CHFarang

On 12/18/2016 at 9:13 AM, madmitch said:

Christmas is just one week away, a time when hotels and guesthouses in the past have expected full occupancy, or pretty close to it.

 

I took a look at Booking.com, a site which tells you the percentage of their rooms booked during a particular period. Before anyone states that it's just one website, please remember that it is the largest online hotel booking agent and most hotels use software which allocates rooms across all websites, including their own in-house sites, so availability is pretty standard across all of them.

 

The figures tell a story and proves that the title of this thread is absolutely correct.

 

Looking at a two night stay from 24th to 26th December, Patong has a staggeringly low figure of just 36% of available hotel rooms sold during that time! Just over one third. 

 

Other Phuket areas are as follows:

 

Kata 47%

Karon 60%

Kamala 63%

Bangtao 68%, showing that even the upmarket Laguna resorts still have Christmas availability

 

Just for interest I looked up some other areas in Thailand to find that it's not just Phuket:

 

Khao Lak 31%

Ao Nang 43%

Hua Hin 44%

Pattaya 52%

Chiang Mai 52%

Koh Samui 58%

 

Of course there will be late bookings but there will also be cancellations.  In my view these figures are much more telling than the garbage spurted out by the TAT and various other tourist authorities.

 

I would like to correct some points made here. First, the period from November - Christmas has never been a particularly high occupancy time. Rates are up compared to low season, yes, but occupancies across the board in Patong are some of the lowest of the entire year. At least for the last 5 - 6 years, High season only kicked off around Christmas. 

In fact, according to STR (one of the most reliable international hospitality data provider) rates and occupancy levels in December are up YOY 3.7%, rates by 0.8%. Plus of course the many hundreds of rooms that have been added compared to last year. 

Average occupancy on Patong from all hotels reporting to STA (90% of the medium and large hotels) is at 80%.

The availability you see on booking.com is in no way a reflection of real occupancy levels, how would they know anyway. It is probably based on the rooms hotels allocate to this particular sales channel.

I know may of you here on this thread are convinced that Patong is dead because a few of the old bars and restaurant who are unable and unwilling to adapt are complaining. 

The fact however is that Patong and Phuket in general are alive and well with steady YOY growth and great projects in infrastructure, accomodation, entertainment and shopping in the pipeline. 

Wishing you all a happy new year 2017!

On September 26, 2016 at 9:17 PM, 2fishin2 said:

 

If you are leaving from terminal 3 (domestic) there is no immigration and that is normal. If you have a connecting international flight say in bkk or another international airport in Thailand, then Immigration will be cleared at that airport and not Phuket as your flight from HKT is considered domestic. Thats standard nothing changed.

You do not go to terminal one for immigration for connecting flights at another airport.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

 

Actually I was just told by someone who runs limousine service that all travellers on domestic flights with international connection in bangkok will have to check in and go through immigration at the new terminal 1, then transfer over to terminal 3. Same arriving back from a connecting international flight through bangkok; arriving gate 3, but go get your luggage at terminal 1.

It's a big mess for limousine services because they often don't know whether guests come only from Bangkok or just connected in Bangkok.

I will experience it first hand this Saturday and can update. 

Morning,

I am trying to find these reed mats used in garden decoration, not the floor mats, the ones uses on walls and as partitions. Anyone knows where to buy them here on Phuket?

something like this:

Thanks

Hi ArranP,

I have my 2 children in Kajonkiat EP since 3 and 1 year respectively. for me the best solution here in the island for Thai Curriculum, since we are clear we will stay in Thailand. PM me if you need more feedback.

Nice, I hope it's the guys annoying my guests almost daily in front of the hotel...

Good work! Rewards all around.

RTP even managed to shift the blame for the death of the two innocent teens onto the protesters.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 66 persons allegedly involved in the October 11 riot at Phuket's Thalang Police Station, deputy national police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said Wednesday, adding probe into the protest that resulted in violence and the deaths of two youngsters, which triggered the riot, were ongoing.

@ Zaphod reborn; read again, it says "the probes (plural) into protests AND the deaths of the 2 youths" are on going. I'm not a big fan of the nation's journalism, but you got to be fair. It seems either you have altered the "quote" or they changed the text after you quoted it... Even the date is different...

Cheers

KB, these figures from the Thai hotel association are nothing official as you call it, but the average of all the hotels participating, which are quite I few I may say. Running a 200 rooms hotel myself, I can confirm this, we and most of our competitors had an amazing month with occupancies above 90%. Even STR reports, a globally recognized source indicates similar numbers.

The reason why many might see Phuket so quiet is, because the demographics of the visitors has changed. So residents spending their time in the pubs, bars and on the beach might see it as deserted. Those who visit the typical sightseeing spots, popular day trip islands or the shopping malls might see the opposite.

