Hello!! Mistake?? Help!!

[bush_ss]

Hi guys!

Im 24 from South Africa, but been living in UK for the past four years.

To make a long sad story short, I was about to get married, when out of the blue I get the call that shes leaving me!! So on impulse I buy myself a holiday to Bangkok!

Now the problem, I didnt do any research at all about the place, where to stay etc. So Im booked into a hotel called the White Orchid in China town. It seems either no one has stayed there before or knows about it, cause the only review I could find about it was dreadfull!! SO does anyone know any better? Is this a bad area to stay in? Should I try and get my money back when I arrive there and stay somewhere else? My main reason for going will be the nightlife and having a good time!

Also Im going alone. Now ive never done anything alone. Ever! So Im feeling a bit dodgy about this. Would you guys recomend it or should I try bend someones arm to come with?

Ill be there from the 14th of May for two weeks. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

O yes and what would be a good amount to have for a good day out?

Ok thats me cheers guys!

[jimholio]

Just head down to Khao san road mate.

[klavg01]

You are not alone in LOS
And Soi Cowboy is a good place to go

[georgelondon]

you wont be alone long in bangkok...you'll see!! 555555 enjoy!

[Norrad]

Hey, another Saffer

I've never heard of White Orchid, but then again, I've only been to Thailand once before and stayed at Nana Hotel (Bit of a hectic introduction to Thailand).
I just checked out White Orchid's website and it doesn't seem too bad, but I can't makeout if it's near a BTS or MRT station or not.

If you are nervous about it, I suggest you cancel and change your reservation to somewhere near the entertainment areas. Majestic suites seems like a good choice, it's literally right on top of Nana Entertainment Plaza and right near a BTS station, so the rest of Bangkok is within easy reach.

As for a budget, when I went I budgeted about 10000 BHT per day. But I went on every tour I could and ended up seeing most of Thailand. I was lucky to have met my GF on the third day, so I spent almost no money on girls. I must admit I went completely overboard with spending on everything else though and lived like a king. To be on the safe side I'd recommend budgeting at least 6000 BHT per day.

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to answer them.

[georgelondon]

Originally Posted by Norrad

Hey, another Saffer

I've never heard of White Orchid, but then again, I've only been to Thailand once before and stayed at Nana Hotel (Bit of a hectic introduction to Thailand).
I just checked out White Orchid's website and it doesn't seem too bad, but I can't makeout if it's near a BTS or MRT station or not.

If you are nervous about it, I suggest you cancel and change your reservation to somewhere near the entertainment areas. Majestic suites seems like a good choice and I think their rate is about the same as White Orchid. Plus it's literally right on top of Nana Entertainment Plaza and right near a BTS station, so the rest of Bangkok is within easy reach.

As for a budget, when I went I budgeted about 10000 BHT per day. But I went on every tour I could and ended up seeing most of Thailand. I was lucky to have met my GF on the third day, so I spent almost no money on girls. I must admit I went completely overboard with spending on everything else though and lived like a king. To be on the safe side I'd recommend budgeting at least 6000 BHT per day.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to answer them.

6000 a day sounds about right. put 2000 aside if you wanna take a girl L/T...beer about 90/100 baht a bottle. but many places do happy hour so a lot cheaper. (check out my posts about the "cathouse" in nana)
you can eat dead cheap to line the stomach.!!!

[steve@thaib]

Bangkok is like any other major city. The things you would not do alone in London would probably best be avoided there as well. I've been to Bangkok a time or two on my own though, and it's not a problem.

Not sure how committed to the hotel you are but you might find you have had enough of Bangkok after a few days and want to get out. Flights to Phuket are fairly cheap and Patong is a far better place to be single, IMO.

[georgelondon]

[quote=steve@thaib]Bangkok is like any other major city. The things you would not do alone in London would probably best be avoided there as well. I've been to Bangkok a time or two on my own though, and it's not a problem.

Not sure how committed to the hotel you are but you might find you have had enough of Bangkok after a few days and want to get out. Flights to Phuket are fairly cheap and Patong is a far better place to be single, IMO.[/QUOTE]


yeh don't do what i do! hit bangkok and can't escape!! 55555

[Tyfon]

China Town is not the best mongering territory - you'd have been better off starting off in the Sukhumvit Road area with Nana at one end and Cowboy at the other. Nana Hotel, Dynasty Inn/Dynasty Inn Grande, Majestic Suites, Manhatten and, if you have the cash, Landmark and JW MArriott are all good, girl-friendly (i.e. they don't charge for overnight girls staying) starter-hotels.

