otapiri

Dawin now has a remodelled front. Very nice and comfortable restaurant and bar, inside and outside

Stayed there a couple of time recently. My favourite rooms. Great to see Nok back in reception. Many subtle changes during covid closure, but the rooms stayed the same. No restaurant open as yet, but free coffee maker in reception.

From my experience it is far harder to get a taxi that uses a meter in Bangkok nowadays. Surely in this day and age of electronic gizmos there could be a system where as the meter, or other activator detects persons other than the driver in the car and if the meter is not switched on. then the vacancy light. or roof light flashes, or whatever. I think the remedy for non cooperating drivers is would be IT based. No point in arguing with the pricks.

Stable in soi 8 has balconies for smokers but rooms are not. Also big garden/pool area. Dynasty Grande has balconies and have/had smoking rooms

Prior to covid, Dynasty Grande in soi 6 was my go to hotel, It was a laid back place with good size rooms, plus it had a small selection of larger rooms, both smoking and non-smoking. and balcony rooms. It also had a large pool and fitness room. It had inside and outside dining and drinking areas. The room rate then was about 2200B per night. When it closed for covid, I stayed at a selection of other hotels in the soi 4/6/8 areas including Ibis on soi 4. That hotel had smaller non smoking rooms and little else in the way of amenities. No outside restaurant or bar, but with some staff, it was possible to have a coffee or a beer in a dismal outside area. Price was about 1000b per night and like the DG, it was guest friendly but no extra charge for two late night guests. Ibis has a long winded check in procedure . Ibis has a daytime tuk tuk service for soi4. DG does not. Both hotels have those stupid little black fridges at floor level. Ibis has happier and more engaging staff. DG is still my pick because of the larger rooms, better amenities but it is more expensive Cheers

Previously, it was one guest for free, anytime , just ID at reception but second guest, as in a threesome, was 500 baht, then they upped it to !000 baht for a threesome, As of now I don't know for sure. I will try the next month and I hope the reception and restaurant staff have had some customer service training in the meantime

Nice to hear

It appears that the Dawin is up and running again as the Dawin

I don't think there is a definitive answer to this as we all have our differant requirements. Over the years I have stayed at a diverse range of hotels on both sides of lower Sukhumvit road. I have not found one yet that suits my lifestyle. The closest that i found was Dynasty Grande. Even this place had some negatives in that the lower level staff had failings in customer service. When this hotel closed for covid i tried the new one on soi 4/6 corner, Once was enough. Since then, depending who I travel with, I have tried Ibis further up soi 4, cheap but very average, and Adelphi in soi 8, great rooms and service but they play games on room rates My next visit I intend to try Stables lodge in soi 8. I again say that my life style is not the same as everybody else. i have mobility issues in that I cannot walk long distances, and I nowdays tend to restrict may visitations to the Nana Plaza area. For transport, I simply grab the nearest taxi, flick the driver 100 baht. and off we go with a happy driver. For returning, stop a taxi outside Nana Plaza, Flick the driver a 100 baht and off we go with no hassles. So what it comes down to is pick a hotel that you think suits your needs, from this forum or Google, and try it. If it is not suitable then try another on until you are happy

With fuel price increases, taxi drivers are basically stuffed. They cannot change the meters. (legally) Only DLT can allow change to the meter rates, And that includes a lot of hoop jumping. Even with a doubling of fuel prices, the taxi's are stuck with it. There is no provision in meters for a fuel levy. Yes, I know that many drivers try differant scams, my suggestion is simply tell the driver to use the meter and receive a tip. Most of them are hard working with families to support. I do note that Kerry now charge a fuel levy for parcel deliveries

Good news. Is the source of your imfo accurate

Update. Dynasty Grande is still closed. The hotel for rent sign has changed to Restaurant and Bar for lease Dynasty Inn on soi 4, closed, now has a sign out front, Hotel for Lease..

Dawin Hotel closed about two years ago. Last year the signage was removed and a big Thai name installed across the facia. That has now been removed and there is renovations taking place. A worker next door said it is going to be Swan (Sawan?) hotel

Dynasty Grande is still stuttered up and on the recently built big tin fence across the frontage is a big new sign. HOTEL FOR LEASE. Sad, was a great place

Adelphi is now quoting B2700 a night