Bangkok- Mandarin Oriental VS Peninsula
Jul 11, 2009 | 10:45 am
#16
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Jul 11, 2009 | 10:58 am
#18
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at one point in response to MegatopLover's experience >
...I've stayed at the MO many times, and I notice that they are very good at scoping out who's "in" and who's "out", no matter what you are dressed like. Once you're "in", you can be wearing a toga and Elton John glasses, and they'll welcome you with open arms. The problem is signaling that you're "in", which I do by usually taking their car from the airport. Once I showed up covered in vomit (literally, Mrs. Pickles got sick on the plane, and decided to unload her concerns on me), and they treated me like the King's grandson. In your case, it seems that you were "in" but they completely dropped the radar on that one...
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 11, 2009 at 11:04 am
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:10 am
#19
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Perhaps I should arrive by taxi then as a test of their service. At a luxury hotel the mode of arrival transportation should affect service.
I don`t think a guest of any hotel should have to do anything to demonstrate that they are "in" A good hotel treats everyone properly, and knows who its staying guests are without their having to do anything.
At the rate I will be paying relative to other top BKK hotels, I would expect to be treated very well even if I chose to arrive in a tuk-tuk.
I was just at the hotel for lunch last week when I was in BKK, and was greeted very warmly when I arrived by Taxi, so I don`t anticipate any problems.
I don`t think a guest of any hotel should have to do anything to demonstrate that they are "in" A good hotel treats everyone properly, and knows who its staying guests are without their having to do anything.
At the rate I will be paying relative to other top BKK hotels, I would expect to be treated very well even if I chose to arrive in a tuk-tuk.
I was just at the hotel for lunch last week when I was in BKK, and was greeted very warmly when I arrived by Taxi, so I don`t anticipate any problems.
Last edited by MikeFromTokyo; Jul 11, 2009 at 11:22 am
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:13 am
#20
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right, but remember very mixed reports..
i believe vuittonsofstyle actually made a comment about this, comparing kurt (now departed) to GMs in los angeles, like ali (also departed) at pen, in terms of operating along these lines with in/out, celebrity-friendly, etc.
i believe vuittonsofstyle actually made a comment about this, comparing kurt (now departed) to GMs in los angeles, like ali (also departed) at pen, in terms of operating along these lines with in/out, celebrity-friendly, etc.
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:25 am
#21
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Well, I will go into the stay with the expectation that the service will be good and friendly.
I tend to react very harshly when I am made unhappy by service at hotels, so the management will soon hear from me if there are any problems.
I tend to react very harshly when I am made unhappy by service at hotels, so the management will soon hear from me if there are any problems.
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:29 am
#22
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I've always arrived by taxi and not at all noticed a lack in service. But it could be true that you get a bit of a 'celeb' factor arriving by hotel limo.
Also, if I remember correctly, Tuesday is Managers cocktail at the MO. Worth attending and dressing up for.
I just noticed this recent article about Kurt Wachtveitl's retirement. Worth a read...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1181951/
Also, if I remember correctly, Tuesday is Managers cocktail at the MO. Worth attending and dressing up for.
I just noticed this recent article about Kurt Wachtveitl's retirement. Worth a read...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1181951/
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:31 am
#23
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In my books, The Oriental joins The Plaza Athenee and Le Bristol in Paris, and the Dorchester and Savoy in London which have/had stellar reputations but were very disappointing stays for me.
After my stay, I sent Mr. Wachveitl an e-mail with feedback and all I got back was a form letter in effect telling me too-bad-so-sad.
After my stay, I sent Mr. Wachveitl an e-mail with feedback and all I got back was a form letter in effect telling me too-bad-so-sad.
But what do you think about the fact that you get a special silk robe (varying colours according to the accommodation) if you stay in a suite? I always feel slightly self conscious wearing one of these down to the pools. But then, The Oriental has a thing about status, maybe because GM Kurt Wachtveitl is married to a Thai Royal. It is all very proper.
Once a good friend of mine got married there to a well-connected Thai woman, and he blocked off the entire Author's Wing for the weekend festivities, including the rooms and the common areas. We'd stay up all hours of the night on the verandah drinking and smoking cigars, catered hand and foot by an army of staffers. I truly felt like a colonial invader, great fun. No great fun, however, for all the remaining guests (and perhaps even non-guests!) who wanted to have tea or even visit the Author's Lounge, the whole building was off-limits to non-revelers. Tough!
Jul 11, 2009 | 11:47 am
#24
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The new GM is Jan Goessing, who was most recently at the MO Washington DC and before at the Kahala during when it was being managed by MO.
I believe Kurt is staying on the Board of the Hotel owner, so he will still be around.
On a separate note, my recollection was that a good portion of the pool at the Pen BKK was shaded by the shadow of the hotel in the afternoon making it hard to find chairs in the sun. It's been awhile though, so perhaps my memory is not accurate.
