Stayed for 1 night at the above hotel and I’ve got to admit it is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in.

The room was booked by my girlfriend as I was in Pattaya at the time and she was in Bangkok and had the time to ring around to find me a hotel. This was the first one with available rooms so she booked it.

So, me and my mate get out of the taxi and walk into reception when it hits me, Christmas tunes on a loop. Next we go to check in the receptionist is quite stern with us because we don't know we have to fill a check in card at another desk.

So, we check in and I go to my room. It smells damp and looks very tired but I think, sod it it's only 1 night.

So the girlfriend arrives parks the car and comes up to the room we get ready and go out for the night. Around 2 am we walk back into the hotel and are stopped by security who proceed to take us to reception where they tell me I have to pay an extra 650 baht joiner’s fee.

Now, my misses booked the hotel, she parked her car at the hotel and then they have the gall to ask me for an extra 650 baht. Me being the not so shy and retiring type ask them politely what they are implying and tell them they can stuff the joiner’s fee where the sun don't shine ( now I know this is not the Thai way but it really wound me up). By this stage I am surrounded by 3 security staff which I don't mind but when 1 of them started prodding me that really set me off. I told them to back off or else it would kick off which they did and then I asked to see the manager. After a bit of a talking to they decided it would be a good idea not to charge me the 650 baht which I accepted and went to bed.

The next morning when we checked out the manager says “Hope to see you again soon" to which my reply was " I would rather sleep in the gutter than at this sh**ehole again.”

Bye bye

Sorry to hear about that Mark, get even, go on as many travel review/hotel websites and tell the rest of the World how you and your girlfriend were treated. I had to stay at that dump as well, one time, when my first choice hotel was fully booked.

i also stayed there once and never again its a terrible hotel

but the beer garden out front isn't bad

Totally agree about the hotel.

The beer garden was great with live music from a pretty decent band and half decent food if you wanted it.

However, it is no more. Bulldozed and being built upon like nobody's business.

The up side of all this, however, is that it is now virtually impossible to find your way into the Ambassador Hotel from Sukhumvit. You have to know the way in from the side soi. Perhaps this will mean more people will look elsewhere.

One thing I do remember with some affection about the Ambassador is that somewhere up on the roof there is a series of aviaries full of a motley collection of parrots etc. Very strange to find it. I thought I was having a 60s flashback when I first stumbled upon the scene.

John B

Off all the hotel's we have stayed in, This Hotel was without doubt the worst, Mainly because of the bad mannered receptionist, While checking-in we new it was a mistake coming to this hotel but it was only for 2 nights, Never again for us.


Cheer's

quote:

However, it is no more. Bulldozed and being built upon like nobody's business.

quote:

I thought I was having a 60s flashback when I first stumbled upon the scene

try spending a nite at the miami hotel for a '60's flashback, which is next door to the ambassador, i think

I remember doing a trip report which included a bit about the ambassador back in 2003 http://thailand-uk.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/29010002/m/54310128

I have stayed there once since, but only after a word from the wise about booking the Tower Wing floors rather than the "normal" floors. Amazing how similar Mark's experience seems to mine of over 3 years ago!

Thanks for reminding us of your trip report, I enjoyed reading it. Have you seen the new airport at Udon Thani?
I think I've seen you post on the Udonmap forum with another handle. The Ambassador has not improved since then

Prenders,

Yep, used Udon International numerous times now and do post on Udon Map seen a few of your posts on there. Did one post about losing a car in the airport car park there after a trip to Bangkok and back, gets confusing looking for a pickup when they all look so similar! Udon is a friendly little airport, just wish they did do UK International flights direct, it's a close call on getting a connecting flight after landing in Bangkok now to avoid an overnight stay.

When I read the post here about the poor boy getting electricuted it reminded me of some dodgy wiring in one of the rooms I stayed at in the Ambassador. However as I mention the Tower wing of the hotel contains much better rooms, but does not make up for the service or staff.

I agree with much that has been said but just to balance things a little.
The Ambassador used to be our hotel of choice 2002-2004 when my wife an I were dating,it was only about 700thb a night back then, the pool and surrounding birds in cages were nice and the tower wing was ok but the rooms were tired even in those days.

The reception staff have always been surly, look at any website remarks and its mentioned again and again but if you are careful you only need to deal with them twice, the hotel does appeal to travellers from India and surrounding areas who certainlly have a different view on queuing and lift etiquette, it used to rather frustrate me sometimes.

My Thai relations always wondered why we stayed there, apparantly the owners are not considered very highly in LOS and there is talk of a lot of family feuds, probably explains the lack of money spent on the place.

The plaza is now fast becoming 2 tower rise blocks.

We have some happy memories of the place, we were staying there the day we got married, that does sound like I was being a cheap charley but it was a familier place by then and we had many friends in that part of Sukhumvit road, probably should have booked the Amari but the wife would have chastised me for spending the money,we had a great time in the "pub" on the ground floor when we turned up ad hoc very late that evening.

I do feel a slight tinge of sorrow when I pass the place but doubt if we will ever stay there again and will never recommend it to anyone.

I have used the ambassador a few times, I always managed to get a suite in the tower wing for 1000 baht per night, which was ok for the room we got.

Never had any problems with the receptionist staff or security, but the hotel limo drivers, tried to take the p*** out of me once, when I wanted a quick ride to the british embassy, the idiot only went the opposite direction so it took 1 hour instead of 5 minutes, thinking I didn't know where I was, which I then pointed out to him when we arrived at the embassy and that he would not be getting paid for that hour, which would have 400 bahts.

I also berated the hotel manager when we returned, telling him we had almost missed a very important appointment at the embassy and ended up getting 50% discount on my room bill for that stay, which was nice!.

The hotel is run down and old even in the tower wing, and now that the nice beer garden out the back has gone, I would have to agree, it just isn't worth staying there anymore!

I am really surprised at what happened to you and your good lady .
Yes the rooms are dated and need more than a lick of paint ,but for what you pay (or used to pay as its been a couple of years since we stayed there last)it surveda purpose and to be honest the staff were great with me and the missus.they couldnt do enough for us .
just shows how times change ...