Where can i sunbathe in Bangkok?

[cheapskatesam]

My trip is coming soon and being the cheap skate thrifty farang that i am, i have booked a cheap hotel in the Ratchada area and it doesn't have a pool.

 

Is there any good places i can go and sunbathe? 

 

What about hotels with those fancy rooftop pools? I don't mind paying a user fee as long as it isn't ridiculous and i will also be a paying customer buying drinks etc

[The Dancer]

I don't think people would care if I guy laid back in a park in just a pair of shorts. Noonish most parks are pretty empty anyway.

[FritsSikkink]

In front of Big C

[impulse]

Bring a beach towel and you can find some pretty secluded spots in Lumpini Park, especially during the heat of the day.  Look worn out, sweat a lot and pretend you're just taking a break from jogging.  You'll look just like dozens of other semi-clad people.  They'll even let you bring your own water to drink and won't charge a corkage fee.  (Sadly, no beer allowed)

 

The beach towel is to keep from laying in the grass, which I'm convinced is laced with pesticides to keep the skeeters down.  But I am a wingnut conspiracy fan...

Edited January 4, 2017 by impulse

[buick]

i think the ambassador hotel on sukhumvit soi 11 offers day passes for their pool area.  a more expensive option would be the sofitel sukhumvit soi 15.  a bit far from ratchada, but maybe not if you make a full day of it.

[Thainess]

Just don't do it. It's really bad for your skin, will make you look older than you actually are, and will eventually kill you with skin cancer. Stay indoors at all times.

[easybullet3]

if you are in ratchada then you dont want to go far.

ignore posts about going to the park or sukhumvit.

I suggest just popping into to ANY decent hotel in your local area of ratchada and walk in like you own the place.

go to the elevators and go directly to the swimming pool level (it will be labelled on the lift buttons) and just put your bags on a sunbathing chair and go for it.

 

act like you stay there.

some pools may have special towels for the chairs, and you get the towels by showing a keycard or writing your room number or name on a sheet of paper.

you can either use no towel, or you can sneak a towel when the staff are not at their post (which would be often).

or you can put a fake name and room number.

if you go to reception, you can ask what room mr smith is staying in,.

odds are, there is someone called Mr smith staying at the hotel. Lol

then you have a name and room number to use to claim your towel !!!

 

also:

outsiders are more than welcome to use restaurants or bars at swimming pools.

they are not restricted to guests only.

its just really the towels that are the issue

 

once you are there a few hours,, it will be easy tthe next day as the staff will already recognise you.

[anotheruser]

6 hours ago, easybullet3 said:

if you are in ratchada then you dont want to go far.

ignore posts about going to the park or sukhumvit.

I suggest just popping into to ANY decent hotel in your local area of ratchada and walk in like you own the place.

go to the elevators and go directly to the swimming pool level (it will be labelled on the lift buttons) and just put your bags on a sunbathing chair and go for it.

 

act like you stay there.

some pools may have special towels for the chairs, and you get the towels by showing a keycard or writing your room number or name on a sheet of paper.

you can either use no towel, or you can sneak a towel when the staff are not at their post (which would be often).

or you can put a fake name and room number.

if you go to reception, you can ask what room mr smith is staying in,.

odds are, there is someone called Mr smith staying at the hotel. Lol

then you have a name and room number to use to claim your towel !!!

 

also:

outsiders are more than welcome to use restaurants or bars at swimming pools.

they are not restricted to guests only.

its just really the towels that are the issue

 

once you are there a few hours,, it will be easy tthe next day as the staff will already recognise you.

 

Might as well charge some food and drinks to Mr. Smith once you have his room number. 

[cheapskatesam]

Already been scouting some targets out on Agoda.. But i want to enjoy myself and relax.. not be nervous and worried about getting "found out".. I dont see the problem of swimming in their pool and lying on one of their sun loungers if im gonna be ordering their overpriced alcoholic beverages for a few hours.

 

I can just envision it now.

 

Me : ahhh lovely sunshine ..(relax)

 

Somchai: Sir what room number you stay

Me : errr i dont stay here

Somchai: sorry sir you must leave. this area only for guest.

Me : can i at least finish my 300baht black russian?

Somchai: no sir cannot

[smokie36]

7 hours ago, cheapskatesam said:

Already been scouting some targets out on Agoda.. But i want to enjoy myself and relax.. not be nervous and worried about getting "found out".. I dont see the problem of swimming in their pool and lying on one of their sun loungers if im gonna be ordering their overpriced alcoholic beverages for a few hours.

