Ripped off by K.N guest house

[badapple]

I have always stayed at the K.N guest house in patong but no more. i booked in the 24th june and was quoted 500baht a night and so stayed for over two weeks when i came to leave i was concerend at how expensive it seemed and was told that they had made a mistake and the room was in actual fact 800baht a night and i had to pay.no questions no disscussions you pay now so thats the last time those thiefs get any of my money and i urge anyone else looking for a room in patong to try else where

[Tarzan]

Originally Posted by badapple

I have always stayed at the K.N guest house in patong but no more. i booked in the 24th june and was quoted 500baht a night and so stayed for over two weeks when i came to leave i was concerend at how expensive it seemed and was told that they had made a mistake and the room was in actual fact 800baht a night and i had to pay.no questions no disscussions you pay now so thats the last time those thiefs get any of my money and i urge anyone else looking for a room in patong to try else where

Did you get the quote on email?

[Bello Uomo]

Their website states 800THB per night May-September.

But yes, there have been a lot of recent BM reports about the KN, and not all of them good about hotel-customer communication.

It seems pretty clear that they need to do some serious work on upgrading their internet site, booking system and email communication with customers.

Peoples expectations have risen beyond the simple "yes we have room" and "booking ok" types of email replies from a hotel/GH.

[Tommychrk]

I stayed at K and N for one week in June and there are a few things that disturbed me about the place. I got the room for 800 baht but it was not confirmed by email.

I check in and they ask for my name they see i have reservation by email and hand me keys without asking for passport or any id. WTF is that??

You bring ladys in and they never ask for their ID

They keys are left on the counter by the bar so anyone can actually take it an go to your room

Mostly germans stayed there besides me. I dont mind germans but since the owner is german he only spoke to his german customers. Not once did he try to strike up a concersation with me even if I tried twice.

The staff is friendly enough but doint speak much english

However the rooms are big and nice and so is the pool.

But, if I go back to Patong I will not stay there again, it will be Summer Breeze for me. Their hospitality is more important then the pool at K ad N.

[Nicke]

Considering they have a decent swimming pool I think 800 baht/night is not so bad price, but if they told you 500 when booking I would also be upset.

As have been mentioned before, if you have a confirmed booking by email, always print it out and bring with you.

[dizbuster]

I reckon know what has happened.

They had prices in the window at the front office when I was there in April and a sign read "Rooms for Rent "400b 500b 800b". I asked about this and Nid (the owner's wife) told me that she 400b rate was out of date and that the 500b rate was for the rooms on the top floors, i.e. up five storeys.

So, the question is, "were you staying on the top floor, i.e. the 5th floor ?" If so, then yes, you were "ripped off", if not, then you were charged correclty, i.e. 800b and it is down to poor communication, which has been a concern raised on this board by many BMs who have stayed there before.

I would imagine that because you did not have to stay on the top floor, that they just thought you would prefer a room lower down and therefore thought they were doing you a favour and just assumed you wouldn't mind paying the 800b per night - again poor communication, as they should have told you about this.

But surely having stayed there before

Originally Posted by badapple

I have always stayed at the K.N guest house in patong...

you would have known all this already ?? When have you stayed in the past and got a room for 500baht a night ??

Another thing I would be fairly sure of, or at least not surprised at, would be that you didn't actually deal with Nid, but her sister. I have a few thoughts about her and this is not the place to air them - they would not be very complimentary.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Nicke

...As have been mentioned before, if you have a confirmed booking by email, always print it out and bring with you.

Good advice Nicke, even regulars visitors should do this as you cannot always rely on things not changing.

[LivinLOS]

f he was quoted a room and them moved in (as it sounds on the OP) then theres no defense.. They price a room and rent it, theres no possibility for "Ohh we meant a different room"..

[Nicke]

I wonder if he had a confirmed booking or just asked for info?

The rate or price can change otherwise since he asked.

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

f he was quoted a room and them moved in (as it sounds on the OP) then theres no defense.. They price a room and rent it, theres no possibility for "Ohh we meant a different room"..

[inthemode]

In most places you sign a guest checkin form that states the rate this is done when you check in and yes you usually provide your passport to them to write down details.

If not offered you should insist on it.

