the hilton lording it over the locals hang out!

[lfc3acmilan3]

i have just come back from a month in thailand, and 2 weeks in hua hin. is anyone else disgusted by the fact that the americans have built the hilton mezzanine hanging over the locals restaurant/ bar near the buddhist shrine. when i hung out there, the tossers in the hilton were practically spitting on the people below. it reminded me of the song no women no cry. is this their way of trying to buy them out, and am i the only english person who thinks this stinks to high heaven. this might seem like a rant, and perhaps it is, but apart from that hua hin has a great vibe, and some great bars.

[Digger]

[quote="lfc3acmilan3"]i have just come back from a month in thailand, and 2 weeks in hua hin. is anyone else disgusted by the fact that the americans have built the hilton mezzanine hanging over the locals restaurant/ bar near the buddhist shrine.quote]
Think you may have put your foot in your mouth here as Hilton company did not build this hotel,think it was Melia chain but may be wrong.

[Jaime]

Digger is correct about Melia Sol being the group that built the hotel, rather than the Hilton group, but in answer to the OP, I can't say I've ever noticed. But why are the people staying at the Hilton 'tossers' anyway? Any regular clients of the Hilton want to offer a view on that?

[STEVE G]

I have heard that there was a lot of big Thai influence involved, which is how the Hilton/Melia ended up where it is, and how it manages to be, and remain, the highest building in the centre.
Also the small restaurant terrace to the left of the shrine is much more recent than the Hilton; there was a small snack stall but not the tables you see now. I walked along there a couple of weeks ago, and it was the first time I had actually noticed the tables as you see them now.
Instead of getting upset, you should just look at it like I did, and consider you can get the same views as the Hilton but for about 5% of the cost!

[lfc3acmilan3]

its true, the people staying in the hilton arent necesarily "tossers", it was just an ill mannered expression i used. i spent a good night in the bar of the hilton, and it was great. i suppose the gist of the postin was, americans- bad, locals- good. money/ greed- bad. fishing fleet/ buddhism- good.

[Jockey]

i suppose the gist of the postin was, americans- bad, locals- good. money/ greed- bad. fishing fleet/ buddhism- good.

Whit?

[silverbird]

Hilton was Melia from the beginning 1991/1992. The concept was franchising I was told. The owner of the building were Thais if my memory is not wrong and I do not think it has changed? I do not want to comment on ownership of the land before the hotel was built.

[flyboy]

Usually try and avoid big chain hotels. Amost always overpriced and not very friendly. Much prefer small hotel with locals bar. Prices are better and he clientelleare usually a lot friendlier. Why pay 3 times as much to get the beer, complete with attitude?

[Dirkepirk]

At the big chain hotels people know what to expect.
While I agree that in local places you can get better value or friendlier staff, it can also be a lot worse. Many people don't like the gamble, so they go for the name they know.

[tbuzzi]

Regular to the Hilton over the past year spent some 12 weeks there, the mezzanine where the mini golf and gym do not hang over the shrine at all, the shrine is located over by the beach restaurant, the hotel is very heavily thai influenced and many members of the senior management are thai.
I am not sure what or why people are having a go at the hotel and guests , the mix is high percentage of scandinavians a few brits and other europeans.

It's a comfortable hotel, expensive compared to thai prices but not to a scandinavian who pay 75% tax or a brit who stays at the Hilton at Heathrow,
The staff are super and not being a drinker I wouldn;t know about the bar prices, they do have a happy hour though. Room service compared to european and bangkok prices is excellent quality and good prices.

I can't say enough good things about the staff, management and the hotel.

Oh and as an afterthought, hotel is great for children, with plenty of acitivities for them young and old, most of the guests that were there when , my family were over here for a month in june/july were families.
They are on holiday and the H offers all you could need.

[flyboy]

At the big chain hotels people know what to expect.
While I agree that in local places you can get better value or friendlier staff, it can also be a lot worse. Many people don't like the gamble, so they go for the name they know.

This may be true for some chain hotels but from my experience they can are consisently inconsistent.

You are also right about small hotels. It is often a risk. That's why forums like this one are valuable. If in doubt ask "How do you rate hotel ABC."

It is also why I do not prepay for a property I don't know. That way if it is bad, I can always move elsewhere.

[Winkie]

As a regular visitor of the Hilton, I'd also like to add my bit.

Personally I think the Hilton is wonderful hotel, supported by excellent service/products and a wonderful staff.

As already stated its a wonderful place for kids too.

IF any group/chain is being overly greedy, don't you all think that there is a Thai at the centre of it all?

Winkie

[flyboy]

[quote="Winkie"
IF any group/chain is being overly greedy, don't you all think that there is a Thai at the centre of it all?Winkie[/quote

Strange statement. Most of the over-priced, over-rated hotels are American owned. Hardly something to blame on the Thai's!

[Winkie]

It seems to me that most of the Foreign Owned Hotels in Thailand are much cheaper than in their home countries. And.. without a doubt many of them are to a much higher standard than in their home countries.

I stand by what I say... it applies to many aspects of life here, not just Hotels

Winkie

[lomuamart]

It seems to me that most of the Foreign Owned Hotels in Thailand are much cheaper than in their home countries. And.. without a doubt many of them are to a much higher standard than in their home countries.

I stand by what I say... it applies to many aspects of life here, not just Hotels

Winkie

Maybe it has something to do with the price of land/overheads etc?
Of course The Hilton in central London or New York is going to be more expensive than HH.
It's called business.