlife is notorious, although recent social order campaigns have put a bit of a clamp on things: in particularly, nearly all restaurants, bars and clubs are now forced to close before 1 AM, a few are allowed to stay open till 2 AM. You must carry your passport for ID checks and police occasionally raid bars, subjecting all customers to drug tests.
After 1 AM closing it is still possible to eat and drink at the sidewalk bars that open up. This is the Bangkok version of sidewalk dining with food and drink served all night. Available in many areas but especially in lower Sukhumvit.
Bangkok’s main party district is Silom, home not only to perhaps the world’s most famous go-go bar strip Patpong, but plenty of more (and less) legitimate establishments catering to all tastes. For a drink with a view, the open-air rooftop bar/restaurants of Vertigo and Sirocco are particularly impressive. Similar bars to the ones at Patpong can be found in the lower Sukhumvit area, at Nana Entertainment Plaza (soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (soi 23). A large number of more trendy and more expensive bars and nightclubs can be found in the higher sois of Sukhumvit as well (eg soi 33). Hippie hangout Khao San Road is also slowly gentrifying and there are even some Thais venturing into what were once mere backpacker bars.
Back Links And Bangkok
August 22, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Lifestyle
Most webmasters know how important it is to have relevant links from other sites pointing back to theirs. These are called one-way, incoming links. The search engines look for this with their spiders and bots and figure you must have a great site if someone else in a related field is pointing to it.
The problem is that webmasters and internet marketers are aware of this, but many brick and mortar, small business owners are not. They figure that all they have to do is get a domain name, put up a web site, and the traffic will immediately follow. Not so.
I have seen this with many business owners from Thailand – especially from Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Many of these owners are foreigners – or Farangs – and most are not web savvy. They are very good with their restaurant, bar, guest house or any other business – but need some help marketing on line.
What they don’t realize is the connection between having a visible web site and the impact it will have on their “real” business. People who see their site online are likely to visit them when visiting Thailand. With the advent of the Internet, most folks do some research online before taking their holiday and having a web site ranked high in the search engines is extremely important.
So, how does the owner and/or webmaster get more visibility online? There are a couple of ways to do this. TO get links back to one’s site, one can do a link or banner exchange. Or, one can get one-way links. One-way links get very favorable consideration from the search engines – especially if they are from related sites.
So, get yourself some one-way links and watch your search engine ranking go up and up and up. It is an easy and inexpensive way to advertise your online or offline business
Rent a House in Bangkok
May 15, 2009 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Lifestyle
Rent a house in Bangkok
When I first moved to Bangkok, I rented an apartment like most newcomers to Bangkok do, but as I became more familiar with my new home town, I decided to be a little more adventurous and rented a house. Having lived in houses over the past five years now, I’ve found that renting a house in Bangkok not only offers more space and privacy, often it is also much better value compared to apartment living. More often than not, it is also a cheaper option (per square metre) compared to renting an apartment or condo, which are getting smaller in size these days! If you enjoy wide open spaces, appreciate some green in your life – a garden perhaps, have pets, a large family or simply want to maximize your budget, consider renting a house instead.
Another advantage in renting a house is, apartments tend to put a high surcharge on your electricity and water bills. Many apartments have a minimum charge of 1000 bht for water alone. That is a significant amount considering my water bill never cost me over 500 bht living in a house with a family of 5, and we do A LOT of washing! Electricity can be anything between 5 – 7 baht per unit compared to the actual 3.75 baht charged by the MEA. Living in a house can save you up to half your utility bills compared to living in an apartment, and believe me it is A LOT of difference!
Thailand is cheap!
As you may already know, Thailand (more accurately, “Bangkok”) is not the cheap haven many foreigners once thought it to be, especially when it comes to housing. Property prices and rental have gone up considerably and that’s the way it goes everywhere around the world. The very same 2 bedroom unit I rented 5 years ago (in Silom) has gone up by 30% in rental and hardly any refurbishment has been done to it since! “That’s ridiculous” you say and believe it or not, I agree! But hey, I don’t make the prices and if you think agents benefit from that higher commission, that’s only true when clients actually think these houses are worth the price and that isn’t always the case.
Renting a house in Sukhumvit, Silom or Sathorn.
If you are looking to rent a house in the the Sukhumvit, Silom or Sathorn area, then the very minimum rental you are looking at is 30,000 bht for a BASIC 3 bedroom house. Even then, they are few and far between in that range, and more often than not are above 15 years old, with dark parquet flooring and lots of wooden built-ins which many people find dark and depressing.
Most people prefer something a little brighter and contemporary. That would mean newer houses between 1 – 5 years old and these start around 45,000 bht. Depending on the location, size, décor, facilities etc. these can go up to anything from 150,000 – 250,000 baht per month. For that price, please do not accept anything less than a spectacular, resort-like villa with a private pool!