 

I can just envision it now.

 

Me : ahhh lovely sunshine ..(relax)

 

Somchai: Sir what room number you stay

Me : errr i dont stay here

Somchai: sorry sir you must leave. this area only for guest.

Me : can i at least finish my 300baht black russian?

Somchai: no sir cannot

 

 

No one is going to do that if you have a drink...soon as you are finished they may pounce though!

[roo860]

Just walk around all day wearing your "wife beater " vest, you can wow your friends with an amazing "Blackpool " tan.
Ps. Don't forget to wear a baseball cap back to front like a proper tw#t!!!
[emoji102]

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[buick]

4 hours ago, cheapskatesam said:

Already been scouting some targets out on Agoda.

 

good idea.  i went to the mandarin oriental two years ago and arrived by boat.  i was with a friend and we had a cocktail at the riverside bar.  we decided we would take a look at the pool, just to look, not sit or swim.  no way.  we were stopped immediately.  wouldn't even let us look !!!  i have a feeling some hotels will be fine with you using the facilities as long as you buy drinks or food.  maybe you try the lat phrao area if ratchada doesn't have much.   good luck, i used to do the pool day pass thing alot (and get access to fitness center).  but that was in vietnam.  i would pay $20-25/nt for a decent hotel and then $15-20 for day pass to the 5 star hotel in the area.

[HooHaa]

On 1/4/2017 at 8:13 PM, Thainess said:

Just don't do it. It's really bad for your skin, will make you look older than you actually are, and will eventually kill you with skin cancer. Stay indoors at all times.

 

there is always one flapdrol who cant just limit their answer to the question at hand

Edited January 6, 2017 by HooHaa

[HooHaa]

no pool at my house on 11 so used grand president soi 11.  tower 2

 join the gym for around 1100 per month and the pool is yours to come and go as you please. also gym, sauna, towels etc.

i travel quite a bit and used to just use the pool in tower 1 when i wouldn't be around for more than a few days and did not want to buy a months membership. nobody ever looked at me twice.

 

hot season i would be there daily.

 

[anotheruser]

5 hours ago, cheapskatesam said:

Already been scouting some targets out on Agoda.. But i want to enjoy myself and relax.. not be nervous and worried about getting "found out".. I dont see the problem of swimming in their pool and lying on one of their sun loungers if im gonna be ordering their overpriced alcoholic beverages for a few hours.

 

I can just envision it now.

 

Me : ahhh lovely sunshine ..(relax)

 

Somchai: Sir what room number you stay

Me : errr i dont stay here

Somchai: sorry sir you must leave. this area only for guest.

Me : can i at least finish my 300baht black russian?

Somchai: no sir cannot

 

In that case just say you will pay in cash. I went to the Marriott in Bali about a week ago and drank it their bar by the pool. Never asked if people not staying there were allowed to drink there and was never challenged. When the bill for the wine I was drinking was presented they asked what room I am in and I just said I will pay in cash.

 

Maybe it was border line of me to do that but I didn't get the feeling they cared if and this is a big if.... you are spending a decent amount of money. I never used the pool so didn't feel I was in the wrong. If you are going to use the pool and just have a drink or two you should really pay the entry fee.

 

There is a place in Bangkok with a steam room, dry sauna, outdoor pool with loungers, relaxation areas, full gym, full serve bar and restaurant with friendly staff for around 180 Baht for a day pass. It is called Babylon Sauna and near the Danish embassy if you are interested.

[impulse]

On 1/5/2017 at 5:29 PM, easybullet3 said:

if you are in ratchada then you dont want to go far.

ignore posts about going to the park or sukhumvit.

I suggest just popping into to ANY decent hotel in your local area of ratchada and walk in like you own the place.

go to the elevators and go directly to the swimming pool level (it will be labelled on the lift buttons) and just put your bags on a sunbathing chair and go for it.

 

Every decent hotel I've stayed at in BKK required my room card to operate the elevator.

 

Some of the other good ones have floors I could access without the card to get to the restaurants and bars, but wouldn't let me get out on other floors without the card.

 

Edit:  And that doesn't even begin to discuss the ethics and legality of theft of services, which is still THEFT.