Lot's of mongering and hotel information specific to Bangkok available at:

http://bangkok2night.com/

To join the forum you nee to go to:

http://bangkok2night.com/contact/

and give the webmaster (DK) your name, username and a password to use, and a reason for joining (what you said in your OP) and he will set up an account. Open registration - like on this forum - was disabled because too many wives and girlfriends were getting access 8^)

Then you will have access to:

http://bkktonite.com/cgi-bin/forum/index.cgi

In the Suk area you'll be okay on your own, and when you gain confidence you can scout out areas further afield like Patpong. You also have the skytrain running along Suk which gets you easily to major shopping/cinema centres like Siam Square, Mah Boon Khong (MBK), Emporium and touristy stuff like the river tour that gives access to the major temples/palaces and museums (end of line Sakhorn Taksin), Chat-u-Chak weekend market (end of other line, Mo Chit).

Unless you are on a backpacker budget, I'd cancel the first hotel and move to Suk. Rates should be around 1000-1500THB for most of the hotels there (much more for the Landmark/Marriott) and should be good availability (low season). You should be able to get a refund on the WO (see next post for review of sorts).

Seek help on these forums WRT dealing with the whiles of TGs (same rules apply, broadly, to Phuket and BKK girls) and Relax and enjoy.

Cheers,

K.

[Tyfon]

Here's the only response to the only question posted, over twelve months ago, about the White Orchid on the BKKTonite Forum:

White Orchid is a good hotel -- at least, was, 5 years back when I stayed there. Rooms are giant size, you almost feel dwarfed. Fully Carpeted. Nice friendly reception staff. Very good breakfast spread included in the room tariff. The only drawback I found was you had to climb up a long steep stairway from the lobby just to get to the reception! When you are carrying two or three pieces of luggage that can be off-putting. Funnily, I found the staff was very helpful in getting my luggage out of the cab into the lobby but, then on, I had to fend for myself up those steps.

Location is interesting if you are out looking for the Chinese side of Bangkok. Lots of quaint Chinese shops and smiths around and lots of wizened old folk shuffling around the crowded alleys. These expressionless faces could give a misleading impression to the first-time visitor -- as they did to me. But, of course, Bangkok is all about surprises, isn't it ?

I don't think it is too close to any BTS. I do remember reading here much later that the nearest BTS is on the Silom line. Further search on this forum would throw up the actual co-ordinate. Of course, cabs abound here so there is never any hassle getting to other places -- unless you are leaving in the nick of time to the airport, which isn't a smart thing to do if you are staying at the White Orchid. The traffic is so thick you could step out of the hotel into a cab without touching the ground, yet 10 minutes later you would hardly have moved.

Cannot comment on the guest friendliness as I did not have "guests" during my all-too-brief stay at this hotel but I don't think there would be a problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: 6:42 pm on Feb. 27, 2005 |

Bear in mind his experience is 5 years old and hotels can improve or decline rapidly.

[jimholio]

This site is not all bad http://www.thailandguru.com/ I believe there are living costs etc calculated there.

I suppose you could spend 10.000 Baht a day if you go shopping every day.

But pure living costs, and to party is nowhere near that.

[The Real Sledge]

Doubt you will be able to get your money back from the hotel. But it is only a short taxi ride from lots of places. Like has been said already, head down to Na na plaza and you will not be alone for long.

[ToTheBeach]

Do not stay in Chinatown.....
Traffic can be real bad and in Chinatown itself is close to no nightlife, other than Thai style places.

As previous suggested, stay on lower Sukhumvit.

Other hotels not mentioned y7et but worth their monnies:
Swiss Grotino / Town Lodge / Baan Sukhumvit / Mercure @22 etc.

Enjoy!

[mars]

Im sure youll be fine Bush

Your only 24 but youv'e been living in a foreign country for 4 years and joined the british army.

Im sure you can look after yourself

[barflyrex]

Gday bush.
The best thing for you to do is get a bus to pattaya or a plane to phuket.
If your going for great nightlife, Im afriad bangkok just doesnt cut it anymore and youll be bored s#itless.
Depending on your budget....what I would do is go to pattaya for a week, the fly to phuket from there for the rest of your trip.
But if you can only do one, and seeing its your first time in thailand, maybe Phuket is the go.
As for traveling on your own, its no big deal, 90% of my trips I do by myself, theres allways some druken bum you can find to have a beer with (mai tai's full of them. LOL) and theres allways the cuties to get to know. .