Cheers

So, you are selling your hotel rooms to the Chinese, no doubt at a reduced rate, for your 90% occupancy. Tell me, how's the hotel's food and beverage sales going, and any other service your hotel may offer????

Better to have a 50% occupancy rate, but have western tourists who eat, drink, and be merry in your hotel, than a 90% occupancy rate of Chinese, who do not spend a baht in your hotel.

"The numbers" may still be arriving on Phuket, but the MONEY is not. This is why, I predict, a contraction in the Phuket economy, in the near future, if not already.

Ask yourself this question, if the Phuket tourism industry was listed on a stock exchange, would you buy shares in it????

Sorry to disappoint you. Half Australian, half asian, not only chinese, but also Malaysians, Singaporeans, etc. F&B revenue up from last year, spa up from last year, room rates up from last year. If you belief it or not, Asians eat as well and they love the spa.

If I would invest in Phuket? most definitely, unlike in your business if you state that you would rather run 50% than 90% occupancy...

Can I interest you in some property, or a bar? Phuket is "booming." Now's the time to buy. You can't lose.

KB, these figures from the Thai hotel association are nothing official as you call it, but the average of all the hotels participating, which are quite I few I may say. Running a 200 rooms hotel myself, I can confirm this, we and most of our competitors had an amazing month with occupancies above 90%. Even STR reports, a globally recognized source indicates similar numbers.

The reason why many might see Phuket so quiet is, because the demographics of the visitors has changed. So residents spending their time in the pubs, bars and on the beach might see it as deserted. Those who visit the typical sightseeing spots, popular day trip islands or the shopping malls might see the opposite.

Cheers

So, you are selling your hotel rooms to the Chinese, no doubt at a reduced rate, for your 90% occupancy. Tell me, how's the hotel's food and beverage sales going, and any other service your hotel may offer????

Better to have a 50% occupancy rate, but have western tourists who eat, drink, and be merry in your hotel, than a 90% occupancy rate of Chinese, who do not spend a baht in your hotel.

"The numbers" may still be arriving on Phuket, but the MONEY is not. This is why, I predict, a contraction in the Phuket economy, in the near future, if not already.

Ask yourself this question, if the Phuket tourism industry was listed on a stock exchange, would you buy shares in it????

Sorry to disappoint you. Half Australian, half asian, not only chinese, but also Malaysians, Singaporeans, etc. F&B revenue up from last year, spa up from last year, room rates up from last year. If you belief it or not, Asians eat as well and they love the spa.

If I would invest in Phuket? most definitely, unlike in your business if you state that you would rather run 50% than 90% occupancy...

KB, these figures from the Thai hotel association are nothing official as you call it, but the average of all the hotels participating, which are quite I few I may say. Running a 200 rooms hotel myself, I can confirm this, we and most of our competitors had an amazing month with occupancies above 90%. Even STR reports, a globally recognized source indicates similar numbers.

The reason why many might see Phuket so quiet is, because the demographics of the visitors has changed. So residents spending their time in the pubs, bars and on the beach might see it as deserted. Those who visit the typical sightseeing spots, popular day trip islands or the shopping malls might see the opposite.

Cheers

Hi there,

Been to all these islands many times, my personal favorite is Ko Kradan, there's a small resort in the middle of the island, run by a Hawaiian named wally, beautiful, absolute Robinson Crusoe feeling with spectacular beaches. There's a second resort now, more high priced, called seven seas...

Great for snorkeling right off the beach.

Ko Mook is nice, quite a few back packer resort on Charlie beach, one upper class resort on the other (east) coast. Must see here is the emerald cove!

Ko Ngai nice as well, couple resorts on the east coast, medium priced, one nice back packer bungalow place on the west coast, great place to spot horn bills and snorkeling right off the beach.

And of course one day in Pak Meng for a lunch or dinner on the beach is a must, either at the beginning or end of the trip..

Have fun.

It's been a year again since the last post, any new inputs on the school?

Thanks.

You probably need a overall financial advisor rather than just looking at the various funds. I know of only one SEC registered financial investor advisor in Thailand. The SEC is the USA government agency regulating the financial industry and their registration requires a multi-day examination and regular audits for compliance. You would do well to visit www.freemancapital.net.

I Just checked this website, looks promising.Do you have first hand experience with this company? Or do you work for them??

thanks.

To all who would like to quit, i found someone who helped me making quitting so easy! having tried to quit many times without success, i finally got this guy recommended who makes you quit in 4 minutes...

He quickly explains you what he does and then somehow makes your body belief you never smoked just by touching you... I know it sounds strange but it worked, and it worked for my sister and some friends of her as well... You still know you somked of course, but you will not have any cravings, no anxiety, nothing... I am smoke free for over 2 weeks now and feel great.

It's a guy in Appenzell, Switzerland called Bader...

If anyone comes across this area, i definitely recommend it.

