My CNX Hotel Experience-June 2022

[sqwakvfr]

I will not name the hotel because in LOS a negative review can be Defamation(TIT,555).  

 

In my travels in Thailand and in other countries I have stayed at 5 Star, 4 Star and 3 Star hotels.  In most other countries the more stars means better service.  Not so much in LOS.  This is based on my personal experience and others will disagree.

 

I was curious about this well known hotel in Chiang Mai and booked a weekend night on the corporate website.  The total for one night with breakfast was just over 4,000 Baht.  This is the most I have ever paid for a hotel in Thailand.  My expectations were very high.  

 

The online booking process was simple.  I even got two email reminders about my booking.

 

I arrived at 1430 for check in.  The reception staff was very professional and all spoke good  English(This has been a problem at some other hotels in LOS).

 

1) Got to the room and noticed there were no amenity items in the bothroom (toothrush etc).  Went downstairs and asked about amenity items.  I was told "you have to request them when you make your booking".  I replied I was never advised of this.  Of course I got the phony smile and "sorry".  I asked "should I go to a 7-11 and buy a toothbrush"?.  I then got a curt "housekeeping will bring them".  An hour later the maid brought the requested amenity items.  I stayed at a 4 Star hotel in the past and all amenity items were already in the bathroom when i checked in.  This particular hotel claims to be a 5 Star property.  A disappointing start. 

 

2) Went down to the bar to see what kind of beer was on draft.  My choices were Chang, Chang and Chang.  What the heck I got the Chang Draft.  It only cost 220 Baht for a small glass.  When I asked for a napkin and some peanuts the bartender acted like I was asking for the "moon".  The Chang Draft tasted like Chang in a bottle.  This was really disappointing.  Of course when I got the bill a 10% gratuity was added.  In response I put a big X on the customer tip line of the bill.  The disappointment continues.

 

3.  Next morning I went down to breakfast.  The breakfast buffet has been touted by some as the best in Chiang Mai.  I would respectfully disagree.  The buffet had the usual bakery items, Asian dishes, and a cook to order Egg station.  The entire dining room had about 6 guests at the time.  I walked up to the egg station and requested scrambled eggs.  I got the "OK" with a nod in response.  I was then told to wait at my table.  Fifteen minutes later the eggs had not arrived.  The next interaction just <deleted> me off.  I went back to the egg station and asked about the scrambled eggs.  There were two cooks on the grill and another employee at the egg station. At first I did not get a response.  I asked a second time and the response was "you want scrambled eggs".  I replied I told you 15 minutes ago.  It just seemed like the three just didn't care  Ok.  No problem because I just self served myself to two cold fried eggs from a serving dish.  Overall the choices at this buffet were not that great , the coffee was bitter and the croissants tasted like they were baked a couple days ago.  Also, lower class hotels usually have yoghurt in a large serving bowl.  I find this to be not a good idea.  I would have preferred to have individual cups of yoghurt.  But no so much luck at this allegedly "high end" hotel.  This was the final disappointment.

 

Later I spoke to the dining room manager about my experience.  The manager was a foreigner(possibly from Europe) and of course he actually listened and sincerely apologized.  This was the only positive part of my experience.  

 

I will never go back to this hotel and doubt I will ever pay for a 5 Star hotel in Chiang Mai.  Based upon my experience the more I pay the less I get.  I will stick with the 4 or 3 star hotels.  

 

 

[RandiRona]

Sorry for your experience but other than an opportunity for you to rant, it is useless to most since they wont know which Hotel is this.

Atleast share the general area where this Hotel is located or an Alphabet it is starting with.

[CMBob]

The world must be coming to an end when one doesn't get one's entitled and free toothbrush.

Simply heart-breaking........ 

[sqwakvfr]

12 minutes ago, CMBob said:

The world must be coming to an end when one doesn't get one's entitled and free toothbrush.

Simply heart-breaking........ 

This is why I posted. To get your always and valuable input.  Always your comments are sought and appreciated.  I will soon post just to get your feedback.  Thank you for your wisom.

[sqwakvfr]

13 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Sorry for your experience but other than an opportunity for you to rant, it is useless to most since they wont know which Hotel is this.

Atleast share the general area where this Hotel is located or an Alphabet it is starting with.

Walking distance from Pantip. 

[BritManToo]

Next time book a 500bht hotel.

