Yeah so I started a food channel on YouTube back middle of 2019. At the time I was working on some ideas for a documentary. I had a computer and software to edit said documentary. But I was missing the most important piece.
Video footage for said documentary.
So I cobbled together some of my favorite easy food recipes and uploaded them to YouTube. I continued sparingly through the year just learning the art of editing. Then one day one of my videos about making Beef Chow Fun gave me a huge boost in subscribers.
I gotta admit. Hitting past 1000 subscribers was exhilarating to say the least. Yet nerve wracking at the same time. Because at the moment I’m just really an idiot, with an audience.
This blog is and always will be about TRAVEL
But food is forever intwined with travel. You still gotta eat where ever and which ever corner of the globe you end up on.
And my cooking channel is called Wally Cooks Everything and I’ve been working quite hard on it. Currently I am starting to integrate a bit of travel videos into that cooking channel since the world is opening back up for travel.
My most recent trip was to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Where I picked up some Indian spices and tried to pick apart the ingredients of some of my favorite dishes like the Nasi Lemak with fried chicken.
And I always visit the city’s Chinatown. If you love interesting Chinese foods with a touch of Malaysian flair you will love checking out the city’s Chinatown. Just be sure you pick up a nice cold bottle of soy bean milk. You can’t miss the soy bean milk vendor or the sweet old lady selling multi flavored mochi while strolling down Petaling Street!
I’m still in Thailand so I will be making some Thai centric travel videos also like these where I showcase one of my favorite spicy boat noodle restaurant.
As you can see from my blog posts on hotel reviews now I also make hotel reviews in video format like the short vacation we took to Pattaya and stayed at the Grande Center Point Hotel.
I’m not the greatest at video editing. But I like to think I’m getting better. Still a long way to go I know.
Regardless making videos to me is a lot of fun. And for those of you that follow this blog and enjoy the content please check out some of the videos on my channel.
I will still update this blog once in awhile when I have the time or something interesting to stay. So thank you all for coming along.
It’s a Great Time to Check Out 5 Star Family Friendly Hotels in Pattaya…
Especially if you’re in Thailand right now. The Thai government has worked out a tourism scheme where Thai nationals are offered discounts for hotel stays, to help the all important tourism industry afloat.
My wife and I decided since our baby girl is a little bit older it’s time to expand her travel horizons. We found a great deal for a night at Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien Pattaya, which means it’s time for another Thai hotel review.
Downside is we had to go right at the tail end of another long Thai holiday weekend. Which from my experience could be a bad thing.
So how was our room at Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien Pattaya? Did we have to fight through a vicious mob of tourists waiting to get their rooms?
How was the breakfast?
You’re about to find all that out.
Is it Expensive?
We booked a deluxe sea view room for 4500THB for one night with breakfast and taxes included through Agoda.com. Though room rates fluctuate according to time and room availability. Last I checked I saw a price for 3500THB on a weekday.
Where’s it at?
Mövenpick Pattaya is located on Jomtien Beach, which is 170km away from where we live in Bangkok. Driving time was about 2 hours plus 30 minutes because we ran into some road constructions. Why is there road construction going on during a long holiday weekend, when they know people will be using the roads is beyond me.
The easiest ways to get there is self drive. But if that’s not an option there are public buses that will take you Pattaya. Then you’ll need to find local private transport like a taxi. Or if you really want to rough it, figure out which Songthaew (public transport truck) will take you near it, cause it’ll never drive to the front of the hotel because it’s out of their route.
There are direct minvans going from Bangkok to Jomtien but again you’ll have to find a way to get in front of the hotel which is on the beach and away from the main road.
Then you will have to schlep your luggage down to the hotel which is built on high ground. Luckily there is a set of elevators by the hotel’s parking garage on ground level but you will have to search it out or a security guard could point the way.
The lobby the day after right before the day there was like a line going up to the glass doors…
First Impressions
I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels throughout Thailand. Most recently the Veranda Resort Hua Hin which I highly recommend if you’re going to Hua Hin.
And I must say, I could sense the 5 starness immediately that Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien oozes out.
The hotel’s lobby is a bit small and overlooked a cool little roundabout driveway. Or rather it’s not small, there’s just a lot of guests waiting to check in. Good thing is they were expecting lots of hotel guests so they had plenty of receptionist for crowd control.
Checking In
Standard check in time is 3pm. I don’t know if Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien is strict with the 3pm check in time. But usually from my experience hotels in Thailand are flexible and generally let you check in early. Provided that a room is ready and available.
But don’t take my word for it. I recommend calling or emailing them for early check in or late check out requests.
I can’t tell you from my experience because, like I mentioned, it’s a long holiday weekend and we showed up on the tail end. Which is still a busy time. Lots of guests were checking out which meant housekeeping is still busy keeping house.
We arrived around 3:30pm and could already tell from the line ahead of us people weren’t getting their room key at the moment. When it came to our turn we got the same message and were told we had to wait thirty minutes to an hour.
Which is not a big deal.
Especially when we asked for late check out of 3pm the following day which the receptionist quickly agreed.
Mövenpick Pattaya’s usual check out time is 12pm.
I was like damn it they agreed so fast. We should have asked for 5pm check out.
When they agree too fast it means we could have asked for more. Just kidding… don’t be greedy.
There were some minor construction but once everything is patched up this will be one good looking 5 star hotel…[/caption]
Exploring the Grounds
First thing we did was head out to take a look at the beach. Like the hotel name states, Mövenpick Siam is right on a nice quiet section of Jomtien beach. First we had to pass through two large swimming pools. There’s a nice little kiddie pool but our little one was just too small to have fun in it at the moment. There are some waterslides located around several parts of the main swimming pool. I really got the impression that Mövenpick is a fun family friendly hotel on Jomtien beach. I mean just looking at the families all the children playing in the pool you can’t help but feel that way. Passing the hotel’s beachside restaurant we found lots of lounge chairs and large sun beds. It’s a big hotel so good to know there are plenty of chairs and places for guests to hang out during peak travel times. When we got to the beach we found a nice long stretch of clean sand. There weren’t a lot of people out and about wandering or taking a stroll. It took about 5 minutes to walk from the hotel lobby down beachside. Most of the hotel guests were splashing around the pool and I noticed people were especially enjoying the pool’s water slide. And there were about 3 different water slides line along the main swim area. There are two main swimming pools and in the middle a pool bar, though that was under construction at the moment. This Siam Na Jomtien is a 35 floor building and the height of the building provided good shade coverage for those that don’t like to risk getting too much sun on one side of the pool. Here’s a top down view of the swimming pools and the beach from our room on the 21st floor. While the other swimming pool got plenty of sun coverage for those that don’t mind a bit of color on their skin. There’s a fitness center equipped with modern equipment, dumb bells, universal weight machines and treadmills. I’d work out but I’m satisfied at the moment with my dad bod. After taking in the location and lazing around on the some sun beds for 45 minutes we went back to the hotel lobby to pick up our room key.
First Look at Our Room
We booked a deluxe king sea view room on the 21st floor. We booked our room through Agoda.com and paid around 4500THB per night. That’s the price with taxes and breakfast included.
Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien rooms were renovated in 2020 so the rooms are expected to be in really good condition.
Our deluxe king sea view rooms are 42 square meter with a balcony looking out to the sea. It’s a lot of space for just the two of us and our baby.
Speaking of our baby, we requested a playard and one was sent up to our room. Including a small cover and blanket.
The bathroom was spacious with separate shower stall and a modern looking bathtub.
Didn’t try out the bathtub though but I should’ve. It’s got this cool little round shape and looked fun to have a bubble bath in.
The hot water was consistent as well as the water pressure.
Overall our room was clean and fresh. Our bed was super comfortable, like sleeping on a cloud. The air condition was frigid cold. The Wi-Fi was fast and plenty of channels to watch on the television. We were high up and had a terrific view of the sea in front of us.
We really, really liked our room.
The Breakfast
I gotta tell ya. I’ve been itching for an American breakfast for a long, long time. Sure I love to cook at home.
But having someone prepare a buttload of bacon, home fries and eggs to order, plus a bunch of different breads to toast, I am in heaven.
Mövenpick’s breakfast choices definitely did not disappoint my All-American hearty appetite.
My wife enjoyed their Thai breakfast options, some noodles, Khao tom rice porridge with shrimp was her favorite.
Their Thai breakfast looked so good I made some space for some rice noodles with fishballs.
During this pandemic my wife and I felt completely safe. There are hand sanitizers throughout the areas with many guests.
Our breakfast table had a bottle of alcohol spray.
There’s an infrared temperature camera checking guests’ temperatures and hotel staff are wearing masks.
Mövenpick Jomtien Pattaya is such a large hotel property you can most definitely find a quiet space all for yourself.
Was my Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien review helpful to you? This is an affiliate link which means if you make a booking with either company I make a small commission.
With no added extra cost to you.
You will be supporting this blog and also help care for soi dogs (and cats) we come across in Thailand.
Okay well, not I personally. Being a man, that would all be entirely impossible. My wife however I admit did all of the hard work. Of all the years of expat living here in Thailand I knew one day I would have a child born here. I’ve been married to my Thai wife for nearly 8 years after all.
Even to the point my wife was at the 10-month mark, yes 10 months my wife was carrying our child it was not until I waited until the ninth month to see what would I need to do as a foreigner. Because I’ve never had a baby in Thailand before. Nor anywhere else as a matter of fact.
As a foreigner living in Thailand, I didn’t know if I needed to bring any particular documents to the hospital, besides my US passport.
However, during our last prenatal check, I was asked to bring a translation of my passport. Which was an odd request. Which any case wasn’t needed in the end. More about that later on.
Choosing the Right Hospital
Pick the Best Hospital Near You – It’ll Make a Big Difference
We chose a hospital already called Synphaet Lumlukka which is a 5-minute drive from our house. It’s a newly opened JCI-accredited private hospital. My wife found it while doing hospital research in Bangkok for the birth of our firstborn.
Luckily, there are several really good private hospitals in our neck of the woods to pick and choose from.
Has English-speaking doctors and nurses. Even though my Thai language skills are getting up there, I’m not at the level of understanding Thai medical terminology.
It’s only a 5-minute drive.
As a side note, we looked for hospitals that did not handle COVID-19 patients, which is not difficult as most private hospitals in Bangkok do not.
Pre-Check Up
Under the advice of my wife’s obstetrician, we opted for a scheduled C-section. Originally we planned for a natural birth hoping the birth date would be around the 9-month mark.
That never happened and as we neared month number 10 and an ultrasound checkup our doctor noticed our baby’s weight was hovering around 4 kilograms (8.88 pounds). Our doctor, just doing her job, informed us of a list of birth complications that may arise from large-sized newborns.
Though I have to admit, we did get freaked out, even though it’s not the doctor’s intention.
Cost of giving birth at Synphaet Lumlukka Hospital…
So we chose birth by c-section and scheduled a date and time. That might’ve worked out better as my wife isn’t too keen on pushing out a 9-pound baby.
The cost for a natural birth at Synphaet Lumlukka is B32,000 which includes a two-night hospital stay. For a c-section, the price jumps to B44,000 and includes a three-night stay. The price you see below the birth package is for a hysterectomy.
The Big Day
We picked the first and earliest time available. We were advised to show up at 5:30 am and the c-section procedure promptly started around 9 am.
