johnson36

Hi,

I think that are very good questions. Why not call Quatar and ask them? I think they might be happy to give you the applicable instructions.

How did I guess that would be the first response I would get ?

I am not stupid and of course I will do that, BUT it is now 7.30am on Sunday morning and the Qatar office is not open till 9.00am Monday morning. I was 7.12am when I posted the question. It is far quicker to get some information from Thaivisa (as I have done in the past) than wait till Monday morning. I am 100% sure that some TV members have had there flights from the UK cancelled this week, and if I am lucky I will hear from someone booked with Qatar.

The wife and myself have tickets with Qatar to fly from Manchester UK to BKK at 2pm on Saturday 6th, arriving BKK 18.30 on the Sunday 7th. If BKK airport is not open on Friday when we call to confirm the tickets they will tell us are flight is cancelled. It maybe that the airport will be open Sunday but of course the plane is not going to leave UK on Saturday to an airport that is not open at that time.

I've never had a flight cancelled before so my question is: do Qatar offer to put me and the wife on a flight as soon as the airport is open ? do they put on extra flights for passengers whos flights have been cancelled ?

Protesters Look Set To Be Dispersed At 3 P.m. (2008-11-28 13:56:07)

I think this heading needs to be changed.

Last January an ATM machine at petrol station in Bangna swallowed my card.

This what happened.

I put my Nationwide card in the machine, entered the CORRECT pin number and the the screen changed to the one where you choose the amount of cash you want, then that was it the machine frooze, wouldn't do anything, tried pressing different amounts, nothing happened, tried clicking cancel to get my card back, nothing happened, the screen was stuck on the page asking for amount. My thai wife went inside to get a member of staff to come and look, the member of staff came outside and said the machine was out of order and that this had happened many times. I was fuming, why cant some people use the brain they were born with, I was saying and my wife was saying in thai, why couldn't some one of put a sign on it saying "out of order" / "not working" in thai or english, anything, couldn't you have put some tape over the card slot, or turned the machine off, anything would be better than doing nothing at all. The member of staff did then put a sign on it but said they couldn't turn it off and they couldn't open it to get the card back. She gave us the number of the bank we needed to contact and my wife called them. They said the card would be safe and they said they would have someone come to open the machine. They asked the wife when we were flying back to UK, i would have been thinking quickly here and said the next evening but my wife told them the real date which was about 2 weeks time (at least she honest, too honest this time). We had to leave the machine with my card inside, the pin number entered and the screen on the page asking you how much you want.

The next day we called the bank and they were sending someone, this went on for a week, we went back to the petrol station, they had a stack of cards behind the counter ours wasn't there, the reason they had these was because the machine would sometimes spit the cards out after a while. We ended up going to the bank which was at the end of Soi 3 near Suk, I wish I new this earlier as we were staying at Soi 4. The bank said they had sent someone to the machine and my card wasn't inside. So in the end we didn't get the card back.

The thing that made me really angry was that nobody at the service station had thought to put any type of sign on the machine or some tape over the card slot even though they new it had problems. Common sense is a very hard thing to teach, most of us have it but some don't.

A situation like this is frustrating, certainly...but that is not the service station's ATM...they are not responsible for it. It belongs to the bank.

I agree, that right its the banks responsibility, BUT the service station staff were having to cope with frustrated customers coming inside to ask for assistance, so they could have made life a far lot easier for themselves by putting a paper sign on the machine or tape over the card slot. They did this after I told them it was a good idea. Why couldn't they think of that by themselves.

... We ended up going to the bank which was at the end of Soi 3 near Suk...

Krung Thai bank? They've got some of the oldest ATMs I've ever seen.

Fortunately I was not relying on the 1 bank card for my holiday, I always take travellers cheques and at least 2 cards, I only change travellers cheques if I am going to take my passport straight back to my hotel safe, that day I wasn't so I took a card with me. Wouldn't like to have just 1 card with me like a lot do.

Last January an ATM machine at petrol station in Bangna swallowed my card.

This what happened.

I put my Nationwide card in the machine, entered the CORRECT pin number and the the screen changed to the one where you choose the amount of cash you want, then that was it the machine frooze, wouldn't do anything, tried pressing different amounts, nothing happened, tried clicking cancel to get my card back, nothing happened, the screen was stuck on the page asking for amount. My thai wife went inside to get a member of staff to come and look, the member of staff came outside and said the machine was out of order and that this had happened many times. I was fuming, why cant some people use the brain they were born with, I was saying and my wife was saying in thai, why couldn't some one of put a sign on it saying "out of order" / "not working" in thai or english, anything, couldn't you have put some tape over the card slot, or turned the machine off, anything would be better than doing nothing at all. The member of staff did then put a sign on it but said they couldn't turn it off and they couldn't open it to get the card back. She gave us the number of the bank we needed to contact and my wife called them. They said the card would be safe and they said they would have someone come to open the machine. They asked the wife when we were flying back to UK, i would have been thinking quickly here and said the next evening but my wife told them the real date which was about 2 weeks time (at least she honest, too honest this time). We had to leave the machine with my card inside, the pin number entered and the screen on the page asking you how much you want.