Rex

[georgelondon]

Originally Posted by barflyrex

Gday bush.
The best thing for you to do is get a bus to pattaya or a plane to phuket.
If your going for great nightlife, Im afriad bangkok just doesnt cut it anymore and youll be bored s#itless.Depending on your budget....what I would do is go to pattaya for a week, the fly to phuket from there for the rest of your trip.
But if you can only do one, and seeing its your first time in thailand, maybe Phuket is the go.
As for traveling on your own, its no big deal, 90% of my trips I do by myself, theres allways some druken bum you can find to have a beer with (mai tai's full of them. LOL) and theres allways the cuties to get to know. .

Rex

oh come on..."bored shitless"????? i doubt that.

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by georgelondon

oh come on..."bored shitless"????? i doubt that.

I was

And after 2nights, That was it, I couldnt wait to get out of there, Hate the way everything closes before you even get started, That is my main problem really, As I dont like to go out too early drinking, I like say 8-9pm starts and drink on into the morning, In Bkk your out on your ear at one Also the girls are more money orientated from what I gathered, I only stayed there 2nights though and felt a little lost to be honest, Never felt like that anywhere else in Los...

Another thing that suprised me out of all the girls I seen in Bkk, There was not too many I would have taken with me, Dont get me wrong there was a few, But they were mostly in the day time, And I am not really into the ST thing so thought, I might find something better later, Which I didnt And ended up on both nights going home alone..

And before you say, I didnt go the right places, Well I was in the main ones like Nana (Plus the carpark later) and Cowboy, Missed Patpong, But went down a few of the beer gardens along Sumkuhvit, Around by Absolute 7s there.... Just didnt get the place to be honest...

I will be spending another couple of nights there on my next tour, And probably a few more more then at the end of my tour to see an auld friend, So will let you know if my opinion of the place has changed at all....

[Talbotman]

CAN t agree with that comment about the nightlife in bangkok boring anyone shitless i am coming up to my 23rd visit and i always stay my first 2 nights and last 2 nights in bangkok yes PATTAYA AND PATONG ARE BRILLIANT but if you know the places to go in bk the nighlife is good soi cowboy has many great bars Dollhouse, sheba bar, shotgun, baccara nana plaza is excellent as well being a first time visitor i would say give patpong a miss because they can spot a newbie a mile away and they will rip you off major .

[steve w]

white orchid hotel don't look too bad imho http://www.bangkok-hotel.ws/accom/white_orchid/

[Talbotman]

ALLY i will have to show you some places in july teen massage for instance and the sheba bar in soi cowboy lolitas in the afternoon ! you must be choosey mate 5555555 no good lookers in bangkok ! i agree with your point that everything closes too early but that happens in pattaya as well i know some bars in pattaya will open later but not the go go bars

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by Talbotman

ALLY i will have to show you some places in july teen massage for instance and the sheba bar in soi cowboy lolitas in the afternoon ! you must be choosey mate 5555555 no good lookers in bangkok ! i agree with your point that everything closes too early but that happens in pattaya as well i know some bars in pattaya will open later but not the go go bars

Yes I look forward too it, Although I think I ventured into most of the Gogos on Soi cowboy and didnt see much talent floating... But it could have been a couple of bad nights, And have still never been in a massage place, Not really into the ST thing, So although I do want to experience it, Just never got around to it, Usually all shagged out during the day, But will try it when I see you in July... Your right about the gogos in Pattaya but what I like about that is, You still have the disco's like Marine2 and the other one around the back and there does be a lot of talent still floating about in there unlike Bkk...

[The Real Sledge]

You CANNOT say Bangkok has bad nightlife.

Yes Phuket is awesome and yes it is different but bangkok is great too. As for it all closing early there are plenty of late night bars open if you ask about.

There is also a lot of cool things you can do in Bangkok that you can't do in Phuket

In the last year I have spent 2 months in Phuket and 2 months in BKK and loved both.

[davo69]

You never be alone in Bangkok
Many beautiful girls hanging around the shop
Strut up and say "You want me?"
She look you up and down"Yes Sireee!"
Her girlfriend come over "You want me too?"
Now you stud you have two to screw!
Take em to dinner, take em to dance
Now your not alone,your getting down their pants
All the lads there are just like you
Say gidday and have a pint or two
They will all give advice on picking up a lady
They wont lead you astray or anything shady
We are here to help and most of its free
And if I get to Bangkok
The drinks are on me!

Throw caution to the wind old son and go for that leap of faith, jumping in with both feet, you will have the time of your life, ya here for a good time not a long time!