This is also the day to handle paperwork in preparation for a birth certificate. As I mentioned earlier, during our last prenatal examination I was asked to bring a translation of my passport. I was a bit confused about that.
Until I realized what they wanted was a translation of my first and last name into Thai. This makes absolute sense as the names that appear on a Thai birth certificate are only printed in Thai.
My English name was already translated to Thai when I went to get a Thai marriage certificate. So we gave them a copy of our Thai marriage certificate which has my name in Thai on it.
I also handed a marriage affidavit which states I was never married. Me, as a US citizen, I can download a form and get it notarized by the US Embassy in Thailand. In my case, I went to the US embassy in Bangkok and this service cost $50USD. On top of that my marriage affidavit must be translated into Thai. I used a translation service near the Bangkok US embassy, though I forgot how much it cost.
Never hurts to bring along as many documents as needed.
If You Don’t Have a Thai Marriage Certificate…
Then you will have to get the name on your passport translated. Your name must be translated into Thai so it can be added to the birth certificate.
As soon as my wife was prepped, 9 am crunch time was rolling in faster than a lightning storm. It’s time to meet my firstborn daughter.
I was shown a waiting room filled with chairs, magazines, and a big TV. I just stared at the wall. I tell you, early mornings inside a Thai private hospital feel like one of the loneliest places on earth.
There’s nothing to do but wait and try to get some quick shut-eye.
Childbirth Delivery Package in Thailand
Public Hospital VS. Private Hospital
The only experience that I had with a Thai government hospital regarding childbirth was when one of my employees who is a single mother went into labor.
Public hospitals in Thailand are full of patients. Due to the free to low-cost hospital care and treatment is the major factor.
Our employee stayed at the hospital for a total of 3 days in a maternity ward with 5 other new moms. Her total hospital bill was around B10,000 which included jaundice treatment for her newborn. Hospital service she said she was treated well.
You see, public hospitals in Thailand have a not-so-stellar reputation. I don’t think it’s all that bad. Though my wife’s sister who gave birth at a public hospital near her part of town had a horrible experience.
She had a c-section so had to have a urine drainage bag attached to her through a catheter. Which a family member had to dispose of. Which was supposed to be the nurses’ job. When she was discharged she was still in pain from the c-section. And she has a zig-zag scar from the incision.
There were other bits of stories about the nurses’ attitudes that left a bad impression, that I won’t get into. Let’s just say her sister wasn’t all too happy.
The cost of Quality Hospital Care is Higher in Thailand – Yet Lower Compared to the West
Thailand’s private healthcare system is one of the best in Southeast Asia. But I didn’t know what to expect. My only experience with a private hospital in Bangkok was for a serious case of gout.
All private hospitals in Thailand offer childbirth delivery packages. The closer you are to central Bangkok the higher the price tag for services and procedures.
The price of our package for a cesarean section set us back B44,000. But if we went to Bumrungrad Hospital in central Bangkok it’ll cost us B149,000. We could have three babies for that price.
Most private hospital childbirth packages include private rooms for a two-night stay for a natural birth and a three-night stay for a c-section procedure. And also included is a birth certificate filed for you, with the nearest governmental office of your instruction.
Not having to go into a government office is a huge bonus for us. We all know how much fun waiting around a government office is.
Ask Questions – It’s Free After All
You should go in and speak with hospital personnel about childbirth delivery package services. Ask for a tour of the private rooms as well as the nursery facility in all the hospitals you visit. We visited three different hospitals and chose Synphaet Lumlukka because we felt confident they could take care of our needs and do a good job on our important day.
Time Flies When You’re Waiting for Your Newborn
My daughter was officially out into the new world 10 minutes past 9 am. I saw her briefly along with a pediatrician assigned to her, where she was immediately taken to the nursery ward. I couldn’t accompany them yet because there were still checkups that needed to be done. Which meant more waiting for me.
But at least I could do so in the private room we’ll be staying in for 3 nights for my wife to rest and recuperate.
Synphaet Lumlukka Nursery Ward
When you’re paying for private hospital care in Thailand you’re paying for semi-personalized care. There’s an around-the-clock watch on newborns, while mom rests in her private room. The babies are fed, diapers changed and bathed by a squad of nurses.
A pediatrician comes in and does some routine check-ups to make sure babies are as healthy as can be. As well as look for warning signs and concerns. For instance, a pediatrician detected a heart murmur in our baby. A cardiologist was called in and an ultrasound was performed.
Fortunately, it’s a minor heart defect that could heal as our baby grows. But in any case, it was non-life threatening and required no treatment. That heart check-up added about $100 to our final bill though.
That’s our baby in the foreground!
Private Hospital Rooms
I’ve stayed inside quite a few hospital private rooms in Bangkok. To this day, I equate Thai private hospital rooms to Thai serviced apartments.
Minus the swimming pool and bar.
There’s a small kitchen with a mini-fridge stocked with a few cans of soda and boxes of juice. Which gets replenished daily. A microwave in the room with an electric kettle for making hot coffee and Ovaltine was also provided by the hospital. Even a small sink for dishwashing.
The bathroom has a large shower room. The entire bathroom is spacious. Plus a hygiene care kit is also supplied, even towels. So no need to bring stuff from home except clean clothes and undies.
Wi-Fi internet was fast and big screen television with plenty of channels.
I’ve done plenty of hotel reviews in Asia as part of my travels. I never thought I’d be making a review about a hospital room.
Holding My Baby for the Very First Time
I was super anxious to see my firstborn inside the nursery. My wife was resting and being that she’s tied to her catheter she couldn’t go with me.
Newborns are kept inside the nursery for 24-hour care. Where their heartbeats and breathing are checked.
And the security measures are really good. The hospital nursery requires fingerprint scans from authorized personnel to go in and out. It was the only way for me to get inside and exit.
I also had to take my shoes off but Crocs were handed to me and a hospital robe also. Plus I had to wash my hands thoroughly. It’s good to see they take cleanliness seriously.
The nursery is cozy with plenty of space for parents to get acquainted with their newborns. But the nursery at Synphaet Lumlukka also doubles as a space to educate first-time parents on newborn care.
A nurse giving instructions on bottle feeding with milk formula…
There’s a room where nurses show new parents hands-on care from breastfeeding to how to properly bathe a newborn.
The main reason why we chose a private hospital is because I can stay with my wife in a private room. A sofa which doubles as a bed is what I slept on for 3 nights. Blankets and pillows were provided when they knew I was staying over.
At a public government hospital that wouldn’t be possible. Unless you’re paying for a private room.
But it’s a hospital which means nurses have to make their rounds. So in the middle of the night while sleeping you will be woken by nurses coming in and out to administer blood pressure checks.
Private Hospital Care Has Its Advantages
There’s a reason why private hospitals charge more. The care provided is more personal. And a lot more comprehensive. I can’t compare it to my employee’s experience while giving birth at a public government-run hospital in Bangkok.
Most importantly there’s a private room where I can stay with my wife. No need to share with complete total strangers including people who visit.
Our daughter’s birth certificate was taken care of by the hospital as part of the childbirth delivery package. A photo is taken as well along with the certificate placed in a neat little portfolio.
Sure, a childbirth delivery package at a private hospital is more expensive than a public one. But I don’t think expecting parents can put a price tag on peace of mind.
1 response to “Having a Baby in Thailand as an Expat”
Dominic
This was a nice and informative post, Warren. Very detailed and a good read overall. Thanks for the insight you provided from a dad’s perspective.
Here’s What to Do If You’ve Got a Non-Immigrant O Visa Based on Marriage in Bangkok…
I have Thai Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage to a Thai wife. And April 15th, 2020 was the date I needed head to exit Thailand and return to reactivate another 90 days.
But… because there’s this COVID-19 mess going around and travel has semi-halted and borders have shut in and around Thailand.
As a result the first few weeks of April the Thai Government Immigration office in Bangkok saw a surge of panicked foreign tourists and Thai visa holders trying to get in to sort out things out. And I read people were turned away because staff couldn’t handle the unexpected workload.
On top of that, I have a baby due sometime near the end of this month or early May.
Which means traveling outside the country, even if I could, is not an option since going out and about increases my chances of getting infected with the disease, and bringing it home to my family.
Thai Visa Amnesty of April 2020
Lucky I waited a little while before heading to the Thai immigration office in Bangkok. The Thai government came out with a visa amnesty giving tourists some breathing room until April 30th. Before the amnesty went into effect, very long lines of foreign tourists could be seen waiting outside of immigration offices.
The Wayfaring Soul Tip #9 “It’s better to over-prepare than under-prepare.”
As most foreign tourists making their way to Thai immigration offices throughout the country were short term visitors but couldn’t get out of Thailand due to flight cancellations or border closures. A lot of foreign visitors got panicky. I wouldn’t blame them.
Because any foreign overstaying visitor would’ve been hit with a 500THB per day penalty fee at immigration checkpoints.
With the Thai visa amnesty in effect, this was great news for me as I could expect a lot less people inside Bangkok’s Thai immigration office.
Doing some research about what paperwork I needed to bring …
Here’s How My Experience Started…
It’s April 12th. My current visa stamp expires in 3 days. First thing I did was do a little google search and check what paperwork I needed to bring with me. You would think you’d only need to bring your passport.
But as a guy living here for a long while, I know things are not as simple. It is better to over-prepare than under-prepare and you will soon read why.
I could not find anyone sharing any experience about going to the Thai immigration office to reactivate a Non-immigrant O visa due to the fact that I can’t leave the country.
I could only find the information about Thai visa amnesty. But the information found there was not specific to my visa type.
So the next thing I did was call the phone number as listed in the photo for Bangkok’s Immigration Office and ask around.
Surprisingly, someone answered after three rings. I explained my situation. Which is I have a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage. I was told to just come in with my passport.
I Wish It Was That Easy…
In a way she was partially right, you do need to bring your passport. But the other paperwork (which I list below) I brought was not mentioned. But I brought it anyways. That’s just the way I do things.
But, you have to make photocopies. Which you can do inside Thai immigration office. Since I didn’t know for sure if there would be lots of people inside I wanted to get all my photocopies done beforehand.
Here’s What I Photocopied and Brought With Me:
Passport photo page, including Thai visa page, last exit stamp page including TM 7 departure card.
1 Passport sized photo (obviously you don’t need to photocopy this)
Thai marriage certificate plus any paperwork regarding your relationship to spouse. **Also bring the original paperwork**
Spouse’s Thai national I.D. Card
Blue book or Tabien Baan (ทะเบียนบ้าน), which is a house registration book. Either with your name or spouses’ name.
A short letter written by your spouse stating you live with your spouse including current Thai home address.
I saw some photos days before Thai visa amnesty and saw lines right about this point…
Off to the Thai Immigration Office in Bangkok I Go…
I was confident that I got all my paperwork. My wife and I left our home at a little before 8am and reached the Thai Immigration Changewattana building B around 8:30am.
My wife is nearly 9 months pregnant and we felt prudent she stayed inside the car.
When I walked to the front entrance of the building I was pleasantly surprised not to find a long line of foreign tourists waiting to get in.
Normally, there would be people streaming in and out of that office…
When I made it past security I thought, okay, maybe there will be more people waiting inside to get their visas sorted out.
Nope.
