A Mystery
Apr 7th, 2006, 05:59 AM
#1
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A Mystery
Can anyone tell me why people who must spend mega bucks a night for somewhere to stay care one way or another about whether it is cheaper to leave your surplus luggage at the airport or at an hotel?
If you are paying $200 + for a room what does it matter to you if it's 70 baht a day for a suitcase. Even if you are away for 14 days (unlikely) the bill would be less than $20.
How come it is so important to you to save $20? The sort of amount I am sure you gladly pay for an overpriced drink.
If you are paying $200 + for a room what does it matter to you if it's 70 baht a day for a suitcase. Even if you are away for 14 days (unlikely) the bill would be less than $20.
How come it is so important to you to save $20? The sort of amount I am sure you gladly pay for an overpriced drink.
Apr 7th, 2006, 08:32 AM
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I sort of agree with you, Fuzzy. As one of those who spends "megabucks" on hotel rooms, I don't think it matters much to spend that small amount for baggage storage especially if it can be a time-saver while on vacation. However, if you are returning to the same hotel, it makes sense to store your stuff there for free. I think that is the point people are trying to make.
Apr 8th, 2006, 11:46 AM
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Could be that people just see different costs based on different expected value.
Now me, I have a hard time justifying $200 a night for a room almost and can't see why I would in SE Asia, after having seen what was available for less than half that. Paid $5 per night for a double in Kampong Chhnang in January, so we're fairly flexible. But $20 for 14 days luggage storage is something I probably wouldn't even think twice about, just hand it over and move on.
A funny thing happened sometime after wandering around Bangkok for the first time. My mind got wrapped around the economy of scale, I think. Suddenly caught myself, after a few days on BKK pricing for whatever, going "what? 40 baht??" Then stopping to realize that this was like $2 bucks for things that would cost 2-5 times as much at home. Strange things happen to the mind sometimes. Maybe something like that's where it comes from?
People getting used to low prices on the ground, but hotels being booked from home when the mind is still in the West and the charge going to credit card, the bill dealt with again when back in a world where $200 per night is more reasonable?
Now me, I have a hard time justifying $200 a night for a room almost and can't see why I would in SE Asia, after having seen what was available for less than half that. Paid $5 per night for a double in Kampong Chhnang in January, so we're fairly flexible. But $20 for 14 days luggage storage is something I probably wouldn't even think twice about, just hand it over and move on.
A funny thing happened sometime after wandering around Bangkok for the first time. My mind got wrapped around the economy of scale, I think. Suddenly caught myself, after a few days on BKK pricing for whatever, going "what? 40 baht??" Then stopping to realize that this was like $2 bucks for things that would cost 2-5 times as much at home. Strange things happen to the mind sometimes. Maybe something like that's where it comes from?
People getting used to low prices on the ground, but hotels being booked from home when the mind is still in the West and the charge going to credit card, the bill dealt with again when back in a world where $200 per night is more reasonable?
Apr 8th, 2006, 12:16 PM
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Are you talking to me, fuzzy? I was the one who responded to someone's questions about luggage storage at the airport with prices and with the note that hotels and guesthouses usually store luggage for free or a small fee. (If you have a question of someone, it usually works best to respond on that thread.)
When I answer a question on this board, I usually don't know what someone's budget is. I try to offer enough information that it covers a range of budgets, and hope that the person will let me know if I haven't included information that applies to their situation. Apparently, I gave enough information, as I got a thank you back, but not another question about it from the OP.
If you are asking a personal question of me about what I spend my money on and how I decide where to leave my luggage... well, I sometimes do pay almost $200 a night for a large suite in Bangkok, but since my traveling companion and I split the cost, it's really under US$100 a night for me. I make my decisions on where to store my luggage dependant upon the particular situation. Last year, I started in Bangkok for a few days, then flew to Borneo, leaving some luggage at the hotel, and after close to two weeks, flew back to Bangkok and stayed at the same hotel, and was re-united with my luggage. A couple of years ago, I started in Bangkok, but was not staying in Bangkok again even though I was flying out of Bangkok, so I left my luggage at the airport. I've done both, and can afford for the decision to be a matter of convenience.
We all chose to spend our money differently. For instance, I can't imagine paying US$20 for a drink, but apparently that's an extravagance you would enjoy. If that's what you'd like to spend your money on, please do. It's your vacation, after all.
When I answer a question on this board, I usually don't know what someone's budget is. I try to offer enough information that it covers a range of budgets, and hope that the person will let me know if I haven't included information that applies to their situation. Apparently, I gave enough information, as I got a thank you back, but not another question about it from the OP.
If you are asking a personal question of me about what I spend my money on and how I decide where to leave my luggage... well, I sometimes do pay almost $200 a night for a large suite in Bangkok, but since my traveling companion and I split the cost, it's really under US$100 a night for me. I make my decisions on where to store my luggage dependant upon the particular situation. Last year, I started in Bangkok for a few days, then flew to Borneo, leaving some luggage at the hotel, and after close to two weeks, flew back to Bangkok and stayed at the same hotel, and was re-united with my luggage. A couple of years ago, I started in Bangkok, but was not staying in Bangkok again even though I was flying out of Bangkok, so I left my luggage at the airport. I've done both, and can afford for the decision to be a matter of convenience.
We all chose to spend our money differently. For instance, I can't imagine paying US$20 for a drink, but apparently that's an extravagance you would enjoy. If that's what you'd like to spend your money on, please do. It's your vacation, after all.
Apr 8th, 2006, 03:37 PM
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Kathie, You are so right. everyone has different ideas of what they want to spend their money on, splurging on some things & stinting on others. Those on this forum obviously choose to spend money on travel, but many who could afford to travel choose to join an expensive golf club instead -- or buy a second house at the beach. To each his/her own!
