jimmac

I stayed at the Beach View a couple of years ago and took the suite at 1200 Baht or something like that. The suite was on the end facing out over Pattaya Bay. it was a fabulous view. The hotel location is great....close to Big C and the Soi 2 action and easy to get the Walking St by baht bus. The hotel is also very girl friendly and it has a great beauty shop for shaves, etc. But it is old and tired. the room was clean, the bed fine and the bathroom Ok but it was obviously old and tired and needed upgrading. I doubt they can do the upgrading in a month so I wonder what the October renov

Thanks for the update. I'm keeping my November reservation.

Roland, at what stage is this construction next to Ma Maison? It seems to be the noice of construction is much higher when foundation piles are being driven than when finishing work is being done. I'm, therefore, curious at what stage the constructiuon is currently and will be in a few months. I'm booked into the Sandy Spring in November and I really like the hotel and general location so if its a little noise at that stage, its OK but if its horrendous I may have to look at something else.

Which side of the country do you live in? If you're in the west you can go through Hong Kong or Narita in Tokyo. Air Canada have codeshares with Thai through both. Or, I think Eva fly into Vancouver and many guys on this board use them. They'd go through Tapei. If you're in the East you can use Air Canada or any of the big European carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, or Ar France and fly through a European city. Air Canada would connect you to Thai Air in London or Frankfurt on code shares. Go on expedia.ca and see what kind of prices you can get. You might also try expedia

It seems there are two construction projects on Soi 13. One beside Ma Maison and the condotel beside the Dynasty. The latter was underway last November and has no effect on the Sandy Spring though the update on here is interesting. It probably affects the Dynasty. Can anyone whose been by recently provide more info on the Ma Maison construction and how noisy it really is. It seems the noise is worst at the pile driving stage and after that its just engine noise from equipment. I'd love to hear from some-one who's walked down there recently.

I hope they are keeping the open air restaurant at Ma Maison. Its a good restaurant. If the construction looks like its almost over, I'll be back at Sandy Springs in November and have a few lazy lunches and dinners at Ma Maison.

What are they building next to Ma Maison? Does it look like it will be a long project? Is it likely to be over by November? or at least down to finishing work and not heavy construction?

Stayed in the Conrad 4 or 5 times now and it is truly 5 star. The rooms are luxurious and the bathrooms with the curtains that open so its glass between bathroom and bedroom are neat. If you have Hilton status and can get upgraded or access to the executive lounge its even better. I'm going back in November and January. If anyone knows how to get the cheaper rate, please share the info.

Postkat, I would recommend you examine Tom's advice re the RTW ticket. Maybe you could entice your employer into participating, especially if you could add another, future North American trip to the ticket. Look at a Star Alliance RTW ticket. It is valid for up to a year. You can only stop over in a city once. You can only cross the Atlantic and Pacific once but there's no limit to what you can do within the Americas. So look for a trip you're likely to do in the next year and book it on the end of the RTW ticket. You can change dates and flight times later at no cost. An itiner

I guess I missed Big Mike's humour too. To answer the original question, the suites at the sandy Spring are great. Two rooms, two flat screen TVs, a big bathroom with separate shower and tub, a big balcony with furniture overlooking Pattaya bay. The air conditioner is fine but in December with the temperature and humidity reasonable I slept with the air off and balcony doors wide open. Very comfortable and minimal noise. Whether the extra cost is worth it is a personal judgement on the value of the extra space and a little more comfort and good location. I thought it was for a 5 ni

Sounds like the place is still good. I spent 5 nights in early December in an 8th floor suite and thought it was great. Anyhting high replacing the Haven, however, would completely screw up the view. I thought it was all very clean when I was there. I also arranged for 4 bath towels and had them fresh every day for my stay. The Haven has a little bar with couple of cuties outside....if took one of them for the night on my second last night. Then on the last night when I took home a girld from FLB I had to go up the Soi before to Second Road and then back down Soi 13 to the Sandy Spring s

I know the chemist who sells Cialis so well...how did I miss the internet place? Priorities, I guess! If you go in the other direction on Second Road there is an internet cafe that also has massage upstairs. So, one direction for massage, the other for Cialis and both for an internet cafe. What more could you want?

Thanks, guys. I have found references for these on the web by doing a search. I've even got a phone number for one. These are good suggestions in a good price range.

Does anyone have a cheap hotel in this area of BKK they can recommend? Should be close to Ploenchit. Its not for me. I've met a lady on the internet who will stay with me but she has a friend who will help her with English who needs her own room close by with whom we can hook up during the day. I'd appreciate suggestions and internet addresses if you have them. Thanks.

Pat809, You are correct, the eighth floor has suites with big bathrooms with separate tub and shower. I stayed in one in November. There must be very few rooms at Sandy Spring above the third floor which don't have sea views. There may be a few that face across Soi 13 but should still see the seas to the North. I don't think there are any facing East or inland. After all the discussion, I think I will still pay the 2500 Baht and ask for the eighth floor on my next visit. They are good suites with good bathrooms, geat big balconies, big beds and great views.

The closest one with reasonable speed is on the second floor of the Royal Garden Plaza. I used it when I stayed at Sandy Spring. Its a 5 minute walk away. The only problem is mall hours so it doesn't open until 11. There are several on Second Road but a couple I tried were slower. There's also a 24 hour one on Beach Road near the intersection with Central Road.

There is construction between the Dynasty Inn and the condo to the beach side adjacent to the Sandy Spring. I never heard it when I stayed in the Sandy Spring so it was no problem. I spoke to a guy staying in the Dynasty and he thought it was fine and never mentioned noise.

Steve, Good to know. Thanks.

Flash, Have you had success yet in getting the lower rate through Scandibar?

The difference is 5,000 Baht, enough for 5 LTs. Keep us posted. I'd like to save a ST a day on my next visit to Sandy Spring.

Flash, please let us know how it works out. I just clicked the Scandibar link and couldn't believe it. I could have saved 2500Baht on my 5 night stay earlier this month (actually not because Scandi says no suits in Dec and Jan) and I certainly will make future bookings this way to save money. I don't understand why the hotel would set themselves up like that. By the way, its a good place. Good quality and even better value for money if you can get a suite for less than 2,000 Baht a night.

It is on the first Soi 13, its next to the Haven, its across the Soi from Ma Maison, an excellent French restaurant, and its midway between Second Road and Beach Road. Its traffic is one way from Second Road so if you are arriving by taxi heading South on Beach Road you'll have to go past Soi 13, turn left on the next Soi, left onto Second Road, and left onto Soi 13. Hope that's as clear as mud. its a great location. You can walk from Sandy Springs to anywhere. Enjoy!

You can throw America West into the list with drunk pilots charged.

A Boeing 717 used to be called a DC-9 or MD-80 before Boeing bought out McDonnell Douglas so I suspect you have flown one.

I stayed at the Sandy Spring last month. I am about 5' 11" and weigh about 270 lbs and the king size bed was excellent, very comfortable for sleeping and withstood a fair amount of banging. It is a real king size, not two singles thrown together. I like lots of pillows so when I arrived I asked for two extras and it was no problem. Same with towels...I had 4 clean new bath towels every day. The bathroom I had was excellent. Sandy Spring is a new hotel so everything in it is new and in good shape. The location is great. I recommend it. I haven't stayed in the other place.