Kalboz

For the 3 weeks we were there most properties were at almost full capacity, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese tours are all over the place, and the US$ went from 35.25 bahts to 34.75 at SuperRich. Marriott properties that we usually get in the 3K baht were over 5K baht during the same 3 weeks. SPG's were stratospheric and beyond approach. We burnt many Marriott, IHG, and some Hilton points on hotel redemption. Lucked out on the Hilton 40% off APAC-wide sale and put the newly comped HH Diamond status to test.

Prices in Bangkok in general comparing to last year were up 10-50% on most items we purchase, including street food. The same exact gifts (pillow covers, scarfs, etc.) we purchased last year for 300-350 Baht at Jim Thompson's Outlet were 550-820 Baht each, more than doubled. The cheap folkloric gifts sold by street vendors along Ratchdamri in front of CentralWorld were nowhere to be found - they are all gone! The souvenir/luggage shop that was on the food court floor at Big C Ratchdamri where we bought Pashmina in bulk for 80 Baht apiece was gone to be replaced by a tiny corner shop on the first floor that sells the same sarongs for 250 Baht each and wouldn't haggle on the price regardless of many items we bought!!! Ended up going to Naraya-Sukhumvit 24 for gift items.

Maybe our situation is anecdotal, but Thailand seems economically healthy especially in the tourism sector, as we observed. So I don't see what this article is talking about!