February versus January

[jimmybcool 0]

Well, I'm  officially annoyed now.  First, my hotel dficks me around and won't respond.   Then EVA has all its flights in Deluxe class booked until the end of January anyway.

 

Fug it.

 

OK, opinions on February regarding hotel status?  Should high season be ending then and hotels more rational or do I need to wait longer.

[Crackpot 2]

February is Chinese New year and is busy too

 

Gung hey fat choi !

[stevemcm 1]

Chinese New Year is the 22nd January 2004 the crowds will have gone by February which is one of my favorite months to be in town.

 

stevoh.

[Crackpot 2]

Chinese New Year is the 22nd January 2004 the crowds will have gone by February which is one of my favorite months to be in town.

 

stevoh.

I know but it has always had a 'carry over' effect, which drags into February which is why most airfares from the UK are still high season unti mid or late February

[jimmybcool 0]

OK, February it is.  Or maybe I'll contact my old hotel and live with the noise and........ nope.  February.

 

I can take it.  I can wait.   [smiley=uh-uh.gif]

[partyanimal 0]

My guess is that January is busy because many of us, espcially Americans have limited vacation time. So having Christmas and New Years plus maybe the Friday after both days off makes it a good time to go.

 

I don't see why Chinese New Years would affect flights from the UK to Bangkok.

[jimmybcool 0]

animal,

 

Don't know about UK to BKK flighhts.  I'll be flying through LAX  ;D

 

I'm sure I could get a flight to BKK when I want it.  But, I would have to either accept coach class (not  a snowballs chance in hell), pay for business class (ummm, nope) or not go.  I got spoiled on EVA Deluxe price and quality.

 

I am willing to upgrade my pay for the new SING/LAX direct flights.  Might  even hang around Sing a day or two.  Mmmm, prolly not.    

 

I could also probably get the hotel I want if I just go there.  But, I'm tired of the runaround.  Obviously I need a new hotel if after staying for over 8 months of the last 16 they still don't offer me some kind of deal.  They finally replied with OK, 23,000 and 7% when I've been paying 21,000 total.  Oh, and get this, the p rice they quote is for 4 weeks NOT a month so the total goes up when the extra few days are factored in.  Total Thai gouging bullshit.

 

Naw,  I can wait til February and take my pick of a new hotel and see if THEY show some respect.  I'm alsoi tired of being so far north anyway so time to chanmge.

[Emil 0]

I know but it has always had a 'carry over' effect, which drags into February which is why most airfares from the UK are still high season unti mid or late February

 

The Chinese New Year is similar to Easter in that it varies from year to year.  Earliest is around 19th January and latest around 15th Feb.  I wouldn't worry too much about hotel availability if your flexible, many hotels and apartments have been built in the last year along with expansions to existing properties with more still scheduled to open in the next few months.  If your willing to venture off from the main drag there are plenty of good deals.

 

Emil

[Crackpot 2]

My guess is that January is busy because many of us, espcially Americans have limited vacation time. So having Christmas and New Years plus maybe the Friday after both days off makes it a good time to go.

 

I don't see why Chinese New Years would affect flights from the UK to Bangkok.

 

It predominantly because January/February is a time when many UK people take Holidays, after the usual hell of Christmas. Many use the actualy Christmas period to get away from Christmas itself, which is why the first two week after Christmas is, and always has been, busy.

The last week in January and first two weeks in February has always been classed as High season because of the mass movements of Chinese in the SE Asia reagion over the period.

[Crackpot 2]

Naw,  I can wait til February and take my pick of a new hotel and see if THEY show some respect.  I'm alsoi tired of being so far north anyway so time to chanmge.

The problem is that very few Thai Hoteliers (of large-ish Hotels) will show any loyalty. Its not far different from the overall attitudes of the majority of Thais themselves. They are usually incapable of thinking beyond the next weekend and with most of their staff its even worse.

 

As someone who was once responsible for allocating Hotels for over 10,000 pax per annum, I have had many Hotel managers show little, if any loyalty to me.

When I suddenly pulled our clients out from a well respected Hotel in Bangkok at the end of the contract I was chased around BKK by the manager who eventually cornered me in the Ambassador Hotel (just by the piano drinking a Beer) Who then proceeded to beg me to rethink the contracts and wanted to know why I had pulled out from his Hotel.

When I told him that on 3 occassions (in low season) My company had requested a 'Comp room for me, and had been turned down by him personally, and on the final occassion 7 days earlier when I had asked him (on the instructions of my company) personally for a room and he had again turned me down. He was totally aghast and replied that everyone had to pay.

I simply replied that I had paid and now it was his turn. Unfortunately, He lost his job 4 weeks later after 2 other companies pulled out from the Hotel I heard.

Many Thais have no sense of loyalty, especially where money is concerned.

[Greg_B 306]

Jimmy...There is an "after effect" from Chinese New Year...Doing this from memory of my last trip, it seemed things started to "slow-down" just before Valentines Day.  Yes, there are some good parties on Valentines Day and I think it is a Saturday this year {2-14-2004}..?

 

Good points in your post Crackpot....Some people can't look into the future and see what they could possibly have...It's all about NOW....

[partyanimal 0]

Jimmy-Don't know what Delux class is; I'm flying on United in Economy Plus which I technically don't qualify for but I talked them into it. I'm tall so also got to pick seats near the bulkhead with some extra legroom.  

 

I refuse to pay more than the lowest fare or use frequent flyer miles for upgrades though.  For the price of business class the stewardesses should be giving head!

 

My hotel dicked me around too.  I had booked my favorite room, much better but not really more expensive than other rooms, months in advance with a manager who left and owner tells me the room is now booked to someone else.  Last trip I tipped the staff 1500 for a week so I'm good customer. So I'm trying a different hotel too.  pattya does not have a shortage of rooms or bargirls!  

[moby69 6]

Hi Jimmybcool,

 

I used to go in January but have found that Febuary is a much better deal, the cost is the same but the whole resort starts to chillout after the Christmas/New Year Chinese New Year.

 

Also there are less people on the Golf course :-)

 

I've got a booking at the Holiday Mansion for 10,000 bt for 4 weeks plus Elec/water.

 

I'm there from 2nd untill 27th Feb if you fancy a beer :-)

 

Be Nice

 

Moby69  

[Bigmike 0]

Hey jimmybcool.

I posted before that I had made inquries at the Sandy Spring Hotel for January and Febuary regarding accomodation for approx 3 weeks in either Month and they emailed me back saying that they had rooms available 990bhat for both those dates.

Best of luck,

Bigmike.

[jimmybcool 0]

Bigmike

 

Hell, I would rather stay at Sandy  Springs location wise.  Not sure if the room meets my  needs.  I prefer to have a small kitchenette.  Just enough to make my morning protein shake (fridge, blender which I own, and sink to rinse in) and some room for all the shit I have.  

 

I am certainly conmsidering alternatives to Pinewood now that they have made it clear loyalty is a one way street.

 

I actually have a list of 20 hotels to consider now.  Problem is, I got to see them.   Or maybe I'll list my priorities here and see how folks respond.  thats it, I'll do it.