Soi 1 & Soi 2, Any Construction work & Payment?

[python 27]

Gents,

 

Curious to know if there are any on going long term construction sites or any construction imminent on Soi 2 but especially on Soi 1?

Is the big development between Soi 2 & 3 now complete?

 

Also. anyone who checked in or out recently. Did you pay in full when they swiped your card on check in?

 

I normally stay on 4th or 5th floor of Sabai Wing so the height etc helps with noise.

 

I stayed here many time but I am concerned as I expect to be compelled to pay in full on arrival then the thought of being subjected to excessive noise, wishing to leave and drama with refund etc.

 

Any other serious issues would be a first for me here but I am pissed off, on principal, regards the thought of paying in full on arrival.

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Guys,

[ichy2 429]

Don't give them your credit card and pay for only one night in cash. Then, if you have trouble as you state, spend the following morning finding some place more suitable.

[Grandpollo 366]

The original post would be clearer were the hotel in question mentioned.

 

Generally nobody sane pays in advance unless there is a huge discount. BKK hotels offer great deals pay in advance, through Asiatravel etc., if you are sure you can go (e.g. the day before is when you reserve or the same day) you can save 30-40%.

 

I have a prepaid room next week in BKK for THB2,700/night that would be THB3,800 postpaid. For 9 days that's a good dinner.

 

Walking down Soi 2 from Sabai Dee to Beach Rd. there is a large hotel under construction.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The original post would be clearer were the hotel in question mentioned.

 

I assumed he was talking about The Sabai Wing. Personally, I'd book a night or two and see what issues there were (if any) and decide from there.

 

I normally stay on 4th or 5th floor of Sabai Wing so the height etc helps with noise.

Edited March 14, 2013 by CheshireTom

[teelack 9,640]

Having just had a month in Soi 2 I will give this one a go. There is a large new place going up on the corner of Second Road and Soi 2. It sometime works 24 hours a day but there is little noise at night. They are well on with the construction and there have been some large concrete pours in the last month.

 

As for noise, well I had no complaints but the area of the Sabai where the Ruen Thai pool is (the renovated pool nearest to Second Road was too noisy for me but apll the other pools are free of noise. I have to admit stayin at the Sabai Inn on the side next to the the Soi 2 Inn and neaver heard a thing so no complaints for me. In summary, there will be noise in some of the rooms but I cant tell you what ones these are.

 

I had a walk up Soi 1 but ut seems reasonably peaceful to me.

 

I will post some photos of the construction in the next day or two.

[python 27]

Gents, Thanks for the info.

 

I think it may be easiest to pay cash on arrival for the first 2 nights then take it from there.

 

teelak,

 

I am staying in Sabai Wing and would use the Ruen Thai pool also, or Garden pool I think they now call it, so I hope the noise stops or at least is not to loud. The construction thats is ongoing on Soi 2, I take its on the area that was covered by the now demolished beer bars, between Classroom beer bar and the big Thai pub with the car park to the front? is the work nearly finished as it must have been a year since they started?

 

I look forward to your photos.

 

Regards,

[teelack 9,640]

Gents, Thanks for the info.

 

I think it may be easiest to pay cash on arrival for the first 2 nights then take it from there.

 

teelak,

 

I am staying in Sabai Wing and would use the Ruen Thai pool also, or Garden pool I think they now call it, so I hope the noise stops or at least is not to loud. The construction thats is ongoing on Soi 2, I take its on the area that was covered by the now demolished beer bars, between Classroom beer bar and the big Thai pub with the car park to the front? is the work nearly finished as it must have been a year since they started?

 

I look forward to your photos.

 

Regards,

 

Remember that at the Sabai you have access to I think 5 pools in total. I did try the Ruen Thai one day but went back to the main pool. There was always seats and shade and minimal noise so no issues. Yes, this is the space that is being built on and I think that old clunker of a pub must be a very valuable site mnow. As far as I am aware its only used as a social club for Sabai staff.

 

One high season change. In the low season there was always a baht bus that would stop for you in the soi but in 4 weeks only one ever stopped. They are all looking for the Russian/Asian taxi business. No issue to me but a small sign of the times.

[teelack 9,640]

Here is the new hotel fronting Second Road and Soi 2. Wonderfully enough the Clasroom gogo is still going but for how long is anyones guess.

 

The photo is taken from the Khun Pub (or whatever) with my back to the Sabai Inn

 

 

[python 27]

teelak,

 

Thanks for the photo.

