The Thai Business Mentality Strikes Again

[H2oDunc]

The wife and I got up yesterday and decided to go for a ride out to the beach. The wife wanted to go to a beach we had not been to before so we got the map out. We opted to go to up the coast from Chumphon to Bangapan Noi by the Petkasem rd then head to the coast and follow it up to Bankrut. Once we got off the Petkasem rd it was a really nice ride. We found some beautiful unspoilt stretches of beach with NOBODY on them. We drove for around 10 km with no resorts or anything at all along the beach. We finally came to the Ratavanee resort which looked ideal. We parked the bikes up and went in. The resort was right opposite the beach with restaurant and pool. Just the place to spend the day after a nice ride. We ordered drinks and looked at the menu opting to sit by the pool.

The place was empty bar a couple on the beach opposite. The wife was taken to look at one of the rooms as it would be an ideal getaway for a weekend to just chill on the beach. The rooms were very nice if a little expensive. We settled down again , ordered another drink and a shed load of food only to be told we could sit on the beach and have food and drink but the pool was for residents only. Now I was only saying to the wife why don't we stay the night have a few beers and go home tomorrow. The end result was they ended up with only selling 2 drinks instead of a lot of food, drinks and a room as well, also having a regular customer to boot. The woman just didn't seem to grasp the reasoning. In the end rode another couple of km down the road and found another place to rest and relax. We spent the day by their pool and spent 3,500 baht and are planning a weekend away there next month.

[jonniebkk]

Just the place to spend the day after a nice ride. We ordered drinks and looked at the menu opting to sit by the pool.

told we could sit on the beach and have food and drink but the pool was for residents only.

No really sure of your point. You were treated nicely it seems to me, told you were free to enjoy their beach area but that the pool was reserved for hotel guests only. Seems reasonable to me...if I was I was a paying hotel guest, I wouldn't want a bunch of day-trippers crowding the pool. However, if you actually did want to take a dip, I'm sure the offer of a small day-use fee would have gratefully accepted.

[Briggsy]

Just the place to spend the day after a nice ride. We ordered drinks and looked at the menu opting to sit by the pool.

told we could sit on the beach and have food and drink but the pool was for residents only.

No really sure of your point. You were treated nicely it seems to me, told you were free to enjoy their beach area but that the pool was reserved for hotel guests only. Seems reasonable to me...if I was I was a paying hotel guest, I wouldn't want a bunch of day-trippers crowding the pool. However, if you actually did want to take a dip, I'm sure the offer of a small day-use fee would have gratefully accepted.

I'm no fan of "The Thai business mentality" but the story you have recounted sounds much more like a European business mentality. i.e. ruthless enforcement of petty rules when a little bending would have been more sensible. The Thai business mentality would be something like this: Take control of the local or bor tor. Allow people to start businesses. If they fail, they fail. If they succeed, extort money from them or simply take over the business under duress.

Possibly, you were bringing down the tone of the place. You did say it was a little pricey and you turned up on your bikes. Very politely the management was removing you from the sight of other guests who perhaps were due to arrive. Does your wife have dark skin? Thais don't like that. Particularly not in 'luxury' establishments.

Edited September 3, 2007 by Briggsy

[Heng]

Thread should be re-titled "The Motel 6 Tourist Mentality Strikes Again."