Guenmai

Kathie: Last year, out of curiosity, I came upon an apartment at The River that was listed on AirBnB. I sent you the link of that apartment which was a one bedroom. The rental price was beyond ridiculous. I remember you commented that one could get the best room, across the river, at the Oriental for way less than the price of that apartment, which I agreed. There are a lot of places to be rented in Bangkok and I'm sure the competition is stiff, so maybe the prices just had to come down at some of these so-called luxury buildings.

I know that condos cost a lot in The River. Remember, I went to their office, located in the Shangri La Hotel, back before they had even started building the place and picked up two brochure packages and mailed one to you. The prices are quite high to purchase one. However, as far as renting one, if the owners want to rent them out, then they need to have a sensible price or I'm sure folks will look elsewhere.
I spent about 6 months researching apartments and there are a lot of really nice ones out there and for a lot less money.

Happy Travels!

Kathie

Yes, Guen, I do remember that. If we had a month to spend in Bangkok in the near future, I'd consider The River.

I guess we should get back to the original question. For someone who is new or fairly new to Bangkok, I think a serviced apartment makes much more sense. If you are an "old hand" at Bangkok, then renting from one of these places would be fine. You'd need to know enough about the city that you didn't need occasional assistance (asking the doorman to write out an address in Thai, say). Also, if I were going to spend a moth in Bangkok, as much as I love the river, staying at somewhere like Emporium would be so much easier with the great gourmet grocery store right in the building. Schlepping groceries across the river would get old, I fear.

Guenmai

As for apartment locations, when I was looking for apartments, I was to be in Bangkok for a month so had thought of renting 2-3 apartments, in different neighborhoods, during that time period. I'm not a river person, but since I have my clothes made at Cotton House, I considered the above-listed, river apartment. Then after staying in a river apartment, I had initially planned to move to a Silom apartment for a week and then to my regular neighborhood of Sukhumvit for the last two weeks. That way I could get various things done in different areas of the city without having to constantly cross town. But when the apartment on the river was booked, then I booked two weeks in a Silom apartment and two weeks in a Sukhumvit apartment. Back when I stayed in hotels, I used to also book different ones in various areas of the city.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Yestravel: Are you only considering river apartments? From your brief original post, you listed a river one, therefore I thought that maybe you only wanted to stay on the river. If you're flexible to other areas, then the one that I had originally booked, in Sukhumvit, seems really nice. Whenever I get back to BKK, I will definitely book it again if it's available during my stay.

As for serviced apartments, yes they are quite convenient. I didn't know that you were new to Bangkok. But, then again, I know folks who are new to places and go for non-serviced places. I have done such in different places. It depends on the person. It can also depend on the owners of the places and how accessible they are.

Good luck in your search.

Happy Travels!

yestravel

I appreciate all the comments. To answer some questions:
Yes, we woud like to stay on the river.
This is our second trip to BKK, so not new to the city, but by no mean experts on the city. We will be in BKK a week.
Being on the other side of the river doesn't really bother us -- or at least we don't think so! I have sent some PMs on TA to folks who have stayed in this apt complex to see what issues they may have had staying on that side of the river with the shuttle service or a ny other downsides to staying there..
Last visit we stayed at Adelphi Suites for 9 days and I don't recall one time that we used their desk services for anything. We did enjoy their buffet breakfasts though.
Having to get something written out in Thai could be an issue, one never knows. They do have staff on hand from 8am to 5 pm so I imagine they would help us. Reviews state that the owners are very helpful.

I am hesitant on this because so many of you on this board who's advice I have followed seem to be suggesting something other than what feels right to me. Will have to ponder this some more.
Again, I appreciate all the comments

Kathie

You have to do what feels right for you.

While I could certainly stay at a (non-serviced) apartment at this point (more than two dozen stays since the mid-1980s), earlier in my Bangkok travels it would have been less practical. Even now, I'm often looking for off the beaten track places in the city, and a doorman or concierge to write out addresses for me and give directions to a taxi driver has been invaluable. If you were just doing things in city - going places that are well known, you might not need those additional services. And the buffet breakfast provided at serviced apartments are wonderful. You'll have to be ready to get your own breakfasts from day one in non-serviced apartments.

Let us know what you decide and then, when you get back, let us know how it goes for you.

yestravel

Thanks, kathie, u make good points. I will certainly let folks know what we decide and provide feedback afterwards.

mohan

yestravel, Please pardon me for hyjacking your post a little bit.

Guenmai, I think I have read something very negative (in NYtimes?) about www.airbnb.com for NYC, what about www.airbnb.com for BKK, is it OK?

Guenmai

Mohan: I don't know what's going on in N.Y. City. There seems to be quite a few problems with booking apartments in N.Y. City no matter what agency is used as there have been those on other travel dot.coms who have commented about it. I personally would have no problem booking through Airbnb again. There's always going to be something negative about something these days it seems. There was negative about one of the agencies that I have used in Paris although my experience was fine as have been thousands of others'.

As far as dealing with Airbnb, when I knew that I was going to have to cancel, I first contacted the owners and of the apartment to explain the situation, out of courtesy to them, and then clicked on the cancelation button on Airbnb and within 30 minutes had two e-mails from Airbnb stating that I had been fully refunded the cost of the two apartments, minus their booking fee. It couldn't have been faster or easier than that.

They also seem to listen to suggestions. Last week, I e-mailed them commenting that the Bangkok webpage new layout looked a mess, in so many words, and that it should have been left alone as it was fine before. They e-mailed me right away with a thanks for the suggestion and when I looked at the page yesterday, it was back to normal.

