Phuket Dilemma.

[arsenal]

I have a dilemma. I'm thinking about a three day jolly to Phuket in May. Three days is enough as after that it becomes a little boring. My dilemma is this. I want to stay at the Paradise Hotel as I love it's location and the view is fantastic. However, their website says they charge 1000 baht for joiners which is outrageous. Suggestions welcomed.

[dinagam]

Two of several alternatives :
1. Book a room for three or four. Line up all the boys for checking in. Make sure they have valid id's.
2. Book room for individual night separately. Check in as above.

Have a fun trip.

[Oliver2]

The Paradise used to be dominated by Chinese tour groups....has that changed? I agree that three days is plenty.

[arsenal]

If it is the case then I'll certainly give it a miss. Or at least avoid breakfast.

[goji]

The 1000 baht for joiners would mean I avoid them on principle. If I'm paying for a double room, there should be no extra fees.

[bucknaway]

Where does their website show the joiners fee? I can't find it.

http://www.royalparadise.com

[arsenal]

You're right Bucknaway. I can't find it either now but it was definitely there because I e-mailed them about it.

[Oliver2]

If you must stay in the Paradise Complex (chaq'un a son gout) and are prepared to accept basic but clean accommodation and facilities then Rendez-vous may fit the bill. It has the distinction of serving the best coffee and croissants I've ever had in Thailand (come to think of it, the only decent croissants) and though situated in the middle of the Complex, it's quiet. It's a gay guest house and is French-owned (or was when we were there five years ago) and very economical. However, five years is a long time in hotel management....

[newalaan2]

I have a dilemma. I'm thinking about a three day jolly to Phuket in May. Three days is enough as after that it becomes a little boring. My dilemma is this. I want to stay at the Paradise Hotel as I love it's location and the view is fantastic. However, their website says they charge 1000 baht for joiners which is outrageous. Suggestions welcomed.


If you must stay in the Paradise Complex (chaq'un a son gout) and are prepared to accept basic but clean accommodation and facilities then Rendez-vous may fit the bill. It has the distinction of serving the best coffee and croissants I've ever had in Thailand (come to think of it, the only decent croissants) and though situated in the middle of the Complex, it's quiet. It's a gay guest house and is French-owned (or was when we were there five years ago) and very economical. However, five years is a long time in hotel management....

It's a few years since I've stayed at Rendezvous too, but enjoyed it ok when I did, last stays in the Complex were at Sundowners which had a couple of large rooms with balcony. But last trip in Oct last year we stayed outside the Complex just along the road at C&N Hotel as recommended by Colmx and found it ideal. Big VIP room was excellent with balcony at about Bt1100 per night (Oct low season rate) couple minutes walk to Complex.

Like Oliver, we found 3/4 days fine for short trip even with hired car (at airport) for getting around day time. It had been a while since we had visited Patong and thoroughly enjoyed a quick break there, and will return later this year. Reasonable flight times and cost on Thaismileair from Suvarnabhumi. Yes Paradise Hotel and Complex had throngs of Chinese coming and going but they begin to fade into the background after a while.

Would definitely recommend a short trip to Phuket for Arsenal, still worth the effort in my view.

[arsenal]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Paradise Hotel never got back to me regarding joiner fees so I'm still undecided.

[arsenal]

OK. This is the reply I received from Paradise Hotel.

"Dear .......................
Please be informed that hotels policy will be charge joiner fee at 1000 THB per person per night exclude breakfast and hotel's facilities use.

Best regards
Patcharee"

So that's that out.

[dinagam]

Don't give up just yet, arsenal.
Why not book a room for triple or quadruple occupancy? Check in together.
Let them marvel at your handsome friends and your awesome vitality and virility.

[Blacktouch]

Or just don't stay there and surport a hotel who wants to charge 1000 THB per joiner. And excluding breakfast and hotel's facilities use.

[TaoR]

There is a hotel in Bangkok, The Star of Sathorn, that charges:

"DURIANS
Please refrain from bringing durians into the hotel’s premises. (THB 1,000 Fine)"

Joiners are at no charge....

[Nirish guy]

That’s durian thing is actually quite common TaoR and I’ve seen that very same sign in many hotels both in Thailand and several other Asian Countries. I’ve s fairly useless sense of smell so can never quite understand the freaking out they all do over Durians but I’m told by enough Asian friends for it to count that they’re quite right and that Durians stink the place out in no time of brought into a room and the smell lingers long after the guest has left.

[Blacktouch]

Even with the husk intact, the notorious Asian fruit has such a potent stench that it's banned

[bobsaigon2]

My partner and I were sharing a lift with a Korean lady and her daughter, neither of them carrying a shopping bag so I could not imagine where the powerful aroma was coming from. It was as if a durian had just been sliced open. I asked my partner, "Do you smell anything?" Surprise! Korean lady understood English, and said, "Oh, sorry, I love it so much". So we were trapped for 23 floors with the durian odor radiating from this lady.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

For a moment I thought the punchline might have been about kimchi.