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haam sup
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After staying in hotels in Sukhumvit a month or so every year when not living in Thailand, I have had more than enough of crappy hotels bumping up their rates to silly levels, just because they can.
I am aware that there are guys who come for a couple of weeks, and stay at the J.W. Marriott, Landmark, Conrad, etc. You guys can skip this message. It won't interest you.
Nor will it interest most backpacker-types. C ya.
My needs used to be met by the Nana - @ 800 baht/night, no breakfast, or 980, with breakfast. Since it is now 1480, and even grottier than ever, the nostalgia I had for the place is pretty much gone.
I used to negotiate a month at the Grand President for 22,000 or so, back a few years ago when Jessy was the manager. They, too, have priced themselves out of the market, considering the condition of the property.
Now, for me, the ability to roll directly out of bed, and into Big Dogs, or Voodoo, is no longer required, or even desirable. The proximity to a BTS station is all I really care about when visiting for a month or so. Good food is a plus. The looky-Lou crowds are a definite minus, as are the tuk-tuk and massage parlor touts.
So, where to stay?
Perfect solution, for me, has been found: short-stay apartment.
Not exactly a serviced apartment - no dishes, silverware, microwave, even the toilet paper is on your nickel - but a good, clean, basic room, with 32" LCD TV, cable, free WiFi, and maid service 3x/week.
I refer to a place called 21 Living Place, in Soi Rangnam. I found it by searching for apartments near Victory Monument, and I have absolutely NO financial interest in the place. My comments reflect my experience during the period 12 Dec 2009 - 9 Jan 2010.
Rent is 14000 - 16700, depending on floor/room location, which is for a one-to-three month stay. It's 10% more than long-term. Deposit of one month's rent, which can be in any currency, is kept in a safe, and returned at the end of your stay, after paying water and electricity (water:18 baht/unit, electricity:6 baht/unit). They also do weekly/daily stays, utilities included.
For those who don't know Soi Rangnam, it is directly adjacent to Victory Monument, on the SW BTS entrance. Century Shopping Plaza provides escalator access to the BTS during working hours. There are many restaurants and a couple of bars on Soi Rangnam, and a great park for exercise, Suan Santipap. The vans that provide transportation all over Central Thailand leave at frequent intervals from the circumference of Victory Monument; the van to Hua Hin was literally at the corner closest to the apartment. Very convenient.
http://www.21livingplace.com/
About the apartment: it seems it is brand new, and that they are finishing units as they go along. The TV remote had a date sticker from Aug.09, so I was one of the first to occupy that room. The WiFi was very fast, and has load-balancing between at least two providers, so seemed quite reliable. The beds are firm, but not hard, and the furnishings are all first-class.
Each room has an in-room safe, and security cameras were profuse in the halls and all common areas. The night security guard is available to give you the keys, if you check-in late (as I did).
Most importantly, the owner, Khun Oranee, is thoughtful, intelligent, conscientious, and meticulously honest. She seemed dedicated to making sure everything was perfect.
It's not often I recommend accommodations; tastes vary, and one man's poison, etc. I would recommend 21 Living Place without reservation, for those who want to stay a month or more, appreciate the location (very convenient), and a well-run operation. If stumbling out of Nana into your bed is a priority, you won't be happy there. But if reasonably-priced, secure, and convenient lodging is a priority, it would be hard to do better.
hs
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:03 pm on Jan. 11, 2010
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CalEden
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HS, thanks for the tip. This sounds like a perfect place for my next stay.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 6:20 pm on Jan. 11, 2010
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thailife
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I lived in VP tower right next door for several years and watched them build this new place. I have always been fond of Soi Rangnam. Lots of stuff going on in the soi. Also there is a short time hotel next to this apartment.
If you want fancy food, hit the Pullman across the street. And the soi also has working girls.
Down the alley is Center One, a shopping center mostly filled by locals. And Victory Monument is full of Uni girls.
I could go on and on.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:22 pm on Jan. 11, 2010
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Ballsburstin
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HS,
a timely post. I stayed at Nana Hotel during the month of Oct 2009, mainly because I wanted to be close to Big Dogs, and wanted breakfast and a good swimming pool as part of the deal. But, though I enjoyed the pool and swam every night for about an hour or so, the breakfast buffet got old after 1 week, the surly front desk staff finally got on my nerves (they even gave me shit one morning about getting a breakfast coupon for a lady friend, though I'd booked a double), and the redone rooms really aren't much of a face lift. And have to pay for wi-fi (which worked well, btw, on the 7th floor, got a couple of free wi-fi tickets from a former marine who was checking out on his way back to a consulting gig in Baghdad).
At the end of the month, I really thought the 1480/day was too much for the place. Was paying 9000K a month at PP House up on Pra Kanong near Klong Tan when I lived in BKK some years back, and they had a little pool on the rooftop. They had daily cleaning of the rooms, free coffee in the mornings, and little fold-down desks that doubled as a kitchen table, and room had a fridge and small TV. Downside there was distance/time to Pra Kanong BTS station.
So I may consider your advice next time in BKK; don't want to pay for Marriott-level digs and don't want an overpriced low-end hotel either. Would be great if I could get something like what you found along with a pool. That's my ultimate combo. I realized on the last trip I don't care so much about rolling out of Big Dogs and dragging the future-ex g/f to the hotel, as I'm just doing serial LT's when I'm in BKK with a couple of decent ladies these days as I have a real Thai wife now anyway.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 11:46 pm on Jan. 11, 2010
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Quim
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HS, sounds like a great choice for a longer stay if I can manage one. I was already thinking about doing some research along these lines, very helpful.
Q.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 1:20 am on Jan. 12, 2010
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thaiaficionado
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Thanks for the heads-up, haam sup. Sounds close to the Saxophone Pub.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:57 am on Jan. 12, 2010
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Evil Penivel
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haam sup-
Thank you for an excellent review. I looked at the Web site, as the place sounded like a viable option for my next stay in BKK. On the site, I only found info about rooms which were 25 sq m. Is that the largest they offer? Is it only one-size studio apartments throughout or have the bigger units already been rented out on a long-term basis?
Evil
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:07 pm on Jan. 12, 2010
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erik
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In Sukhumvit I recommend the City Lodge. It is exaclty on sukhumvit at the Nana sky train station. I paid 1300 the other night. good room and no joiner fee to be paid.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 12:22 pm on Jan. 12, 2010
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Ballsburstin
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still seeking something with a pool for a good price... may be back in BKK for a month this summer, would like to get something with a pool for the wife and son (and me), then send them upcountry for 2 months while I spend a week there alone in BKK before heading back Stateside...
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:32 pm on Jan. 12, 2010
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