Then you will have 3,500bht left, enough to pay for breakfast, beer, a toothbrush ........ and a young woman to serve you in your room all night.

 

[CMBob]

13 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

 Thank you for your wisom.

I have no wisom (sic) and simply wanted to state that my Sympathy Meter failed to begin to move at your traumatic experience.

[dingdongrb]

Just now, CMBob said:

I have no wisom (sic) and simply wanted to state that my Sympathy Meter failed to begin to move at your traumatic experience.

Why bother to reply then? 

[KhunLA]

Self rated 4 & 5 star hotels   ....  nuff said

 

... people start believing that, and I'm going to start giving marital advice ????

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

people start believing that, and I'm going to start giving marital advice ????

My advice, don't get married.

[dingdongrb]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Self rated 4 & 5 star hotels   ....  nuff said

 

... people start believing that, and I'm going to start giving marital advice ????

I agree, who believes in these online ratings these days? I mean go and look at IMDB. You'll see how some movies get a high rating and after watching the first 10 minutes you're fully aware the rating was created by the family and friends of the acting/production crew.

[The Hammer2021]

'Phony smile'  is probably a nervous smile.

You really travel without a toothbrush?

The draft beer  tasted like bottled? How can that be a bad thing?

By the time the OP got to breakfast the word had got  round amongst the staff about awful customer.

My sympathy  metre ran out with the culturally insensitive and ignorant term 'phony smile'

And making a  fuss about a toothbrush might be construed as pathetic.

[The Hammer2021]

27 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

Why bother to reply then? 

To state his opinion-

[dingdongrb]

13 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

To state his opinion-

I want to believe we all know what opinions are like and in my opinion ...........

[dingdongrb]

17 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

And making a  fuss about a toothbrush might be construed as pathetic.

If you would have comprehended what he wrote you might have understood it wasn't just a toothbrush.

 

"Got to the room and noticed there were no amenity items in the bothroom (toothrush etc)."

 

I take it you always travel with shampoo, cream rinse, and bath soap?

 

NOTE: Many of the 5 start hotels I have frequented also provides items such as:

• Mouthwash
• Sewing kits
• Shower caps
• Shoe horns
• Manicuring files
• etc

[JimGant]

Most people pack their toothbrushes with their underwear. Amenity kits are just an underused cost; thus in lean times, one that can be relegated to 'only on request.' Just good management when skating on the edge of bankruptcy. Back when United Airlines was on lean times, amentity kits were only by request in business class, i.e., no longer sitting in every seat. Frills are the first to go. (Very few were requested, surprisingly to me. But the wife, a stew, witnessed it.)

[steven100]

oh dear  '      It's just terrible that you ordered scrambled eggs and you sadly never got your scambled eggs.

just goes to show you can never trust those cooks at the egg station ......

you sound like a really painful customer what with no toothbrush & no scrambled eggs for breaky.  

sounds like word got out the minute you checked in .....      Lol

[The Hammer2021]

1 minute ago, dingdongrb said:

If you would have comprehended what he wrote you might have understood it wasn't just a toothbrush.

 

"Got to the room and noticed there were no amenity items in the bothroom (toothrush etc)."

 

I take it you always travel with shampoo, cream rinse, and bath soap?

 

NOTE: Many of the 5 start hotels I have frequented also provides items such as:

• Mouthwash
• Sewing kits
• Shower caps
• Shoe horns
• Manicuring files
• etc

Yes I am in desperate  need of a shoe horn and sewing kit when I travel. All the OP had to do was call reception or housekeeping  and remind them politely they had forgotten to leave soap. BUT From a position of entitlement he addressed  the reception  staff physically, not housekeeping, probably shouted at her, a girl half his size made her nervous so she smiled nervously and arranged  for the items to be supplied. In line with many hotels environmental policies such items need to be ordered or requested to cut down on waste.

The OP was angry at the girl smiling at him  but seemed angry  at staff who did  not smile at him!

As for the hostile, aggressive  stunt of crossing out the service  charge - he made his point about what kind of person  he was and got  treated accordingly.

[KhunLA]

Go to Booking.com, pull up hotels for Bangkok ...

Filter 4 & 5 star

 

Now filter the amenities you'd expect at a 4 or 5 star hotel.

I've done this, and got less than 10 remaining, and this pre covid

 

Still, I don't think some offered 24 hr room service, or a concierge 

to get entertain tickets.  Tailor or hair salon on site.

