Wagonner

I spent last December in Bangkok, and did a lot of walking. I found that if I smiled at a local, generally - not always, I got a smile back

As of last December the three main venues that I know of are Fortune Town, Pantip Plaza and MBK in order of quality. Fortune Town upper floors has the most branded computer store with a few workshop/repair types places. Pantip Plaza is a shadow of it’s former self, although talking to one of the stall holders it is looking to make a comeback after it’s foray into the food market seems to have failed. It felt like Pantip had the largest number of workshop/repair places. MBK is more around mobile phones, I felt, but they have some computer outlets so worth a look.

Bangkok prices I found were not much different from the rest of the world. Worth comparing prices on the internet before coming over.

Why not just email the hotel directly with your questions? Forum members can give you their impressions of the hotel but that doesn't seem to be the main thing that you are asking

To be honest I saw no evidence of it being used as a short time hotel. No couples entering or leaving or anything like that.  I saw free lancers in the bar on the hotel veranda, which was seperate from the hotel,  but I never saw them inside the hotel.

As for flirty maids, nope, friendly polite yes but they were from a seperate world from the area the hotel was situated in. So no chance there either.

Stayed at Maxim’s Inn, Sukhumvit Soi 7/1 last December. It is a budget hotel with the cheapest rooms, with no windows, going for under 1000 Baht a night, windowed rooms are a little over 1000 Baht. There are two ways of getting to Maxim’s from Sukhumvit, either directly along Soi 7/1 or if that’s too intimidating up Soi 9 and then cutting across – this cutting can be seen in the window view of the last attached photos. It is a budget hotel so you get what you pay for, have a look at the attached photos. It was clean enough, there was space to hang clothes but no cupboards, the shower worked there was a safe for storing valuables – although not bolted down, and the bed was not soft. The only things I found that were broken was the cord to close the curtains, although you could close them manually and the door to the freezer compartment of the in room fridge had broken off. Breakfast was an extra 150 Baht but I never bothered so cannot comment. The hotel is guest friendly, I asked before I booked, but having guests in my room was something I didn’t do this trip so can’t comment how well that worked. As can be seen in the photos there is some wear and tear in the room. The staff I found friendly and helpful. Rooms were made up daily, fresh towels and bath mats, coffee and water topped up.

I was given a room on the second floor. I wanted a room with a window and as it turned out it was looking over Soi 7/1 and the room was stand alone, by that I mean there were corridors on the three sides of the room. So I had no noise from other rooms but some from people passing in the corridors but this never bothered me. For me it was good enough it gave me a hotel that had a good base location where I could sleep and get ready for whatever I wanted to do.

If you are not bothered about hotel facilities and don’t need the hotel to be brand spanking new and gleaming it is worth considering. The downside of the location is the hassle from all the establishments along Soi 7/1. They can be avoided by using Soi 9, but I found that once I explained to the various ladies and Ladyboys on the Soi that I was not looking for any service and they were wasting their time they left me alone. The only real downside was the noise from the Soi. Or more exactly from the Green Room, which was across the Soi and two doors down, the other establishments were not a problem. The Green Room had live bands almost every night between 7pm and 2am and they were loud although some of them were quite good as well. Fortunately for me as I was not getting to bed before 2am it was no big deal. However if I had wanted to go early then getting any sleep was not going to happen if a band was playing.

11 hours ago, little_me said:

If you do stay there, and like to explore a bit on foot, there's a "sky walk" starting on the NE corner of Lumpini park... I'm curious if it goes all the way to Benjakitti park and if you can get to the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 from there?  I was staying at the Crown Plaza at the far corner of Lumpini several nights and walked back, giving up on taxis at closing time at Nana, only seeing this from the wrong end and never sure if it went through.

The walk from Lumpini Park is called the Green Mile. You can get off of it at Soi 2 and Soi 10 where it goes beyond that I have not explored. There is no direct exit onto Soi 4. However you can get to Soi 4 from Soi 2 by using the Ulit Alley (Sukhumvit 4 Soi 2). There is a metal gate just past the north end of Alt Hotel Nana on Soi 2, see the picture below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v53Q2SmdVWs4cRZk9

Usually that gate is locked to prevent car and motor bikes using it as a rat run. However there is a pedestrian gate within the right hand gate, which you can see it in the link, that you can use. It is sometimes chained up but opens up enough to let you through. You then follow Ulit Alley past Boss Suites Nana hotel to get to the bottom of Soi 4.

13 hours ago, dodi44 said:

Thanks for all the level headed advice. @NanAtSOL @schnytzal @ruck

The last time I went to the Dr about something that I may or may not have contracted they gave me a set of two pills (Damned if I can remember what it was) and said that will cover anything that may be up and coming. Besides that they took a urine sample and some blood. Said that if anything came up that was not covered by the two pills they can prescribe me something.

