mileageking

7 Day Quarantine Package. All in THB after 5% discount for Marriott Bonvoy members.

Vista Room (36 sq m) 35,625
Vista Family Room (72 sq m) 57,475
Avantec Suite (78 sq m) 61,750
Avantec Family Suite (114 sq m) 78,850
Avantgarde Suite (165 sq m) 152,475

Extra person adult 25,000, child 15,000

Le Meridien Bangkok ASQ Package Info & Reviews | THAIest

Kacee

Right, sigh. Very limited Bangkok options with a balcony. We considered Anantara, but the balcony rooms were at least 2x what LM is charging.

We're arriving at 6:55 a.m., so the new method of days-counting is good news for us.

Here are the 7 night rates before 5% Bonvoy discount:

mileageking

List of properties with balcony/terrace rooms at extra cost. Thailand Quarantine Hotels with Balcony / Terrace | THAIest

Kacee

Thanks. The 7 day package at Anantara is actually pretty appealing, though still about 50% higher for the suite than LM. Kind of locked-in at this point with a COE identifying LM as ASQ.

estnet

Don't know about LM but I did email another (non Bonvoy) hotel to ask if I could stay the extra night so as to not have to pay for 2 hotel rooms on the same night - they said no problem. So if the cost is an issue I guess that's one way to recoup some of the extortionist pricing. Pretty neat deal for the hotel to be able to charge for services not rendered (1 night hotel plus 3 meals).

Kacee

Per the confirmation letter, it's a 7 night stay credit, so I think the appropriate way to look at this is that if they are required, per MOH regulations, to keep you (and feed you) for an 8th night, they do so at no additional charge.

I personally do not find the pricing excessive - for the base room, staying 8 nights, it's 4400 THB per night for full room and board plus airport car service. "Extortionate" would mean they're forcing you to pay, which clearly they are not - there are somewhere around 100 hotels in Bangkok offering ASQ, and lower rates are certainly available.

In any event, I'm absolutely delighted that we're going to get out after 7 nights, rather than 8, based on post-6 am flight arrival time into BKK.

They do need to update their marketing, as with a 7 night stay, several of the touted "benefits" such as free daily laundry, room cleaning, and outdoor access, are basically not available (since they only kick in day 6 or 7).

restlessinRNO

I agree. I don't think anyone is going to object that they paid 35,625 THB (for a Vista Room) and "only" had a 7 night stay!

estnet

I was NOT referring specifically to this hotel - I think the whole quarantine rate thing is extortionate - being forced to pay if you want to come to Thailand ( just like them forcing you to buy insurance that is worded a specific way when your existing insurance already covers but isn't worded properly).
I can stay in a much nicer hotel for much less money and chose the food I want. There are lots of reasons the hotels are "justifying" their rates and I think we can agree to feel differently about a hotel charging double what the rate would otherwise be (and again NOT referring only to LM) b/c they can. You might appreciate full room and board and airport car, I might not

ftrichard

Well, you know, I don't think anyone's got a gun to your head forcing you to go on a vacation to Thailand this year so hopefully you won't be coerced into this extortion at any quarantine hotel in the Kingdom for any number of days and you can wait it out until the world resumes something that resembles BAU where you can freely choose your hotels, airport transfers, food, and indeed destinations. But we're not there yet and restrictions exist throughout the region for well known reasons.

Personally, I'd love to be able to resume my monthly weekend breaks to Le Meridien or to head to Thailand for a month and would consider a week in quarantine at my second home to be small price to pay (literally, considering rates at LeM are usually around Baht4500 a night without full board) for some normality after the last 14 months. But, well, just not practical at the moment from Hong Kong.

IMO, I do not think Le Meridien is gouging with these rates for full board. Sure, there are better deals for nights at nice hotels in Bangkok right now but you cannot get to them without doing what you're told and going through quarantine upon arrival.

estnet

Absolutely correct. I'm glad I have a choice. Sadly, I've chosen to spend my $$$$ in another country - which I would not have chosen had Thailand made other choices -but it's their country and they get to make their choices and I get to make mine, Nevertheless it does not stop me from being sad about all the wonderful Thai's who are suffering and really missing a place I love. - maybe time to get back onto the actual topic though..............

Kacee

I'm sure it's a struggle for them. They're selling to a very limited market with ASQ, and the opportunities for marginal revenue (e.g., spa and bar are close to nil). Also, the regulations are incredibly dense and ever-changing and the effort on their end that my reservation has taken is just ridiculous - I've been corresponding with three agents, and the string is now at something like 30 emails (everything was complicated by the fact that Thailand changed the rules midway through the process, allowing 7 night stay with proof of vaccination). I basically don't begrudge them a nickel of what they're charging.

goodeats21

Agree with this. The staff at LM was great for my trip. When day-of-travel irrops forced me to delay the trip a week, they were very accommodating, coordinated in their response over several agents, and very supportive to ensure all the paperwork was available quickly for me to update COE and related.

They did get some marginal revenue from me for an order of soft drinks from the store.

Looking to get back as soon as possible. Hopefully my system has had time to clear out the residual COVID markers. Definitely don't want to do another 10 day hospital stay. HAHA

restlessinRNO

I'm on day 6 of my "7-Days Timeline" quarantine stay here. Yesterday I had my Covid-19 nasal swab test, which came back negative this morning. So I was allowed to book a one hour visit to their swimming pool / deck area this afternoon. Located on level 6, this is a small area, with recliner seats beside the pool. No swimming allowed though. My first time outdoors since admission. I was escorted each way from my room. I asked my attendant ("guard") how full the hotel was, but his English wasn't up to this question. Departure on day 8. As the virus situation in Thailand continues to worsen. On a positive note, meals here are excellent. Three choices for every meal, and every day is different.

Will08

Any particular reason people are choosing LM over Courtyard by Marriott?

From the photos the food looks exactly the same. I read somewhere that companies are being used to provide the food which could explain this. The rooms look pretty similar as well. Struggling to see what is worth paying the extra for?

ftrichard

Support for my second home in Asia and its wonderful staff who have given me such great experiences for the last ten years during a difficult time. That's would be good enough for me.