[Spector]

Obviously you are (were)S.O.L. without a written rate quote. However, that said if they gave you one rate and then charged you another on check out, then you have every right to be pissed off. Last year I experienced a similar tactic at the K-Hotel where they sold me a standard room in main hotel for one price and then on check-in told me they where full and put me next door at one of their other hotels which was an absolute dump. They refused to move me unless I paid them more money. In that case, I left the next day, refusing to pay since I paid a 10% fee to the booking agent. As it turned out, the booking agent gave me back my deposit when they heard my story.

No one wants to bad mouth a small hotel for silly reasons, but when it comes to questionable business practices it good to get the word out. With hotel review boards and forums prevalent now on the internet, poor operators will soon smarten up when their bookings fall.

[badapple]

to give a little bit more info yes i did book in without a reservation i never bother because its low season there is always rooms available.I wasnt on the top floor but the fourth floor still nosebleed height for a man of my size, i think it was the sister that booked me in but NID did admit that they made a mistake (but you pay)that doesnt excuse the treatment that i got they could have told me before i had spent 2 weeks there.
as far as im concerned they picked my pocket for 70 quid and thats well out of order!
thanks again.

[viper]

Shame to hear you were a little unfairly led along badapple.

I was introduced to the Bantonsai Garden Resort last November by a group of friends and for me, I wouldn't bother looking for anything else again - well unless they closed the place down of course

16 of us booked on-line and got the 600 bht per night rate, which would have been 800 if we had just turned up. Price goes up to 1100 after the 16th November, but again forward booking is back to 8. We were all in the de-luxe part of the complex - which okay is not 5 star, but it was always clean, air con and fan, mini bar, satelite T.V, small kitchen area etc in each room.

The staff very friendly and the pool for the de-luxe part is spotless. I think they call this part of the complex the Natural Garden Resort rather than the Bantonsai, but it is all the same business.

Think the re-naming has something to do with getting away from their previously lower class style image. If there is such a thing in LOS

Anyway when I returned in May, I had no hesitation in booking in there again, because I did not book my flights until 48 hours before flying out, I hadn't booked the Bantonsai either, but e-mailed them in a hope I could still save those all too precious couple of hundred baht per night.
Received an e-mail from them the morning of my flight advising me that as it was such short notice, to simply turn up and tell the receptionist that I have booked on line?

I did wonder, but fair play to them, they didn't bat an eylid - booked me in along with my young lady, whom met me there as I stepped out of the taxi and all was good.

Stayed ten nights then went off to Chiang Mai and Ko Lanta for 6 or so nights, when we got back I expected to be stung with the higher 800 bht rate but thought nothing of it and didn't even think of asking.

Come check out day, went to pay and was most delighted to realise they had kept me on the lower rate, even though I hadn't told them I would be back the second time round. So I was most pleased.

Only thing I would/will do different next time is book the room for a day longer than I need. That way I will have somewhere to store my bags between check out time and the 8 pm taxi to the airport. Meant to do it this time but simply forgot - thankfully my little lady piled her motorbike sky high with bags, clothes and suitcases - along with the customary - anything which isn't bolted down in the room goes to their place - stuff and off she toodled and plonked it all in her room for the day.

Never bothered to mention until 7 pm that when taking a shower in her room, there was only cold water - but hey, we live and learn.

So if your looking for an alternative next time, give this place a look at.

[Dodger]

After seeing the rooms and no lift at the K+N Hotel, experiencing their absolutely haphazard booking system, Nid said she didn't know how to use the computer booking system, the sister didn't read the diary entries, after checking for 2 separate bm's neither of their bookings were made even though they had email confirmation, after going there on two occasions for both bm's they arrived and still the hotel hadn't their correct bookings, wrong rooms etc.

It is poorly located when compared to hotels on Soi san sabai or beach road, it is noisy with building works going on around it, admin completly sucks and yes it is cheapish and with own pool but I for one would not recommend this hotel to any of my friends.

[badapple]

i will try Bantonsai Garden Resort next time viper it sounds much better
thanks again:0)

[Talbotman]

I have stayed there 2 times first time july 2006 had no problems loved the place had a big room next to the pool so booked again for april 2007 what a nightmare dodger checked on my booking 2 times and was assured our booking was ok so imagine how pissed off we were when we arrived to find no rooms for us , was told from a reliable scource at the hotel that the rooms that NID had reserved for us were given to some walk in german guests the day before by her german husband we ended up with my room on the 3rd floor my poor mate was on the 5th floor (nightmare i would have been tempted to jump off the balcony climbing up there 55555) my other friend paul ended up being shunted into an annexe accross the road .

i will never stay there again or recomend it to anyone simply because they cant be trusted to keep your room for you i will go back to the expat next time .