[orang37]

7 minutes ago, JimGant said:

Most people pack their toothbrushes with their underwear. 

My toothbrush never gets near my underwear.

 

~o:37;

[chuang]

Are there really 5-star hotels near Pantip....just curious...

[beau thai]

Lets play hangman:    s-----i  - -a.     Warm??

 

I dont agree with most comments above.

 

For4k a night in these times, guests (which is what these hotels call customers) are entitled to great service - helpful and courteous.

 

If it falls short, leave an appropriate review on Booking.com or wherever so other guests know what to expect- and select somewhere with better management.  

[KhunLA]

Did as I suggested, bkk hotels, filter 4 & 5 star, then filter amenities, got down to 13

or which three I scratched for lack of restaurant all day.

Not all were handicap friendly, so less if needed say, rail in toilet.

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

First you probably paid too much. Look on TripAdvisor or other comparison site and then at the Agoda rate or best other rate. 4000 baht is a lot. I am staying at a hotel 4 to 4 and a half star that is fantastic on beach with big buffet for significantly less than half. Huge room. Outlook to sea. Gym. Boxing. Jacuzzi on balcony. Worth planning ahead. 
This hotel has slippers and dressing gown and free snack bar but no tooth brush. I don’t tend to expect a free toothbrush or see it as a thing to want or necessarily expect. If they said you get it then ok but they are normally not as good as a proper tooth brush so no big deal.
The problem with buffet is that at this time you should stay in busier hotels as they can have a decent full buffet. Smaller or quieter hotels may not have full buffet or will just give you a la carte. Service may not be as good. Tourism is way down.
My hotel has nice fresh yoghurt that isnt sweet in a bowl that is covered. Good yoghurt is important not individual serve. I judge buffet on quality. Do they have decent bread, muesli, decent salads and cooked meals. 
Bar hotel  prices are always a bit high except happy hour. Hotel may be quiet and this may affect service and range.  I go to local store and buy though that may not be your cup of tea. 

 

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

1) Got to the room and noticed there were no amenity items in the bothroom (toothrush etc).  Went downstairs and asked about amenity items.  I was told "you have to request them when you make your booking".  I replied I was never advised of this. 

I have just been looking at a 5 *hotel website , in the location and the 4000 Baht rooms do not include bathroom amenities like toothbrush and soap , these are only available in the 5000 Baht per night room .

   Seems like you got given those toiletries when you didn't pay for them .

If you would have stayed in a more expensive de-lux room, you would have had a toothbrush when you arrived

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, The Hammer2021 said:

'Phony smile'  is probably a nervous smile.

You really travel without a toothbrush?

The draft beer  tasted like bottled? How can that be a bad thing?

By the time the OP got to breakfast the word had got  round amongst the staff about awful customer.

My sympathy  metre ran out with the culturally insensitive and ignorant term 'phony smile'

And making a  fuss about a toothbrush might be construed as pathetic.

I never asked for sympathy.  Meter not metre.

[sqwakvfr]

46 minutes ago, beau thai said:

Lets play hangman:    s-----i  - -a.     Warm??

 

I dont agree with most comments above.

 

For4k a night in these times, guests (which is what these hotels call customers) are entitled to great service - helpful and courteous.

 

If it falls short, leave an appropriate review on Booking.com or wherever so other guests know what to expect- and select somewhere with better management.  

No, but close.  That location was excellent.

[sqwakvfr]

32 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I have just been looking at a 5 *hotel website , in the location and the 4000 Baht rooms do not include bathroom amenities like toothbrush and soap , these are only available in the 5000 Baht per night room .

   Seems like you got given those toiletries when you didn't pay for them .

If you would have stayed in a more expensive de-lux room, you would have had a toothbrush when you arrived

Was ata lower rated hotel last month and all was included.  

[Mac Mickmanus]

Just now, sqwakvfr said:

Was ata lower rated hotel last month and all was included.  

Yes, but the hotel you stayed in this time, it wasn't included with the money you paid for your room .

   You would have had to book into the de-lux rooms to get a free toothbrush

[sqwakvfr]

9 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Yes, but the hotel you stayed in this time, it wasn't included with the money you paid for your room .

   You would have had to book into the de-lux rooms to get a free toothbrush

You know this for certain because I can't verify your statement with the hotel.  I was told later the amenity items are included but on has to request the at the time of booking(I stated as much in the initial post).  But of course you know more so I must be wrong.