Chiang Mai - Lotus Hotel

[Krazy4thai]

The Lotus has been my preferred accommodation in Chiang Mai for a number of visits to that city. That preferential status is now being re-evaluated following my recent sojourn. Why?? It is the 17% they add to everything purchased at the hotel. 7% VAT, surely that is the cost of doing business and if they want to recoup it it should be reflected in their various price list/menus. 10% "service charge" in other words mandatory tipping. In whose pocket does this end up? the staff?, based on Thai practices, doubtful. I am a generous tipper in my own right and know that tip will usually end up in the intended staff pocket almost str8 away, or in the case of general/tip-box tips the end of the working day.
1 week discounted room advertised 840B in actuality 982.8B, 160B meal 187.2B, an expected 500B at the bar (based on drink list prices) 585B. Trivial amounts you may think but over the course of a week or 2 not so trivial.
I have not seen these taxes so blatantly applied in any other hotel I have stayed at, sorry Lotus you've done your dash with me.

[thaiguest]

Even after tax 982 is a good rate in this hotel but I take your point re add-on charges. I've always enjoyed my stay there. The garden pagoda bar is where I first enjoined with real mosquitoes and Adam's Apple the venue for my first delightful trysts with real hill-tribe boys. I can't but be wistful when I recall the boyscout routine.
And the beautiful wood and bronze side-entrance gates; where did they come from I wonder.

[scottish-guy]

Stayed there once a number of years ago when the Lebanese guy owned it (maybe he still does?).

Liked the hotel well enough, liked the staff, liked the garden bar.

Disliked the cliquey nature of the garden bar ex-pat customers who gathered there nightly to make a beer last 2 hours and demand that everybody pay attention to them.

[BonTong]

Stayed there once a number of years ago when the Lebanese guy owned it (maybe he still does?).
Yes he does.

Disliked the cliquey nature of the garden bar ex-pat customers who gathered there nightly to make a beer last 2 hours and demand that everybody pay attention to them.

Don't worry, since the introduction of the 17% charges most of the "cheap clique" have disappeared.

But a benefit of the 17% is the cabaret show, watching the bar staff trying to calculate the price, then explain why the bill for two beers is not twice the bill for one beer. :sign5:

[bucknaway]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking of booking my friend there this trip but I think I will give it a pass.
I was going to book them there so they could be close to Adam's Apple and I was going to stay at PJ's Place. Now I will probably book them at a hotel I liked at the night market

[BonTong]

I was going to book them there so they could be close to Adam's Apple
Plenty of other accommodation options now close to Adam's Apple (Chiang Mai has changed enormously the last few years):
Places to stay in Chang Puek and Santitham (http://www.gayinchiangmai.com/News/2013/places-to-stay-in-chang-puek-and-santitham/)
Or try Mansfield Residence for an upmarket gay experience - similar to PJs but closer to the bars.

The places mentioned above are also close to G-Star Vintage which is now THE place where all the younger gay Thais go in Chiang Mai.

[bucknaway]

Thanks BonTong, I had a look at Mansfield and it seems like a very uptight place. I am looking for a place where I can freely come and go without having my my companion feel uncomfortable. With mansfield I think I would feel as if I was imprisoned in a walled garden keeping all the fun out while inside we would sip cool juice while listening to the pitter-patter of the fountain in the flower garden.

This may be my final visit to Chiang Mai. I'm only going there to show a friend around the place and once he visits there will be little reason for me to ever return there. So if you have a suggestion as to a nice hotel that does not go over 2,000 baht a night, I would be interested in hearing about it and what you think it has going for it.

Thanks for the advice you have already provided! :occasion5:

[BonTong]

So if you have a suggestion as to a nice hotel that does not go over 2,000 baht a night, I would be interested in hearing about it and what you think it has going for it.
Ah, A challenge...

If you wanna stay at PJs an obvious solution is to put your friends in the Dome (See link above). In the same soi, great location,modern, smart and inexpensive. The Dome has become the replacement for many ex Viangbua Mansion customers. (BTW , depending on when you are visiting, Viangbua is undergoing a refit - could be an option but don't know when it will be finished, or the results).

