12 hours ago, Leaver said:

not baht, dollars

But baht are better than dollars these days, or not?

Where the US Navy soldiers gonna sleep then when come to town? the cousin of my wife worked there,and she told me alway's have plenty US navy people stay there, she was fired 2 months ago for no have people no more.

1 hour ago, joskeshake said:

Where the US Navy soldiers gonna sleep then when come to town? the cousin of my wife worked there,and she told me alway's have plenty US navy people stay there, she was fired 2 months ago for no have people no more.

Holiday Inn and Grande Centre Point Pattaya at terminal 21.

 

10 hours ago, Yahooka said:

Let`s hope that never happens.

If it doesn't happen, there maybe be nothing left for western tourists and expats here.   

8 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, Hard Rock brought back to life what was a crappy decrepid hotel that used to charge a joiner fee, The Merlin. What it became was not to my taste but seemed popular, good for a young crowd. I was not aware it was struggling pre-Covid.

It will be reborn into something else and renamed.  Time will tell if it will be a success.

    

6 hours ago, fred110 said:

I would love to see that happen. 

None of those billions of dollars are coming to Thailand.  it's all going to their competition.  It should have happened years ago.   Even if they set up a special economic zone for it, perhaps on an island.  

 

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The Chinese do not need to gamble in Thailand. They have the choice of nearly every other country in the region.

So why not add Thailand as one of their options?

 

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The claimed reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is because the locals would become hopelessly addicted. There is obviously some truth in that, as there are plenty of tales about them losing everything in the illegal lotteries. My own sister-in-law picked up a house at a big discount as the owner needed to sell to pay off her debts.

Do the same as Vietnam.  No Vietnamese Nationals allowed in. (On paper, Vietnamese Nationals are allowed in if they can prove they earn over $450USD a month, but in reality, they are not allowed in)

 

That fixes that problem.

 

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The real reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is that the shadowy figures who own the illegal ones would lose their massive profits. As those shadowy owners are no doubt in a position to influence or even make the laws banning casinos nothing is likely to change.

With Thai Nationals not allowed into the casinos, the shadowy figures can still run their illegal operations.  Business as usual for them.  

5 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Not forever. It'll become another Sihanoukville, a Chinese outpost. That'll be the ultimate death blow.

I have a feeling Pattaya is heading in that direction anyway.  

2 hours ago, PGSan said:

But baht are better than dollars these days, or not?

No.  

16 minutes ago, Leaver said:

So why not add Thailand as one of their options?

 

Do the same as Vietnam.  No Vietnamese Nationals allowed in. (On paper, Vietnamese Nationals are allowed in if they can prove they earn over $450USD a month, but in reality, they are not allowed in)

 

That fixes that problem.

 

With Thai Nationals not allowed into the casinos, the shadowy figures can still run their illegal operations.  Business as usual for them.  

All good. So what is your take on why Thailand alone in the region doesn't have them? Curious, isn't it.

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

All good. So what is your take on why Thailand alone in the region doesn't have them? Curious, isn't it.

Well, I agreed with your previous post, but the solutions to the issues you mentioned are so simple that it's a no brainer.  

 

I could certainly agree with you if foreign tourists were attending illegal casinos in big numbers, similar to the way the sex trade operates here. then the shadowy figures stand to lose a lot of money, and due to their influence, see that casinos will never see the light of day here, but that's not the case. 

 

We can look at the religious case for no casinos, but other Buddhist countries have them, and if it is an activity for foreigners only, it should not offend religious leaders in Thailand.  

 

I really can see no reason to deny the Thai tax payer of billions of dollars of foreign revenue.    

 

Probably just a case of Thailand not being a progressive country.    

9 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Hotels are rebranded all the time...it's a normal part of the hospitality business. What is noteworthy about the HRH is that it was the first international hotel brand to open in Pattaya...before that all the hotels were locally owned or Thai brands (Dusit, Siam Bayview/Shore, Amari, Montien). Of all the international brands we have here now, Holiday Inn, Hilton, Sheraton, etc.) HRH was the first. I was surprised HRH would take a flyer on Pattaya, with it's seedy reputation, thinking that some underage scandal in one of their rooms would sully the brand and they wouldn't want to risk that but they did and it's been a success up to now. At the grand opening, I had a tour and the rooms, while nice, are tiny and I only at at the cafe once (good but expensive by local standards) so I can't say I will miss it much (plus I'm waaay past their prime demographic).

The Marriott has been in Pattaya a while.

3 hours ago, joskeshake said:

Where the US Navy soldiers gonna sleep then when come to town? the cousin of my wife worked there,and she told me alway's have plenty US navy people stay there, she was fired 2 months ago for no have people no more.

I thought they were on a curfew and had to be back on board by 22:00.Of course they could have been hiring the rooms to party.

46 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Well, I agreed with your previous post, but the solutions to the issues you mentioned are so simple that it's a no brainer.  

 

I could certainly agree with you if foreign tourists were attending illegal casinos in big numbers, similar to the way the sex trade operates here. then the shadowy figures stand to lose a lot of money, and due to their influence, see that casinos will never see the light of day here, but that's not the case. 

