As I reread my reply it does sound very aggressive, sorry.

<i>I don't understand how a capable person misses a step unless not paying attention or the stairs were built inadequately,sorry.</i>

I live in my family home which I purchased from the estate in 1989. I have lived their since 1962 during my childhood days. The house is on a mountain side with a series of 21,5 and twelve steps which lead from the garage to my front door.

I have gone up and down those steps a gazillion times in every kind of condition known to man and have fallen a total of three times. Once when a child running down and missing the last step stubbing the big toe.

Next in my twenties when I "missed" the last ten steps in a somersault that had me landing right on my feet on the side walk like a cat by sheer luck, nothing to do with any acrobatics, lucky day. I just had a problem getting my heart out of my throat for about an hour,lol.

And more recently a few years ago when in haste I missed the last two steps in the dark thinking I had already reached the bottom which ended up as a sprained ankle.

All three times the steps remained in place and never moved, it was me who for a split second, lost concentration and fell. It was my fault. I guess that is the message I was trying to convey.

Aloha!

PS - I guess in my case I could also blame the owners ;)

rygsa647, It's most unfortunate that you slipped and injured yourself. Unfortunate too, that the hotel management's response was not typical of the extreme courteousness & care usually shown by Thais. And most unfortunate that your medical outcomes were less than ideal.

However, with the greatest respect, I do wonder why experienced world travellers would not customarily pack a small torch, especially when travelling to places like Phuket where the footpaths are often uneven, lighting minimal and the terrain unfamiliar. In any event, this was your 3rd evening, so assuming you had observed the dark stairs prior to your slip, it may have been prudent to buy a torch after your arrival. Or moving if you felt they were unsafe then. Did you mention the darkened staircase to the management prior to your slip? Perhaps a light bulb required replacing.

It's easy to slip even in the most familiar situations; some years ago I slipped on my own stairs in broad day-light and cracked my coxyx. None of the events surrounding your medical treatment was within the Hotel's control. The management's attitude was, and is of course, most regrettable.

Without negating your distress & pain, I do think your condemnation of the hotel as "Dangerous" is rather harsh, and can only put your irritation at the staff member's lack of "proper English" down to your distress. The fact is that you were in Thailand and, although many Thais do speak English very well, many don't, so to expect "Perfect English" from someone whose English was not their first language, occupying a receptionist role might be a little unrealistic, don't you think?

I trust your travel insurance covered your medical expenses and wish you a speedy recovery.