No, but seriously, you do get what you pay for so be realistic when it comes to expectations and budget. If you want something new and modern but lack the budget, then move further away from the city centre. Which also means further away from the BTS line. Unfortunately, we cannot have it all and something’s gotta give.
Generally, if you go further towards the end of the BTS line and beyond i.e. Mo Chit, Phayathai, Phrakanong, On Nut, Bangna, Srinakarin, Rangsit etc. prices drop significantly and you get much better deals which are sometimes worth the extra time commuting.
Is it possible to find a house for 15,000 bht?
Not many agencies deal with houses below 25,000 bht. Just search the various property website in Thailand and you will see that the minimum range for houses are 25,000 – 30,000 bht, where the search usually returns 0 – 5 results. Several reasons for that:
1) There are a lot less decent and rentable houses at < 25,000 bht than there are at say, 50,000 bht.
2) If there is, it is usually way out of town, far from any BTS/MRT station.
3) Most people want to live in town, close to the city centre, CBD or near a BTS/MRT station.
4) Apart from location, houses below 25,000 bht are usually older (thus old fashioned) and not very well-maintained, which makes it very hard to rent.
5) If a house is nice and decent with an asking rent of 25,000 bht or less, some agents mark it up!
Thus, it’s hard to find nice, decent houses at 25,000 bht or less…
Regardless, there are plenty of cheap houses as low as 12,000 bht for rent, but remember, and I stress again – you get what you pay for! And most 12,000 bht houses I’ve seen are usually in serious need of repair and maintenance, and the really nice ones are located way out in whoop whoop district.
I don’t care as long as rent is cheap. Where do I look?
Again, you won’t find any agents to help you there and finding that perfect yet cheap and nice house is undoubtedly the hardest step. It usually takes months of driving around moo baan after moo baan, which would mean having your own transport and knowing your way around.
The word “Moo Baan” translates to “village” in Thai, but the term “housing estate” would be far more accurate. These usually have a guard posted at the entrance and are situated all over Bangkok. These houses usually offer much better value than stand alone houses, and are a good place for the house hunter to start his/her search. Try areas like On Nut between Sukhumvit 77 – 103, Bangna, Rangsit, Ramintra, Phayathai, Mo chit etc.
Concerns and other issues
1) Security
Honestly, I know of many farangs, including myself who have lived in single houses and existed peacefully without any disturbances or trouble for years. I also do not know anyone who has been burgled personally because they were living in a house. Do you?
If you are considering renting a house and security is a main concern, rent a house in popular areas like Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn where there are many nearby apartments and condos with security. That way, you can benefit from the dense security in the neighbourhood.
Another option would be to opt for houses or townhouse within a “moo baan.” There are plenty around and majority of them have tight 24 hour security. Common sense would also tell me to explore the neighbourhood a little and have a chat with shopkeepers and a neighbour who might be willing to share some information with you. I’m sure you’ll have no problems getting a friendly neighbour to spill the beans on the house, its previous tenants and probably things you don’t need to know about your landlord. Welcome to Thailand!
2) Air conditioners
Check to see how many rooms have air-conditioning; and how old the air-conditioners are. If you are looking at an older house, chances are it will have those big, old blocks that rumble every time you turn them on. These old air-conditioners consume a lot more energy than a new one, and would greatly increase your electricity bills. It is also unlikely that the landlord will install new air-conditioners for you unless they are completely dead (even then they will always try to revive the monster before even considering replacing it), so make sure that they are serviced and cleaned before you move in or if you got a good deal on the rent, invest in some new airconditioners!
3) Water Pressure
Now this is important. Always check that there is a water pump. Then check the water pressure on the upper floors to make sure the pump has enough power to deliver a decent jet of shower. I’ve learnt from experience that size does not necessarily mean power when it comes to a water pump, and sometimes a 2nd pump needs to be installed to ensure constant deliverance of water into the house.
4) Telephone lines
Again, from experience it is in your best interest to check the phone lines to make sure that 1) you have one and 2) it is working, because some areas (and this includes many areas in the Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn) do not have anymore available numbers and you will have to join a looong waiting list to apply for a new one. Also, older houses above 10 years old tend to be on the old, analog system which when faulty, cannot be replaced unless the whole area is re-cabled. No telephone lines = no internet. You don’t ever want to be caught in that situation!
5) Maintenance
Houses within a secured compound will have what they call “moo baan fee” or “community fee” which goes into the maintenance of the estate i.e. security, pool and garden maintenance etc. This is usually included in the asking rent. However, if you try negotiating on the rent, then more often than not, the landlord will exclude this from the rent and make you pay for it, so check to see what your rent includes when you are signing the contract. This ranges between 20 – 45 bht per square metre. Thus, the larger your house the more you pay! I currently pay 3,500 baht per month for my “moo baan fee” (I got a 5000 bht reduction in rent, so it works out) and we have 24 hour security, a well-maintained common garden and a superb pool that is regularly cleaned, so I am happy.
