wackyjacky

Ibis Nana is $3/nite on even days in Sept (at least) & Sathorn is $3 on odds. Doesn't work in Oct, but may work now 'till then (didn't check). Booked 1 nite since my plane gets in so stupidly late and all I'll need is a bed. Works on Expedia & Agoda. For $3, use it as a ST room ! Chock Dee: wj

Great rules ! Here's a few more. (1) - If you want her long time, negotiate a price for ST and another for LT with a big spread between (say 1000 & 2000). Lotsa girls have a friend call with a phony emergency at 3am and will bail on ya. (2) - if you can get Traveler's Checks free from your bank, stock up. The ATM fees are stupid these days. (3) - stay away from girls on the street. bad things can happen to a newbie. (4) - don't leave anything unlocked in the room that you can't lose. What can happen will happen. (5) - don't start sending her any $$. 99% of those "Mama sick, brother fall off motorcy, & water buffalo die" stories are complete bullshit. (6) - keep an eye on your 'check bin' in the bars and make sure you're only buying drinks for those you want to. (7) if you are alone, take your drink with you to the WC. You won't catch a 'micky finn' this way. Plenty more out there I'm sure. wj

Bonny: Just what I'm looking for. Thanks bruddah. Hard to beat it. Now I'ma join ya. wj

Has anyone booked a 'Mystery Hotel' lately ? Specifically the 2500 baht one. I'm looking for that Millenium deal again. I've only got 1 - Kingston Suites is the 1299 baht hotel. Let's out all the price levels. Thanks gentlemen; wj

$86 on Agoda right now. Worth a shot IMO. wj

Ask Tim. He's a 'whorehouse of knowledge' in this regard and a good operator. May I suggest the Emporium Suites ? My buddy stayed there a few years back and his suite was just that - sweet ! Can't beat the location either. I stayed at the Centrepoint on Soi 10 and my suite was well outfitted and maybe 100 sq meters. The bathroom was probably 20 sqm. It was nicer than my upgraded room at the Sheraton Grande. wj

I've stayed at the Asoke property when it 1st opened and it was great. They've raised the prices way up though and it's not worth it now IMO. I wouldn't want to stay on Soi 1 either. Lots of good new, $50 or less joints around - Sacha's, Silq, Paradiso, Aspen Suites, Darjeeling, Merises, Dawin, S.Sukhumvit Suites, the Citadines, City Chic, Fusion Suites, La Fenix, On 8, etc. All 4 stars and relatively new. Pick 1,throw a dart if you have to. There isn't a bad choice among them. wj

A buddy of mine, Robb Vaughn, has opened the Los Cabos Grill on Soi 14 behind the Sheraton. He's been accomplished chef for 30 years and really knows Mexican food. The place has a couple outside bars under some huge Banyan Trees and is a great place to hang out with a margarita in hand too. I think he's got at least a dozen parking spaces and plenty of room for functions upstairs. Here's a link to the Trip Advisor pics: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g293916-d1597240-Los_Cabos_California_Mexican_Grill-Bangkok.html

Town Lodge on 18 has a nice jacuzzi suite. I had fun in there 4 years ago or so. It's well decorated, big, and cheap for what you get. The Grottino guys used to own it. (Do you still?) Pretty deep in the Soi though. wj

I think Town Lodge on 18 will do 1000 if you stay a week. Rooms were pretty nice when I stayed there 4 yrs ago. Not a bad place at all. Good bar downstairs. Out of mongering area, but a bit of a walk to Suk though. Can't have everything . Tim's got it cheaper than the TL. Here's the link: http://www.thaihoteldiscounts.com/thailand/bangkok/accom/town_lodge/

I think on the PA side, Tim said it was dated and sorely needing refurbishment. I could be wrong so take a look over there. Try CL, they have a lot of sweet apts listed. The Presidents, Centrepoints, Garden Grove, Hope Land etc. all have 2bdrms. Ask Tim he'll fix you up. wj

Art: Kind of a tough thing to be unaware of, don't you think ? Can't say they bother me though. wj

Mr. Ness: Not a problem with dress, girls, or German Shepherds if you prefer. The only problem with the hotel is that they need 2 or 3 more elevators. They started out with hotels in mongering zones for mongerers. There will be plenty of middle aged guys with their young 'tour guides' at breakfast and the pool. Book with confidence. I'll be there in Jan, myself. wj

Mr Ness: I have yet to stay at the MG, though my friends have, and I've been there a few times. I have stayed at a couple of their other hotels and I know the do have a dress code - being fancy and all, they are quite particular about your genitals being covered in the lobby or while dining in one of their restaurants. I assume a man of greatness such as yourself should be able to meet these fancy requirements. I know you may want to flaunt your singular greatness, especially in an Asian Hotel where your greatness will appear even greater, but as a 5 star hotel, they will hold you to their dress code, just like the rest of us. Your humble servant; wj

MfM: Don't personally know any hotels in your price range, much less with free wifi. At least you're starting off-season. Here's the Sticks list of free wifi joints in Thailand though: http://www.stickmanweekly.com/WiFi/ThailandFreeWirelessInternetWiFi.htm

Friendly !