I was hoping that someone could tell me what a good all purpose antibacterial may be (doxycycline possibly?) and I would start on that before my trip home and consult a Dr when I reach the Western hemisphere. I will stick to the general consensus on this thread... Just wait to get home to a Dr. I'll be back before Monday so it's not like I have to wait long.

Not sure that I have understood correctly so apologies in advance if I have it wrong

By the sounds of this you are looking for something in country to take before you return so that you are clean? In which case have you considered going to a local Thai clinic and get tested before you return. For example try a Pulse clinic, I am sure there will be many other options as well, see

https://www.pulse-clinic.com/locations/pulse-bangkok

I’m planning my next trip and looking for some accommodation and came across Maxim’s Inn on Soi 7/1. Good location, near Nana BTS, between Nana and Soi Cowboy and cheap. Trawling through the forum I found this post, over a decade old, and not much else except mention of it as a short time hotel. Does anyone have any more recent information?

Many thanks

My apologies I made an assumption and got it wrong.

If Androgel is available in Thailand then I believe that you would be able to get it over the counter as you can get a lot of UK prescription medicine over the counter in Bangkok, for example when I was last there I purchased the antibiotic Amoxciillan over the counter no questions asked. So if you or a friend were in Thailand you could just trawl the pharmacies and purchase it once you found one.  Getting it posted I think would be more of a problem. You will need to identify a paharmacy that sells it and that you can contact, I suspect the bigger pharmacies like Boots or Watsons may not be willing to help. If you are doing that why don't you try a little closer to home like Direct Pharma Shop in the Netherlands?

https://www.directpharmashop.net/testogel-50-mg-30-sachets

4 hours ago, gbat said:

How available is testosterone gel out there (androgel), what do you think the chances are if getting any shipped to the UK?

I’m sorry I can’t answer your question but before you go down that road have you checked with your doctor to get your testosterone level checked? If it is low and that is the root cause of the problem you are trying to fix then you will get it prescribed and better still monitored so you do not harm yourself.

On 7/22/2022 at 10:18 PM, pgstc776 said:

Majestic Suites is PERFECTLY located, but it's sort of a dump.  I stayed for trips in 2016-2019, but by 2019 the place was showing some serious signs of neglect, including bugs etc.  It's a shame; the staff and location are top notch. 

I stayed in Majestic Suites in December 2021. I would not call it a dump but you get what you pay for. It is at the bottom end of the market, same price range as Nana hotel. For me the key selling points were location, literally round the corner from Nana, and price.  The hotel was basic, clean and if I was sharing with any bugs they were very discreet as our paths never crossed.  The staff were friendly and helpful and security took guest ID’s. The breakfast was menu rather than buffet with about half a dozen choices and, for me, a disappointment as I like a big breakfast, Photos are from that visit,

I visited Pantip Plaza back in December 2021. At the time the place was pretty gutted. The ground floor was empty of electronics and as were all the upper floors except for one. I was so surprised I took some photos, see attached. I had assumed that this was all down to COVID and it would bounce back afterwards. I hope that Pantip has not gone as the other two places that I know of in Bangkok namely the MBK centre and Fortune Town on Rama 9 are nowhere near as good

11 hours ago, YouAgain said:

Hidden cameras are easy peasy these days...

I think this is going down the wrong road. It’s one thing making and sharing a film with everybody’s consent to be seen in it. Quite another to use a hidden cameras in non-public, that is inside a bar or gogo, place. You could quite easily drop someone in a world of hurt by them appearing in your film. There is at least one thread on this forum about people’s concerns about being caught on camera in public places. So don’t go down this route.

Assuming that you are coming into Suvarnabhumi Airport then there are left luggage facilities on the second floor and on the fourth floor. Check the airport web site for details.

Very much depends on when I arrive. Typically I aim for late morning early afternoon

·       Get through passport control

·       Collect luggage

·       Travel to hotel

·       Check in

·       Check room make sure everything works get help if it doesn’t

·       Make sure I am not sharing the room with any annoying bugs move if I am

·       Make friends with the room safe

·       Unpack

·       Exchange currency

·       Get Thai SIM

·       Get supplies

·       Have a look at what is around the hotel area

·       Have something to eat

·       Go for a walk and find a massage place

·       Have a massage and fun

·       Bed and sleep

9 hours ago, kolofardos said:

Hey guys,

I wanted to inform the community that because its only one day I will pay 10€ fine when I leave. There is no need to issue a visa and there is no record about it if I pay the fine. Issuing a visa will cost more than 50€. Include the photos and the effort... I spoke to someone in the Thai Embassy here about it... 

