bigten

it was strange, i confess, but after the initial irritation, really no big deal at all. the staff has since been friendly and none of my joiners have been tossed. yet.

you and me both, midlifecrisis. the fact is, i just checked into the metropole today staying for a month. had it all arranged yesterday. they offered me a month in a studio for 33,000 baht. i asked them if i'd be better off with "the FLB rate" and the desk clerk checked her notes and said, no, it's the same rate. so i said okay and booked it to move in the next day. so i came back today to check in and this time there was a guy behind the desk i'd never seen before (i've stayed metrople on several occasions). turned out this guy was Tony himself as i discovered when he began to demand things i had not agreed to... to start with my room was not ready. wouldn't be ready until 7pm. when i asked why i wasn't told this yesterday when i made arrangements to switch hotels i got a blaise shrug. then he told me he would charge my credit card for the entire amount, in advance, in addition to the 5,000thb security deposit he'd already charged. when i said i did not want to do that he said it was 'always the policy' of his hotel. i said, very politely, pardon me, but i have stayed here before and that has not been the policy and i would like to speak to the manager. that's when i got his title. and name. Tony. the manager. he smugly said "i will check your history with us and see that you paid in advance." Two minutes later he frowned and had to agree that in the past, i had not paid in advance. but then he added -- i did not pay in advance because i had stayed under the FLB rate, but since i'm not staying under the FLB rate this time, i would have to pay in advance. Now that took a minute to grasp. He had a record of the fact that I'd stayed under the FLB rate in the past -- leaving little doubt of my FLB membership status. and he agreed that the amount i was paying for this stay was exactly the FLB rate -- and yet, somehow, my rate was not the FLB rate. Room not ready. Technicality on the "FLB rate". and a big frown coming from the manager before i even checked in...so i expressed concern that if he was displeased with me he should tell me and i will stay elsewhere but i will not agree to policies kept secret until this moment. After muttering a few things to the other people behind the desk, drawing from them looks making it clear tony doubted the purity of my parentage...he said no problem and said he would not charge my credit card until the end of the month. He told me in the future I must have Martin send an email to approve my status. I simply could not get him to understand my perspective: on this thread it specifically says don't bother Martin, and since i'd been given *the exact same rate* as the "FLB rate" i figured, why the hell bother anybody? Now i know. And now you know. Or maybe not. I'm still waiting to see if the staff's friendliness will return. Fortunately I've visited LOS often enough that i'd learned to disagree quietly and with a smile. Nonetheless, it was clear that Tony was not pleased with my not meeting his demands. Damn this is a long post. Sorry. Bottom line, still not sure how i would tell tony in advance that i'm an authentic FLB-er, but what the hell. Maybe i won't be staying at any LK properties again. I'll let you know how tony treats me -- and my 30 joiners -- at the end of the month.

thanks Martin, i think it's working now -- i just have to send them my credit card# w/secret code, social security card, original passport and first-born child as a deposit. okay, i'm exaggerating. a little bit. they don't care about my ss card. but the areca's full and bill's trip report (thnx bill) is still a week away, and i want to be sure i have a bed for the night when i arrive, so i'll give it a go at the metro.

I'm returning to pattaya (4th trip) in a couple weeks and had planned (hoped?) to take advantage of the FLB discount corporate rate (the same as a discount offered to members of the pattaya sports club i believe, but that's another story ..anyway...). I exchanged several emails with the desk which led ultimately to the following response: "In case you would like to reserved by FLB rate kindly let me know name of Manager FLB please, because rate not same studio room FLB rate THB 2,100net with one breakfast no have weekly rate and now we studio room available only one room at 2nd floor Regards, Mrs. Jad" i confess in all my ignorance i'm not sure what she meant by "Manager FLB" since i learned of the discount on this forum, not at the bar, but.. maybe she does mean the actual bar manager at the bar which makes sense to me, but considering TIT and all, and the fact i don't know the name of the actual bar manager i followed some advice posted here by MM and gave them my user name and mentioned the pages and the rate etc...but have yet to hear any more from the hotel. Did i screw something up? Can anyone here provide me with a helpful name or direction to pursue? If so, it would be most appreciated. Otherwise i guess i'll risk that the renaissance has completed construction and doesn't smell like paint thinner -- or the areca will have an opening...or it's back to soi 13 for this old boy. Many thanks in advance for any help.