Bangkok - Hotel prices, flight, £ against Baht, what is going on.. !?

Aeron · #1 12-02-2008, 07:22

I went to Thailand twice in 2006 (Apr & Oct), since then have been dicovering the Latin corners

, but I am thinking of going east again in May and I am so suprised of the prices;

My favourite Manhattan hotel which I stayed most of the time in BKK is now around 1600Bht for a double - in 2006 I got something like 1100Bht on the same internet site (used to offer the cheapest rates - may be they had a deal with them and no longer offer it).

My flights from London/Heathrow with Eva Air were £475 return, now I am struggling to get £612... !?!?

The £ was 69 Baht then now the going Forex is 61.5 Baht (I bet lower is offered on the street).

This makes the trip a lot more expensive than 2 years ago, I am not sure what the price of beer and food is now, have they gone up, have they had a high inflation rate in Thailand the last 2 years.... ?

What about girl prices, averages were 1000-1500 for ST and 1500-2000 for LT (although a bit lower/higher depending on quality), but is this no longer the averages !?

sarsbuk · #2 12-02-2008, 07:31

I fly Eva in 9 days time. £458 return and that includes a free return Nat Express Bus ticket from Cardiff - Heathrow, they were offering this to most cities(saves £50). This is with www.westeasttravel.com

Have a look at Majestic Suites. Superior Single around 1200 THB with Bangkok hotels online reservation in Thailand. but a difference of 500 THb for the Manhattan in 2 years is less than a tenner.

Your ST and LT prices are what I look to pay. Last time I was in LOS was August paying these prices... Hoping they will be the same this upcoming trip.....

Saying that with the USD and GBP down against the THB we are losing here but nothing we can do about that really......

K2 · #3 12-02-2008, 07:38

Oil has gone up >50% in the last too years and so have many other commodities - hence your higher airfares.

THB is stronger because China is growing ~10% a year and investors are piling money into this region causing strength in the THB (and all regional currencies) - the pound is just beginning to weaken against the USD so would not expect any quick return to 70+ GBP/THB exchange rates.

Current rate here is 62.78 (Look here -->).

Inflation here is strong - you'll have to bite the bullet - its still ~ 40% cheaper here than back in Blighty.

sarsbuk · #4 12-02-2008, 07:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2

the pound is just beginning to weaken against the USD

Music to my ears!

Aeron · #5 17-02-2008, 19:57

I found a cheap flight for May and went for it (£454 Eva Air). LOS her I come again ! Now just need to wait another 3 months..... !!!? (Long time to read all the post here !)

nicky · #6 25-03-2008, 01:40

Hi Aeron i know exactly what you mean, and with all this fuel consistently going up things will only get more exspensive it seems.

Aeron · #7 29-03-2008, 07:07

well, I guess it is supply and demand. I have done a fair bit of research now for my trip. On top of strong Baht, it seems most prices from hotels to BF and ST/LT prices have gone up in the last two years. But no slowing down of tourists and mongers going to LOS.

Schmeen · #8 31-03-2008, 10:29

Basic law of economics.

The value of anything is what someone will pay for it.

Thailands middle classes are growing fast.

Hopefully the next step will be proper democracy, but I'm not holding my breath.

SweetWilliam · #9 31-03-2008, 11:05

Heya,
As far as Airline prices go, thier top two expenses to operate are wages and fuel prices. Wages may slowly creep up each year, but fuel, and related Jet A prices have gone through the roof. So prices to fly about anywhere have skyrocketed. Also going up have been food prices, since transportation of these items(along with everything else) has been costing more. Now transportation of pussy has not beem going up(unless said pussy is imported), but the cost of care, and feeding of pussy is increasing, hence the increase of both ST, and LT rates.
SW

Talbotman · #10 06-04-2008, 16:39

MAIN REASON FOR THE HUGE HIKE IN AIR FARES IN THE UK is simply gordon browns stupid ****ing anti global warming tax hikes (pure bollocks)

wont go into the arguments about G/W but if every single person in uk stopped flying tomorrow the rest of the world would carry on regardless so its a stupid money grabbing exercise.

as an example here is the details for my next flight in october
flying glasgow-amsterdam-bangkok return with china air

total price of flight is £593 of which fare is £396 taxes £197

the exchange rate is bollocks at the moment as well so it all adds up soon guys like me will have to call an end to our los visits (A BLACK DAY INDEED 555555)

HEH AND I AM A LABOUR VOTER 55555 WONDER WHAT other non labour bms think about stupid flight tax policies.

zarf · #11 07-04-2008, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

HEH AND I AM A LABOUR VOTER 55555 WONDER WHAT other non labour bms think about stupid flight tax policies.

I agree about the bullshit put forward to justify extra taxes. How can Brown spout that shite but then allow Terminal 5 to be opened???
The fact is this is just another lie from the labour party...immigration, Iraq and the amount of revenue from Scotland's oil!!!!
Bastards..we could have been independent AND wealthy instead of it being frittered away by successive governments.
The labour party is now without honour or ideas, even pinching Tory policies!!!

The only way ahead is SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY as labour are now tories and Brown and his cabinet of wankers are only interested in English votes now that Scotland can't carry them through if things are tight in an election.

Sirgezza · #12 07-04-2008, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by zarf

I agree about the bullshit put forward to justify extra taxes.....

They had to do that so that John Prescott could claim £4,000 for food - greedy bastard

Schmeen · #13 07-04-2008, 09:04

Great place not to live at the moment.