 

We can look at the religious case for no casinos, but other Buddhist countries have them, and if it is an activity for foreigners only, it should not offend religious leaders in Thailand.  

 

I really can see no reason to deny the Thai tax payer of billions of dollars of foreign revenue.    

 

Probably just a case of Thailand not being a progressive country.    

Agree with all.

18 hours ago, impulse said:

 

They'll just change the name to "Planet (fill in the blank)" and get another 20 years out of it.

"Planet Ahead" 

3 hours ago, adammike said:

The Marriott has been in Pattaya a while.

But not as a Marriott...and it too has now been rebranded as the Avani.

20 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

who cares, overpriced in every way shape and form...

 

20 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

who cares, overpriced in every way shape and form...

Not everyone wants a 600 baht dump on soi Buhakao. Stayed at the hard Rock many times over the years and the girls love it, great vibe, super clean, great food options and fun room concepts and good night club and possibly the best pool in SEA 

 

Not for cheap Charlie's but was never intended to be 

More mediocre American franchised rubbish aimed at the undiscerning culturally illiterate. Great to see Starbucks closing too. Thailand has great coffee and great independent coffee shops..

7 minutes ago, madmen said:

 

Not everyone wants a 600 baht dump on soi Buhakao. Stayed at the hard Rock many times over the years and the girls love it, great vibe, super clean, great food options and fun room concepts and good night club and possibly the best pool in SEA 

 

Not for cheap Charlie's but was never intended to be 

Which makes you wonder why they chose to open in Cheap Charlie location.  

7 minutes ago, madmen said:

 

Not everyone wants a 600 baht dump on soi Buhakao. Stayed at the hard Rock many times over the years and the girls love it, great vibe, super clean, great food options and fun room concepts and good night club and possibly the best pool in SEA 

 

Not for cheap Charlie's but was never intended to be 

The alternative to HRC is not just a dump in SB. You are being reductionist. One thing HRC punters have in common is a lack of taste, lack of adventure and lack of originality.

20 hours ago, Leaver said:

Thai Bev and Singapore Company can rename and / or repurpose the property. Of course, with no reference to Hard Rock.  

 

Still, sad to see an establishment with such history finishing up here, if in fact it does.

   

History?lol

14 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, Hard Rock brought back to life what was a crappy decrepid hotel that used to charge a joiner fee, The Merlin. What it became was not to my taste but seemed popular, good for a young crowd. I was not aware it was struggling pre-Covid.

A joiner fee. 555 A jackals fee more like. Only wet behind the ears ever paid a joiner fee! A fee for fools.

2 minutes ago, Nout said:

History?lol

Yes, history.

 

The Hard Rock brand has ben around for about 50 years.  Of course, not that long in Pattaya, but it's a little sad Pattaya, being a World Class Tourists Destination and all, couldn't support an international brand such as the Hard Rock.   

 

Alas, as I have said before, Pattaya was always heading in this direction, Covid just accelerated it.  

20 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

When the ladies of Pattaya go to town looking for hard rock...it is not the Hotel they have in mind!

 

 Few and far between , as many old sex pats , over 70 , 

  Just have pensions , and memories , so sad .555

 

 

43 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Which makes you wonder why they chose to open in Cheap Charlie location.  

Perfect example of expat thinking. Cheap Charlie thinks all of Pattaya attracts the same. People don't all fly half way around the world to stay in $20 hotels and eat at $3 breakfast buffets 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

 

Not everyone wants a 600 baht dump on soi Buhakao. Stayed at the hard Rock many times over the years and the girls love it, great vibe, super clean, great food options and fun room concepts and good night club and possibly the best pool in SEA 

 

Not for cheap Charlie's but was never intended to be 

Great pool, i'll give you that, some good pool parties in the past ( nowhere near the best in SEA, not even close - Trumps place in Singapore comes to mind.... )

 

As for the food, you're having a laugh.

47 minutes ago, elliss said:

 

 Few and far between , as many old sex pats , over 70 , 

  Just have pensions , and memories , so sad .555

 

 

It's the quality ( of lack of ) that surprised me, i've given it a few chances over the years - rubbish compared to other Hard Rocks over the world i've eaten at - junk!

Used to love their neon sign 

" No Drugs or Nuclear Weapons " 

 

Never tried taking an ordinary RPG or M249 machine gun in to see if they would be happy with those ..

 

23 minutes ago, madmen said:

People don't all fly half way around the world to stay in $20 hotels and eat at $3 breakfast buffets 

They do here. 

 

Then, they spend money on sex, which is in the cash economy.  Still money flowing into Thailand, but not taxed.  

 

Question:  If Pattaya attracts high end tourists, how many helipads are on buildings in Pattaya?  

21 hours ago, impulse said:

 

They'll just change the name to "Planet (fill in the blank)" and get another 20 years out of it.

Rebrand as the 'Hard Times Hotel', that'll be good for 20 years or more.