The Thai visa amnesty worked its magic. I wouldn’t exactly say there’s no people inside. Which there are. But it’s just a lot, lot less people. Even less people than I remember when I had was visiting Thailand on Multi Entry Tourist Visas.
I also saw photos of this area last week where there were lines of people…
There’s a makeshift table near the entrance of Immigration Division 1 office. I explained to the immigration officer my situation. The officer asked where’s my wife and I told them she’s waiting outside, inside our car because she’s pregnant.
I was handed the visa extension form which I happily filled out and went to get my ticket number.
My ticket number…
I was surprised to see there’s 22 persons ahead of me. Which is not a lot. Numbers were called relatively quickly.
Only thing is there are not a lot of seating available, due to social distancing measures. I think previously before the visa amnesty went into effect lines of foreigners had to stand and sit a meter apart. Plus many seats were taped off to keep people away from each other.
I can see why the environment would be so inhospitable before the visa amnesty.
Social distancing at work…
My Number’s Up…
Overall I waited about 30 minutes before my number came up. I went to the cubicle I was directed to and laid out my paperwork like a proud schoolboy laying out his prized book report.
And then.
“Where’s your wife?” I was asked.
First, I assumed my wife didn’t need to accompany me. Also she being nine months pregnant I didn’t think this would be an ideal environment for her to be inside.
There’s no way I could talk myself out of this one even when I explained to them she was pregnant. But I didn’t want to be difficult. Seeing as there’s a lot less people inside I thought it should be fine. I called my wife and met her near the entrance.
When I brought my wife in, from then on everything was smooth sailing.
So if you have a Thai Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage, bring your spouse!
But as I said, she’s pregnant and I wanted to be on the safe side. And there are a lot less people inside the immigration office.
Waiting to get my passport back. Still not a lot of people inside…
I was never asked about TM 30, the reporting of foreigners requirement in Thailand. My wife has me registered already but this information was never asked.
Signing Paperwork and Taking Pictures…
Remember to bring your original Thai marriage certificate. The immigration officer handling me used her webcam to take a photo of my wife and I holding our Thai marriage certificate together.
I asked for 90 days and got laughed at. They gave me 60 days which is better than 30 days. The fee was 1900THB so I’ll take that.
After we signed the paperwork I waited for another 20 minutes and my passport was returned to me with a fresh 60 days.
Conclusion
Bring your wife! That is if you need to sort out your Thai Non-O Immigrant visa based on marriage in Bangkok when you can’t exit Thailand. I guess it makes sense. I mean a Thai marriage certificate is just a piece of paper and immigration officers don’t know if you got divorced.
And bring every piece of photocopied paperwork I mentioned above. Bring the originals also just in case.
Bangkok’s Thai Immigration office opens 8am to 5pm with a one hour break for lunch at 12pm.
I hope this information helped you out. I wish I found it online or wherever earlier.
Assuming that your plane ticket and hotels are non-refundable and you’re planning to visit Thailand between April to July, I think you’ll be fine.
As long as you don’t have any serious pre-existing health conditions such as a compromised immune system and history of lung issues, heart and kidney complications.
I’m not a doctor but that’s just my opinion. But keep check with your countries’ government travel advisories.
1pm at Chatuchak Weekend Market, there should be a lot, lot more people…
WHY I THINK IT’S SAFE TO VISIT THAILAND… FOR NOW
Here’s My Long Answer
The Coronavirus or COVID-19 has made its way near my home in the suburbs of Bangkok. There were reports about a Thai family member returning from a vacation to Japan with sever flu symptoms. He went to a hospital just three kilometers from my home, where he tested positive for COVID-19.
The infected family were already in Thailand for a week. So fear among the people in my area were elevated. The hospital went into emergency mode. Staff and doctors in close contact with the infected were quarantined and ordered to stay home.
The elementary school with a student that had close contact with the infected patient, had to shut down for disinfection. Things started looking pretty grim for the community around my area. Like a set of ominous dominoes set in motion everyone was rightfully scared of an impending outbreak.
WE WERE PREPARING FOR THE WORST
People started buying out surgical face masks and rubbing alcohol. And even if we’re lucky enough to find masks and alcohol in our area it’ll cost four to five times more than usual.
There were small cases of panic buying in certain supermarkets. But currently everything has settled down and Thailand still has a steady supply of toilet tissue.
Everyone we spoke with or encountered was on edge. You could almost feel it in the air.
People still have to go out and eat despite corona virus scare in our neighborhood in Bangkok…
BUT LIFE GOES ON…
A few weeks had passed since the initial shock about the hospital incident. Like many others, I have been following the latest news and updates about the Coronavirus spread in my area of Sai Mai, Bangkok. The locals we interact with on a day to day basis now have lowered their guards slightly.
I think everyone was expecting a flare up of COVID-19 cases since the incident hit so near our home. And especially because the disease is highly contagious.
As of writing there are total of 75 COVID-19 cases and one death in the kingdom. That’s a small number compared to the rest of the world. I don’t think it’s an entirely accurate number because testing in this country is not extensive. And the people whether they have the common flu or actually COVID 19 are probably staying home to recover.
Though officially, 31 Thais have recovered from COVID 19.
Currently, I personally do not know anyone being treated for the disease. Or know anyone that knows any person with COVID 19. Compared to what’s going on around the world, it seems that Thailand and neighboring Southeast Asian nations seem to be chugging along just fine.
Even then damage is done, COVID 19 has had a devastating affect to the Thai economy. Most notably the tourism industry. An essential engine driving the Thai economy will reportedly fall 50% in the first half of 2020.
Will you be one of those statistics cancelling your plans to Thailand?
If you don’t have Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance, I can’t blame you if you don’t want to waste your hard earned money spent on plane tickets, hotel rooms and shiny new luggage.
If you were already planning to be in Thailand around the month of April you might just be alright.
WHY IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO VISIT THAILAND IN APRIL
April is the hottest month in Thailand with temperatures topping 35°C (95°F) and higher. Which might help keep the virus at bay. The Spanish Flu of 1918 ended in the summer with warmer weather. Although the worldwide population recovered and built up an immunity by then.
I wouldn’t stay around Bangkok where there’s more concentration of people, especially during Songkran Festival which is the Thai New Years. I recommend exploring the areas outside of Bangkok. There’s so many beautiful places to visit and I’ll get more into that later.
But this in no way guarantees COVID 19 will subside in warmer weather as it could behave differently. Here’s a handy COVID 19 geographic outbreak map you can periodically check.
I hope I’m right about this but only time will tell.
AIRPORTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO CONTAIN CORONAVIRUS
Airports around the world are doing their part to combat the spread of COVID 19 and it’s too soon to tell whether or not the preventive measures are effective. Currently, there are reports of infected travelers but they were stopped at the airports in Thailand and undergoing medical treatment.
Patong Beach Phuket – Not as crowded as before
TWO TIPS ON HAVING A SAFE TRIP IN THAILAND
Stay around the beaches and islands of Thailand. There are many attractive areas to choose from.
Stay away from areas that have a large concentration of people.
A good friend of mine just traveled to Phuket from Hong Kong for two weeks. It was a trip he booked through the height of coronavirus fears. He rented his own car, thus won’t have to worry about public transportation and getting in close contact with other people.
There’s definitely fewer tourists now in Phuket and you can get by with not being around a large group of people.
TAKE A PRIVATE TOUR
I don’t think there are large tour agencies operating full capacity in Thailand these days.
However, why not take a touring around Thailand with a private local tour guide?
I recommend a company such as TakeMeTour.com where a knowledgable guide is able to take you along a private walking tour or even drive you around in a private car.
They’ll hook you up with available local experts where I’m sure have your health and safety concerns at heart.
Kanchanaburi is beautiful and quiet…
Instead of staying most of your days in Bangkok, perhaps spend more time in Phuket or Hua Hin. Go check out Chanthaburi or Kanchanaburi. Even though there are reported cases of COVID 19 patients in those areas you won’t be surrounded by many people as you’d find in Bangkok.
Staying in an area with less concentration of people is just one way to safeguard yourself against the Corona virus and having a safe trip in Thailand.
A supermarket sign informing customers sanitizing routine
WHAT’S CHANGED IN THAILAND AMIDST COVID- 19?
Businesses are proactive about sanitizing public spaces so customers can feel safe shopping. There’s a lot more wiping down and spraying going on than usual with alcohol based solutions. Hence, the scarcity of rubbing alcohol in Thailand.
Most Thai people are wearing masks. Though medical professionals claim if you’re healthy already there’s no need to wear one. Only the sick should wear mask to contain coughing and sneezing.
Notice of businesses conducting temperature checks at a local mall in Bangkok
From what I can see, life is still going as usual for the locals. People are still going out. But I don’t think they’re spending as much money. Just in case shit really hits the fan.
Instead they are buying up food essentials, such as instant noodles, rice and other non-perishable food items. Just in case there’s a citywide lockup ordered by the governments of Wuhan, China and just recently Lombardy region in Italy.
I don’t think it’ll ever go that far here in Thailand. But there’s so much uncertainty going on that even I started buying more bags of rice. And I don’t even like carbs.
Photo Credit: Bangkok Post – Locals buying up rice and toilet tissue at a supermarket in Bangkok…
ARE PEOPLE HOARDING TOILET TISSUES IN THAILAND?
I’ve been watching news reports about people buying up toilet tissues until the shelves are completely empty. Somehow word got out that there’s a severe toilet supply shortage in Japan due to factory shutdowns China. But Japan have their own toilet tissue factories.
The Wayfaring Soul Travel Tip #2041 “COVID-19 does not cause explosive diarrhea…”
Recently I saw a video of people fighting over toilet tissues in Australia. And Australians are known to be the friendliest and most laid back people on the planet. Talk about shit hitting the fan. I’m beginning to get concerned that civilization as we know it might actually crumble.
I mean, did I not get the message that COVID 19 causes explosive diarrhea?
I’m glad to report that Thailand have toilet paper producing factories. And at my local supermarket there’s plenty of it going around to build a wall around yourself to fend off COVID-19. Or build yourself a TP wall to protect yourself against people stupid enough to get into a fist fight over it.
Even when there’s a buy one get one free toilet tissue deal at my local supermarket I don’t see any mass hysteria now. I know this is all due to herd buying mentality and I’m not immune to the effects myself. I started piling a bunch of toilet tissue into my shopping cart.
Until I convinced myself that in Thailand you don’t have to be too concerned about TP supply. After all, every single residential household in Thailand has a water butt spray near the toilet.
I’m quite confident there will be a steady supply of toilet tissue in Thailand for the long run…
Sad to say though the real shortage occurring in Thailand are surgical mask and cleaning alcohol. Hospitals need these items more than households.
And price gouging is rampant. I’ve seen a box of 50 surgical mask priced for 1000B online. While pre-coronavirus normally it’s around 100B at pharmacies in Thailand.
IS THERE RACISM AND HATRED TOWARDS THE CHINESE IN THAILAND?
There are loads of saddening news reports today that anyone that looks Asian are getting discriminated against, verbally abused and physically assaulted. As if the corona virus is inherit in Chinese genes. Yes, it originated from China. But that doesn’t mean every single Chinese in every corner of the globe is spreading the disease left and right.
There are ethnic Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan pretty much everywhere in the world. Especially in Thailand where there’s a large Thai-Chinese community.
