simpsonc510 Thank you!!

I will google, "my home away from home serviced apartments" in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

12345 :)

oh wait. Adelphi.....lol!

OK, so...I just booked.....via "the pl negotiator".

Amari Watergate. Totally random.

I'm pretty sure we avoided the 17% tax, unless, they figure in to the cost. Wahoo. So, I can work on paying off the trip, before it begins. :)

"onetwothreefourfive on Nov 3, 12 at 9:39am
Guenmai~how do YOU go about arranging serviced apartments? (not on airbnb)
Thanks! "

If I'm staying in a serviced apartment, then I contact the serviced apartment building directly. I've contacted a long list of them over the last month and a half, as at first I hadn't decided if I'd stay at my regular serviced apartment building, stay at a new serviced apartment building, or book a non-serviced apartment.

Personally, I didn't want to have to pre-pay my serviced apartment stay and a lot of the buildings that I contacted wanted it prepaid. I've never prepaid my stay at my regular building and I hope that I won't have to prepay this coming stay if I decide to stay there at the end of my trip. I didn't mind pre-paying the Airbnb stay as I've read the cancellation policy and it's quite flexible. I never know if I might have to cancel or not. I did buy travel insurance last night though, as I always do.

I contacted my serviced apartment building again last week, but haven't heard back from them yet. Some serviced apartment buildings that I contacted I never heard back from. My dealings with booking on Airbnb were a lot faster as the owners were very prompt and all of them, except one, got back to me right away and were on message with me regularly.

Happy Travels!

"Hanuman on Nov 3, 12 at 9:47am
Most hotel booking sites, except the discounted sites, have full refund dates so why do you want to pay 6 months in advance? Also, most airlines tickets can be reserved without payment so why did you feel the need to prepay so far in advance?"

She's booking the hotel for next month, from what I understand. As for flights, I jump on them when I see an airfare that's decent. Flights go fast and if not jumped on, then they can easily be lost. But, I wouldn't book a really high airfare really far in advance. I'd keep shopping around.

I book most of my flights, to Europe though, nearly a year in advance. And when I used to vacation in BKK during Dec/Jan, they were also booked way in advance.

Happy Travels!

You didn't avoid the 17.7% tax and service, it was simply included in the price you paid.

Even better. :)

This way, the cost is do-able for us, and if we travel to Chiang Mai, we can have a home base without costing an arm and a leg. (just the arm)

Anyway, it wasn't THE best deal, but after reading Guenmai's comment about not settling for a hostel, which I did in China a few years ago, I decided to compromise for a decent 5* place.

Now, we can "chill-out" for a while, and know that at least we are getting to and from BKK as well as staying there without wondering where and how.

Goodnight!

Have you visited Thailand before?

if not check out this list

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...hailand.cfm?64

I have an up-to-date tetanus, but not the Hep A and B. Looks like a trip to the clinic may be in order. It is midnight here, and my DH is asleep. I'll check to see if he has had ANY shots. Unsure at this time of night. lol.

12345

P.S. I love the help here. and the 1-20. Fab.

I'm not so sure that Amari Watergate is 5* but if you are happy with the deal, that's what counts. The location is good for shopping in and around Pratunam Market, and it across the (busy) street from my fave PLATINUM Fashion Mall. It's a little bit of a hike to the sky train, but do-able. I walk TO Platinum from the sky train station at Chit Lom all the time (thru the huge mall Central World).

Since this is your location, check out Red Sky on top of Central World (top floor of Centara Grande Hotel). Red Sky is a great outdoor restaurant/bar. Good food. Great views. Much more reasonable than Sky Bar/Sirocco at State Tower!!!

Make sure you visit these places while you are in Thailand,

1. The Grand Palace in Bangkok
2. The floating market
3. Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo
4. Nong Nooch Village
5. Bang Pa-in Palace
6. The Ruins

Enjoy your stay!

Hmmm, Christian, I've seen at least 3 threads here where you are listing the same tourist places. Are you promoting them or something???

No, I just want share these beautiful places, since I've gone to each and one of them.

Why don't you write a trip report Christian? You seem to be copying and pasting your "list" on every old thread about Thailand. If you write a report then people read about your experiences in detail.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. :)

I thought it was 2, but it is 3 weeks away. Gearing up and getting ready. Most of my attention has not been on the trip, as I've been sooo busy at work. This week our work load will slow down, and I'll devote more time.

Some fodors folks have exacting requirements before giving suggestions. We don't have a set plan. My friend from 20 yrs ago lives there. We are going to be shown around via her, and knowing what's what before going is helpful.

the arari is not 5* but probably 3.5 or 4*. it is an ok location. make sure to spend some time in platinum fashion mall directly across the street.

you will not avoid the 17% tax/service.

have fun.

the service fee is included in the priceline cost of the hotel. I think. (I hope)

rhkkmk~ You are right. I looked at the bill. The tax is $150 US. WAH! WAH WAH.

I cry...

Hey, guess what? I'm starting my malaria medication tonight....wahoo.

Hoping to catch up with you sometime in Bangkok!