Woody Woodpecker

I’m off to Koh Chang today.  It was great during covid, very few visitors and incredibly low rates.  Still good, this is my third visit this year.

4 hours ago, InformalHour said:

 

Can you share anything about where this girl can be found? She's really pretty.

I found her at a GoGo on Soi Cowboy but haven’t seen her since (I’d bar fine again).

A quiet, guest-friendly, 3-star hotel with a pool I would recommend is Rembrandt Suites on Soi 20, an 8-10 minute walk up the Soi.

 

 

You can get a room with a kitchenette, including microwave and washing machine, if you want to pay a little more.

 

 

Another 5 minute walk, away from Sukhumvit, and you can enjoy the best ribs in Thailand, at the Smokin Pug's new location.

 

4 hours ago, thaiguynot said:

Can it still be close to BTS?

Royal Orchid Sheraton is less than 20 minute walk to Saphan Taksin BTS, Shangri-La and Lebua are less than 10 minutes.

Here are some places I've stayed where I'd recommend the view.

Hyatt Regency has been mentioned

 

Personally, I prefer the Sofitel, which also has a rooftop bar.  They gave me a corner room on the 25th floor

 

 

Not a great view at JW Mariott, but at least you can see Nana Plaza.

 

 

There are better views on the Riverside IMHO, and it's just a BTS ride from Saphan Taksin station. For example, the Royal Orchid Sheraton, but I should have gotten a room on the east side to see the nightly fountain show at IconSiam mall across the river.  Unfortunately, there are no balconies.

 

 

The Shangri-La

 

 

The Lebua has a Michelin starred restaurant on the 64th floor.

 

 

More towards Patpong is the Banyan Tree.

 

 

I could see the river from my room, and they also has a rooftop restaurant

 

 

This auto show was abbreviated this year, only four days, but great to have it back at Impact Challenger, the world's largest column-free exhibition hall with a combined column-free space of 60,000 sqm, although only one of the three interconnecting halls were in use for this event.  This is more of a custom car show and attendance was light, but I'm sure there were more attendees on the weekend.

 

 

Lots of great cars, first time I've seen a Tesla at a car show, although I've seen them on the street.

 

 

The hottest car I saw was the Shelby Mustang convertible.  I don't believe it was for sale.

 

 

The metallic Porsche was interesting too, but I don't know if I'd do this to my Porsche.

 

 

There were some bad paint jobs too.

 

 

At a car show in Thailand, of course there were lots of pretties, the main reason I chose to attend.

 

 

Two thumbs up for the Fuchs Girl! 👍👍

 

 

Video games were set up for the kids

 

 

Meanwhile, highlight of the event is the Sexy Car Wash Show

 

 

I usually don't shoot video but I wanted to test how my camera could shoot stills while recording video simultaneously.

 

 

An inventory of the gear I took along, over $6,000 worth.  A fun way to spend several hours. Cheers

 

There are two, each an MRT stop from Sukhumvit. I like the coffee but prefer my bagel toasted.

Dr. Donna Robinson at MedConsult clinic

https://www.medconsultasia.com

3 hours ago, poiuy109 said:

also forgot to add, to all those hotels you've booked in the past. Do you mostly book directly with the hotel or other agencies/websites. And is there a big price difference booking it in person vs online before hand. 

I booked on Agoda.  Rates were rock bottom because there were no international flights.

6 hours ago, poiuy109 said:

Sheraton and Marriot were my top 2 choices while doing my research. Can you comment about Sofitel? 

They gave me a corner room on the 25th floor.

 

I liked the bathtub, you could watch tv while in the tub and there was an extra speaker (like at the JW)

 

 

Next door to Thermae

 

 

breakfast buffet was fantastic

 

 

Room Service, Khao Soi with Boston Lobster

 

 

Brought my own whisky

 

 

Afternoon tea in the lobby

 

 

Rooftop restaurant
 

 

This was November 2021, so room rate was 1720, including breakfast. 

I’ve stayed at these 5-star hotels, my order of preference:
 

1. Sofitel

2. Sheraton Grande

3. JW Mariott

4. Lebua  

5. Royal Orchid Sheraton

6. Hyatt Regency

7. Shangri-La

 

 

Stayed here several times, great location

 

Good view of the Plaza from a 5th floor room (this photo is not current)

 

This shows the pool area.  I like the lagoon motif but the irregular L shape of the pool made swimming awkward. These photos were taken in 2021.

 

 

They also gave out 300 baht discount coupons that I applied to the 500 baht in-room breakfast, which included smoked salmon Eggs Benedict.

 

 

They were offering free coffee in the lobby and the hotel manager stopped by to chat.

 

Check into a cheap hotel for one night.  Make sure they’ll do a TM30 before booking, although it’s required by law.  Give the hotel as your address to immigration, then move into the Airbnb condo next day.

Some photos of my room

 

 

Bars were closed so there wasn't a lot to do.

 

 

View was out the back

 

 

Like at the Sofitel, made use of the direct access to the BTS

 

 

Breakfast was 350 extra, and well worth it

 

I stayed there during the lockdown when I was in town to get a covid vaccine. I paid 2000 baht per night, excluding breakfast.  Really!!! Amazingly, I got an even better deal later at the Sofitel.