We are actually considering staying at one of these for two nights in November. What are your recommendations for obtaining the best possible rate? Online at HusHin.20m.com or another site, the hotel site or anothet method?

Most of the internet booking sites such as sawadee.com/ (same as HuaHin or R24) do not have rates yet for november.
The hotel web sites show some good packages as follows.

Peninsula - value the experience, del rm for $260 with breakfast

Oriental - gateway pkg, river-view rm $360 with breakfast, oneway airport transfer and 1 lunch.

To above rates add 17.7% tax/service fee.

You could book one of these packages and later check internet agents rates when the become available for something cheaper.

Andy, KimJapan has always been able to find best rates at the Pen's website. Gloria always books directly with the Oriental. I think Guen was able to get good rates through AmEx Platinum. These are two places where the usual websites don't seem to have the best rates.

For high season and higher grade rooms, a Virtuoso agent has good rates that have additional benefits like breakfast, afternoon tea and upgrade at check in based upon availability. You can get in contact with a Virtuoso agent either by booking online at www.whatahotel.com or by getting a referral through www.virtuoso.com - ask for more info and you will be assigned an agent. Most Virtuoso agents do not charge anything for the service, but some do...shop around if the one you try wants to charge you.

There was a rate of $229 + tax/service for deluxe room low season and November into high season about $262 + tax/service, that was from a U.S based operator, but don't know if that included breakfast or not. I came across them looking for a cheap price for Novotel at the airport.

Andy - as you know we have stayed at the Penn in each of the last two Februarys. Both times we shopped around for the best rate - this last time the best rate was obtained on their website ("value the experience" or similar). We may stay there again next year depending on how our schedule works out and it seems again the best rates are on their website. Do make sure your rate includes breakfast as the Penn's buffet by the river is one of the highlights of the experience of staying there.

ABA has excellent rates at some high-end hotels; I'm not sure if the Peninsula group is among them. I'm not sdure how to check on the ABA site (though I believe you can); you could also give the Peninsula group a call (866.382.8388)

Thanks to all-we will give it a look. It will be hard to abandon the ROS, if only for two days, but we will be staying there for four days later on. Maybe they will forgive us.

i have done the best the last two stays directly with the hotel via e mail or on their website....

beth wants to try the marriott....that would be fun if we joined you??

check asia rooms too

Gpanda - Do you have Amex Platinum? We got a fantastic rate through them.

For the Oriental the best rates are always direct with the hotel by phone, via their website or thru AmEx Platinum. The internet hotel website rates are always higher (often by a lot).

Andy
We stayed at the Pen last 2 novembers and last year we got the best rate thru the hotels own website. balcony room for about £140 (i think) which was inline with Asia rooms but we didnt have to pay upfront. Personally i also think it's worth paying that bit extra for the balcony as it nice to sit and watch the little boats go by... sigh i miss BKK.......

Absolutely agree about the balcony! You can also get the occasional refreshing breeze on the balcony -- a welcome event in Bangkok.

Nikki-I'm currently lobbying the Bob to come to BKK in November. If I'm successful with him, I will turn my attention to you and Muffin. We can reprise our dinner at Cyan.

Don-a gentle breeze is always appreciated. Unnfortunately, the ROS does not have balconies.

Something to note for anyone on a late night flight home from Bangkok: the Oriental has (at least for the summer) a great deal on its website which includes late check-out at 6pm. The Pen wanted to charge a half-day rate for a check-out that late.

The 6pm checkout worked was very convienent when we were catching the midnight Thaiair flight to JFK.

I was seconding Smeagol's recco for a balcony room at the Peninsula. You know, the Peninsula, the hotel someone asked about in the OPost.

We also enjoyed our balcony room at the Pen a few years ago. We had fun watching the boats AND a tiny little gecko or some type of lizard that managed to make it to about the 23rd floor. Daring little creatures... (and not frightening at all).
Carol

I've often been able to check out between 6 and 10PM at no charge at the Oriental and I have also NEVER had to wait for my room to check in -- even if I arrived at 7 in the morning.

We booked through Amex and got great rates at both on deluxe rooms, plus upgraded also to a suite in both places, free meal at Oriental and free massage at the Peninsula. Also included breakfast and late check out. The next best rate we got was direct from the hotel, which included breakfast also. The discount sites had rates on a par but they didn't include breakfast.

BB