The new Venezia Shopping complex

[tuppence]

Isnt Villagio mall in Qatar the one that burned down last year. Hope this place has better luck. A few emergency exits would be a good place ot start.

[bazza]

HHfarang If it makes it easier go north on Phetkasem Road passed the airport through the tunnel on the right you will see a u-turn opposite on the left is the turning to Palm Hills take the left turn on the dual carriage way in 100 mtrs before the railway line take the right turn follow that narrow road to the car park on the left side. Villa Market is the big building in front drive to the end of the car park . Thats it.

[migrant]

Went yesterday afternoon (wednesday) and dead also, maybe 10 groups of 2-4 around.
villa store looked great but we didn't go in any others.

The Brazilian place had a girl outside that knew my brother in law who was with us. She said weekends are busy but weekdays dead

She told him there is a offer that he gets 50baht per person for anyone he brings in.

[Big Boy]

We couldn't find everything we wanted at Makro today. No worries I thought, we'll nip up to Venezia and use Villa Market.

On the way up the road, Mrs BB told me that she would need to go to the toilet (sorry, too much information but relevant) before she went into Villa Market.

When we arrived she went to go through to the toilet, but was stopped - the guard told her 50 Baht admission. She explained that she only needed to pee - Mr Jobsworth insisted 50 Baht admission. She walked down the front of Villa Market and tried to get in the other side - same thing i.e. no 50 Baht, no admission.

The point of the above is to ask if there's something special going on at Venezia today, or is it now costing 50 Baht to get into this glorified shopping mall (Villa Market excluded)?

[Bruce]

Re Venezia-have you seen since Dec 4 they charge 50 bt per person to enter shopping mall -free just only Villa Market . OK they rebate you but have to prove you spent 300bt per person at restaurant .If you just want to visit SCB Banllike me they still charge you but give you back your 50bt when you leave ! Outrageous ripp off ! Shops are still half full huge delay of 6 months from opening date -when I refused to pay the sullen woman security gurad intimated we don't need you farang anyway .....
They will surely go bust -another example of Thais shooting them selves in the foot !

[Bruce]

As of Dec 4 Venezia have slapped a 50bt pp entry fee to the shopping & restaurant malls -Villa Market is only left free !
OK you get your money back but only if you spend 300bt pp at a restaurant apparently-what a rip off -I shall forgo my favorite sushi soup at Cafe Restaurant & just use Villa Market as best Farang food in town .All very sad though -greed ,greed,greed -typical Thai.!

[Big Boy]

I suppose Santorini manage OK with a 50 Baht cover charge, so I guess Venezia are following suit. I'm glad that I've seen it, but I definitely won't pay 50 Baht to visit a shopping mall that isn't even air conditioned.

we don't need you farang anyway .....

Probably right - it's aimed more at the weekend Bangkokians. However, you have to feel sorry for the shops that have opened there if the cover charge was not quoted up front. I doubt whether I'm the only tight local who will never step foot/shop there again.

[Terry]

Been there three times thus far and have been disappointed three times

Half of the shops are not open and even Villa is not much to write home about.

I know what Mrs.T will say when I tell her it's 50baht to get in..........

Methinks the place is doomed

[Big Boy]

We had to nip out to Villa Market at Venezia this morning. As we arrived, there were 2 bus loads of Thais disembarking. When they got to the 50 Baht admission gate, I reckon 60% refused to pay the admission. The 2 shops next to Villa Market, outside of the 50 Baht admission gate were packed when we left.

[curlybaggie]

You should never have to pay to go inside a shopping centre, but i guess that's Thailand for you.

[BelgianBoy]

we were there as well to have a look, and refused to pay the admission fee, needless to say we voted with our feet.....

BB

[gilped]

I visited 4-5 times during my stay at the Boathouse and always spent money when I was there and did not mind the entry fee, once I knew I would get it back. For people living on the north side I think Villa Market is a god send and I was a regular during my stay. Unfortunately, a few of the comments are right in that it's dead on week days but it's not a bad place on the weekends. There's also a reasonable little beer stop there and the Brazilian restaurant is great. I hope they make it work and by the looks of all the construction on the north side towards Cha-Am at the moment it could well be busy once some more of the developments are finished. Some of them look fairly spectacular and are huge! In a couple of years that whole area is going to be more attractive for tourists as HH town is getting very congested traffic wise. It's over 18 months since my last visit and the changes are dramatic!

[barry720]

I don't understand the rational in charging 50 baht per person to go into Venezia. My wife and I stopped there to check out the restaurants. Hoping to find a good one and have dinner, I wouldn't pay the admission charge so we left. It's not how much it's the fact of an admission charge that gets to me. I won't go back. How about you?

[hhfarang]

How about you?

Haven't been there yet and don't ever intend to go there. The entrance fee is only one of the many reasons. I don't like the plastic attractions and shopping malls that are intentionally built to attract the Bangkok crowd. I'll let them have 'em.

From reading this thread (and comments in Feeding Time) the only thing that would interest me in the mall is Villa Market and since there is one much closer I'll probably never use the new one.

[Chromeman]

I am going to visit them this afternoon, mainly to try out that Brazilian restaurant to see if they are something like I experienced in Rio de Janeiro.