The new Venezia Shopping complex

[dundrillin]

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?

It seems weird to charge an entrance fee for a new venture. I would have thought you would employ a "Rent a Crowd" to make it look busy. Perhaps it's intention is to keep out the undesirables whoever they may be. I'm used to paying parking when visiting a mall in the UK so that may keep it in perspective.

[Big Boy]

When I lived in the UK, the out of town malls were generally free parking.

[dundrillin]

sorry i was meaning town centre malls here in Aberdeen. Not forgetting £4 to park for 2 hours off street!! (god I was dying to get that off my chest)

[Big Boy]

Exactly, Venezia is as out of town as it gets.

[tonymaroni]

50 Baht to go shopping are you kidding me.
Villa market is open to the public for free only reason to go there.
But today noticed the most stupid new signs for Villa Parking.
"Park where you are, not where you arent't" posted every 3 parking stalls.
WTF does that mean, Thai wisdom? Dozens of these same signs, maybe it is a joke, I think the joke is on a d*** ass shopping mall that charges to get in.

[Gérard]

I suppose "Park where you are, not where you aren't" means that you should not park there if you are not a customer... Just one word for word translation more

[dtaai-maai]

50 Baht to go shopping are you kidding me.
Villa market is open to the public for free only reason to go there.
But today noticed the most stupid new signs for Villa Parking.
"Park where you are, not where you arent't" posted every 3 parking stalls.
WTF does that mean, Thai wisdom? Dozens of these same signs, maybe it is a joke, I think the joke is on a d*** ass shopping mall that charges to get in.

I suspect the joke is on anyone daft enough to get angry about this.

[Chromeman]

I noticed several stories that had been emptied out, probably going belly up. Also, many stores had sales advertising with up to 70% off the clothes sold. Most of the stores were for clothes, with a little souvenir or children toys in between. Nothing really of interest for me, so I will not be back. Market Village is more interesting!

[Pleng]

Also, many stores had sales advertising with up to 70% off the clothes sold.

That's no surprise, really. There's always a sale on at pretty much every shop everywhere in Thailand. It's amazing the size of the discounts you can find

[Stargeezer]

I stopped into the Venezia in March with my wife, we were suggested to pay the 80 baht to enter as we could see the zoo area and somewhere else as well as shopping. We only paid the 50 baht and considered it as a photo opportunity fee. The zoo area was shut down, the other area they suggested had already shut down or closed down, so the 50 baht was the wise choice. Quite a few stores were closed, and the few we visited were having a hard time staying in business. The Thai lady at a book store said her boss was closing for good in the Summer as he was losing lots of money. Only tour buses and a few locals were coming into the mall and no one was spending a lot of money.
I do not think this place will last a very long time because of the prices of the goods, the location,
charging people to go into the mall etc, turn a lot of people off.
My wife bought one book and a small souvenir , aside from that all they got was our 100 baht fee.
It was a hot afternoon and only a few places had airconditioning , the rest was hot and
uncomfortable to be in. We will not be returning to this mall again.
Stargeezer

[Dannie Boy]

I think your photos say everything Stargeezer - I couldn't see a single shopper in sight!!
I don't know what difference it would make, but whoever decided to impose the entrance fee seems to have got it badly wrong.

[Takiap]

Went there several months ago and was really disappointed since very few shops were open, and of those that were, 99% were selling nothing but overpriced clothes. Got dragged back a second time and at least we were able to have a meal there, but even so, I found no reason why I should return, and that was before this new fee. I don't mind parting with 50 baht but when it comes to this mall, I think they would need to pay me a lot more than 50 baht to get me to return - an absolute waste of space although it could actually be a really nice place.

Better still, convert it into an adult entertainment zone.

As it is now (fee or no fee) it's even worse than the floating markets where there is actually nothing floating.

[Pleng]

It's a shame because when I went there a couple of times before, I felt it had so much potential

[Big Boy]

I still wonder if traders signed up to renting outlets at Venezia with the knowledge that an admission fee would be introduced.

We have been inundated with a stream of visitors since February, and I have been ferrying them about. I've always pointed out Venezia as we've driven past giving my (biased) view of the place, and have offered to call in. Not one has wanted to stop off there.

[hhfarang]

The only way it will survive is if they lower the rents, do away with the parking fee, and make it another outlet mall with prices to compete with the one on the highway north of Cha-Am. They're building too much here, whether attractions or condos expecting to make enough money from the people of Bangkok alone (at Bangkok pricing). They treat Hua Hin as if it is a Bangkok suburb and it is a bit out of the way for that. I'm personally happy to watch these idiots fail.