 

I can see that it is not near completion so I wonder how many more storeys it has to go and will it, if it does not already, block the sun to the Sabai Lodges Ruen Thai pool area?

 

Also, am I correct in thinking that Classroom Beer Bar and I think Toy Bar ( the bar that always had the very loud rock band, on the corner of Soi 2 & 2nd Rd) Noi Bar and the other bars on 2nd Road, between Soi 2 & Soi 3 have all now gone if this new hotel is fronting on 2nd Road?

 

Regards,

[teelack 9,640]

Here is the update.

 

Sorry I do not have a completion date bit I think that all the main concrete pours have to be over and this is the noisy operation.

 

As far as I can tell the building does not shade the Ruen Thai pool but during the day there is a fair bit of noise.

 

The bars on second road between 2 and 3 were indeed closed and gutted and then re-built. There are three of them and two have live bands so its a busy little area. They reopened late last year.

 

On the subject of bars. There really are loads in the area. There is a newish complex back down second road towars Soi 6 as well as the complex where the Atlantic bar is although a number of people have jumped ship and use Drinking Street. Also dont forget the complex in Soi 3 made famous by Jamies trip report!

[DrPat 423]

I’m just about to book accommodation for my upcoming pilgrimage.

 

I have stayed at Sabai Wing for my last four or five trips, but only on the last occasion (October 2012) was I asked to pay up-front. Technically, I wasn’t asked. I gave my credit card for the traditional ‘swipe’ and it was returned with a cheery “that’s your stay all paid for”.

 

See: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/56578-sabai-lodge-soi-2/page-2 #48 for the whole sad story.

 

Fortunately, despite the construction work on Soi 2, I didn’t have too much of a problem with noise. Only occasional banging (hem, hem).

 

I will probably stick with Sabai Wing (but will not be paying up-front in full) unless any Boardies advise of noise problems.

 

Also, can anyone advise of similar hotels? I usually try and inspect one or two possible venues on each trip, but have yet to find anywhere better (for me) at this sort of price.

[DrPat 423]

The first couple of times I stayed at Sabai Wing, no problem, last time I paid up-front without realising (see #11 above) and now it gets worse!

 

The reply to my "it’s me again - do you have a room?" email tells me I need to send credit card details so they can take pay for the first two nights.

 

I have politely replied that I have never been asked for this before but will be happy to pay this deposit on arrival next month.

 

Don’t miss the next exciting episode!

[DrPat 423]

It looks like a happy ending (so to speak).

 

SW have emailed to say that they don’t require a deposit, only my ETA.

 

PS Hello? Is there anybody there? Or am I just talking to myself on this thread? How many fingers am I holding up?

[MM 6,562]

It looks like a happy ending (so to speak).

 

SW have emailed to say that they don’t require a deposit, only my ETA.

 

PS Hello? Is there anybody there? Or am I just talking to myself on this thread? How many fingers am I holding up?

 

Sorry, I don't stay in hotels in Pattaya anymore, so can't add anything other than to say..."Good luck".

[gregUK 44]

PS Hello? Is there anybody there? Or am I just talking to myself on this thread? How many fingers am I holding up?

 

I Fly-in tomorrow, always stay at Sabai Lodge / Wing / Empress. Never had to pay up front, always looked after us.

Glad you have cleared things up in your posts - Thanks!

Looks like building work is not a big problem, 2 years ago it was the New Wing, last year it was the Tune Hotel.

Miss those bars on Soi 2, [met my wife there 13 years ago] - But not the thud thud late into the night!

Looking like I shall miss the Baht Buses not going down Soi 2, pity as they were very conveinient.

[keyman 1,413]

There's a lot of construction being carried out at the start of Beach Road for a few hundred yards. They appear to be widening the road. I doubt it would bother anyone down that end of the town at night, but daytime it causes traffic problems and probably a lot of dust, along with construction traffic trundling around and may or may not use Sois 1, 2 or 3?

 

KM

[python 27]

Thanks to you all for the info. I will be there at the start of May so as that time approachs this becomes more relevant.

 

DrPat, I have never been asked to pay anything up front. At time of booking in Jan just past, their website showed the room at 1200Tbt. When I emailed to book I was told 1250Tbt? Had to pay in full upfront, at time of booking to get 1200Tbt internet price! I declined.