To be fair, there are businesses in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Vietnam discriminating against Chinese nationals as well. Stupidity knows no boundaries.
That said, it doesn’t look good when there are Chinese nationals acting like complete fools like this lady coughing on Thai Airway crew members due to a long wait in the cabin. Repercussions are bound to happen.
THE OUTLOOK
Instead of writing new posts about the COVID 19 in Thailand I will update this post when there are drastic changes. Things can get better from this point. Or it can get way worse.
But if history repeats itself then we’re going to get over this. And we’ll forget about this like we did with the SARS outbreak in early 2000.
With a baby due in a few months I’m concerned about the road up ahead. We can dwell on the worst case possibilities and drive ourself crazy thinking the end is near.
Or we can push forward by being sane and rational. Which is what I rather be doing. Because there’s too much work to be done then driving ourselves mad about the coronavirus.
Ultimately you will be the one to make that final decision to come to Thailand or not during these trying times.
Until then, I hope things get better sooner. And I wish you all safe and happy travels.
A local mall in central Bangkok – Life goes on in Thailand
BANGKOK’S NEW JJ GREEN 2 NIGHT MARKET – IS IT SAME AS THE OLD?
When the original location of the iconic JJ Green Market closed down in late 2019, a noticeable grumble was heard throughout Bangkok.
I was one of the many voices that cried out, noooooo! This can’t be happening! It was Bangkok’s coolest night market with an amazing vibe.
JJ Green was located inside Chatuchak Park, right across from the market and 90% of the market was open air.
JJ Green Market “2” has come back to life in Bangkok’s Laksi district…
There’s music, food, all sorts of flea market items and vintage clothing. Even power tools if you’re planning to lug one back home.
FLASH FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 2020 – THE ALL NEW JJ GREEN “2” NIGHT MARKET
I was thrilled to find out that JJ Green has opened up not far from one of my businesses in Bangkok’s Laksi district (เขต หลักสี่).
This time they added the “2” next to JJ Green as a confirmation that this is the second iteration of one of Bangkok’s most famous night market.
Lots of young Thais selling trendy fashions…
Though also at the front entrance sign is the an additional word “Square” in Thai สแควร์ which is kind of odd. Hope they’re not going through an identity crisis as it certainly might confuse people.
In addition they’ve extended their days of operation. Now JJ Green 2 night market is open Thursday to Sunday, from 6pm to midnight.
JJ GREEN 2 NEW NIGHT MARKET LOCATION
The map still says JJ Green, but I updated the information so hopefully Google will approve to clear up any confusion.
DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW LOCATION
BEST WAY TO GET TO GET THERE
JJ Green 2 Night Market is located in Bangkok’s Laksi district. On Prachachuen Road (ถนน ประชาชื่น). It’s about 15km west of Don Mueang Airport.
Chances are you passed it while traveling from DMK airport to central Bangkok by taxi.
The market area is about two football fields, nestled in a largely residential area. So I don’t think they’ll be able to play loud music and host live bands. And also not far from Dhurakij Pundit University so no more rustic bars for beers and interesting cocktails.
Still, JJ Green will surely benefit from all the locals and university students living and studying in the area.
As much as I think they like having a cool night market in their neck of the woods, I think they don’t like the amount of traffic its attracted.
THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM
As long as I can remember Prachachuen Road has always had a traffic problem during the rush hours. There are lots of homes, condominiums and apartments in that particular area and also community malls.
Traffic was really bad getting to JJ Green 2…
We drove to JJ Green 2 at around 8pm. What normally takes 30 minutes took 2 hours.
It’s a long stretch of road with no traffic lights. Adding to the problem, Prachachuen road has 4 lanes, two lanes going northbound and two lanes southbound.
If you’re coming from central Bangkok you’ll have to pass through the northbound lane of Prachachuen Road.
Lots of drivers were frustrated trying to get to JJ Green 2 Night Market…
The right northbound lane, while we were there, was stuck in a perpetual rut. While the southbound lane cars had easier access to the bridge entrance going in to the market’s parking entrance. Even then there was really long wait due to traffic congestion.
Drivers on our lane got frustrated. We could see cars in front of us peel of and make U turns to head home. Or to Talad Liab Duan night market or a mall.
The wife and I on the other hand, planned to stick it through.
BUT THERE’S HOPE IF YOU’RE COMMITTED TO GOING THERE
IT’S EASIER TO GET THERE WITH A TAXI
While doing this blogging thing, I look at it all through the perspective of foreign tourists.
As I mentioned earlier the original location was super easy to find cause it was near Chatuchak Weekend Market. Which had more choices of public transportation to get there.
This time it’s in Laksi district and there are no train stations in that vicinity.
Your options, if you’re staying in central Bangkok, are the metered taxis or Grab taxi.
And long distance running if you’re up for it.
If you’re staying at a hotel in the Pratunam area I think a metered taxi fare might cost about 250B to JJ Green 2 Night Market.
Don’t run there. I’m only kidding. Had to put it here because you just never know…
Clothing prices at JJ Green aren’t too crazy. There’s probably room for discount if you ask for a reasonable discount…
I’M A TOURIST. IT’S KINDA FAR. SHOULD I GO DESPITE THE CRAZY TRAFFIC?
Yes I say you should absolutely go check it out. Go eat the food, shop around and go support the local businesses.
The traffic is a huge problem only if you self drive, like we did. It’s a different story with a taxi because you don’t need to look for parking.
An experienced taxi driver should know to stay on the left side of the northbound lane of Prachachuen Road.
The driver can let you off opposite from JJ Green 2 night market. From there it’s only a few minutes walk over a short bridge.
The left lane moves a lot quicker because there’s policeman controlling traffic and not allow vehicles to park long on the left lane.
Taxi drivers are briefly permitted to drop off and pick passengers.
Lots of shops have not opened yet and still many vacant locations…
BUT…
This JJ night market is still “green”, get it? Okay, joking aside, it’s February 10th now as of writing.
This market opened on February 6th. All things considered, it’s still very new and undergoing a soft run.
If any chance you’re reading this and it’s still February 2020, I recommend not visiting at this point in time. Especially if you don’t have a lot of days in Bangkok.
A night market is like fine cheese. It needs time to marinade, ripen and develop its own flavor.
I know, I’m horrible with metaphors.
If you have a lot of time in Bangkok and nothing to do, go buy something from this shop inside JJ Green 2 Night Market…
Lots of shops are not open yet. And there are still lots of vacant shop locations to fill with renters. So everything inside is not running at 100% capacity.
However, if you’re like me and have plenty of time in Bangkok, then please go check it out!
At the time I visited there were still many shops not opened for business…
WHAT TO BUY AT JJ GREEN 2 NIGHT MARKET?
AND IS IT EXPENSIVE?
Lots of cheap accessories, jewelry and trendy clothes …
I’m not a shopper. And I’m old. Most of the items found inside JJ Green 2 are geared towards the younger Thai generation.
And that’s their target demographic and rightly so since there are so many university students living in that area.
So the answer is most of the items sold inside JJ Green 2 Night Market won’t be that expensive. As most of the visitors to the market at this point are local Thais.
JJ Green 2 will definitely get busier as more shops open in the near future…
I didn’t see any counterfeit merchandise like you’d find inside Bangkok’s MBK Mallwhich is geared mostly towards foreign shoppers.
But as I mentioned this market is mostly about local Thai fashion trends.
Also t-shirts with pop culture appeal and unique styles can be found. If you’re a western L or XL size you will not have a problem finding cool graphic tees to add to your closet collection. I’ve noticed Thais like to wear larger and looser sized t-shirts these days which could be the current fashion trend.
Ladies clothing are not so expensive at JJ Green 2 Night Market…
For ladies clothing most of the items I saw were priced from 100B to 500B, depending on style and trends.
Most of the shops we saw had sale signs…
Men’s graphic t-shirts were about a 100B to 200B. There’s a sneaker shop but I don’t know how much they charge nor if it’s legit. Lots of customers inside checking out their styles though.
This sneaker shop had a lot of customers looking at brand name shoes…
Prices were never too crazy and there might even still be some space to bargain. But I wouldn’t try to lowball the vendors too much.
I think JJ Green is a great little market for vintage t-shirts…
I found out the rent for a shop selling ladies clothes pays 15,000B a month. Keep in mind shop owners inside only open 4 days a week from 6pm to midnight. So they have limited days to turn a profit.
Thai vendor selling collectible toys inside JJ Green 2 Night Market…
GEL MANI AND PEDI ANYONE?
Every night market in Bangkok have small little nail salon setups that charge really cheap prices.
I saw shops charging gel manicures for 100B and 200B. Whether or not they can do a good job or use good gel polish products is a whole different story.
Outdoor nail salon setup are a familiar sight at any of Bangkok’s night markets…
Though one of the best nail salons in central Bangkok is Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon so I don’t recommend any ladies coming all the way out here just to get your nails did.
This shop selling raw crab salad was very busy…
THE FOOD
As of February 2020, shops inside the JJ Green 2 night market is not fully open…
Most of the foods sold inside JJ Green 2 are located in the middle and end section of the market and the entrance to the parking lot. Though the middle food section area was a lot busier than the hawker stalls in parking section.
In the middle is a large central covered food court. Though not all the shops inside are open yet. Which is a common sight while we were there.
JJ Green’s covered food court section…
Flanked around the central food court are designated sections of food vendors selling grilled meats, juices and desserts.
Whatever food you purchased you can sit down and enjoy your meal at the food court.
Lots of western style foods can be found in the food section…
I saw restaurants on the second level above some shops but those aren’t opened yet. Though the chairs and tables are already set up.
Many shops sell western foods. I saw french fries, kebabs, burgers and Korean fried chicken. The young Thai generation today love western and far east fast food.
This little sticks of beefy goodness cost 10B each. I ordered 6…
I also spotted some of my favorite Thai foods also. But I’m trying the carnivore diet so I opted for some grilled beef for the night.
Most restaurants located above shop levels are set up but not opened for business yet…
CONCLUSION
I loved the original JJ Green. There were more shops selling curios and bric a brac. Plus there were plenty of antiques to gush at and get nostalgic about for old farts like me.
This new JJ Green had more vendors selling clothes that matched the style and taste of the young business owners. Swank fashionable clothing is the common theme now which makes a lot of sense because it’s a university town.
Definitely a night market for the young and trendy…
But honestly the new JJ Green 2 at the moment is missing the original ambiance, back when it was located inside Chatuchak park.
There’s no music or live bands as that will surely piss off the residential neighbors. And it’s a lot smaller than the original.
I don’t think it’ll ever get that special charm back. That’s not to say I don’t think that number 2 will ever succeed.
I think it will certainly be successful by the sheer amount of local residents living in the Laksi district of Bangkok.
It’s like the movies. The Matrix was awesome and it blew everyone’s minds. Then Matrix 2 Reloaded came out and it was like, meh. Yeah, I still need work on my metaphors.
I might go back to JJ Green sooner just for these awesome steamed coconut pandan puddings ขนมถ้วย…
If you’re doing your Bangkok trip planning at this moment and thinking of dropping over in a few months, I say go check it out. A few more months and and I’m sure all the vacant shops will get filled up with vendors.
If you’re here right now reading this you might want to wait until your next trip to Bangkok.
