When you first came to Thailand - do you remember where you stayed?

[David48]

.

I still remember, sitting in the Travel Agency in Australia, flicking through the Travel Brochures and seeing the Baiyoke Sky Tower listed for $42 and thinking ... <deleted>, that less then a 1/3 what I would pay here. Plus, Breakkie was included ...

They put me on a high floor, crappy small room, smelly carpets, but you know what ... I didn't care.

The excitement, the Buzz of the place (Bangkok rather the Baiyoke). That huge TV down near Central Plaza ... remember this was almost 10 years ago, the evening street markets, etc ... my, how times fly.

When you first came to Thailand - do you remember where you stayed^*?

^* First up, I'll be straight ... the first two times I 'stayed' in Thailand, I actually hired a room @ Don Muang Airport as it was a 10 hour layover flying to Europe.

.

[isanbirder]

I stayed in the YMCA on Sathorn Road. It was quite rural in those days, with a klong and large trees down the middle of the road. Being poor, we went everywhere in Bangkok by samlor.

That was in 1957!

[gerry123]

The first 3 hours i stayed in the airport trying to locate the people who were meant to meet me

[Jingthing]

http://bangkokcentrehotel.com/index.php

[greg71]

First came here as a backpacker in 1999 ,stayed at some random crappy guesthouse in 1 of the little snaking soi of Khao san for 80 baht per night .

[Jip99]

First visit, Montien Hotel in Pattaya.

Second visit, Queen Vic pub in soi6.

(I like the Baiyoke Sky)

[Tywais]

Does this count?

[wayned]

It was the late 1960s and I stayed in a small hotel by the beach which I suppose is now Pattaya. I landed in Utapao in a DC3, flying in from Da Nang Vietnam sitting on my helmet.

[gerry123]

Does this count?

sorry does what count ??

[David48]

I stayed in the YMCA on Sathorn Road. It was quite rural in those days, with a klong and large trees down the middle of the road. Being poor, we went everywhere in Bangkok by samlor.

That was in 1957!

WOW ... I wasn't even a twinkle in my Dad's eye in '57 !

Respect ...

.

[Tywais]

Does this count?

sorry does what count ??

Military barracks 1969 Utapao. Literally the first place I stayed when I first came to Thailand. Thought it would be obvious.

[David48]

@ JT ... I don't know when you first came here ... but that place looked OK.

@ greg71 ... Do you know, to this day, I've never been to Khao San Rd.

@ Jip99 ... Pattaya first up ... ... I probably didn't visit the place till I was maybe on my 4th or 5th visit.

I still like the place, fun for an occasional visit.

@ Tywais ... humm ... I have no idea where that is. Certainly Institutional. Maybe Military? No Idea.

@ wayned ... nice story ... and, late 60's ... I was born by then!

[ThePlant]

Manorha hotel on Surawong as my proposed travel buddy had stayed there previously due to it's proximity to Patpong, he pulled out of the trip though because he got involved with a lass in Manchester (let me know how that one panned out Shep you tosspot)...but I kept the booking on.

Was only 10 quid a night from Lunn Poly which was reasonable as it wasn't quite so knackered in 1988 as it is now.

Next stop was the (now sadly gone) Golden Palace on Suk Soi 1 which became a favourite over the years.

After that Peachy Guesthouse on Pra Arthit for a couple of nights - mainly to try and cop for some backpacker crumpet on KSrd before swinging southwards - which was quite an nice place back then though I don't think they cleaned it since....

Edited December 19, 2014 by ThePlant

[Crazy chef 1]

1994 in the middle of Patong...wish i had the money i spent there at the moment...

[David48]

If any of you guys have some photos from when you first stayed here, of the accommodation, that would be great also.

Hotels, back in their hay-day, before they became run down or tired.

[ThePlant]

If any of you guys have some photos from when you first stayed here, of the accommodation, that would be great also.

Hotels, back in their hay-day, before they became run down or tired.

I've got a few but probably not fit for publication here David...

[gerry123]

Does this count?

sorry does what count ??

Military barracks 1969 Utapao. Literally the first place I stayed when I first came to Thailand. Thought it would be obvious.

oh ok now i see thought you meant you got yourself leggless and decided to stay up a power pole

[David48]

Manorha hotel on Surawong as my proposed travel buddy had stayed there previously due to it's proximity to Patpong, he pulled out of the trip though because he got involved with a lass in Manchester (let me know how that one panned out Shep you tosspot)...but I kept the booking on.

Was only 10 quid a night from Lunn Poly which was reasonable as it wasn't quite so knackered in 1988 as it is now.

Next stop was the (now sadly gone) Golden Palace on Suk Soi 1 which became a favourite over the years.

After that Peachy Guesthouse on Pra Arthit for a couple of nights - mainly to try and cop for some backpacker crumpet on KSrd before swinging southwards - which was quite an nice place back then though I don't think they cleaned it since....

The Golden Palace on Suk Soi 1 ... where was that?

What attracted you to it?

I've stayed on Suk Soi 1 @ the FuramaXclusive ... just a standard Hotel Chain.