The place that is proving very popular now is The Opium, (Again, see article above). Close to both go-go and several gay bars, restaurants/cafes.

My hot tip would be the bungalows at The Pub (http://www.thepubchiangmai.com/), close to both to Nimaanhaeminda Road, and Santitham/Chang Puek. Depending on when you vist, the new mall, Maya (opposite) may be open, and there is the Harbour Mall just up the road, which has become a popular hang out for younger gay Thais earlier in the evening. At The Pub you get autonomous access to your Bungalow and have the Pub itself for great breakfasts or farang food if you want it. AND, See Man Pub is straight up Huay Kaew Road, or G-star Vintage is just round the super highway.

[bucknaway]

Thanks for the information. I will have to check it out. The bars being close will be great because my friend is not that adventurous and I think he would in up staying in his room when I leave him to his own devices. I don't want to stay in the safe place as him so that he will feel free to enjoy himself any way he likes without me looking over his shoulders.

[ceejay]

The Dome is good. I have stayed there myself and had a friend stay in another room there. It is a bit short on facilities for a holiday stay though - there is no restaurant, for example. There is a new place, completed within the last year, in the same soi. It's called Sakulchai Place. It's two minutes walk from PJ's and has a restaurant where I have eaten, which is hardly a fine dining experience but is fine for an "everyday" meal. It also has a pool. I haven't stayed there myself, but I met one gay American who was staying there, and he was perfectly happy with it.
http://www.sakulchaiplace.com/

[thaiguest]

[quote=scottish-guy]Stayed there once a number of years ago when the Lebanese guy owned it (maybe he still does?).
Yes he does.

Disliked the cliquey nature of the garden bar ex-pat customers who gathered there nightly to make a beer last 2 hours and demand that everybody pay attention to them.

Don't worry, since the introduction of the 17% charges most of the "cheap clique" have disappeared.

But a benefit of the 17% is the cabaret show, watching the bar staff trying to calculate the price, then explain why the bill for two beers is not twice the bill for one beer. :sign5:[/quote:s8ejljd5]

I think you've just convinced me to give my favourite hotel in CM a miss next time. I hate when they expect us to pay up just because a check-bin says so. And I'm sure the mossies haven't gotten any smaller either.
Does the show arise among the staff because if they put 17% on to say the first 100 baht beer the new price is 117 baht and then a second drink becomes another 117 baht or is it that they charge a further 17% on the second beer using 117 baht baseline giving rise to a compound price for the next two or what?

[Mancs]

I was at the Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel recently and that was fine. Not far from the night market, pleasant staff, decent rooms, wi fi that worked, good swimming pool.

[Krazy4thai]

[quote=scottish-guy]Stayed there once a number of years ago when the Lebanese guy owned it (maybe he still does?).
Yes he does.

Disliked the cliquey nature of the garden bar ex-pat customers who gathered there nightly to make a beer last 2 hours and demand that everybody pay attention to them.

Don't worry, since the introduction of the 17% charges most of the "cheap clique" have disappeared.

But a benefit of the 17% is the cabaret show, watching the bar staff trying to calculate the price, then explain why the bill for two beers is not twice the bill for one beer. :sign5:[/quote:2yjk3bdy]
Getting them to explain is fun as they get defensive especially the Burmese barman (whose name escapes me ATM), we had a running battle as I constantly complained to him about the practice of adding 17%, (all in good fun of course). One night (when feeling particularly happy and generous) I placed a 120B tip on the bar then deducted 17% before allowing them to take it. Well really.... I had been complaining about the 17% added to everything, it was the right course of action of course :sign5:

The cliquey ex-pats & friends were conspicuously absent this year, along with the good number of free lancers that used to hang out around the bar.
I always checked the chits myself and did my own calculation before paying. There are actually 3 official barmen in Lotus garden bar now, the logic of why escapes me,most of the time they're facebooking anyway. Bo did a pretty good job alone for years,( he has moved on now) Now with no real regulars one barman would be more than sufficient, tho you need a crowbar to pry the phones out of their hands when you want service.
In spite of the obvious flaws I found with Lotus I did manage to have a laugh around the bar most days, when I wasn't totally irritated with aforementioned Burmese barman and his quest for drinks and tips..