Personally I’m going to give it some time before going back. And I will be excited to see how it looks then.
Centara Q Rayong Resort – Small Quiet Semi-Private Beach at an Affordable Price in Thailand
One of the best things about living in Bangkok is that you can take a road trip to some of the best beach resorts. Which is one of the main reasons why I decided to settle down in Thailand.
Case in point, the Centara Q Rayong Resort my wife researched and found while searching for reviews on four star beach hotels in Rayong. This Centara property is located on Laem Mae Phim Beach which is not exactly a well known beach in Thailand.
We’ve talked about staying over in a Rayong for a few nights many times. Because usually we pass over Rayong on our way to to Koh Samet or further to Koh Chang in Trat province. We just think the water is cleaner out on the islands and further away from the mainland.
But it was a good time as any to check out Rayong as the current smog situation in Bangkok is ridiculous.
Laem Mae Phim Beach at Centara Q Resort Rayong…
HOW MUCH?
The Centara Q Resort is a 4 star rated hotel with only 41 guest rooms. Guest staying here will feel a lot of privacy. We booked our stay during a weekday in January inside a Double Deluxe Seaview room type for several nights.
These rooms cost more and are located closer to the swimming pool and short walking distance to the beach.
Deluxe sea view rooms can only be accessed through a single stairway…
The price for a single night came out to about 4000B or $130USD including taxes and breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children under 1 years old.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WALKING YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THE DELUXE ROOMS
Deluxe rooms are not recommended for anyone with mobility issues or for elderly travelers. There’s only one set of stairs leading down to deluxe rooms and could be an issue for anyone with walking impairments.
If there’s someone traveling in your group with a physical disability, I highly recommend booking a superior room instead, as it’s the only building with an elevator.
Not sure why I don’t see a mention of this on Centara Q Resort Rayong’s website or even on Agoda.com where we booked our room.
BEST TIME TO BOOK A ROOM FOR THE BEST RATES
Centara Q Resort Rayong is very popular with Thais. The Centara name is a Thai owned hotel chain with properties all over the major cities of Thailand.
My wife read on a Thai travel forum that this resort is often fully booked during major long holidays in Thailand. During those periods expect to pay 20% to 40% more.
The bright colors give this room a nice beach feel…
For us the price is a decent bargain. But there are smaller superior rooms back only a little further away from sea view rooms that cost around 800B less. Or if you want to save even more you can leave out the breakfast option which will save you another 800B or so.
I never got a chance to see Centara Q Resort Rayong’s superior room. But judging from the building where the superior rooms are located it looked newer.
This is the main building with superior rooms…
HOW WE GOT THERE
Self drive is the easiest way to get there. Besides, you’ll need your own car to get around Rayong. There are no metered taxis. Expect to pay around 2500B to 3000B for private car service from central Bangkok to the steps of Centara Q Resort.
As of writing the highways leading to Centara Q is a mess due to construction of new roadways. Despite a few U-turns and taking local roads we managed to reach the resort in just under 3 hours. From central Bangkok, Centara Q Resort is 210 kilometers away, past the city of Chonburi.
If you’re staying here during certain days you can make use of Centara’s complimentary shuttle service to local markets…
Centara Q Resort Rayong provides their guests a complimentary shuttle bus service to a couple of local markets during certain days. It’s a nice added touch if you’re staying at this resort longer.
CHECK IN TIME IS 3PM
We arrived a little after 3pm which is the standard check in time at Centara Q Resort Rayong. That’s kind of late. But from our experience most Thai owned hotels allow guests to check in a little earlier. As long as there’s a clean room available.
From my experience, usually Thai hotels allow guests to check in earlier as long as there’s a room available…
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF OUR ROOM
We were handed our key cards to room #106 our deluxe sea view room. As mentioned already we had to walk down some steep stairs to the second floor. Porters are available to help with your bags if necessary.
The hotel design is quite interesting and it seems the property was carved out of a small hill which is where all the deluxe rooms are situated.
Room #106 is on the right side of second floor…
Room #106 is a deluxe sea view room that measures around 55 square meters. That’s a lot of space for just the two of us. It has one of the biggest bathrooms I’ve ever seen inside a Thai resort.
The size of the bathroom is typical size of most Thai hotel rooms itself. Yes, that’s one of the things that really impressed me the most about this room.
PRISON SHOWER SCENE ANYONE?
My camera is not wide enough to do this bathroom any justice. The shower stall is on one entire side of the wall. It’s large enough to shoot a prison shower scene for a movie. Okay, that might be exaggerating a bit.
Kidding aside, I wouldn’t mind having a large bathroom space at my home either.
But the setup between the bathroom and main room is a bit odd. There’s a sliding door on the wall separating both spaces. I guess the sliding door was installed so guests can quickly wash their hands without going inside the bathroom.
There’s a sliding door between the main room and the bathroom…
There’s a large bed in the main space. The mattress to me is a little too firm but the pillows are just fine. My wife complained that the air conditioning inside the room was a little too noisy. To me it was just fine.
It’s a simple designed room with one side of the wall painted in a cool turquoise color while the rest of the room is white.
A LITTLE WORN BUT I’M NOT COMPLAINING
But our room required some touch-ups. This isn’t a big complaint. I can understand that maintaining a property by the beach requires extra attention. Sea air and high humidity can seriously affect coastal properties.
Some tender loving care is needed inside room #106…
However, I think if Centara used better quality materials the room could hold up better through time. Almost the entire table pictured below had a lot of wear and tear. The door concealing the mini-fridge was off hinge.
The construction inside the bathroom was in much better shape as everything inside seemed to have better materials.
Prices for snacks were reasonable…
The main bedroom was quite spacious and I think if they shaved down the bathroom area they could fit in a small sofa and still have plenty of space.
Maybe a small work table and chair would be a nice addition. Especially for a digital nomad such as myself.
SO MUCH POTENTIAL
The balcony was just as large. And there’s a small sofa, but there’s so much space for more. They could fit larger and more comfortable deck chairs. I think if Centara Q Resort Rayong placed a jacuzzi and sun beds inside the balcony area like we found in Veranada Resort Hua Hin would make good use of the available open space.
IN ROOM SWAG
There’s free internet Wi-Fi throughout the hotel property. My iPhone had a connectivity issue at first, but when I logged in with my Macbook I connected. So maybe it was just a small glitch in the afternoon. Overall it worked fine and I had a good connection.
There’s an in room electronic safe, beach bag and bathrobes. Centara also provides slippers to roam around the resort, which you can purchase if you wish.
In room safe, beach bag, bathrobe and umbrella…
THE BREAKFAST
Breakfast is served from 6:30am to 10am. Our room rate included breakfast. I was really looking forward to see what was available. But to be honest I wasn’t expecting much because it was a small hotel. And it was a weekday so there were not a lot of guests.
But I was surprised by the variety on offer when we showed up for breakfast. There’s the usual cereal, salads, fruits, eggs to order and Thai breakfast options.
A well rounded breakfast for me…
Real pork sausages, I’m so happy…
What I’m about to say next might sound a bit nutty. But I was surprised to find they have real pork sausages. Even some of the best hotels don’t serve real high quality pork sausages. Big bonus points for Centara Q Resort Rayong in my book for that.
The room serving breakfast is not spacious but adequate. There are also outdoor seating to enjoy breakfast as well near the egg and Thai noodle station.
Breakfast was nice here, there’s no large crowds or wait lines. The choices were varied and satisfying. Especially the real pork sausages. I know I should get over the sausages but seriously this not a breakfast item I see often even in the best 4 star hotels.
The Wayfaring Soul Tip #4 – If you find real pork sausages inside a hotel, cherish it…”
THE SWIMMING POOL
After a very satisfying breakfast it was time to take a dip in the pool. During my short stay here I didn’t see a lot of people by the pool.
It’s a small resort so no doubt the swimming pool is expected to be small. But it was adequate for what it is. There are sun beds and large bean bags for resort guests to spread out on. I went in for a quick dip a few times myself and I like to look out at the sea on the edge of the pool.
I think most people that hang out at the pool also alternate hanging out by the beach where there are many sun chairs to relax and stare out into the sea.
The stairs I mentioned about leading down to the deluxe rooms are the same stairs you’ll need to walk down to get to the the resort’s swimming pool and beach. So to access the swimming pool and beach you can request a shuttle ride down.
Small swimming pool but adequate for the resort size…
FITNESS ROOM
These days I’ve been too lazy to hit the gym. The fitness room is open to guests 24 hours. And I know there are gym rats out there reading this and like to know about Centara Q Resort Rayong’s fitness room situation. I didn’t have a chance to go inside the room because a hotel room key card is needed to access the small gym.
It was my last day and check out is 12pm. By the time I got to the resort’s gym my room key card expired. So, I only got a chance to take a picture from the outside.
From the looks of things the equipment looks new with plenty of weights and what looks like a high quality universal machine.
Looks like a well stocked gym…
CONCLUSION
Centara Q Resort Rayong isn’t the easiest beach resort to travel to for foreign tourists. But there are benefits to that if you can rent a car and make your way out there. It’s a small property which means you’re not going to be crowded out by other guests at the swimming pool or competing for sun beds while getting a tan on Laem Mae Phim beach.
Look at the price point value too. You won’t end up paying a whole lot of money to stay at 4 star resort with a semi-private beach. So you can stay at the resort and enjoy spending your holiday longer in Rayong.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Address: 215/3 Moo.3, Laem Mae Phim, Klaeng, Rayong, Thailand, 21190
IF YOU HAVE A CAR
Self driving is the best way to reach Centara Q Resort Rayong. The resort is 220km from central Bangkok, about 3 hours drive by car. Punch in the name on Google maps and it’ll lead you there without a problem along major highways with tolls.
Having your own set of wheels has it’s advantages as you can check out places around Rayong.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CAR
The cheapest option from Bangkok is to take the bus to Rayong at Ekkamai Eastern Terminal Bus Station or Mo Chit Bus Terminal and fares start about 100B.
I can’t make any direct recommendations for private car service to Centara Q Resort Rayong but there are many companies that can get you there for around 2000B one way.
WHERE TO FIND HOTEL DISCOUNTS AND READ MORE REVIEWS:
Was my Centara Q Resort Rayong review helpful to you? These are affiliate links which means if you make a booking with either company I make a small commission. With no extra cost to you. You will be supporting this blog and also help care for soi dogs(and cats) we come across in Thailand.
A LITTLE FAR FROM HUA HIN CITY CENTER… BUT IT’S REALLY NICE…
Last week my wife and I traveled to Hua Hin with a couple of her friends visiting from the UK. Because we prefer staying at hotels and resorts near beaches in Hua Hin we did a little bit of searching.
I know that sounds negative but hear me out. You see, the Veranda is not very close to Hua Hin’s city center.
For some travelers that could be a good thing. I know most travelers coming to Hua Hin want to relax at a quiet beach and think about absolutely nothing.
While others want to get out and about and explore Hua Hin.
If you prefer to stay at a resort by the beach and think about absolutely nothing with a cold piná colada by a beautiful swimming pool, Veranada Resort, and Villa Hua Hin won’t disappoint. It certainly didn’t disappoint me.
The MGallery label just means that this hotel is a fancy one…
BOOKING A ROOM AT VERANDA RESORT HUA HIN
My wife has an Accor hotel membership card about to expire soon. We also had some coupons we wanted to use before her membership expired.