So, where was the Golden Palace?

Any old photos?

EDIT ... ThePlant ... just read the post above ...

Edited December 19, 2014 by David48

[Farma]

First visit to Thailand 1984 Hadyai hotel.

First stay in Phuket 1985 Thara Patong Resort

First stay in Bangkok 1985 Honey Hotel.

[bonobo]

In the jungle with the Thai military.

My first hotel was the Porn Hotel in Pattaya. I stayed there because the name struck me as funny.

[Briggsy]

Khao San, watching the ceiling fan whirr round and round, trying to figure out how locks that you push in on the door handle work. I had never seen one before.

[David48]

In the jungle with the Thai military.

My first hotel was the Porn Hotel in Pattaya. I stayed there because the name struck me as funny.

I was looking at some music on Goggle and had it set to 'Video'.

Then I read your post and thought ... humm ... interesting to look if that place was still around.

Note to self .. don't search 'Porn Hotel Pataya' in the 'Video Settings' on Google ...

Was it, or is it now, the 'Porn Guest house' ? 219/78-80 Mu.10 Soi Yamato Pattaya

http://www.trivago.com.au/pattaya-429/hotel/porn-guesthouse-2166850 ?

Edited December 19, 2014 by David48

[sustento]

1993 Asia Hotel on Phayathai.

[bonobo]

In the jungle with the Thai military.

My first hotel was the Porn Hotel in Pattaya. I stayed there because the name struck me as funny.

I was looking at some music on Goggle and had it set to 'Video'.

Then I read your post and thought ... humm ... interesting to look if that place was still around.

Note to self .. don't search 'Porn Hotel Pataya' in the 'Video Settings' on Google ...

Was it, or is it now, the 'Porn Guest house' ? 219/78-80 Mu.10 Soi Yamato Pattaya

http://www.trivago.com.au/pattaya-429/hotel/porn-guesthouse-2166850 ?

Ha! Guess that would be a revealing search.

And no, that is not the place. The place in the link is several stars higher than the place I stayed.

[nottocus]

Hello 2 guesthouse…Kao Sanh

[CMHomeboy78]

Arrived in October 1978.

1st. Reno Hotel, near Siam Square. 250 baht. Stayed one night.

2nd. Asoke Motel, Soi Asoke. 200 baht Stayed about two weeks.

3rd. A small, but very nice rented house on Klong Tan, off Pattanakarn, Suan Luang. 600 baht per month. In those days the countryside started just a little ways down Suan Luang. The occasional tour boat would pass on Klong Ton and every head would turn to look at me lounging on my porch in my pa-ko-mah with my arm around my new Thai girlfriend. Whenever I'd see a tourist boat coming I'd rush to get my bamboo bong so as to complete the picture and not disappoint the tour groups.

Wonderful memories.

[Tywais]

Does this count?

sorry does what count ??

Military barracks 1969 Utapao. Literally the first place I stayed when I first came to Thailand. Thought it would be obvious.

oh ok now i see thought you meant you got yourself leggless and decided to stay up a power pole

That came on day 2.

[ThePlant]

The Golden Palace on Suk Soi 1 ... where was that?

What attracted you to it?

I've stayed on Suk Soi 1 @ the FuramaXclusive ... just a standard Hotel Chain.

So, where was the Golden Palace?

Any old photos?

I actually have reams of photos which need digitizing. I'm hoping my mother brings them on Monday when she arrives for Christmas.

It was on the left about halfway up the soi just before you reach Bamrungrad Hosp. Opposite the City Lodge.

I was lucky enough to meet three ''Old Thailand Hands'' at the Manorha hotel who took me under their wing, one of whom was very fond of the ladies and used to kick at the 'guest fee' the Manorha charged so he told me about it being a great deal and took me there to see it.

It was a real atmospheric 'time capsule' from the old R'n R days, the old juke still had records (Mostly Thai hits of the time) from the 1960s in it; ''the coffee shop'' was a well known pick up joint back in the war years (as were many in similar hotels in that era)

it was only 450B a night (back then) for AC, NIce large, though threadbare,ageworn, room, Hot Water (sometimes), fridge, plus a reasonable restaurant/coffee shop and a cracking pool.

Seemed to make a lot more sense paying a couple of hundred baht more, compared to paying 200B - 250B for a reeking, airless, windowless box in a place around Khao San with zero facilities.

It remained a great deal staying around the 500B mark, for a room for a long time until they began to hike the prices regularly which made many other 1000 1500B a night places in Lower Suk a better bet) around the turn of the millenium, and now it's gone....

[David48]

I'm amazed just how good some of those memories are.

I remember the first place I stayed ... but buggered to remember the 2nd or 3rd or 10th place.

... and I'm only going back a decade!

[Hedghog]

For me it was The Amari,Sukhumvit soi 5.

A very nice place then.2006 although I am led to believe,not so good now.

Now when in Bkk I stay at the Landmark,Sukhumvit.

The latter very reasonably priced,good service and I don't feel the need to look for better.