Thailand Family Trip Report - Mar-Apr '09 - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khao Lak, Bangkok

[bostonbali]

Great report, Yossi, thanks for sharing!

Sounds like we almost crossed paths several times - we were following you most of the way (Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai), and were actually in BKK on the 12th (your last day there).

Thanks also for posting the pics of the Chiang Rai Le Meridien when you got there, made it easy for us to anticipate what the hotel would be like before we checked in.

Sounds like you had a great guide. We did a self-guided tour in our own rental, but I think we lost a bit by not having that local connection.

Bostonbali

[hiyo]

Great report and photos. Thanks for taking the time to share this.

[restlessinRNO]

yosithezet - Great trip report and photos! I was amused to read that you met karenkay and her husband on your travels. FTers are everywhere!

[yosithezet]

Thanks for all the nice comments. A friend read through this and said that he is amazed that I'd spend the time to record all of this. I told him that if it wasn't for other people recording what they'd done, we'd never done this ourselves!

Originally Posted by bostonbali

Sounds like we almost crossed paths several times - we were following you most of the way (Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai), and were actually in BKK on the 12th (your last day there).

Aww, too bad you didn't post in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...up-thread.html , we could have met up!

Originally Posted by bostonbali

Thanks also for posting the pics of the Chiang Rai Le Meridien when you got there, made it easy for us to anticipate what the hotel would be like before we checked in.

I have a few more pics I want to add to the Chiang Rai thread. I think we were all in the same boat since it is such a new property. I can't wait to get back to that area.

Originally Posted by bostonbali

Sounds like you had a great guide. We did a self-guided tour in our own rental, but I think we lost a bit by not having that local connection.

I don't like big, organized tours and had never hired a private guide like this. It was wonderful traveling with him but also wonderful exploring by ourselves. I'd like to try to use him again to explore further west towards Mae Hong San at some point.

Originally Posted by restlessinRNO

yosithezet - Great trip report and photos! I was amused to read that you met karenkay and her husband on your travels. FTers are everywhere!

Yes, we are! In fact, after dropping the family at the airport I ended meeting up with Dr. HFH for a drink and a nosh.

[Kalboz]

Originally Posted by yosithezet

Without y'all I'd have never heard of Starwood Privilege and not been able to save so much on the food and beverages or ...

yosi, some questions regarding the Starwood Privilege. Did you have the Thailand Starwood Privilege card? Or did you use another country's card? Here is what I got from SP

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your interest in Starwood Privilege. Please find attached a copy of our benefit, participating hotels and an application form Year 2009.

Should you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. (for the person who have resident in Thailand only)

Membership fee is 7900 THB net per year.

Yours sincerely,

Ms Jenny
Starwood Privilege Thailand

Does this mean that I have to be a resident of Thailand to get the Thai Starwood Privilege card?

Also, were the rates offered here https://www.starwoodhotels.com/promo...egory=GENDRE_R better than the Starwood Privilege accommodation rates? I went through the Starwood Privilege accommodation booking and although most offer free breakfast in the room rate, it doesn't reflect so when clicking on room discription/amenities in the next step!

Any thoughts? What was your preference?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[yosithezet]

Originally Posted by Kalboz

yosithezet, some questions regarding the Starwood Privilege. Did you have the Thailand Starwood Privilege card?

I do have a Thailand SP card.

Originally Posted by Kalboz

Does this mean that I have to be a resident of Thailand to get the Thai Starwood Privilege card?

That is what it means.

Originally Posted by Kalboz

Also, were the rates offered here https://www.starwoodhotels.com/promo...egory=GENDRE_R better than the Starwood Privilege accommodation rates?

They were not better than the voucher rates. The voucher rates included all taxes so even if the ZxR/ZxH rates were better, you have to add in the taxes and the inflexible, prepaid nature of those rates.

Originally Posted by Kalboz

I went through the Starwood Privilege accommodation booking and although most offer free breakfast in the room rate, it doesn't reflect so when clicking on room discription/amenities in the next step!

The voucher rates are typically cheaper than the rates you are getting with the vouchers. The difference is that I could only up to 4 consecutive nights with the voucher at an individual property. So at the LM KL I used the voucher for 4 nights and then a Z3R for 3 nights. The Z3R was cheaper than booking the rate on the SP booking site.

I did a lot of comparisons and rebooking in the months leading up to the trip. I even screwed up royally as I had booked the Z3R after the cancellation dates for some C&Ps had passed. I was lucky in that my earlier emails with the Asst. Manager made my intentions clear and they were willing to waive the cancellation restrictions.

Some examples:

           StarPriVo   Z3x      Z4x       Z5x
LeM KL     3500        5214     6600      6930
LeM CM     3500        3354     3948.75   n/avail
LeM CR     3500        3900     4387.5    n/avail

The above prices take into account the average price per night with taxes. The only time that the voucher wasn't the best rate was Z3x at LeM CM. However, in the end I only needed 2 nights so I didn't use it in the end. As for breakfast, because of the SPG Plat status, my wife and I received breakfast. That just left the kids and that was included for us in each property other than the LeM CM which is documented above.