Dymytry: I can't help you in good conscience. I suspect you are going for a 'Farang Suicide'. We've seen the signs before. You may think it'll be a spectacular ending from the 87 floor, but in Thailand it's just so ubiquitous among us. A Ho-Hum affair. I was told by a Bangkok cab driver that Farang falling from tall buildings, damage more cars than all the collisions on the Bangkok roadways ! I believe him too ! As an American I feel I can hold my head high because Mr. Carradine resisted the overwhelming urge when he arrived in Bangkok to damage innocent Thai property and make a God-awful mess. That's one classy guy IMHO ! Whatever you do, Dymytry, don't break up with the bargirl you just met, because you'll become so inconsolable that you'll: beat yourself about the head with a heavy object (cracking your skull), tie your hands behind your back, while tying your ankles together, then hogtying yourself (ankles to wrists to neck), Dymytry, you'll also tie a plastic bag tightly over your head, and finally you'll crawl to the balcony and hop from a prone position over a 4 foot rail to your death. It's getting old around here. It's so been done. Maybe try being pulled apart by elephants. That's new and different. We'll know you must have had money problems too, because you'll only have 50 baht in your wallet and you'll no longer have any credit cards. The Thai police have seen this Farang syndrome so often that they no longer need investigate. Dymytry promise me you'll find a ground floor room ! wj

$72 on Hotels Combined through the high season. wj

APRIL ! Cool your jets brother. April is 'off season'. Hottest month of the year in Thailand. You'll get better prices booking in March. Crazy shit could happen with H1N1 or Thaksin could lead the Cambodian Army into Bangkok. The Red shirts could occupy the airport this time. Shit's fomenting. If the King passes away there could be a civil war. These things are bad for the tourist industry IMHO. Better to wait. Hotels will have plenty of rooms to sell ya in April. wj

Chase is starting up a new visa card co-branded with British Air. You'll get 100K miles if you spend 2K (US$) in the 1st 3 months. Get one for the wife, spend 2k on one card, 30K on the other, and you've got 240K miles. That's good for 2 first class RTs anywhere. You can sign up Fri. wj http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/the-best-credit-card-signup-bonus-ever/?hp

Thedoors: Girl friendly, but double 'walk of shame'. You have to take elevator from ground to lobby on 7, pass front desk, then lift to room floor. They're well trained and won't raise an eyebrow (until you're out of sight). Sheraton across the street is better in every way, plus elevators go from ground to room, bypassing the lobby. wj

Gogs: Dawin's way better. Sometimes the Dynasty Grande is about the same price and the rooms are way bigger and it's just around the corner. Majestic guys own Citichic and Majestic Grande, not Dawin. Those 2 rock, the Suites are just OK as you know. Omni's coming in real cheap now ($35), great location on 4, big rooms, sweet pool, but some of the rooms are old. Hit or miss. I stayed there a couple years ago and got a whole apt (I'd say 70 sqm) and it was in great shape. Aspen Suites is pretty close over by the MG and a deal at $45. On 2nd thought, I'd shine the Omni and go with 1 of the others. I just read Trip Advisor and some people have gotten shit rooms lately. wj

Doubt it. I have a # of times at the Dynasty Grande (which they own as well) without further remuneration. They're in downtown 'Pussyville' and business sucks. This is the kind of thing hat goes on websites but is never enforced. Not to worry. wj

IJ: Try the new Meridien on Surawong across the street. 3000 on the Starwood website, probably cheaper elsewhere. This is an opening special price. I've got no info for you. I haven't stayed there yet. It's getting good reviews and the pics look good. Starwood does a lot of promos though, like 3rd night free. If I were you, I'd ask Tim what he's got it for at thaihoteldiscounts.com, or Otels. Then I'd try Hotels Combined. You'll get the best price that way for sure. Chock Dee; wj ps: here's the link: https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1946

For me, just about all the Pubs, and I've eaten in a bunch of them. I know expats get sick of Thai food, but at all of them, the farang food's overpriced and mediocre. The Thai food's better, but 4 X the price in a Thai joint. In essence you're paying way too much for the AC. For me - drinks only. Please add Gullivers. Food on a par with McDonald's IMO. wj