The Character Yaowarat

We left after one night of a four-night booking because the room was unacceptable. It was noisy all night, with people passing the first-floor room near the entrance, and the smell never let up. We didn’t keep the key or try to stick it out; we checked out early. I had booked and received confirmation for a “Deluxe Studio Suite with City View,” but we were put on the first floor, where a city view was physically impossible. When I raised the mismatch, the vendor refused both to move us and to refund us, saying the room matched the category. I’m posting this after a delay because we were on a month-long trip, but I feel others should know. Booking here feels like a gamble with only a small chance of getting the room you paid for. They may be counting on tired travelers not having the energy to challenge a downgrade or find somewhere else. I disputed the charge with my credit card company and got the money back. If this happens to you, you can also consider a formal complaint to the OCPB, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, under the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522. I’m sharing this so other guests know there may be recourse.

I booked just 12 hours before we were due to reach Bangkok. My wife was then forbidden to leave Nepal because of a new regulation for Indians, so we couldn’t check in. I asked to cancel and get 70% back, but they kept all 7600 INR. That felt really greedy. With that kind of attitude, I’d rather stay somewhere beautiful where people have good manners. A real no go.

We didn’t stay. The neighborhood felt very bad, with junkies outside, though that wasn’t even the worst part. Inside, the place was dirty, neglected, smelled awful, and the walls were peeling. It looked nothing like the pictures. Communicating with the host was difficult too. It felt like being in prison.

There was no water, supposedly because people were fixing something in the street, and the Wi-Fi wasn’t working either. After 24 hours of travel, I just wanted to use the toilet and shower, so I asked for my money back. They simply said no. They really didn’t take care of their customers. I won’t be back.