[Rampo]

Excellent report. Sounds exhausting and very reminiscent of my first couple of trips to Thailand. These days my trips are much slower paced.

I had to laugh at your line about the BKK-CNX flight:

It is a good thing we had lunch beforehand since the TG light meal was not filling.

Filling or not, the fact that Thai Air continues to offer ANY type of meal on a less-than-one-hour flight always surprises me.

[RichardKopf]

Originally Posted by Kalboz

yosi, some questions regarding the Starwood Privilege. Did you have the Thailand Starwood Privilege card? Or did you use another country's card? Here is what I got from SP

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your interest in Starwood Privilege. Please find attached a copy of our benefit, participating hotels and an application form Year 2009.

Should you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. (for the person who have resident in Thailand only)

Membership fee is 7900 THB net per year.

Yours sincerely,

Ms Jenny
Starwood Privilege Thailand

Does this mean that I have to be a resident of Thailand to get the Thai Starwood Privilege card?

Also, were the rates offered here https://www.starwoodhotels.com/promo...egory=GENDRE_R better than the Starwood Privilege accommodation rates? I went through the Starwood Privilege accommodation booking and although most offer free breakfast in the room rate, it doesn't reflect so when clicking on room discription/amenities in the next step!

Any thoughts? What was your preference?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I am also a Starwood Privilege member. These programs are offered in various parts of the world but I like the Thai one best. The is THB7900 and they will sell it to anyone.

On top of the Dining and Accommodation discount benefits, you receive about 30 vouchers. This year it is THB2000 free dining vouchers at each Thai Starwood property. If you visit Thailand regularly, this pays for the card, alone as you get 8000bt of fod in Bangkok, plus another 20000bt around Thailand.

There are fixed rate vouchers at most Thai hotels which are good value in high season and a bunch of other discount spa and party vouchers.

The last voucher is 1 free night at a partiipating (most) Thai property. This clearly says that you must show your Thai residency status or ID card but I have received this benefit from the Westin BKK and Sheraton Pattaya and I am not a resident. In the worst case, the Privilege office is in the Westin and they will always honour the voucher. If not, call Jenny.

Hope that helps.

[LH738]

Great report & pics.

[SanDiego1K]

Great report. I particularly enjoyed learning about Chiang Rai, as we have yet to go and it is on our radar screen for next year.

I was fascinated to read about your guide who specializes in tours for Israelis. That seems to be a very sound business model for him.

[mordecai]

Thanks for the report and pictures! It takes me back to my trip to Thailand last year around the same time.

[Kalboz]

Originally Posted by yosithezet

I do have a Thailand SP card.

...

The voucher rates are typically cheaper than the rates you are getting with the vouchers. The difference is that I could only up to 4 consecutive nights with the voucher at an individual property. So at the LM KL I used the voucher for 4 nights and then a Z3R for 3 nights. The Z3R was cheaper than booking the rate on the SP booking site.

...

I did a lot of comparisons and rebooking in the months leading up to the trip. I even screwed up royally as I had booked the Z3R after the cancellation dates for some C&Ps had passed. I was lucky in that my earlier emails with the Asst. Manager made my intentions clear and they were willing to waive the cancellation restrictions.

Originally Posted by RichardKopf

I am also a Starwood Privilege member. These programs are offered in various parts of the world but I like the Thai one best. The is THB7900 and they will sell it to anyone.

...

There are fixed rate vouchers at most Thai hotels which are good value in high season and a bunch of other discount spa and party vouchers.

The last voucher is 1 free night at a partiipating (most) Thai property. This clearly says that you must show your Thai residency status or ID card but I have received this benefit from the Westin BKK and Sheraton Pattaya and I am not a resident. In the worst case, the Privilege office is in the Westin and they will always honour the voucher. If not, call Jenny.

Hope that helps.

Thank you yosithezet & RichardKopf for your help here.

I just received the nice little Starwood Privilege membership packet

I do, however, have another quick question: How do you book rooms using these vouchers? Phone, online, or in-person? Maybe a silly question but I can't find any instructions in the packet on how to use the accommodation vouchers.

Thank you again, you guys are awesome

[yosithezet]

Originally Posted by Kalboz

Thank you yosithezet & RichardKopf for your help here.

I just received the nice little Starwood Privilege membership packet

I do, however, have another quick question: How do you book rooms using these vouchers? Phone, online, or in-person? Maybe a silly question but I can't find any instructions in the packet on how to use the accommodation vouchers.

Thank you again, you guys are awesome

I just email the woman who sent you the packet. She's taken care of all of my requests within a day or two. You could also register for their website and use the phone numbers there to make reservations.

http://privilege.starwoodhotels.com/

Probably best if we move the questions about the program to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-thailand.html

[Kalboz]

Originally Posted by yosithezet

I just email the woman ...

Probably best if we move the questions about the program to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-thailand.html

10-4 ... let's move the discussion to its proper thread. I should utilize FT's search engine more often.

Thanks again ... the drinks are on me

[vecta]

Awesome TR yosithezet, nicely sized pictures and super descriptive commentry.

Ahh how I miss the land of smiles...