[newalaan2]

Don't worry, since the introduction of the 17% charges most of the "cheap clique" have disappeared.
I regard added percentages as being deliberate deception. There is no reason for the full cost of something not to be displayed in one price apart from trying to make a price appear cheaper than it is in reality. I stayed at Lotus twice when I first started coming to Thailand. The rooms were always Bt2000 up, and were large but found nothing extraordinary about it or the staff there. When I found PJ's Place the days of even considering Lotus or indeed anywhere else were done.

PJ's is ideal for so many reasons. The rooms are immaculate as are all linens etc.. and have everything needed for a stay. The surrounding garden is an oasis in the city, a really lovely place to have the excellent breakfast. The rooms have private entrances and the lay out allows you to mix with or avoid other guests as you wish. The service is first class and the owners on hand for any info or side trips. Their location is as good as any, it's just off a main road with plenty of TukTuks, has an excellent restaurant in The Lemon Tree on it's doorstep, just along the road is Solo Bar and a large mall at the bottom of the main road 5 minutes walk. There is a place to park if you drive there as we did a few times.

If you allow a few days for the overall trip including overnight stops by driving to Chiang Mai there is some great places to stop off on the way such as Sukothai, and there is tons to do around Chiang Mai if you have your own transport.

A look at PJ Place website sees a slight increase from the Bt1500 in low season to Bt1600 mid and Bt1650 high, still well worth every baht, wouldn't consider anywhere else nowadays, certainly not the Lotus.

[bucknaway]

I asked the Lotus Hotel about their additional charges and this is the email I got from them.


Mohamad Jesr <lotus@loxinfo.co.th>
11:16 PM (19 hours ago)

to me
Dear Mr. Bucknaway

Thank you for asking for clarifications.

The only addition from the previous pricing scale is the 10% service charge - that goes to the staff - that is mandatory.
We have always had a 7% VAT added to the room price as part of the government requirement for any sale.

The service charge is in lieu of the tipping and there is no more mandatory tipping required.

Our website: www.lotus-hotel.com (http://www.lotus-hotel.com) does indicates our prices.

I hope that clarifies the issue. For any further inquiries or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best regards



Mohamad Jesr
Lotus Hotel

[bucknaway]

Over the past few days I have looked at many different places to stay in Chiang Mai and I am tired of it all. I looked at websites, read reviews, did google street views and compared prices and I am sick of it all. I am just going to book us both at PJ's place and be done with it.

That way I am close to the House of Male and the Mall and I can help direct my friend in discovering Chiang Mai. I am also sure he will be impressed with PJ's Place.

The Lotus Hotel was the first hotel I used in Chaing Mai and I enjoyed myself there but hated the location for exploring Chiang Mai. It was great for going to Adams Apple.

Then I found the Suriwongse at the night market area and found that place to be great for exploring the city, but it was PJ's that won me over on my 3rd and 4th visit. They picked me up from the airport, took me back to the airport, the room always looks fresh and new and they also know some of the most talented massage guys who seem to perform magic when doing a massage and to this day I think Chaing Mai offers the best, soothing massage in all of the places I have visited in Thailand.

[christianpfc]

It is the 17% they add to everything purchased at the hotel. 7% VAT, surely that is the cost of doing business and if they want to recoup it it should be reflected in their various price list/menus. 10% "service charge" in other words mandatory tipping.

Totally agree, as I said many times before. I despise this practice of giving prices before taxes (and service charge if applicable) in food menues and elsewhere. If I see in a menu "7% VAT and 10% service charge will be added" (or similar, or only one of them), I usually go somewhere else. In Germany, this practice is illegal (to display net prices before tax for the end consumer).

As far as I know, these two surcharges are added one after the other, i.e. you pay 7% VAT on 10% service charge (or the other way round, doesn't make a difference), which means a total of 17.7% more than the price displayed. I checked your prices, it's 17.0% in all cases, maybe it's up to the business how to handle this?