Tonight I decided to call our the Plaza Athenee Bangkok to see if there is going to be anyone to pick us up at the airport when we stagger out of customs at 1 am. First I tried to call the direct phone number to the hotel. No go. Then I tried the 1-800 number for LaMeridian, which, I assume, is the parent company of the Plaza Athenee. I got hold of a nice lady who was probably sitting in the southern US. She said the hotel has a shuttle that goes from 8 pm to 12 am. We discussed the likelihood of it actually being available after that time but of course, her guess was as good as mine. There was much discussion of being stranded at the airport. After telling me how to actually reach the hotel, she wished me a good trip and said it sounds like it will be full of 'adventure' (read: not too bright tourists in a Thai prison fattening up cockroaches for extra protein).
On my second attempt to call the hotel, I reached a very pleasant sounding woman in Bangkok, who I imagined is tiny and stunning. She assured me that our room is confirmed and, of course, they would be happy to have a limo waiting for us. 'Would you like to know the cost, Ms. Chombalan?" Yes, I would. $2400 baht. Quick calculation in my head, 8 bucks for both of us. Sweet deal. Book it!!
Then I called Val to tell her how smart I am. I am so smart - SMRT! Val, who is obviously going to be the financier on this trip, did the same quick calculation in her head calculation and said "80 BUCKS!" ooops. That's more than the hotel room.
I called the tiny, stunning woman back and had the dumb tourist 'talk of shame'. "So, did you say two THOUSAND and four hundred Baht?" Yes, that's what she said. I then asked how much for a cab from the airport to her hotel. $400 Baht. "I would like to cancel that limo please." "Yes, Ms Chombalan, certainly." I wonder if it wouldn't have been worth $2400 Baht not to have had that conversation.
So, 5 days until we actually arrive and I have already marked myself for hotel employee ridicule. Excellent.
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2 comments:
Oh my -
Joanie, I had forgotten how well you write!
Kepe them coming, let Val do the math, and say hi to the elephants!
Hugs,
Al.
LOL. Just got a credit card statement charging $117 for a T-shirt in Argentina. I thought it was overpriced at $12! Ya gotta watch the zeros. Have a great trip
and write lots. Love cus'n John
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