BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
As usual, I flew EVA from the west coast on this trip. I always fly Elite class (or whatever they are calling it these days) and upgraded from coach for the SFO/TPE portion to use up some of my frequent flyer miles. Elite is normally fully booked with nary an empty seat to be seen. Not so on this flight; there were 10 empty seats, including the one next to me . . . nice!
Normally with only a 2-3 hour layover in Taiwan I stroll around a bit and hit the smoking lounge a few times to replenish the nicotine levels in my body. But IтАЩd discovered on my return trip in January they had closed the smoking rooms so I opted instead to check out the EVAтАЩs lounge instead. Quite nice. Comfy chairs. Decent array of free food and drinks. And they come and let you know 30 minutes before your flight departs so you donтАЩt have to keep an eye on the clock.
Figuring itтАЩs only 3 hours from TPE to BKK, I had decided to fly coach for the last portion of the trip. ItтАЩs been decades since I flew cattle class and thought IтАЩd see how bad it was. OMG! I canтАЩt believe they actually cram people into those tiny seats! But I lucked out. They double booked my seat. So after much confusion, the flight attendant brought me a new boarding stub and escorted me up to a nice seat in Elite. Phew, disaster avoided! ThatтАЩs as close to actually flying in coach as I ever want to get again.
The flight attendants handed out a health form for you to swear you werenтАЩt sick with swine flu along with the normal immigration form prior to landing. Upon landing, I guess figuring no one was really going to admit they were ill and be quarantined, just prior to reaching the immgration area you have to file in line past a thermal scanner (assume itтАЩs reading body temperature?) And they had pulled a few people out of line as I passed by. CouldnтАЩt help notice the number of people on the plane wearing masks, too. But then those things seem to be popular in Asian countries anyway. At the airport, most of the guards you passed and all of the immigration folk had them on too.
I had a choice of several lines to pass thru immigration, none with more than 6 people in them, so getting through was a breeze (and this at 11:00 am).
IтАЩm staying at Centre Point Silom for the first time and am very impressed. For $57 on wotif.com I have a 45 sq meter room that is nicely decorated. Decent work space, tons of cabinets, a small sofa/seating area, kitchen table, full kitchen, washer/dryer, and there is both a nice sized tub and full shower stall in the bathroom. And the water pressure and temperature of the shower was perfect. TV has lots of English channels and there is both a DVD player and sound system in the room, And free internet service in the room. Breakfast was decent with enough choices to satisfy all tastes. The bed is on rollers (on a wood floor) so IтАЩm not sure if this will be a problem or fun when I use it for something other then sleeping . . . IтАЩll let ya know.
The hotel is above Robinsons (and a McDonalds, KFC, Coffee World, and TopтАЩs) with a 7/11 across the street. Maybe a minuteтАЩs walk to the BTS station. BTS to Saladang is 25 baht and a taxi back is 45 baht so fairly cheap to hit the bars at night (plus there is a money exchange rate place on Silom at the exit of the station that advertises, truthfully, they have the best exchange rates in town).
OK, no sex in this report, so a bit boring . . . but then this board has been a bit dull over the last few months anyway. Good thing Bitch Bunny spices things up occasionally. . .
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
I flew business class for the first time this year and now I understand the appeal...when I was younger the expense didn't make sense to me. Looking into a Delta SkyMiles card very soon to start accumulating points.
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlomker
I flew business class for the first time this year and now I understand the appeal...when I was younger the expense didn't make sense to me. Looking into a Delta SkyMiles card very soon to start accumulating points.
After that you never want to return to economy
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Thanks so much for the trip report and the information on The Centre Point Silom. For sure it is worth looking into for my next trip to BKK. Sounds great! BTW: Did you have to book the studio for a whole month?
FYI: Those masks are useless...really, as I'm sure you might know.
DZ
:thumbleft:
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
From the UK, economy is tolerable if you get a front row seat with the leg room.
On the overnight flight I sleep a little & it's mostly acceptable, except for a 2~3 hour unpleasant spell where I'm awake, when a business class seat would have had me fast asleep.
I don't think that justifies ┬г1000 more for the fare though.
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Quote:
Originally Posted by z909
except for a 2~3 hour unpleasant spell where I'm awake, when a business class seat would have had me fast asleep.
Splurge and buy a 10-baht Xanax tablet...same-same.
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beach Bunny
Splurge and buy a 10-baht Xanax tablet...same-same.
Can you buy Xanax over the counter in Bangkok? If so, where?
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrongpaiExpat
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beach Bunny
Splurge and buy a 10-baht Xanax tablet...same-same.
Can you buy Xanax over the counter in Bangkok? If so, where?
Yes. The generic version, mostly. Almost any pharmacy that caters to farangs.
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
[quote="DamienZ"]Thanks so much for the trip report and the information on The Centre Point Silom. For sure it is worth looking into for my next trip to BKK. Sounds great! BTW: Did you have to book the studio for a whole month?
[nope, daily rates are available on their website as well as on wotif.com (for bookings 3 months or less in advance)
Re: BKK Trip Report: The Flight, Hotel & Swine Flu
Economy vs business class.... is it worth it?
I always thought not, unless you're on a higher income.
As a small-built Asian I've always found economy to be quite spacious and rather comfortable, especially on the A380s where it feels even more spacious.... plenty of room to spread out and relax, easy to sleep, easy to work. Why fork out 3-4 times more for a business class seat?
So I always wondered what all the complaint on economy being 'unbearable' was about... then I realised, most Westerners are a lot larger. If you are tall, large-built, lanky or a bit wider around the middle, then I imagine economy seats must be torturous... really unbearable for long periods all squashed up. So I guess that makes it worth while forking out and lump for a more bearable journey.
For us smaller guys... economy is probably still the way to go until your income hits the $250k+ range, I think...
The "premium" economy might be a good option for big lanky guys on a budget to make the journey more bearable.
The Singapore Airlines business class sure gives you a lot of room...