At Bangkok Finder, we specialize in properties for rent. Home rental is our only business and that gives us all the time in the world to help find you that perfect house within your budget when you move to Bangkok. Our website http://www.bangkokfinder.com features hundreds of houses and apartments for rent, and is updated daily with quality rental homes. Our negotiators have long established relationships with landlords, which means you will always pay the best rate when we negotiate for you.
Getting in an Out of Trouble in Bangkok, Thailand
December 17, 2008 by bkkpkerplayer
Filed under Bangkok Nightlife
Whilst the vast majority of Thais are overwhelmingly friendly and happy, (in fact they are world famous for this) there are of course, as in any country a minority that can and will attempt to take advantage of you. Why would they do so? Well, Thailand is still a developing country and whilst Bangkok is highly developed in many areas it is still a developing country and the mindset of the people occasionally reflects this. Many Thais come to Bangkok from the countryside looking for work and the salaries in Bangkok do not really providea satisfactory level of living, even for qualified individuals. Indeed it is said that even to flip burgers in MacDonald’s you need to have been to University, which is often an expense a family can ill afford.
The need for money is also exacerbated slightly by the type of family structure that exists whereby once children become adults it is deemed it is now their turn to repay their parents for looking after them during their childhood by providing them with a good standard of living, namely by giving them money. Caring for their parents is often seen as the number one goal for their lives, being more important than anything else! Often the Thai persons drive to provide for their parents is fiercely overwhelming and can on occasion make them do things they would otherwise not do. Again it must be emphasized this is far from the norm, but does these things do happen.
These factors of course provide impetus for all sorts of different money making activities. A few common methods for unscrupulous people to extract money from foreigners, ranging from simple rip-offs to intricate scams are as follows:
a) Taxi drivers, these can spot a newbie from a mile off, they will gladly take you where you want to go via all the shops that they are given commission at. These are often suit shops, gem shops, massage parlours, gold shops and so on. Also you had better ask for them to switch on the meter or you could end up paying a much higher price than necessary. A aimple rule of thumb, if they refuse to put the meter on, get out of the cab! There will be plenty more. An easy solution to this problem is to walk a block away from the tourist area and you will normally find a taxi driver unused to taking tourists and very happy to turn on the meter (without you asking) and take you wherever you wish, no questions asked.
b) Card scams. At some point you maybe approached by a foreigner seemingly quite incidentally. Maybe you are looking at your map and a friendly stranger offers you help. You may then be asked normal everyday questions such as where you are from. Do not be surprised to hear an answer such as ‘Really, my sister is due to go and study there next month.’ this will open a lead of conversation to get you to meet their sister. Yes this is a real account reported on numerous occasions. If you are suitabley gullible or willing they will very hospitably lead you to a house somewhere in the suburbs where they may offer you food and drink. The sister will probably not appear but another person may do and so the introduction of card games becomes reality whilst awaiting for the sister to arrive. Whilst the story sounds implausible these people do this for a living and are very slick and excellent confidence tricksters. For a tourist caught off their guard by dis-orientation, fatigue, alcohol, excitement or whatever this can lead to considerable loss of money and dangerous situations. Be warned.
c) Simply not knowing the prices. Do not buy from the first place you see. You may be offered a bag for 1000 baht and whilst you know you are supposed to negotiate a lower price you settle on 600 thinking you have got a bargain, however wander around the corner and you may only be asked for 300 and be able to get this down to 180 baht. A few words of advice, negotiate with a smile and yes whilst you can get the same price as a local, prices in Bangkok are more based on the ability to pay as opposed what the price is. In their eyes you may be a rich foreigner therefore it is only fair that you pay more than a local. Whatever you do though, do it with a smile, it will go a long way!
d) Collecting change. It is common in night clubs in Bangkok for the waiters to be on as little as 3,000-6,000 baht per month (100 pounds sterling or 200 US dollar per month), it is possible for them to just about live on this, however if someone who has had a couple of beers pays for a drink with a thousand baht note and there are a couple of hundred notes missing in the change, don’t be surprised! Always check, even ask the name of the person collecting the money beforehand and point out that you are giving them a thousand baht note as opposed to a 100 or 500 baht note at the time of paying.
The above are just a few helpful hints on what to look out for. If you should ever find yourself in trouble the tourist police are used to dealing with these type of complaints in their own inimitable way. Furthermore if you did find yourself losing all your money it is possible for a family member to transfer money overseas to you using a money transfer service, these are quick and simple services that can get you out of trouble fast. Having said all this Thai people are fantastic and you will be very unfortunate indeed to encounter the above situations, so relax and enjoy yourself in the Land of Smiles.
