Originally Posted by
Nagasaki Joe
Kind of creepy staff behavior, what's going on here? Can't ever remember receiving that kind of service at a hotel before and wouldn't want to return if I did. Perhaps foreigners are viewed as potential COVID carriers that need to be monitored?
Creepy is unfair, just highly attentive and with a more "classical" or even colonial style than I personally react best to. I was on the same floor as some of the top level suites so there was almost always a Butler in the hallway up to something or other as well as a cleaner who as I mentioned had a habit of about turning and running into the cleaner's closet/ room whenever I was out and about. The closest I'd seen to this was at the Conrad Tokyo where I remember (pre-Covid) staff would often be in the elevators but then conspicuously get out if you then entered (nowadays things would be different - I generally don't share elevators with anyone).
I'm clearly a bit younger and brought up a bit differently to the MO BKK's core clientele (who by the way make great people watching) and simply react better to slightly less formal and deferential luxury. I'll also note that I didn't get anything particularly welcoming or customised in the way that
escape4 experienced (e.g. leaving Bamboo bar to get to Le Normandie could have been an opportunity for someone to proactively volunteer to show me the way instead of me having to go find the Concierge desk, be asked for my room number and whether I have a reservation before getting shown up). Still, an interesting experience, and the MO clearly know what they're doing. I'm sure if your family has been visiting for 80+ years it's a very special place indeed.