Apr 19th, 2006, 09:55 PM
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yeadonite,
I just saw your question. Not the quickest for noticing things. Actually, I haven't been adding reports on Fodors for a little while, but still enjoy reading over hear sometimes.
I started a report on another site, but haven't finished, due to work stuff (and because I'm getting distracted on another trip idea). Can't post the site as Fodor's is not too keen on it's name being mentioned and has banned others for posting the URL...
But the short version is that we hit Bangkok for awhile, did a lot of the normal first timer things. Did try to just relax and walk a little too and liked browsing the amulet market (really watching people browsing the amulet market). Then flew to the north where we drove ourselves in a rental truck and saw the Golden Triangle area, Mae Sai, Mae Salong (a favorite) and Chiang Mai.
Flew to Siem Reap, saw the temples. Fell for Cambodian attitudes and Khmer curries.
Caught crazy, potholed overland ride to Battambang via Sisophon. Stopped at Wat Norea Peaceful Childrens Home there, which is a orphanage/childrens hiv hospice run by monks. They're educating other monasteries on how to educate against these problems. I liked that it's locals successfully helping locals and also thought that it's in an area not as accessible to tourism dollars, so we wanted to see for ourselves and help a bit.
Found a bus to Phnom Pehn from there, but jumped off last minute at Kampong Chhnang, which we really enjoyed. Floating village that's not prepped for visitors, but we found a ride when one of our moto drivers talked to a young girl who was interested in arranging a ride on her father's boat. Also the motos took us out to a local pottery cooperative outside of town, in a village they were from. Town has a long reputation for it's unpainted red clay pottery, so we thought it was a good place to actually shop for something too.
Finally to Phnom Penh which we liked and thought gets a bad rap. Enjoyed sitting out on the wall on Sisowath Quay and had a lot of fun conversations with people who came up and wanted to talk. Stayed at the FCC, went a little colonial up on the terrace with drinks. Lousy food though, I thought, but a brilliant place to veg under a ceiling fan.
I just saw your question. Not the quickest for noticing things. Actually, I haven't been adding reports on Fodors for a little while, but still enjoy reading over hear sometimes.
I started a report on another site, but haven't finished, due to work stuff (and because I'm getting distracted on another trip idea). Can't post the site as Fodor's is not too keen on it's name being mentioned and has banned others for posting the URL...
But the short version is that we hit Bangkok for awhile, did a lot of the normal first timer things. Did try to just relax and walk a little too and liked browsing the amulet market (really watching people browsing the amulet market). Then flew to the north where we drove ourselves in a rental truck and saw the Golden Triangle area, Mae Sai, Mae Salong (a favorite) and Chiang Mai.
Flew to Siem Reap, saw the temples. Fell for Cambodian attitudes and Khmer curries.
Caught crazy, potholed overland ride to Battambang via Sisophon. Stopped at Wat Norea Peaceful Childrens Home there, which is a orphanage/childrens hiv hospice run by monks. They're educating other monasteries on how to educate against these problems. I liked that it's locals successfully helping locals and also thought that it's in an area not as accessible to tourism dollars, so we wanted to see for ourselves and help a bit.
Found a bus to Phnom Pehn from there, but jumped off last minute at Kampong Chhnang, which we really enjoyed. Floating village that's not prepped for visitors, but we found a ride when one of our moto drivers talked to a young girl who was interested in arranging a ride on her father's boat. Also the motos took us out to a local pottery cooperative outside of town, in a village they were from. Town has a long reputation for it's unpainted red clay pottery, so we thought it was a good place to actually shop for something too.
Finally to Phnom Penh which we liked and thought gets a bad rap. Enjoyed sitting out on the wall on Sisowath Quay and had a lot of fun conversations with people who came up and wanted to talk. Stayed at the FCC, went a little colonial up on the terrace with drinks. Lousy food though, I thought, but a brilliant place to veg under a ceiling fan.
Apr 20th, 2006, 02:40 PM
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Clifton - Glad you had the chance to visit more of Cambodia than just the overpriced town of Siem Reap and its famous Angkor Wat temples. So many just go to the temples and see nothing more of the country. If you go again head south of Phnom Penh and vist the laidback towns of Kamport and Kep and maybe the beaches of Sihanoukville.
Great post.
Great post.
Apr 22nd, 2006, 12:22 PM
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Thanks Scotters...
Yes, it was nice to get away from Siem Reap for a bit. I mean, I love history and architecture, so I enjoyed the temples as you'd imagine. I liked the people, particularly the kids, around the SR area too. But it was good to have some chats with people who just wanted to talk and not sell. Had a lot of fun along the road in Kampong Chhnang after dark one night, when a group of about 7 motorbikes pulled up along our walk back to the guesthouse, loaded to the gills with teen boys, all about 16-18 yrs old. One was a young monk in robes. They just said they'd never met a foriegner and wanted to practice their English they'd been learning in school. Stood out there for an hour or so, each politely taking their turn to ask questions. Made my night and I'm sure I had as much fun as they seemed to be having.
I wanted to get to Kampot and points south... but as this was a first trip, you know how people try to do too much. We did too, and were really enjoying Thailand until we got to Cambodia. Looking back, when people ask where we went this year (friends who, I think, tend to question our judgement in choosing destinations!) I find myself saying "Cambodia!... oh yeah, and Thailand too". I know it won't be the next trip, as Morocco is already in the works, but I'm sure we'll go back to Cambodia and we'll make the effort to get to Kampot and Kep. Not sure about the beach... not a beachy person... but I have heard good things about the easy-going south.
Thanks for posting back to both of you.
