Cheap Charley guide to booking

[BigDUSA 71]

The following works way better in low season and if your a long stay guest anything over two weeks is considered long stay. I do this two weeks before I leave.

 

I email the manager and I find out his email address as he's the one who can discount rooms without asking anyone else plus he knows the occupancy rate during this time period. I go to their website and get the cheapest price and then I cut it by 50% when I send my email. I let them know I'm a member of their frequent guest program. I also tell him that I'm sending emails to the other 4 or 5 star properties in town and the first hotel that gets back to me at the price I want gets my business. I also tell him I'm traveling for pleasure not business as I'm paying for the room not my company.

 

I have always found at least one or two hotels will come close to what I want to pay. Last June, I could have stayed at the Conrad in BKK for $55USD per night. I payed $58 at the old Westin.

[OnMyWay 0]

I also tell him that I'm sending emails to the other 4 or 5 star properties in town...

 

Ummmmm, is the Sky Top a 4 OR a 5 star property??

 

Cheers,

Mark

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Where is/was the old Westin? What is it called now?

[Jimmybb 0]

Tom, The Westin is still the Westin, located over Robinson's Department store. Last trip I got a rate of about $65 there using Priceline. This time I tried and could not get the room for this price. Jimmy

[CheshireTom 1,377]

jimmybb,

 

Thanks for that. I have had the same outcomes on Priceline lately - hoping for either the Westin or Sheraton and always ending up with the Marriot. Nice hotel (great views of the Nana pool and car park!), but just falls short of what the Westin and Sheraton are all about. I think that for future trips, if the JWM was still popping up on Priceleine, that I would opt for one of the better rooms at the Landmark (suite) for the same Baht as a standard at JWM through Priceline.

 

Tom

[david_33 0]

Landmark is now quite expensive. Doubt that you would get a suite for what the Marriott costs on priceline (now about $85 without taxes).

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Landmark is now quite expensive.  Doubt that you would get a suite for what the Marriott costs on priceline (now about $85 without taxes).

David,

 

A suite at the Landmark (incl taxes) can be had for GBP 48 per night (USD 91) through Premier Holidays Asia in UK. Book online and take advantage of the Value Plus specials. My stay at the JWM during the first week in March cost GBP 40 plus taxes (USD 75); incl taxes it was GBP 49.95 (USD 94).

 

Premier Asia - The Landmark

 

I wish BigD would give us the e-mail addy for the GM at the Conrad though - USD 55 sounds a bargain. I think that if you offered Keith Hardie, the GM at the Westin, USD 58 for a room he'd give you a map to the Nana!

 

Tom

[Gus 97]

Tom et al

I got the Westin on priceline in November, however P/L usually comes up JWM. I have just taken out a Marriott rewards C/C inc Silver Elite Rewards so I will see in a couple of weeks if it gets me any favours at JWM.

 

The Westin used to be called The Grand Pacific.

 

For the Landmark I have found http://www.asiabesthotel.com

 

You can get an ordinary room for £45 inc tax and brekkie, I stayed with this set up in February and the Landmark tried to give me a room without a window WTF but I finished up with a room on the 23rd floor and a view over Nana to JWM.

 

Premier was coming up £50 pn for Landmark without brekkie.

Sometimes I wonder if the CSA sees that you have booked Priceline or cheap charley agency I think you may get allocated rooms near the elevator etc.

[david_33 0]

Since I didn't have this excellent info., I made a reservation for the new Majestic Grand which will be opening in March. I usually stay at the Landmark, but couldn't get anything cheaper than around $120 a night since it appears as if there are a bunch of group tours arriving mid-March and they're booked up. I even gave them a phone call....no dice. But the Majestic Grand might turn out to be a surprise....at least it will be new.