So while looking through the reviews and nice photos of Veranda Resorts Hua Hin we were excited to go check it out for ourselves.
Dining Room – Veranda Resort’s main restaurant.
This is without a doubt a 5-star hotel. And with that, there’s a 5-star price to pay for. The room type with the lowest rates are the deluxe rooms which we stayed in for a few nights to make this review.
Deluxe rooms cost about 4500B per night with taxes. We also stayed in Veranda’s premium deluxe room which cost 5000THB per night plus taxes. Breakfast is not included, however. Which is not an issue because we have a car. And we know where the good places are to eat in Hua Hin.
We found an amazing bakery called The Baguette not far away. It’s highly recommended so go check it out.
The resort’s beautifully clean and maintained beach made us fall in love with Veranda.
VERANDA RESORT & VILLAS HUA HIN BEACH FRONT
The beachfront at Veranda Resort is very clean. The beach sand is soft and fine. I saw hotel staff go out to pick up trash and keep things neat. That’s a big bonus in my book.
And because this is a small resort you’re not going to have to fight for a sun chair. It’s the high season in Hua Hin and there were many guests. But I don’t think it was half full. Even if it were there are so many spots around the hotel’s pool and beach to spread out and just be one with nature.
Very nice quiet beach in front of Veranda Hotel & Resort Hua Hin to enjoy the sunset.View from the beach looking into Veranda Hua Hin.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After staying in so many hotels of this category through the years you can easily pick up vibes. So when I first stepped inside the open-air lobby of Veranda Resort Hua Hin I knew I was in a good place.
The lobby ceilings are high with a direct view of the sea. There are no hordes of hotel guests coming and going. Everything looked neat and orderly and there was no clutter. The zen water fountain at the center of the lobby added a nice touch to the overall ambiance.
Cool little zen fountain middle of the hotel’s lobby
We arrived around 3 pm and we didn’t see any other guests in the lobby. I could see a few people swimming around at the pool near the beach. And a few guests here and there. Other than that it was so peaceful.
Veranda Resort Hua Hin has a wonderful atmosphere.
WHAT ELSE IS SPECIAL HERE?
My best answer is the exclusivity. And that’s what you’re paying for. There are no hotels or resorts directly next to or even close to Veranda Resort Hua Hin. Although not exclusive to the point where there’s absolutely nothing around. Like our other favorite private resort La A Natu Bakery much further south from Hua Hin.
If you have your car you can easily drive a short distance to find restaurants and shops. Or go check out Blueport Mall, Hua Hin Night Market, and my all-time favorite Cicada Night Market.
The beautiful long stretch of beach in front of the hotel like I already mentioned is the main highlight of Veranda.
A small fitness room is located past the hotel’s coffee café
There’s a very small fitness room with cardio machines, free weights, and one universal weight machine. Haven’t tried the equipment inside but looks too tight.
If you’re looking for a really good intensive workout with weights I don’t think you’ll like Veranda Hotel’s gym. But the cardio machines look modern. Plus you can run up and down the long stretch of beach. The fitness room is open from 6 am to midnight.
Glassroom Espresso Bar open 7am to 8pm
The Veranda has one beautiful free-form swimming pool with two water slides. It will certainly delight kids and the young at heart. Your kids will spend all day at the swimming pool because it opens from 7am to 9pm.
We don’t have a little one yet. But my wife Dtan is 6 months pregnant and we’re super excited to take our little one around for a swim in the pool when we come back.
Overall I think Veranda Resort Hua Hin is a very nice kid-friendly hotel. Especially with the little man-made beach section of the swimming pool.
There’s only one large swimming pool for adults and children. The trees in the swimming pool are a nice touch.
Alright, so now that you’ve had a little look around the property, here are the rooms we stayed in at Veranda Resort Hua Hin.
A LOOK AT THE ROOMS
Veranda Hotel & Resort Hua Han has 12 room types. I only have the budget to check out two rooms on this trip to Hua Hin. I was tempted to book the slider pool suite but the price tag was too steep.
We stayed in the:
Veranda Deluxe – Room #210 (44 sq m.)
Veranda Premium Deluxe – Room #602 (66 sq m.)
Even with a pricey buffet breakfast, there were a decent amount of guests having breakfast…
Now, a look at the first room we stayed in, the Veranda Premium Deluxe room.
VERANDA PREMIUM DELUXE ROOM REVIEW
This is the room we stayed in during our first day. As mentioned before my wife has an Accor hotel membership card. Which came with a free one-night upgrade coupon. We upgraded from a Veranda Deluxe room just for one night to check out a premium room.
The premium deluxe rooms are located in a building a short walk from the main hotel lobby.
We were given room #602 which had a decent yet obstructed view of the sea. The room was clean with no funky smells coming from the bathroom. Which is a common thing here in Thailand no matter how fancy the hotel property is.
And the room is well lit with plenty of light fixtures all over the room. Lots of hotels in this category go for a soothing atmosphere, which is what most guests would want for a relaxing holiday.
Veranda Hotel & Resort Hua Hin has struck a good balance of light and relaxation.
Veranda premium deluxe room size is 66 square meters.
Two queen-sized beds with very comfortable mattresses and pillows.
Spacious bathroom with plenty of closet space.Never heard of Thann products but supposed to be fancy.Toothbrush, combs, razor kit, and other little odds and ends.Day bed which can also double as kids’ bed.There’s a spacious balcony with jacuzzi and sunbeds.Jacuzzi and double sun beds to enjoy on the balcony.Finally, a hotel with a working in-room jacuzzi.Not many hotels and resorts I’ve been to have mosquito-repellent incense. Nice touch from Veranda Hotel and Resort Hua Hin.Two bottles of free water on the top bar.Two bottles of free chilled water inside the mini-fridge.Premium deluxe rooms are located inside a separate building.Lobby of premium deluxe rooms.
A BIG ROOM
The room is very big at 66 square meters. A bit of an overkill because there are only two of us staying inside. Even though Veranda’s premium deluxe rooms max capacity is 3 persons this is way too much space. Not that I’m complaining. But we should’ve kept our upgrade coupon for another time if we had known. My wife and I just wanted to be surprised.
This room is perfect if you’re traveling with a child. There’s a separate day bed for children. But the room’s double queen-sized beds are more than enough adequate more.
The bathroom has a shower stall setup with rain shower fixtures. THANN shower products are showcased. I don’t know much about fancy shower products but maybe you do and have heard of them. You can also have a nice bath on the balcony in a jacuzzi.
Veranda Hotel & Resort Hua Hin gets bonus points for hot water on demand. Even their sinks have hot water. Which is important to a guy like me that’s borderline OCD.
However, it would’ve been an extra nice touch if Veranda provided guests with spa salts like we found inside AWA Koh Chang’s bathtubs.
The entrance to the main hotel where our deluxe room awaits.
So my wife and I stayed in this room for one night only. We tried out the jacuzzi and it works great. It’s got the bubbles and water jet which worked well. And there was plenty of hot water running on a constant which makes me think each room is equipped with its water heater.
The air conditioning was quiet and there are a bunch of movie and news channels in English to keep one entertained if they don’t want to venture out. These are nice and comfortable big rooms to relax in after a 3-hour drive from Bangkok.
VERANDA DELUXE ROOM REVIEW
A look inside room #210 a deluxe room at Veranda Hotel & Resort Hua Hin
At first, we thought our deluxe rooms were located in the same building as our premium deluxe room. But when we went back to hand in the keycards for our premium room a friendly hotel reception staff led us to our deluxe room on the main property.
Which is better because we’ll be a lot closer to the swimming pool and the gorgeous beach. We got a room on the second floor room #210.
This is deluxe room #210 on the second floor.
This room faces the inner courtyard or as Veranda calls it garden view. Rooms facing the opposite side of the resort which I think doesn’t have a good view. And I don’t see any price difference between a room with a better view and the ones that don’t.
My suggestion is if you book a garden view room make sure you ask for a deluxe room with a better view. I’m sure if one is available you’ll get it.
Deluxe rooms are located in these buildings. The location is closer to the swimming pool and beach.
Our room was inside the building pictured above. The room on the second floor second from the right is where we stayed.
I much prefer this deluxe room to the premium. It’s 44 sq m. overall and for me a lot cozier. Closet space is smaller here in the deluxe rooms. Not that it matters to us as we still keep all our stuff inside our travel bags.
A little reading area by the balcony.
There’s a king-sized bed, a separate shower, and a large bathtub. The toilet however shares the room with the shower. This is the first I’ve seen inside a resort of this quality, but it’s not a big deal. I didn’t have a chance to try out the bathtub on this trip but the showers were good with strong water pressure and constant hot water.
Haven’t tried the bathtub, but it’s full-sized and looks comfortable.THANN bath products are also found inside deluxe room bathrooms.
The real highlight of Veranda Hua Hin’s deluxe rooms is the view and the balcony seating space. With the shade and the nice afternoon breeze coming from the ocean I slept on the balcony sofa for hours like a baby.
Plenty of space on the balcony overlooking the garden.
After staying at our deluxe room we felt we should’ve saved our room upgrade coupon.
We were just as comfortable and there’s a better view. I didn’t even miss the jacuzzi inside the premium deluxe.
Because we were a lot closer to the beach and especially the swimming pool. From the doorstep of our room to the front of the pool it only took us a couple of minutes to get there.
There’s a small man-made beach by the pool for children.
As mentioned already, there are 12 room types at the Veranda Hua Hin. The top room types are Beach Front Pool Villa and Sky Pool Villa.
But I took a look at the rooms in front of the pool and shorter walking distance to the beach called the Veranda @ Sea rooms. I’m interested in checking it out in the future because it looks pretty cool.
The resort provides free internet Wi-Fi and the connection was fast and consistent. You could even get Wi-Fi coverage at the swimming pool and sun chairs in front of the beach.
This is the Veranda @ Sea room type I’m interested in reviewing the next time I come back here.
Veranda Hotel and Resort is a very nice place to relax and enjoy Hua Hin. If you’re planning on visiting Bangkok I think coming to this resort would be a great compliment and contrast from all the noise that is in Bangkok.
My wife and I like this hotel and we can’t wait to go back and check out the other room types.
HOW TO GET THERE:
ADDRESS: 737/12 Mung Talay Road, Cha Am, Petchburi 76120, Thailand
Veranda Resort Hua Hin is 130km from Bangkok, about 3 3-hour drive by car. It is approximately 21km from Hua Hin’s city center.
WHERE TO FIND HOTEL DISCOUNTS AND READ MORE REVIEWS:
Was my Veranda Resort Hua Hin Cha Am review helpful to you? These are affiliate links which means if you make a booking with either company I make a small commission. With no extra cost to you. You will be supporting this blog and also help care for soi dogs (and cats) we come across in Thailand.
The Quick Guide to Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market if You’re Short on Time…
If you want to check out Chatuchak (or Jatujak also JJ Market; Thai: จตุจักร) in Bangkok and you don’t have a lot of time, I’m going to show you where you should go to pick up unique Thai handmade souvenirs, eat delicious Thai street food and of course shop to your heart’s content.
There are an estimated 15,000 stalls within 27 zones as stated in Wikipedia. Chances are you don’t have time to go through all of them.
