What should I know before booking a hotel affiliated with Piyavate hospital in Thailand?

Nov 2, 2021
3 years ago
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Grace Hotel disappointment

Thought I'd book my old haunt (think Grace Coffee Shop 1989...) but there is a major flaw in their arrangement...

It's not that they don't actually serve the Middle Eastern food on offer in the restaurant to their inmates (actually maybe they do, I haven't heard back from them). Anyway, I presume I can order from BAMBOO, an exceptional Lebanese restaurant across the street.

No, it's because their affiliate hospital is PIYAVATE. But as any Nana Plaza-hound knows, BUMRUNGRAD is right across the street. And this could have reduced wait time.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user expresses disappointment in the Grace Hotel due to its affiliation with Piyavate hospital instead of Bumrungrad, which many expats prefer due to shorter wait times. The comments reflect on various aspects of hotel bookings, including food choices, test procedures, and response times, highlighting frustrations with miscommunication, pricing details, and general travel complications amidst COVID-19 regulations.
Richard *****
All about the money
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
One more hotel replied (within 12 hours, maybe sooner, I do not know as I was sleeping, then busy) and Ambassador replied to my clarification questions...

1. Royal President: First hotel to be completely unambiguous and simple about my particular challenge of late arrival ..

"If you arrival at hotel after 23.00 hrs.(11PM.) please make the reservation for 2 nights."

This is how I expected it would have to be, but the other two hotels danced around/ignored the question. My buddy living in Pattaya says this should be obvious at the get go, but I like to see things in black and white. No surprises.

"1 Night package

Deluxe room (40 sqm.) for 1 person is 4,900 THB

2 Nights package

Deluxe room (40 sqm.) for 1 person is 6,400 THB"

2. Ambassador...

"1. If you are include Eligible Countries that Thai government approved (Customer must reside in the eligible countries for at least 21 consecutive days and Fully Vaccinated not less than 14 days) you can book package 1 night 2 days (Standard room THB 5,000.-)"

OK

"2. If your flight arrives at BKK airport on Nov. 10 at approximately 00:15 (just after midnight) you have to book room check-in 11 Nov’21 and check-out 12 Nov’21"

I think they have their math wrong or don't understand how calendars work. Why would I check in for what practically speaking is
*****
night arrival (but technically
*****
arrival) on
*****
. Makes absolutely no sense to me. Am I missing something here. If they can't get this right, what will they foul up during my stay?

"3. If your flight arrives at BKK airport on Nov. 10 at approximately 00:15 hrs. if mean your booking will confirm on 11 Nove'21 and you have to swab test at 08.00-09.00 hrs on 11 Nov’21 and we will receive result at 20.00 hrs. in same day (approximately) , you can check-out on 12 Nov’21 after receive result (Hotel do not charge for late check-out). But if you need to extend stay we have additional charge."

Clear as mud and inconvenient. Why would I want to have a medical test six hours after I arrive from a series of not short flights? I will probably sleep for 10-12 hours, being available only in the afternoon of
*****
.

The only good news I got out of this is that for late check-out this hotel does not charge extra. But he/she did not say how far this extends. Key point to me.

The gist seems to be that I must book two nights

"4. The package include indian food (as menu) If you need additional you have to pay extra charge."

Is he/she saying that yes, Indian food is available on the quarantine menu and that the only circumstance where I would have to pay extra is if I order dishes not part of the three meals per day or that there is a more extensive Indian menu that is not part of the package, or that the quarantine package meals does not include but I can order at extra charge from the menu instead?

He/she completely ignored my request for clarification about vegetarian protein dishes. This is what happens when you stay in an enclave populated by overwhelmingly Muslim visitors from KSA and the Gulf rather than Hindus and Sikhs from South Asia. I can't be bothered to find out where they quarantine. This is taking too much time for what will amount to less than 48 hours.

"5. Please note Swab test schedule issue by Thai government not hotel."

Huh, I thought it was the hospital scheduling this. Or is the hospital just following Ministry of Health instructions?

Still no knowledge at my end whether the swab is done at the hotel or whether I have to be transported to the hospital and back.