The next day we called the bank and they were sending someone, this went on for a week, we went back to the petrol station, they had a stack of cards behind the counter ours wasn't there, the reason they had these was because the machine would sometimes spit the cards out after a while. We ended up going to the bank which was at the end of Soi 3 near Suk, I wish I new this earlier as we were staying at Soi 4. The bank said they had sent someone to the machine and my card wasn't inside. So in the end we didn't get the card back.

The thing that made me really angry was that nobody at the service station had thought to put any type of sign on the machine or some tape over the card slot even though they new it had problems. Common sense is a very hard thing to teach, most of us have it but some don't.

I have just heard that the Army has been seen moving in from Korat, has anyone else heard this or seen anything

what's the chances of this been sorted by the 7th Dec ? I should be flying from Uk on 6th with Qatar and landing on 7th 6.30pm

The nearest date quoted is that the airport will be opened by the 29th. Add one day everyday the PAD are still at the airport.

Cheers hippo.

I think we will ok to land in BKK on 7th if everything is sorted out by 4th, I really can't see it still going on on the kings birthday ( 5th )

what's the chances of this been sorted by the 7th Dec ? I should be flying from Uk on 6th with Qatar and landing on 7th 6.30pm

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DIPM4reXyAo

I found this really good video on you tube and would like to know if there is anywhere in Bangkok where I can see something like this ? some of you might know where the video was made, I think Bangkok or Chang Mai ?

they look very nice

Just a webpage I found that may be of use or interest.

http://thaiapartment.com/ServicedApartment...ex_Serviced.asp

Bua House Apartment (which is on the above link) might be worth a look.

Thank you.

I have sent an email to Bua House, but I think they are after long term stayers of 6 months or more.

If you're considering the Honey Hotel, then I'd suggest the Royal Asia Lodge at the end of Soi 8 would be a better choice. You can book direct thru their web site or many of the hotel booking sites, usually around 1000 baht per night for a very nice, well kept room. But I haven't checked with them lately on todays prices, since I'm no longer a tourist here. It's good clean place with good service. Also a free 24 hour tuk tuk between the hotel and main Suk Road. Soi 8 comes out right at Nana BTS, which makes it very convenient for traveling. And if you don't take the hotel tuk tuk, it's still only a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel on a quiet, little trafficked street. Soi 8 also is about halfway between Nana and Cowboy, for those so inclined.

Thank you.

Just as you put the reply in I was looking at Royal Asia Lodge on Soi 8, its on my list as 1 to look at. Up to now we have booked are 1st 2 nights in Honey Hotel Soi 19 at 1000 baht per night, this will give us time to have a look around for some where for a longer stay, all I want at the moment is to make a short list of places to view. We will look at Honey House 1 and 2 on Soi 22 and Royal Asia Soi 8, I know Honey House 1 is quite close to Sukhumwit Road but im not too sure how far down Soi 22 Honey House 2 is, my wife has called them already and ive still not got the answers (need to do it myself) they told her Honey House 2 is 1 year old (dont know if I believe that ?) I asked if the photos on the website were of Honey 1 or 2, they told her same same, how can the photos be exactely the same, one hotel they say is only 1 year old and the other is older, did they just copy the 1st one ? was it that good ?

Heres a link to Honey House Hotel Soi 22, may a TV member can tell me if the photos are hotel number 1 or 2

http://www.honeyhouse.co.th/room.html

Honey House hotel Soi 22 Sukhumwit, there is 2 " Honey House 1 " and " Honey House 2 ", number 1 is lot nearer to Sukhumwit road.

Are they any good ?

Which one is best ? photos on website look ok but I always prefer to stay somewhere that has been recommended to me.

Try Country Road on Soi Cowboy as the best all round option, not least as they play world rules in there.

Do they have any winner stays on tables ?

things change and places close in a few months, last post on that topic was in Sept.

I new there had been a topic on it before but as usuall I couldnt find it using the search box.

ill be arriving in Bangkok in just over 4 weeks time. Me and the wife like to play pool and would like you to recomend some places to try out. We like the style of the Bamboo Bar Soi 3 that has 4 tables, winner stays on and looser pays. Seems to have a good atmosphere after 11pm ish around christmas time. Is there any bars similar in style to this ? I am not keen on the pool halls where you pay by the hour and just play each other. I like to play different people of different Nationalities, makes a more interesting evening.