In this post, I’m going to save you some time by showing you the best parts of Chatuchak Weekend Market so you don’t need to walk the entire market.
Because JJ Market is such a huge sprawling weekend market you can easily run around like a headless chicken. Who wants to get lost and miss the good parts?
You’re not. Because you’re going to know the best parts of JJ Market and why it’s one of the best outdoor shopping experiences Bangkok has to offer.
Lots of local designers open shop in Zone #2…
Here’s the Breakdown
The biggest weekend market in Thailand is organized into 27 zones. Below you will find one of the best maps of Chatuchak Weekend Market I found on the internet.
But Here’s a Few Chatuchak Weekend Market Travel Tips from the Wayfaring Soul:
It’s best to visit Chatuchak around 10 am when most of the shop owners open their doors. Plus it’ll be a bit cooler and less crowded. There’s another reason why you want to get there early.
The best time to get a discount is when the shop just opened up for business. Thai business owners are very superstitious. They believe the first sale of the day is the most important. They will take the cash you gave them and brush it all over their products. In hopes that a day of good sales and profits are on the way.
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate more. If you can’t visit Chatuchak early in the day it can get very hot. Walking around 35°C (95°F) with hordes of sweaty tourists is not fun. It’s only 10B for a small bottle of water so there is no reason to not take in plenty of fluids.
The Do Not Miss Areas Inside JJ Market
Remember, Chatuchak Weekend Market is divided into 27 zones. Each zone specializes in the items and goods sold. If you don’t know where you’re going it’s very easy to get lost. Because every nook and corner can look the same. You can find plenty of maps online or at Thai tourist info centers.
That said, here are the must-see zones I highly recommend if you don’t have a lot of time to explore JJ Market:
Zone #2 is the bohemian/hipster chic zone inside the market. Once you take a look at this section and a look at all the others you will not only see zone #2 is different, but also feels different!
Zone #5 and #6 are the used clothes section but you can also find some new clothing items too. You will see brand-name jeans for sale in that area. However, I can not confirm if the jeans are counterfeit or not. But they sure do look real and high quality also.
The best map of Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market I ever found on the internet…
As you can see on the map, zones #2, #5 and #6 are all on the same side of the market. If you walked from zone #2 to zone #6 it would only take 30 minutes. That is if you don’t stop and check out the goodies. Good luck with that.
The Closest Train Station to Chatuchak Weekend Market is Kamphaeng Phet MRT
I recommend starting off at zone #2 simply because the Kamphaeng Phet MRT subway station is practically right next to zone #2. Just be sure to use subway station Exit 2.
This is exit 2 of the Kamphaeng Phet subway station, very close to zone #2…
Get Ready to Shop and Drop in Bangkok
Zone #2 nearby has gone through a sort of transformation. It’s like a hipster’s paradise filled with small boutique shops started by enterprising Thai designers living in Bangkok.
Now if you take a good look at the map below, you will see many other sections also selling clothes and Thai handicrafts, particularly right in the center of Chatuchak.
Zone 2 has a different feel and vibe…
Zone #2 is the top spot for finding Thai handmade souvenirs in Chatuchak at reasonable prices. It’s also the best place to buy unique graphic t-shirts and even shoes, both brand new or second-hand.
I know a lot of Japanese tourists love searching for second items inside JJ Market, specifically vintage clothes and accessories. And some come to find stock to resell back in their home country.
The best map of Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market I ever found on the internet…Thai hand made items can be found in zone #2…Prices are higher in zone 2 but not by much…Lots of graphic t-shirts can be found in Chatuchak…Zone 2 has a lot of one of a kind boutique shops…Many smaller shops selling stone bracelets and necklaces too…My favorite t-shirt shops are in zone 2…Seems like white t-shirts are popular in Bankgok….Many boutique shops in Chatuchak follow fashion trends…
Now I’m not saying the rest of Chatuchak is not worth visiting. No way. I love the whole market. It’s just that if you don’t have a lot of time and you don’t want to sweat buckets when it’s hot you just want to see the best part.
Zone #2 is where you’ll want to go if you don’t have a lot of time to visit Chatuchak Market.
Lots of fusion grilled food found in zone 2Coffee and cakes are very popular in Bangkok…Many fruit drink stands are found as well along zone 2…And of course one of Bangkok’s famous dish is represented, sticky rice mango..
There are just so many unique little treasures located in Chatuchak’s Zone #2 that I don’t even know how I can ever list them all. So it’s best if you go there and check them out for yourself. You just might find something you’re going to fall in love with.
And I recommend that if you see it, it’s best to just buy it. As long as it fits in your budget of course. Because the worst thing you can do is get back on that plane and regretting you never bought it.
Finally, items in zone 2 are a bit more expensive compared to the rest of JJ Market because the items are a little more unique.
You are allowed to bargain but please don’t be so aggressive. And don’t try and lowball the shopkeepers because they do work hard and have bills to pay.
A Short Glimpse of Chatuchak Weekend Market
If You Love Denim You’ll love Zone #5 and #6
In this zone, you will find used clothing, particularly denim. You can also find stalls selling brand-name jeans as well with labels. Now I don’t know if it’s fake or genuine. But the prices are not so cheap. I think the jeans inside were probably overage stock, or didn’t pass quality control from jean-producing factories around Thailand.
Even though Bangkok is hot and humid throughout the year Thai locals love denim wear. New or used it doesn’t matter. If it looks good on them and the price is right they have to have a pair of jean pants or jacket.
Prices for clothes in this zone are reasonable though there is space to get discounts as long as you buy more items.
Zone #5 and #6 is a well known location inside Chatuchak for denim wear…You can spend hours inside looking at selections of new and used clothingsMany used shoes are repaired and sold…Even old used sneakers are cleaned for resale…There are a lot of military style clothing sold inside Chatuchak…Denim is always popular for Thai people…Military fashion is also popular with Thais…Local Thais love shopping in zone #5 and #6…Even used soccer jerseys are sold in zone #5…If it’s worn and used you’ll probably find it at Chatuchak…
But you’re also going to see a lot of military-style clothing, shoes (new and used), and all sorts of other second-hand clothing items. You might even find brand-name clothing too. But again, if they are fakes I honestly wouldn’t know.
Getting a Quick Bite inside Chatuchak Market
If you still have some time for a quick bite to eat, there’s a small shop selling to die for Chinese-style roast pork. It’s one of the best roast pork I’ve ever had. Even better than the ones I’ve had in Hong Kong! If you don’t like pork they also sell awesome fried chicken wings too!
Though there are many Thai restaurants within JJ Weekend Market it’s best to head over to Aor Tor Gor Farmer’s Market for their awesome food court. Aor Tor Gor is also the most popular fruit market in the city where you’ll find the best Durian money can buy in Bangkok.
This shop is located on zone #19, Soi 7/1, about a 5 minute walk from zone #2…These chunks of Chinese roast pork belly are melt in your mouth good!…I can’t believe Chatuchak Market has the best Chinese roast pork…
Chatuchak Weekend Market is an incredible place filled with lots to see, eat, and of course shop. But if you don’t have a lot of time to spend there then just checking out the areas I’ve mentioned on this blog is going to give you the full experience to remember in Bangkok.
When you are visiting Bangkok there’s a very good chance you’ll be popping into MBK Centre (Mahboonkrong) since it is one of the most well known shopping centers in Bangkok.
Mainly because for tourists MBK is easy to find. Right next to MBK is National Stadium BTS Sky Train station. And taxis, tuk tuk know exactly where it is.
Among Bangkok’s selection of malls, MBK is not exactly the poshest. It’s the Thai working classes’ preferred mall. Where prices for clothes and shoes are more acceptable for locals. It is the oldest mall in this particular part of Bangkok. Yet its popularity has withstood the test of time.
Competing against super malls like Siam Square One, Siam Discovery/Centre and Siam Paragon that are a short distance walk.
And it’s also a great place to socialize with friends and family because MBK has a huge bowling alley, ice skate rink and cinema theaters with the latest screen and sound tech.
MBK also has lots of beauty salons where you can get gel manicures and foot spas. But prices for beauty services inside MBK are rather high. So below I’ll let you know where you can find beauty salons where the local Thai ladies go to get themselves beautified.
Where is MBK Centre
You can find this popular shopping centre in central Bangkok, specifically in the Pathuwan District. Not far is the Jim Thompson House, a popular tourist attraction for those wanting to learn about Thailand’s rich silk history.
There are so many restaurants on the streets and especially inside the shopping malls. And of course not only will you find Thai restaurants, there are also many Japanese, Korean and Western restaurants, including Mcdonald’s, Burger King, KFC and even a Taco Bell.
Many hotels in the area as well. You can find some places to stay near MBK Mall near the end of this post.
MBK Will Always Be Part of the Bangkok Experience
Every single person I know visiting Bangkok will eventually end up inside MBK. Even if they don’t plan on shopping. Today it’s changed so much since the first time I stepped foot inside nearly 25 years ago.
Don Don Doki, a super popular Japanese store has a multi level shopping center inside. This store is the 8th branch in Bangkok and super popular with Thais because they love all things Japanese. And Don Don Doki gives them a glimpse of the Japan shopping experience as well as purchase Japanese sweet snacks, beauty cosmetics, gadgets and home accessories. And of course all sorts of Japanese style of foods also.
Don Don Doki at MBK Mall Bangkok 2nd Floor Entrance…Many things to buy inside Don Don Doki MBK Mall
Cannabis for Sale in MBK
After Thailand legalized marijuana in June 2022 numerous weed dispensaries started popping up all around the city. There are several shops where you can buy grams of the stickiest of icky inside MBK. Though you can not smoke inside MBK mall. Or practically anywhere in public, especially near schools and temples. If you get caught you’ll get hit with a 20,000B fine.
Safe places to light up in Bangkok are Cannabis Cafes but I recommend calling them up if you want to bring your own stash.
Cannabis dispensary located on 1st floor of MBK Mall…
MBK Mall is Best for Buying Western Size Clothes and Shoes
For budget tourists or just savvy travelers that don’t want to overpay, MBK is the best place to buy clothes at reasonable prices. Because a lot of MBK’s customers are foreigners. So you can find many European and American sized shirt, pant and shoes on the racks at affordable prices
I’m talking about good quality clothing and shoes. Not items with cheap materials. Even though you can find that sold inside MBK too. There are tons of shops selling good quality t-shirts with gimmicky phrases and quirky graphics for as little as 100B when you buy more than one shirt.
MBK Mall in Bangkok has 8 floors
Plus they’ve got one rocking food court with affordable food on the 6th floor. Local Thai dishes like Thai Som Tom and Pad Thai along with Thailand’s famous mango with sticky rice is well represented. Along with international fare such as Hong Kong styled noodles plus a bit of Muslim fare like chicken curry over yellow rice.
Now there really isn’t too much new information to add on top of what has already been written about MBK in numerous travel articles.
But I’d like to share a little bit of what I know about MBK.
And below are my 5 tips that might be useful to you plus 5 hotels that are really close to MBK mall.
One of the best food courts in Bangkok is at MBK mall…
No More Fakes and Counterfeits Inside MBK Mall… But You Can Still Find Knock Offs
One of the primary reasons why MBK Mall became famous is because tourists (and locals) could find knock off designer goods easily. There was a short period of time where brand name knock offs were taken off the shelves, due to pressure from foreign companies.