Sounds like an expensive headache. I would rather just be herded into a gov't facility, tested, and released ASAP. Instead what exists is a facsimile of tourism. But I have already cancelled two trips due to COVID so I will just 'bite the (silver) bullet'.
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
Governments the world over are generally incompetant and unethical in my view. Not unique to any one country.
Michael ********
@Christopher *******
But i also work other places that make Thailand seem easy
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
DRC! I was going to go there after Tanzania. But aside from that whole trip being cancelled for irrelevant to this conversation reasons, when I read of recent violent street crimes in Arusha, I figured better go back to my comfort zone of Asia.
Michael ********
@Christopher *******
I work in Singapore at moment so there is my benchmark
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
Mr. Dawson,

Even though I get bored in three days in Singapore, I have a much higher opinion of the government of Singapore (and the Emirate of Dubai) than most other governments.

Two days ago I sent an email question to Immigration Singapore (about 'Safe Travel Lanes') I got a detailed intelligible courteous response. And the officer even signed his name. We don't get this kind of government service in Canada
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just installed FB Messenger where I experimented using this messaging app instead of email...

GRACE HOTEL replied unambiguously. Only one meal provided. Good news, because I don't eat much Thai food, preferring to order in West Asian or South Asian.

THB3900 for 'Test & Go'. Room has microwave so they saw me coming. Android TV also. Think I'll spring THB600 for a better room. I have stayed in their ancient basic rooms and the mattress or something was mediocre.

Only thing I am skeptical about is the claim that they will take me directly from airport to hospital for test. At 2 a m.? I am very skeptical, so asked for verification.
Michael ********
@Christopher *******
why not 2 am its not like hospitals close.
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
reasonable question. However at a different hotel they had only three sample collection times.

There appears to not exist a comparison chart for all the quarantine hotels so one can make an informed consumer choice.
Michael ********
@Christopher *******
Its only just started you think the Thais are that organised especially with the muddy guidelines they get from the goverment with not much notice to prepare.

You are expecting first world organisation in a third world country.
Oliver ********
I'm not sure I fully understand your predicament, but the solution is to jump out of the window, walk or crawl across the road to Bumrungrad, tell them your health insurance number and explain that you suspect you've suffered a severe stroke, as well as sustaining a few physical injuries from the jump, and they will provide you with the help you need.
Frédéric ******************
Shahrazad soi
***
, yummy.
Tom ********
Bamboo, Excellent restaurant
Kevin ***********
Bumrungrad would probably charge a fortune.
Winston *********
Yeah, that's a reason not to book a hotel. The on premises testing is affiliated with a hospital 20 minutes away. The perceived delays would be astounding.

Personally, I'd cancel the trip altogether.
Frédéric ******************
I've booked a hotel affiliated with Piyavate hospital. The test will be done at the hotel.
Richard ***********
Old Nana Hotel patron here...back in the days of a klong along Soi Nana...long ago...
PJ *********
@Richard **********
Underground Disco days there
Nick ****************
Another gullible caught by the lure of Amazing Thailand.
Joseph *********
Maybe too much shisha. 😳
Paul *****************
What drugs are you on?

I dont want them!
Duncan *******
@Paul ****************
I don't know - to be as incoherent as op sounds like fun :)
Paul *****************
@Duncan ******
It takes all types
Michael ********
Bumingrad charge more and nana plaza patrons have a reputation for being kee neow
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
Kee nyau kee-nok
Michael ********
@Christopher *******
yes i wasnt sure of the phonetic version its subjective คีนีนิว
Frédéric ******************
@Michael *******
ขี้เหนียว (sticky faeces)
Michael ********
@Frédéric ****************
i forgot my glasses just went out to try find a pair, i got no chance reading thai on phone without them
Michael ********
I left my glasses at home so hopefully thai is right, difficult on phone
Garrett ***********
Bro, what the hell are you talking about? A hotel, middle eastern food, Lebanese food, inmates, hospitals, piyavate (what ever that is)?
Jonathan *******
@Garrett **********
Piyavate is a private hopsital, I am guessing the affiliated one for this hotel. Centara Watergate, where I did my ASQ uses them as well.

Aside from that, I have no idea what he is going on about for the rest of the post.
Christopher ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
Hotel name: Grace Hotel, an institution if you are a heterosexual Muslim (I am not both of these)

Middle-Eastern food: not only the hotel but an entire enclave of the north side of the Nana area is full of Gulf state visitors. One such group of hospitable gentlemen invited me into their room to sit on the floor and join them to eat rice and lamb with their hands

Lebanese food: yes, best in Bangkok

Hospitals: doesn't every ASQ hotel have to be affiliated with a hospital. Don't we do the tests there?

Man, you must be under 40 years of age.
Frédéric ******************
@Christopher *******
They invited you to eat lamb with THEIR hands? I guess eating with your own hands would be allowed too 😉
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