[Devman]

Originally Posted by Talbotman

I have stayed there 2 times first time july 2006 had no problems loved the place had a big room next to the pool so booked again for april 2007 what a nightmare dodger checked on my booking 2 times and was assured our booking was ok so imagine how pissed off we were when we arrived to find no rooms for us , was told from a reliable scource at the hotel that the rooms that NID had reserved for us were given to some walk in german guests the day before by her german husband we ended up with my room on the 3rd floor my poor mate was on the 5th floor (nightmare i would have been tempted to jump off the balcony climbing up there 55555) my other friend paul ended up being shunted into an annexe accross the road .

i will never stay there again or recomend it to anyone simply because they cant be trusted to keep your room for you i will go back to the expat next time .

"Oh great news" I just booked at KN for xmas now I'm considering (strongly)
about cancelling! I may have a room there as booked or i could turn up & have no room.........who knows!
I did stay there in May but just as a walk in, & I agree with the above comments regarding the lax management style of the owners.
However I liked the rooms, location & the feel of the place hence the booking.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Devman

"Oh great news" I just booked at KN for xmas now I'm considering (strongly)
about cancelling! I may have a room there as booked or i could turn up & have no room.........who knows!
I did stay there in May but just as a walk in, & I agree with the above comments regarding the lax management style of the owners.
However I liked the rooms, location & the feel of the place hence the booking.

It may all sound doom and gloom, but I've never had a problem and the place always seems to be full - well fullish anyway, even during the times I've been during low season.

Yes, there does appear to be a real problem with the booking process etc and there is no way anyone can be 100% confident after hearing all these stories.

I have to disagree with Dodger's comments about noise and location
a). you've never stayed there Dodger as far as I am aware, so why do you feel that you have the right to slag the place off ??
b). the noise of the nearby building works is hardly heard in the rooms - I once stayed in the very first room on the right as you walk in from the Soi and found that noise from the building works across the road did not interupt my relaxation, sleep, recreation etc. Admittedly if I stood outside the door, the noise became a lot more obvious, but even when wallowing in the pool it is hard to hear to the builders noise.
c). bad location ?? You must be having a tin barf Dodger !! How can 5 minute stroll and yes I mean S-T-R-O-L-L from Bangla Road be a bad location ?? I would also point out, the being part of the "inner loop", it also means that I do not have to risk life and limb trying to cross the Rat-U-Tit 200 Pee Road I am already safely on the same side as Bangla Road is and that cannot be said about Soi San Sabai, Expat Hotel etc plus these do not have a swimming pool and counting the public one at the end of the road is not on, mainly because it's always crowded and with more Guest Houses being built down that end of Soi San Sabai, it will become even more crowded

[Dodger]

Diz, I personally do not like the location because there is no view of anything other than other hotels or the small scruffy soi. It does have a pool and is reasonably priced but location in my opinion sucks, it is quite a walk to bangla in comparison to hotels in soi san sabai. Agreed it is beneficial to not cross the road but heck how big a problem is that as at the end of soi sansabai the police usually stop the traffic for you. There are also quite a few hotels within very easy walking distance from bangla at the beach end if you do not like soi sansabai and require a pool in the hotel, say Patong Villa.

The big bug bear I have with my limited experience of the hotel is the lack of organisation and the lack of care about whether guests are booked in or get the rooms they have confirmed by email. Nid and her sisters attitude was appalling and made me think that this would be one of the last hotels I would want to spend any time in. This one aspect when i compare this to say, Bills fantastic attitude and faultess prompt administration at Summer Breeze makes that a far better choice for me and yes outweighs the short walk to the end of the soi to use the pool.

Heck its all personal opinions and I was just expressing mine.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Dodger

...it is quite a walk to bangla in comparison to hotels in soi san sabai...

Eh ?? Have you had you legs shortened ?? It's about 50 yards up a Soi that is about 80 yards past the C&N Hotel which is as near, if not nearer, than Summer Breeze to the junction of Bangla and Rat-U-Tit !! How can that be "quite a walk" ??

[Dodger]

Diz just giving my opinion and explanation why I wouldn't stay there, I do know where it is located, can't be bothered to measure the distance. So you like to stay there which is fine, being 80 yards or how many yards passed c&n doesn't change the appalling admin and is why I wouldn't recommend it to any of my friends.

[floppy]

a bit of a pity about the problems they are having downstairs in the reception but apart from that I think its not a bad little hotel