Today, as or writing, you can find all kinds of knock offs on shelves. Most shops selling wearable fake brand named items are located on floors 3 to 6.
Counterfeit luxury lines of Rolex and Omega watches are still abundant. Though to be honest, it’s probably best to not waste money on knock off watches.
Fake Air Jordans are popular and many foreigners buy with intent to take back to their home country for resale. Plenty of fake Supreme T-Shirts and accessories, Gucci and Louis Vuitton hand bags are sought after too. If you do plan on buying knock offs I recommend paying what you can afford. It’s not worth overspending.
Will the Thai authorities crack down on fakes? Probably, but it’ll be back on the shelves eventually. As long tourists know they can find fake good inside MBK there will be shops selling to make money.
Fake Supreme t-shirts MBK Mall
MBK is One of the Best Malls for Electronics
I’m talking about white label electronics “bordering counterfeit” level of electronics. For example I bought these Apple Airpod Pro for 550B inside a shop called Lemon Telecom. Now the box doesn’t say Apple Airpod Pro. But it doesn’t take a genius to see that the packaging is 98% unmistakably Apple.
White label products are what factories, mainly Chinese factories, call products that wholesalers slap their names on the packaging. And many white label products can be found inside MBK.
Lemon Telecom is located on the 5th floor. Everything inside has price labels which is super important. Because many of the small shops selling same types of electronics items on the 4th floor have NOprices on any of their goods for sale. So you gotta ask for the price. Asking for discounts is expected and how much they go down on price is up to the shop owners.
You will not get discounts inside shops like Lemon Telecom however.
Personally before I bought this Airpod Pro copy I checked around on the 4th floor with several shops. I was quoted 800B to 1300B. And some of those shops have Apple Airpod Pro printed on boxes, which cost more. Funny the more “counterfeited” in appearance the higher the price goes. And you’re paying for the branding rather then actual products.
Whatever you plan on buying, I recommend going to a store like Lemon Telecom on the 5th floor and take a look at their prices. Then head down to the 4th floor below and check prices amongst the smaller shops. This way you get some idea about prices.
Not exactly Apple Airpod Pros, but really close…Lemon Telecom 5th floor MBK Mall
But First You’re Going to Need Thai Baht, Right? I’ll Show You Where to Get the Best Currency Exchange Rates in Bangkok
If you’re going to shop hard you’re going to need plenty of Thai Baht in your pockets. So if you’ve got yourself a fist full of your home currency and need to exchange them with better than bank rates then head to the 2nd floor of MBK where you’ll find a Super Rich money exchange branch.
I personally use Super Rich’s services. When you compare them to Thai bank conversion rates Super Rich gives you better exchange rates. They’re now located in a lot of major tourists areas in Bangkok. But Super Rich’s MBK branch is very convenient.
I highly recommend bringing in your local currency and exchange them for Baht. Because Thai ATM fees are very high charging a minimum of 280THB per withdrawal with foreign accounts.
Now that you’re armed with fresh Thai Baht and ready for shopping here are my 5 Shopping Tips for MBK:
1. My Favorite Areas Inside MBK Mall
As you will see once you’re inside MBK it is a massive mall. But where do you go find some nice Thai souvenirs at decent prices?
For me, I always recommend heading to the 6th floor. It’s less crowded and the prices for Thai made products are very reasonable. This area is newly renovated and filled with made in Thailand products. No problem finding fakes here too.
I recommend heading up to the 6th floor Thai made products…
If you want the best prices for t-shirts and other souvenirs, look for made in Thailand products. I find that Thai manufactured slippers and flip flops are really good quality and priced inexpensive.
If your goal is buying bulk at wholesale prices, MBK is not the right place. For that you should go to Sampeng Market in Bangkok’s Chinatown district.
Any creative products made with Thai rubber, coconuts and hemp materials are nicely made and so affordable and unique to Thailand. It’s where I tell my visiting friends to shop for souvenirs.
I find that MBK’s 6th floor has the most Thai made products inside the mall. There are plenty of Thai made products sold elsewhere inside MBK but cost slightly higher.
2. Find Brand Name Clothes at Outlet Prices
I’m a big guy and sometimes here in Bangkok for me it is tough to find the right size. I wear XL size for shirts. And I am shaped like a gorilla. Normally XL labeled clothing for Thais are still small because it was originally made for the Thai market.
So I like going to this shop called Export shop. You can find 2 inside MBK Mall. One on the 2nd floor and the other on the 3rd floor.
Back in the States we have these outlet malls where you can find brand name clothes for cheap. Well, the Export shops stock up on brand name clothing themselves. From Gap, Dockers, Ralph Polo, American Eagle and sometimes J. Crew and Banana Republic. They even have these 511 Tactical shirts and pants for sale on the racks.
Other export shops selling similar brands but different styles are called XL for Men and 71 Imports.
Because so many big name clothing companies use factories in Southeast Asia to produce their clothing line. A lot of the overage ends up in shops like these. Keep in mind, some of the clothing have slight defects. But nothing so major that it’s unwearable or noticeable.
My favorite clothing shop inside MBK
If you are looking for sporting goods and wear it is worthwhile to check out Super Sports Factory Outlet on the 3rd floor. It is worth checking out because it can be a hit or miss.
Because a lot of the really good in demand items are quickly picked up by lucky tourists and enterprising Thais looking to quickly resell online for profit. Though keep in mind these are factory outlet grade items. Which means that there could be slight defects. Give the items a quality check before forking over your hard earned cash.
The discounts are quite considerable but if you are not there at the right time, and find something you like, the size you want might not be available. In any case, deals can be found on original Nike, Adidas, North Face, Asics, New Balance and so on.
Super Sports Factory Outlet inside MBK Mall 3rd floor…
3. MBK’s Camera Shops
I’m a camera geek. So I love checking out the latest camera toys.
To me the prices of cameras are expensive in Thailand. Though prices for camera gears are very reasonable like tripods, camera bags and sometimes lenses. I think the better deals for the actual camera itself is back in the States.
Anyways, if you lost your camera somehow and you need to buy a new one, I recommend heading to the ground floor of MBK near zone B. It’s the one pictured below. I know it looks like a hole in the wall but they’ve been there for the longest time and quite reputable.
You can get a Tourist Vat Refund also when you buy something there. So you can save a bit of cash as well. I believe you get back about 7% back at the airport.
Camera Center on the 5th floor camera prices are not too shabby either if you really need to pick up cameras in Bangkok. They also offer a VAT refund as well.
Many big camera shops on 5th floorA camera shop at MBK with decent prices…
4. Don’t Forget to Check MBK’s Ground Floor
The ground floor has a lot of good deals too. Many tourists neglect the ground floor because most of them enter the shopping mall from the 2nd and 3rd floor. That’s where the Sky Train walkway leads to the BTS National Stadium train station and Siam Discovery Mall.
But the ground floor is where a lot of discounted clothes and accessories can be found too. So be sure to explore around the ground floor. You just might end up with better discounts for clothes and other knick knacks.
MBK has a total of 7 seven floors and you can check out the mall directory here.
Be sure to walk around the ground floor of MBK, plenty of discounts too…
5. Hair Salons, Nail Salons, Eyelash Extensions and Eyebrow Tattoos
Chances are if you’re staying over in Bangkok for a week or longer, you might be interested in checking out the many varieties of salons for pampering women.
MBK’s got all kinds of beauty salons located mainly on the third floor. But some are spread out on the upper floors too.
Okay so I can’t make any direct recommendations of the salon services located inside MBK Mall.
And there are 2 reasons why:
I go to the cheap places near where I live in Bangkok to cut my hair. For 80THB I get a cut and shave.
As her youngest son, my mother would have a heart attack if she saw me with eyelash extensions and painted nails
However this blogger’s post recommends Goree Salon on the third floor. And she seems quite happy.
I should mention that MBK salon prices to local Thais are not exactly affordable. I’m not suggesting salons inside MBK are overcharging tourists. From a business standpoint, renting space inside one of the most popular malls in Bangkok isn’t cheap.
For local Thais if they want to get their nails done at prices they can afford, they go to nail salon like Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon. It’s a nail salon my Thai lady friends tell me is really good. Or Union Mall for hair salons with services priced just right for Thais working hard for their money.
Need Someplace to Keep Your Luggage While You Shop?
If you checked out of your hotel early and decided to drop by MBK for last minute souvenir shopping, there is a luggage drop off service center on the 6th floor in Zone B, right next to Food Island Food Court.
This service is provided by Airportels.com and they’ll hold your luggage for 4 hours FREE of charge. After that, it’s 100THB per bag. The counter is open from 10am to 10pm everyday.
Consider Booking a Hotel Near MBK Mall
MBK is a fun place to hide, chill out and get away from the city’s heat for awhile. The mall officially opens at 10am but a lot of the smaller stalls open a little later. Closing time is 10pm.
It’s located right in central Bangkok, in a lively area called Siam Square. So it’s also a really good idea to find a hotel in that area because it’s right next to a Sky Train station called National Stadium.
Because MBK is right by Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Siam Discovery and Center the area is totally family friendly and away from the red light districts.
Below are names of 5 hotels near MBK in the 3 to 5 star range I would like to recommend:
Ibis Hotel is one of the best hotels near MBK Mall. It’s right across and next to National Stadium BTS station…
Conclusion
I’ve had visiting friends stay in all of those hotels so I know they’re all very good choices in a prime area of Bangkok. Plus those hotels have plenty of good reviews already.
Out of the list of five, if you have the money, I recommend Pathumwan Princess Hotel. It’s attached right on top of MBK. So you won’t even have to step outside.
On a budget? Lub D has a popular chain of hostels in Bangkok and this particular one on Siam Square has really affordable rooms and perfect for families.
So that’s my five tips on visiting MBK. Plus five hotels near a bunch of Bangkok’s best shopping centers that are perfect for exploring popular sections of central Bangkok.
There were some minor construction but once everything is patched up this will be one good looking 5 star hotel…[/caption]
I really got the impression that Mövenpick is a fun family friendly hotel on Jomtien beach. I mean just looking at the families all the children playing in the pool you can’t help but feel that way. Passing the hotel’s beachside restaurant we found lots of lounge chairs and large sun beds. It’s a big hotel so good to know there are plenty of chairs and places for guests to hang out during peak travel times. When we got to the beach we found a nice long stretch of clean sand. There weren’t a lot of people out and about wandering or taking a stroll. It took about 5 minutes to walk from the hotel lobby down beachside. 
Most of the hotel guests were splashing around the pool and I noticed people were especially enjoying the pool’s water slide. And there were about 3 different water slides line along the main swim area. 
There are two main swimming pools and in the middle a pool bar, though that was under construction at the moment. This Siam Na Jomtien is a 35 floor building and the height of the building provided good shade coverage for those that don’t like to risk getting too much sun on one side of the pool.
Here’s a top down view of the swimming pools and the beach from our room on the 21st floor. While the other swimming pool got plenty of sun coverage for those that don’t mind a bit of color on their skin. There’s a fitness center equipped with modern equipment, dumb bells, universal weight machines and treadmills. I’d work out but I’m satisfied at the moment with my dad bod. After taking in the location and lazing around on the some sun beds for 45 minutes we went back to the hotel lobby to pick up our room key. 
Leave a Reply