Cheers.

The number that is usually banded around with regards to the number of deaths by traffic incidents is about 40 per day, so,no, I am not buying it either.

agree, the average over the last 15 years or so is at around 35 death from road accidents per day. That would mean with only 30 per day so far during songkran, it's actually saver to drive during songkran period than on a normal day?????

Interesting...

Happy Thai New Year to all of you!

One way to get some reasonalbe priced wines is to go for the special offers of wine suppliers, they often want to get rid of some discontinued wines and sell them for up to 50% discount. the advantage of it is that you do not have to drink the same wine all the time, but actually get the chance to try different wines all the time...

Or buy your winescheap near the border, especially Hat Yai is good for this, lots of small shops who forget to declare the wines when they bring them in from Malaysaia...

My personal way to cope with the wine prices here is to to add soda to my white wine; nice wine spritzer, that doubles the quantity and fits perfectly to the climate here.

Cheers.

Hello to all thai food lovers,

i have been working in hospitality industry over 6 years now here in Thailand, running many different hotel restaurant operations. one thing that really bothers me is that constant comment from foreigners (and sometimes Thais) that the hotel thai food is not really thai... now what is it, that makes "real" thai food in their eyes? Is it the excessive use of glutomat in all local restaurants that makes it "real"? i doubt, this is more likely is a sign of degradation of thai food for me... is it that many do not see the difference between thai fast food on the street and (my understanding) of real thai food anymore and start to compare "fois gras & burges"...

Or is it the incopetence of the mostly farang executive chef that tries to put his style into the thai recipes (i doubt this, since i have worked with many farang chefs here in Thailand who really got into Thai cuisine and actaully know what it's all about) ? is it that we serve the beef tender and not chewy and the chicken without soft bones?

Or is it at the end really the case that all these highly experiences and well trained and paid thai chefs just forget how to properly cook thai food the moment they walk into a 5 star hotel??

Let me know what you think makes the difference.

culinary greetings.

Justy realized that nobody mentioned the ao nang deli yet, the by far best western restaurant in the ao nang area, huge portions for very very fair prices AND top quality.

but than again, for those who dont know where it is, i am not going to tell you, there are only 2 tables and if everbody goes there, there's no seat left for me:)

Mahlzeit.

Trang also just opened a Robinson with a Mac Shop inthere. is propably closer and definitely not the traffic you have going to Phuket.

Your comments on (Thai) kids are a bit strange... there are kids everywhere in Thailand, which is great, you might want to go somewhere else in the world where kids are locked up in caches, i believe that would please you...

Try Centara, great Christmas buffet, costs a bit more than others but worth it...

Merry XMAS

Thanks lalinda, i'll have a look at those places. I know about swimming lessions here in Ao Nang, but Teakwondo seems like a good start.

i am wondering if there is anything such as sports clubs, music classes or music teachers or any other kids activities which they can join after school?

Anyone who knows something?

Thanks.

It actually is sinking 2 - 5 cm a year as reported also on cnn:

A report published by the United Nations' IRIN magazine today says that flooding in Bangkok is likely to get so severe by the middle of this century that parts of the Thai capital may have to be abandoned.

"Subsidence and poor urban planning have resulted in Bangkok gradually sinking between 2cm and 5cm a year," the report quotes researchers in Thailand.

It's well known by city residents that Bangkok is sinking, with experts first documenting the problem in the early 1980s. But now scientists say there are added factors that are fast-tracking the city's immersion.

"For decades we have known that the city was sinking because of sediment compression, but recent research has shown that the crust of the earth itself is also depressing here, caused by tectonic events that are totally outside our control. It is a combination of factors," Anond Snidvongs, the Southeast Asia regional research director for multi-national non-governmental agency START, says in the report.

"Much of the problem was caused by water for industry being extracted from underground aquifers faster than it could be replaced, causing the soil to compress," IRIN explained. "Another issue is that many of Bangkok's canals, which once drew comparisons with those of Venice, have been concreted over and turned into roads, while houses and factories have been built on the natural floodplains surrounding the capital."

In addition to the obvious humanitarian issues, Bangkok's sinking woes are a scary thought for those that are investing big bucks in the city's real estate sector. Among the more radical proposals being suggested to fix the situation is the construction of a massive 100 kilometer dike right across the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin to Pattaya

Read more: Bangkok sinking, warn scientists | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com...3#ixzz15Ro5Y2JR

Hi grumpy old men...

there is, not made for farangs in particular, but there are a few nice thai style beer gardens, often having bands playing. most of them are along the Maharaj road, the main road through krabi town, just a few 100 meters out from the center (Vouge shopping center) towards the airport. Also a club called "room 69", really local, no farangs, good fun...

Have fun!

busy like hel_l in our hotel, amazing february so far, april also looks like a good month, just march seems not to pick up. cheers.