As for renting anything, anywhere, there will be risks. But, I read the reviews on apartments, if there are any, and reviews on dealing with various companies. The apartment that I use in Paris had no reviews with the agency that I used, but after being on e-mail with the owner, I felt confident that all would work out well and it did. I took the leap and am glad that I did. Sometimes one has to go with one's gut and if it doesn't work out, have a Plan B. I've had to leave a many dumpy hotels in the world.

If one is nervous about the risks then it's probably better to book a hotel. At least with Airbnb, they don't pay the owners of the apartments until, I think it is, 24 or 48 hours after the renter has arrived so if there are any problems, they can hopefully be straightened out.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Yestravel: "Last visit we stayed at Adelphi Suites for 9 days and I don't recall one time that we used their desk services for anything"

I'm pretty much the same way. I just need a key and a good map and basically figure things out. So, I'd say to go with your gut and do what feels right to you. Plus, I look at having to figure some things out totally on my own as one of the adventures of travel. However, we are all different and have different preferences in travel.

Good luck with your search.

Happy Travels!

MaryW

Hi

Kathie - yes the apartment is in Watermark - there are 2 buildings with the apartment being in the riverfront one with great views. There are staff on the door who will help with groceries etc - they have very very little English but that may have changed now. For shopping the residents (or the maids) go up to the Tops supermarket at the Silom Centrepoint Its not the best of shops. You can catch the boat up and if you don't have a lot to do, catch the next one back. We just shopped on the way home. Not the most convenient really.

The boat takes about 15 minutes and if you have to wait an hour it's a pain. If we took the skytrain home we'd get off at the stop across the river and take a 40bt cab rather than wait the hour. We'd just check the timing as we got the skytrain as the boat trip is still nice when you don't have to wait too long

In the evening the Ramada boat services the Watermark which is good as it is more frequent. The apartment was great for a longer stay as we didn't want to go out ever day. There was never anyone at the pool but also if you like service you don't get drinks or anything. There was no restaurant at the building - - a few mostly Chinese outside on the road and plenty of road stalls if you are happy using them.

The apartment owners are very helpful and the wife who is Thai will help (via mobile) if you need her. They live in the same building.

I do however really enjoy the breakfast at hotels or serviced apartments. For me it makes it much more of a holiday! So especially for a week I'd choose a serviced apartment.

Yestravel. I think if you have a week and as you have been in Bkk for a fair time last visit it's not a huge problem. Staying that side of the river gives you a completely different view of the city. Just walking around is interesting If you aren't after the usual tourist sights and lots of shopping its good. It's easy to take a cab down to Chinatown etc or take the riverboats. I don't know any serviced apartments that side so a private rental is a good option. The possible inconveniences aren't that huge!

Hope whatever you choose works out well.

Kathie

Mohan, the issues in NYC have to do with the legality of short-term lets in various buildings. I expect this is an issue everywhere, some buildings having stricter criteria than others. With a building like The River in Bangkok, I expect there will eventually be a ruling one way or the other as to the legality of short-term lets. It is a risk you take with airbnb or VBRO. Many condos in Bangkok allow short-term lets.

Kathie

Hi, Mary, thank for coming back and answering questions.

Guenmai

Yes, the Bangkok situation appears to be very different from the New York one. I had also heard on other dot.com forums that N.Y. has the issue with the short-term lets in various buildings. And in Paris, the fight has been for years, to not allow short-term lets in buildings, but there are still thousands of short-term apartments to be had in Paris. But, I've been fine with my apartment rentals in various places.

Happy Travels!

yestravel

In NYC there are laws against short term rentals. As far as I know,it's a city wide ordinance, not bldg by bldg. As mentioned Paris has some regs on short term rentals, but I rent there regularly and not had a problem. I have not stayed in Airbnb and have read many good reviews and a couple negatives. I have rented apts thru VRBO and various agencies and never had an issue, but I am aware that it could happen.

Agree that figuring things out, getting lost etc is part of the adventure or fun for me when traveling.

Guenmai

I got my second Paris apartment on homeaway.com which is the same as VBRO. That's the apartment that is the regular one now. I've also used Vacation in Paris with no problems.

What's good about Airbnb, for me, is that at least it's in the same time zone if I have to contact them while still here at home as it's located right up in San Francisco. Smiles.

Happy Travels!

mohan

Thanks everyone for your response.

I have also rented an apartment in Paris from RentParis and loved every bit of it. The apt was in a gated residential building tucked away in a quiet corner in Le Marais. We were the only tourist in the building or maybe in that street. That apt reminded me of François Truffaut movies.

I usually don't worry too much until I read something here. It was someone who thought she had rented a villa in Bali, then she realized the owner never recieved the payment or something like that. It was long time ago so I don't quite remember the details but you get the picture.

The apts Guenmai listed are charming and reasonable. If things do work out with any of those apt I will report back.

Guenmai

Mohan: Here's one of the Bangkok ones that I had originally booked and paid for. I'm still on e-mail with the owners who have been really great. They've recently purchased two more apartments of which one, of the new ones, is now listed.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/609710

Happy Travels!

yestravel

Well, we decided to go with the apt rental at Riverside. I have had several PM's with posters on TA about it and hope that we are making the right decision for us. I will also add that the rental people are excellent to deal with. They have promptly responded to all my questions and have sent emails with directions and explanations. They use the driver Peter that has been recommended on this forum by hanuman so we should be ok getting to the apt from the airport.
I appreciate all the information everyone provided. Will report back on our stay at the apt. this winter.

Kathie

Which of the riverside apartments did you choose?