 

Be very careful here. I have never felt that Thailand is a model of consistency when enforcing rules.

I was checking a couple of days ago my flight leaves 12 hours after I need to check out of my hotel. The left luggage kiosks on the fourth and second floor of the airport were closed. However there are facilities on the B level, where you catch the trains. There are two or three down the left hand side of the hall as you look with your back to the airport entrance. Prices were 100 Baht but it was on a per day basis so may not be suitable for anything over a day.

I think you are chasing a fantasy here. If there was a viable way for the maids to make money doing extra ‘polishing’ for guests then it would be in place and available. I’m pretty sure that you are not the first to go down this line. The picture below is a sticker on a maids cleaning trolley Nana hotel Christmas 2017.

On 9/27/2020 at 2:40 PM, Natty Bummpo said:

It all depends on the vaccine. Not much is going to change in SE Asia until the distribution of a vaccine, but I believe several vaccines (multiple sources) will have successfully passed their stage 3 tests by the end of 2020. I can't speak for Europe, Australia, or NE Asia, but once approval is certified in the US, distribution will be fast and the people that want it will have it by March or April 2021.  

Is this hopeful thinking? We shall see. But, it is already the end of September. By late November/early December we should have definitive results on several stage 3 tests.  

Keep in mind, there is always Brazil which is wide open right now as we speak. I could fly down to Rio or Sao Paulo tomorrow if I wanted to. No quarantine! All you need is a negative test result, proof of valid health insurance, and no temperature upon arrival. By the way, SP has the best nightlife in all of SA. It is impressive.

Brazil, it's an interesting option that I'm looking at for December of this year instead of Bangkok. I have to use up my holiday before the end of the year or I lose it so I want to go somewhere. What is off putting about Brazil, apart from the world's third highest rate of COVID infection, is that it’s not really a tourist type place most of the time. So a basic ability of communicating in Portuguese is needed and then there is the safety aspect. I think it’s extremely unlike that tourists or mongers would get involved in serious crime, murders shootings and the such like, as long as you stay out of the favelas  but petty crime like muggings seems to be almost expected. It’s hard to assess the risk. In Bangkok I never felt at risk. Brazil is something different and it’s hard to know who to believe.

7 hours ago, Downandup said:

Maps shows me a Super-rich at Nana Station, I may use that or at the airport as my plan is to exchange only £500 at a time rather than change the lot in one go so it won't make a big difference.

 

I'd double check that. There is one at Asok next to Terminal 21 that I have used in the past but there never seen one at Nana, unless it's openned in the last eleven months.

And, I'd go to a pharmacy away from Nana or Cowboy. They are all over the place, not hard to find, more likely to screw you with something like this in a tourist area right next to Nana plaza.

Not my experience bought sidegra from two pharmacies on Sukumvit. One near Soi 4 and one near Soi 101. Prices were the same.

Chlamydia for one!!!!! Good luck...

Ouch! Thanks for pointing that out.

Reading up on it - usually no symptoms and transmitted by contact. So skin to skin will do, doesn't need to get into the blood, damn!. Treatable by antibiotics - good news. Best advice abstain from sex - not a chance, monogomous partner- unlikely, ignore the risk and up the STD screening treat as and when necessary - doable the path of least resistance admittedly irressponsible as you can act as a carrier and spread the damn bug or rubber up - use a dental dam when doing DATY. Dental dam? Might be doable, images of being masked up like the lone ranger or a surgeon and licking her clit through the dental dam. Might be fun, may be a passion killer.

DATY is one of my favourites nothing like having a girl writhing in pleasure on the tip of your tongue. Have been mongering for more then five years not had any problems. Do use commen sense do not do DATY, or even DFK, if I have a cut or any hint of blood or a break of skin in my mouth, so don’t even floss when mongering. So long as everything is all sealed up should not be a way for the infection to get in.

I stayed at Nana hotel over last Christmas. Things must have moved on from Tom Tit's last stay. When I was there the water had gone clear, although the bath room could have done with a refurbish. They appear to have employed better cleaners as the room I had was clean  and didn't smell. Air conditioning worked and there was a security box in the room to keep valuables.  I did have a stunning view of a wall just three feet from my window, but that didn't bother me and this was my first trip to Bangkok. Never bothered with the pool or jacuzzi so they may not have changed. The laundry service worked OK. The help yourself breakfast was also good. The in room fridge was topped with Nana water bottles every day which was nice. Nana is at the bottom end of the hotel market and you get what you pay for. It's best selling points are it's cheapness, including a free breakfast and location. For me it's good enough that I'll use it again this Christmas.