Edited January 6, 2017 by impulse

[lamyai3]

On 1/6/2017 at 0:07 AM, anotheruser said:

 

Might as well charge some food and drinks to Mr. Smith once you have his room number. 

 

Indeed, find out when he's out and go and have an afternoon nap if it's too hot outside - the maids will let you in. Mr Smith is a gracious host, so if you're thirsty, there's beers in the minibar. 

[anotheruser]

I am not advocating stalking the guy, just ripping him off should be enough.

[easybullet3]

8 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Every decent hotel I've stayed at in BKK required my room card to operate the elevator.

 

Some of the other good ones have floors I could access without the card to get to the restaurants and bars, but wouldn't let me get out on other floors without the card.

 

Edit:  And that doesn't even begin to discuss the ethics and legality of theft of services, which is still THEFT.

there is not a single hotel that requires a room key card to go to the swimming pool level.

(go try it).

key cards in elevators are specifically either for special floors or guest rooms.

 

almost every pool has a bar (at the very least) and often a restaurant.

 

it is COMPLETELY NORMAL that any hotel has guests from OUTSIDE dining at the restaurants within the hotel.

 

if you go to ANY hotel in the world, and you ask Front Desk... how many restaurants and bars do you have here.

and they will tell you the answer.

and then you say you do not stay here but you would like to eat/drink at their restaurant or bar, they will not think twice about this.

its a perfectly normal request.

 

i regularly go to eat at the Holiday Inn (in Asoke) for their Lunch Buffet... and sometimes I just sit around the Pool.
admittedly, the pool is not very nice there .. (my condo pool is much nicer).

but the point is that its pretty standard for hotels to have eating faciilites around the pool.

 

if someone FITS IN, then its hardly an issue.

if a person turns up bothering guests and dirty clothes or smells or looks unclean, then of course this would be offensive to anyone that has paid to stay there.

 

 

[cheapskatesam]

1 hour ago, easybullet3 said:

there is not a single hotel that requires a room key card to go to the swimming pool level.

(go try it).

key cards in elevators are specifically either for special floors or guest rooms.

 

almost every pool has a bar (at the very least) and often a restaurant.

 

it is COMPLETELY NORMAL that any hotel has guests from OUTSIDE dining at the restaurants within the hotel.

 

if you go to ANY hotel in the world, and you ask Front Desk... how many restaurants and bars do you have here.

and they will tell you the answer.

and then you say you do not stay here but you would like to eat/drink at their restaurant or bar, they will not think twice about this.

its a perfectly normal request.

 

i regularly go to eat at the Holiday Inn (in Asoke) for their Lunch Buffet... and sometimes I just sit around the Pool.
admittedly, the pool is not very nice there .. (my condo pool is much nicer).

but the point is that its pretty standard for hotels to have eating faciilites around the pool.

 

if someone FITS IN, then its hardly an issue.

if a person turns up bothering guests and dirty clothes or smells or looks unclean, then of course this would be offensive to anyone that has paid to stay there.

 

 

 

Well i guess this it the post i was looking for. If nobody has any better suggestions then i'll be going to Holiday inn for lunch on the days i wanna lie in the sun 

[smokie36]

Get a Dr's certificate of fitness and take it to the pool in the park by Emporium....get your membership card and you'll have solved your swimming and sunbathing issues in a stroke.

 

The pool is almost always empty.

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

5 hours ago, cheapskatesam said:

 

Well i guess this it the post i was looking for. If nobody has any better suggestions then i'll be going to Holiday inn for lunch on the days i wanna lie in the sun 

you forgot the most important part "if someone FITS IN, then its hardly an issue. "

[lopburi3]

Sun?  What sun?  The current AQI in Bangkok is worse than much of China.

Bangkok AQI: Bangkok Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI).

186	Unhealthy Updated on Sunday 9:00   Temp.: 32°C

 

http://aqicn.org/city/bangkok/

[doctormann]

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Sun?  What sun?  The current AQI in Bangkok is worse than much of China.

Bangkok AQI: Bangkok Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI).

186	Unhealthy Updated on Sunday 9:00   Temp.: 32°C

 

http://aqicn.org/city/bangkok/

 

You wouldn't want to be in Shijiazhuang though - AQI there is 413 today?

 

 

 

 

 

[lopburi3]

Yes normally China is extremely high - but has been over 200 this morning here in Bangkok for no apparent reason (nobody burning coal to keep warm that I know about).  It has dropped a little bit after a light rain but still unhealthy.