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#1
11-02-2007, 19:32
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Beach chairs + umbrella cost
Hi honoured BM-s, who are currently in LOS!
I have heard that charge for beach chairs+umbrella "package" (what used to be in Karon Beach 100 baht) has been increased now. Is it so, and if Yes - what is current price on Karon Beach (close to traffic circle) ? 
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#3
11-02-2007, 19:39
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Coming from Patong, if you take the right before the last hairpin turn coming into Karon Beach, there is a sign saying "Way to the Beach". This little pathway will take you to the northern most point in Karon Beach just under the foothillls, and there are two good restaurants (Kai and Daeng) that rent out the beach chairs. 50 baht per chair. If you start eating in the restaurant(s), which is likely since there is nowhere else to go eat and give a decent tip, get to know the owner, the fee is zero (yes, free), but it will take about a week straight of going there more or less before they remember you.
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#4
11-02-2007, 20:06
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I've been in Patong for the last week and decided to go down to Karon for a change of scenery. I always go by myself being a confirmed butterfly. All over Patong the charge has been 100 baht. One chair, one umbrella. Today I walked in from the Karon traffic circle at 11 AM. I was blown away to see 3 rows of chairs, as far as the eye could see. Every chair looked like it was filled. The placed is packed! I walked north just past the restaurants saw two empty chairs and put my stuff down and said to the kid how much? 200 baht, he says. I say, only one. He says 200 baht. I say, NO. Only one. He says 200 baht. I just shook my head. He pointed further down the beach. The next place I stopped (200 yards from the restaurants?) I stopped at an empty chair and say, one. He says, 100 baht.
After a few hours I went and had lunch at my favorite Thai Restaurant, Papaya. Duck curry was unbelievably good. Have fun in Karon. Get to the beach early.
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#5
11-02-2007, 20:07
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So this means BHT 200 if "package" is 2 chairs + umbrella on Karon Beach ? Correct? Then it is 100% increase compared to last year (2006) March? 
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#6
11-02-2007, 20:42
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Yes, as a general rule beach chair pricing has been raised 100% in the last year, but this is a cartel pricing scheme which will not always work. Take Laem Sing beach (north of Kamala), 50 baht per chair there too that they add onto the restaurant bill. Lots of pearls to be found really...
These chairs whether wooden or plastic pay for themselves at 100 baht per day in less than a month, so who is the prey here. I'm not interested in contributing to this economic spin.
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#7
12-02-2007, 01:18
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I don't pay any more either. Now changed to taking a mat, going to the far end of beaches away from the tourists and finding a nice shaded position. After all, 100baht is the equivalent to 3 meals!!! 3 noodle soups anyway.
If you are really cheeky, and this happened to me a few months ago, I think you can have a chair for free right in the middle of Kata Beach. I walked onto the beach near the pedestrian crossing almost dead centre of Club Med and sat on one of the chairs near the crossing. When I went to leave I wasn't asked to pay anything for the chair. I did notice that everyone around me had blue towels (obviously given out by Club Med) and presume that 40 or 50 chairs near the crossing are paid for by Club Med for it's customers. I think the fact I just happened to have a blue towel too I must have looked like a Club Medist 
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#9
12-02-2007, 02:27
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OK the price has gone up, but doesn't inflation creep up in your own country.
Yes the price has doubled, but for how many years has it been 50baht a day for a chair and umbrella? I can remember it being that price in 2004 Could you get that for the same price in your own country? In the UK.....No not a chance! C'mon guys, if you are at the beach for a whole day, do you really begrudge 100baht, the price of a beer, for the comfort of a chair and a shady umbrella? I don't like the way prices jump either, but this is one instance, it is still worth the price IMO.
__________________
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?
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#11
12-02-2007, 03:33
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I know it is pocket change, but when you roll down to the beach at, say, 3:30 and only plan to stay an hour or so, well, 100 baht was just about acceptable, but now I just sit on a beach mat with my girl and suddenly, i either feel 200 baht richer or 4 singha's drunker.... I would also suggest those beach chairs pay for themselves in one week in high season, not a month.
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#12
12-02-2007, 04:11
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I agree. 100baht before say 1pm, 50baht after would be a lot fairer. A couple of hours isn't worth 100baht.
__________________
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?
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#14
12-02-2007, 09:19
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But when prices jump 100% in a single step it shows inflation is running too high.. Yes prices rise in almost all countries (especially the rates that central banks are at the printing press) but they generally creep up.. To just slam a doubling of costs on shows that the market is price insensitive. Its the fact that tourists will say "so what its pocket money" that allows them to charge about a normal Thai persons full days wages simply to sit on 2 chairs. Remember these sets cost less than a months usage (guess) the beach is public land.. Its another cartel arrangement. I dont like busy beaches or being around too many other people anyway.. So beach chairs are not my scene..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#15
12-02-2007, 09:29
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100% mark is not acceptable or inflation. Its called gouging the customer. Just like the tuk tuk mafia. I think I read somewhere the beach chair operators where saying it cost them over 10k baht for a new set. Still trying to figure that out. 2 pieces of plasic and umbrella with a sponsored advertiser. No way. Then I really don't see to many new sets out there either. I personally very very rarely pay it. I take a mat and find a nice quiet place in the shade.
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#16
12-02-2007, 09:59
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This is the thing. A lot of the money they collect goes off to pay their backers, those who allow the concession, and their "association" group of operators. So the people you hand the 200 baht to hardly see any of that.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#17
12-02-2007, 10:01
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me too....just sit on my towel and go for a swim........pick it up afterwards dry myself off and then bugger off......... not one fer sittin' around sunning on the beach.........
__________________
 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#19
12-02-2007, 14:56
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 LOL
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#21
12-02-2007, 22:58
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20 Baht. When I am walking along beach road I like to sit down on a beach chair just for a beer or 2. repeter
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#22
13-02-2007, 00:58
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Same same Paul. Agree with you LIL that 100% increase in one go is too much, I was only commenting on the overall price of 100baht a day still being reasonable IMO. But its increases like these, and the tuk tuks, that eat into a visitors money and make Phuket not such an inexpensive place for us to visit. Its still cheaper than Europe though, and has a lot of plusses over them too 
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If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?
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#23
13-02-2007, 09:20
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My favourite spot has 2 shady trees and theres already pre tied loops round them for my hammock.. Spread the straw matt.. Get spinner to go load up food from the resturant down the beach.. Swim, snorkel, and lie in hammock reading a book, dozing, enjoying the breeze, rarely anyone else there !!!
Thats how you do a beach scene !!
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#24
13-02-2007, 10:04
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I'm sure I only paid 30baht for a chair and brolly in Jomtien in early Dec when I was there.....?????
I will be Patts in another week so will see what they charge there. I do agree tho' its far better sitting on a chair than on a towel and even if it is 100baht its still cheap.
__________________
to err is human........but to shift the blame to someone else shows management potential
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#25
13-02-2007, 10:45
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Yep I find the people who camp out on matts right in front of your paid for sun lounge very anoying. Especially when they erect an umbrella the size of a parachute and block your view of the water.....ggrrrrrrrrr!
With this said I agree that a 100% jump in price is a total rip off. I simply choose to suck it up and pay the baht for the pleasure
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