To the OP, it's worth a trip over to Lebua for their skyscraper al fresco restaurants or at least a drink.
I believe Kurt is staying on the Board of the Hotel owner, so he will still be around.
On a separate note, my recollection was that a good portion of the pool at the Pen BKK was shaded by the shadow of the hotel in the afternoon making it hard to find chairs in the sun. It's been awhile though, so perhaps my memory is not accurate.
To the OP, it's worth a trip over to Lebua for their skyscraper al fresco restaurants or at least a drink.
Jul 12, 2009 | 12:56 am
#25
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Pen BKK is my #1 worldwide. Stayed on last two visits to BKK--earlier this year and in 2007. Service and accommodation--grand deluxe suite both times--were excellent. iPod dock set up in advance for my visit (compensating for lack of up to date technology); though no one has mentioned it, the integrated bedside light, a-v and hvac controls are great; wait for cross-river boat never more than a few minutes; badly jet-lagged request at 1030 pm on the night I arrived in 07, "where can I get some street food?" was handled candidly and accurately (I now know in hindsight).
Finally, as I tend to dress down quite a bit in SE Asia (as much to keep cool as any statement about informality), it would piss me off to stay in a place where I sensed even the slightest condescension based on my appearance.
Anway, MfromT, love to hear about your relative experiences at the two places.
--mcz
Finally, as I tend to dress down quite a bit in SE Asia (as much to keep cool as any statement about informality), it would piss me off to stay in a place where I sensed even the slightest condescension based on my appearance.
Anway, MfromT, love to hear about your relative experiences at the two places.
--mcz
Jul 12, 2009 | 7:51 am
#26
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Jul 12, 2009 | 8:28 am
#27
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Great room choice, my favorite in the hotel. The Author's Suites may be very large and over the top, but you can't beat the full frontal river view with balcony, and the teak floors throughout.
Jul 12, 2009 | 11:15 am
#28
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Perhaps to a subset of Americans it may seem extraordinary or even wrong, but to a world citizen and traveler, it is quite ordinary I assure you. Thank goodness for hotels like the MO BKK that preserve such things.
Jul 12, 2009 | 11:19 am
#29
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/wo...pagewanted=all
Some Britons Too Unruly for Resorts in Europe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...-rudeness.html
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-184289167.html
From Russia with riches - and rudeness
First it was Brad from Illinois with his 127kg wife trying to do Europe in a week. Then it was Fritz from Munich, hogging the sun lounger. Then it was backpacking Shane from Brisbane with the accent you could cut with a knife. Every generation of holidaymakers has its bete noire, its least favourite fellow tourist. And there is no doubt who is filling the bill this summer - Ivan from Moscow, the hotel guest from hell.
First it was Brad from Illinois with his 127kg wife trying to do Europe in a week. Then it was Fritz from Munich, hogging the sun lounger. Then it was backpacking Shane from Brisbane with the accent you could cut with a knife. Every generation of holidaymakers has its bete noire, its least favourite fellow tourist. And there is no doubt who is filling the bill this summer - Ivan from Moscow, the hotel guest from hell.
Chinese travelers' bad manners earn a chilly reception
then there is the german reputation for shorts and sandals.
or for that matter, people from arctic climates, who may be on the verge of heatstroke without shorts.
regarding your "american" vs "world citizen and traveler" comment, as well as your your other comment here
...We had resy's at La Normandie...I happened to be wearing shorts...O doorman refused to let us through the door--just kept holding up his hand. Wouldn't even address me in English, and kept talking with his colleagues in Thai throughout. After enough hand-wagging, finally he produced a brochure from beneath an ashtray stating that policy banned shorts in the lobby. We could see plenty of guests in backpacks and shorts hanging out in the lobby, so he was just trying to keep the riffraff gawkers out, or so he thought. I explained why we wanted to stop in briefly, to review the menu for our dinner reservations. He pretended not to understand and summoned someone else who had some command of English but not much (or so he let on). I told them they could do whatever they wanted with their policy but I instructed *them* to cancel our reservations on the spot. This guy was shocked and wanted us to speak to someone else or call the restaurant, then he tried to get a copy of the menu brought to us. I refused and told him that he'd have to explain what happened and why we cancelled. When we were done, Mr. Megatop lit into them in Thai (he's Thai) about being rude to foreign guests and that not being the Thai way and that he could tell they could speak English just fine and that they could take their attitude and shove it...
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 12, 2009 at 11:59 am
Jul 12, 2009 | 11:48 am
#30
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You can find bad examples in every culture, but a Luxury Hotel is a Luxury Hotel in most all countries. Maybe you have never been to the Savoy in London or the Claridge, the George V or the Meurice in Paris, the Dolder in Zurich, or similar hotels around Europe? And there are other examples every region around the world. Would you walk into a Luxury Hotel in Tokyo in flip-flops? Why should you castigate the MO in BKK for requiring the same example of luxury?