 

About 3 - 5 years ago, numerous times, I was able to book 3 or 4 rooms, for me and mates and I was never once asked to even pay a deposit. Who knows what happened, maybe too many guests didn't show or maybe they have new manager? I don't know, but the attitude has certainly changed at the Sabai Wing and Lodge.

 

Anyone else there in May?

 

Regards,

[DrPat 423]

I though it was rather bizarre of the hotel to ask a ‘regular’ for an up-front deposit, especially after they charged for the full stay on arrival the last time I was there. Maybe they have had a few refusing to stay or checking out after the first night because of the construction noise? It never really bothered me on my last stay (October ’12), but I don’t use the pool and tend to be off the premises all day.

 

This time, as I’ve promised in my email to them, I’ll pay the two nights deposit on arrival - but only if they mention it and I’ll be paying in cash. (I’m guessing that they probably will mention it.)

 

Python: On my first couple of visits there was no mention of any deposit or any up-front charging for the room – only a traditional swipe of my credit card on arrival. When they took payment at the end of the stay they even charged my card in Thai Baht. Generally foreign hotels, unless asked otherwise, charge me in GB£ which gives a poorer exchange rate.

 

So I think I can summarise the above by saying: something seems to have changed at Sabai Wing / Lodge.

 

 

PS In answer to the “how many fingers am I holding up?” question. Then it was one (US) or two (UK), now it’s my whole hand giving a cheery wave.

[gregUK 44]

Now back in UK

Had no trouble at Sabai Lodge, was not asked for any payment or deposit upon arrival.

Very much quieter there now that the bars have gone from Soi 2.

Not troubled by the construction of the new hotel.

Baht Buses going down Soi 2

 

Apparently, they are widening Beach Road to 4 Lanes - I wonder if it will become a two-way ?

[teelack 9,640]

Greg, re the baht buses in Soi 2. As I pointed out there are heaps of them but the issue is, do they stop and as I made clear only one did in a month while I was there. I would assume that as the season changes it will be easier to get them to act as a bus and not a taxi.

 

 

Now back in UK

Had no trouble at Sabai Lodge, was not asked for any payment or deposit upon arrival.

Very much quieter there now that the bars have gone from Soi 2.

Not troubled by the construction of the new hotel.

Baht Buses going down Soi 2

 

Apparently, they are widening Beach Road to 4 Lanes - I wonder if it will become a two-way ?

[DrPat 423]

Now back in UK

Had no trouble at Sabai Lodge, was not asked for any payment or deposit upon arrival...

 

Greg! I’m curious to know if Sabai Lodge still took the traditional swipe of your credit card on arrival.

[gregUK 44]

Greg! I’m curious to know if Sabai Lodge still took the traditional swipe of your credit card on arrival.

Yes - Not an actual swipe I don't think, they just make a note of the numbers. Nothing went through the account, only when I settled the final bill.

Sabai Lodge have always been very good with me, I have no complaints.

Some Baht Buses were "hooting" and I did use one or two after flagging them down, although maybe they are using Soi 2 whilst the roadworks are on at the North end of beach road.

Agreed, some were acting like "Taxi's"

[python 27]

Yes - Not an actual swipe I don't think, they just make a note of the numbers. Nothing went through the account, only when I settled the final bill.

Sabai Lodge have always been very good with me, I have no complaints.

Some Baht Buses were "hooting" and I did use one or two after flagging them down, although maybe they are using Soi 2 whilst the roadworks are on at the North end of beach road.

Agreed, some were acting like "Taxi's"

 

Greg, Thats good to hear. I have been a fan of Sabai Lodge/Wing for a number of years.

While I never had any complaints, I have noticed changes in policy & attitude.

 

Regards,

[DrPat 423]

Many thanks for the information, Greg.

 

I have had no problem with Sabai Wing until my last visit when, as reported, they took full up-front payment. If they ask for a credit card on arrival this time, I may consider using the credit card with the King’s picture on it.

[teelack 9,640]

Hi Pat. I usually stay at the Sabia Inn which is all part of the same chain. They have never asked me for card on booking in but the manager does pop up about half way during my stay and say something like "Accountants ask you pay something as you have big account" and as it all goes on the credit card I have no problems with splitting the account into two halves.

 

Re thge baht buses going down Soi 2. If they get to Soi 2 and are empty there really is no value for them to go up to the roundabout and coming back down Beach Road so they take the shortcut down Soi 2. This was another good reason to stay in the Soiu but it seems that this does not work in the high season as they all want to be taxis.