Can you recommend any new ones for us to try ?

Cheers

whats Honey Hotel soi 19 like ? have you stayed there ?

Does anybody know any names of the hotels in Soi 3/1 ? I found a place on the net a few weeks ago but can't remember it now, it looked nice and clean and tidy. I am thinking about booking some where for a few nights and then having a look round for someplace for the remaining 40 nights. If anybody nows of a place for me I would like to spend 20000 - 30000 per month, so a total of 30000 - 40000 for my complete stay. Arrive 6.30pm Dec 7th, leave bangkok afternnoon on the 18th January. Any of the Sois off Sukumvit from 1 to 20ish will be ok, just needs to be nice and clean, no rats in rooms etc.

For the first time, I began to experience insomnia at age 35. At that time, I took up a 1-hour per day fitness exercise regimen. Problem disappeared.

Now, nearing 60 years old, and still sweating it out with the exercise daily, I sleep like a baby.

Thats not good !

babies wake up crying during the night and need feeding.

I have a Google Map for you with hotels and guesthouses in Bangkok, where you can check, what's near the skytrain stations:

Bangkok Hotels and Guesthouses

There you get also links to homepages and reviews

Thank you for that, ill have a look it

I live in the area pal.

I havent heard of such places because, frankly, i don't frequent low rent hotels. I'll leave that to you.

You hadn't heard of S.M. Grande on soi 4 ? I see you live in that area but you don't get out much. Low rent hotels ? S.M has 4 bedroom 350 sqm apartments at 130,000 p/mth, might be low rent to you but not to most people.

Why dont you try giving people positive advice it might make you feel better.

Your original post could have said something like: Hi Pal, I think you will not find any availability of rooms in that area for 20,000 you may have to pay around 30,000 or you could look a bit further away from the area where you may find rooms for 20,000. This could have included a list of a few places for me to try.

Wouldn't that be much nicer.

If anyone has anywhere in mind for me to try please post.

You are facing a terrible, terrible, terrible problem. I feel for you. I really do.

Why not face up to the fact that prices have gone up and just pay more? :-)

Here's a hunch. There ARE no 20,000 30sqm rooms at SM Grande. They are on the website to draw you in, but they don't really exist. It is a very common marketing ploy.

Relax. Don't fret. You're spending far too much time worrying about the small things.

They do exist because I have stayed in one for 7 weeks ( or was I dreaming that, just a moment while I ask the wife ). They do still have the 30 sq/m rooms and they are still 20,000 but they are booked up for this December. The next cheapest is 35,000 which is for a 50 sq/m with kitchen and balcony, some of these are still available, these were 35,000 last year, the prices havent changed at S.M.Grande. It doesn't surprise me that all the 30 sq/m are taken as it is good value for the area.

Maybe you hadn't heard of the S.M.Grande Soi 4 ( thats the one where Nana Plaza is ) before I mentioned it. It wasn't somewhere you told me to call to check availability, then again you haven't suggested anywhere between 20,000 an 35,000 so I can only think you dont know there area very well.

I would prefer positive advice please, if we have to stay at S.M for 35,000 we will but in the meantime I am open to suggestions of other places up to 35,000, almost 12 weeks till we arrive so theres plenty of time left.

4-5 weeks in December for around 5-600 baht a day, including wifi? Hehehehe . I think you need to save more money.

I wouldn't put a dog into any place at that price range in peakseason in Sukhumvit, let alone my wife.

This was your original post. Which as good as says there is no where even offering rooms with free wi-fi in the area for 20000 per/mth in December. You never even thought to mention the S.M.Grande as somewhere for me to try.

The 30 sq/m rooms at 20,000 bht/mth are full this year but why should I have automatically assumed that would be the case when we stayed there last year from 1st Dec - 24th January and we booked it in September. The 30 sq/m rooms haven't gone up in price they are still 20000. The 50 sq/metre rooms with Kitchen are still 35,000 and some of those are still available, we will probaly go for one of these as we like the location.

Please say if you know of anywhere between 20000 and 35000 per/mth.

S.M.Grande want another 20,000 for my extra 12 days after the 1st month (30 days). This doesn't seem very fair to me, it means we pay 1166 bht per day for the first 30 days and then 1666 per day after that for 12 days, how does that discount work ? is it just in Thailand ? my wife has already asked them to charge the 42 days at 1166 (49000) and they say " can not do"

I would be quite happy to stay further away from Nana area if the place was close to a BTS stop.