A comment in another thread got me thinking about this, everything went up dramatically following the surge in fuel prices a couple of months ago. Now that petrol has returned to normal levels, or maybe even lower, have the prices of daily commodities dropped back?
If it now costs 750 baht to fill up a tank (regular 1.6L car), why are the taxis still charging extortionate rates? Have moto-taxis dropped back to their previous price level, public transport?
Daily household items and rice prices don't seem to have fallen back to their original levels either, or so I'm reliably informed by my financial controller.
These things all hurt the locals.
On the tourist front we see that hotels that are only 25% full still want triple their standard rates for a 'peak season' that wont happen this year.
Greedy house owners are still charging over priced rates for their rentals and would rather leave them empty than drop the rates.
Hua Hin is one of the most expensive places to live or visit in Thailand, second only to Phuket, this filters down to everything that you buy.
This mentality seems to come down from government level to the people, when there are less customers, put up the prices. With unfavourable exchange rates Thailand is no longer a cheap holiday destination for many, this will only compound the problems the economy currently faces.
Thoughts and observations welcome ...
Will prices in Hua Hin fall to encourage spending?
Will prices in Hua Hin fall to encourage spending?
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
The taxi service I use have dropped back from 2500-2000 for an airport run .new car,smartly dressed driver and a female escort as my mother was travelling alone .Shrewd business owner .PM me for details if you wish .
One of the bars i go to has stopped happy hour and put up prices .This will be the first trend .Less customers so put up the price .
It will then be followed by sensible people realising that 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing and making their pricing more attractive where they can .Some others will follow suit,many will not and will suffer .Al of us who live here and have been dependent on tourism at some stage have seen the pattern over and over when circumstances impact tourism .
Crazy 88
One of the bars i go to has stopped happy hour and put up prices .This will be the first trend .Less customers so put up the price .
It will then be followed by sensible people realising that 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing and making their pricing more attractive where they can .Some others will follow suit,many will not and will suffer .Al of us who live here and have been dependent on tourism at some stage have seen the pattern over and over when circumstances impact tourism .
Crazy 88
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The understudy
- Ace
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- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 12:16 pm
- Location: Hua Hin, Bangkok, Berlin, L. A. rotating
HI there buksoda
May U quote you extensively?
This is Kidsters economic thinking menatality by the Govermnet for each business to up prices more when there are less customers in order for the remaining customers here to make out the losses that each business feels right now! but little know they know that this economic situation is getting worse in 09 and it will lead to more less spending. than of course the last Govt plus PM we had was caring less aboot their Peeople but rather more for their self interetsts at formost.
My advice for Hua Hin Hotel, Businesses, Services and Local Transportation.
LOwer your prices to encourage more Domstic Tourism and salvage what little left thats of the High Season that has drawn far less than expected customers from Europe, North America & Scandinavia.
For House owners in Hua Hin & beyond you should come down from your Horses with their thinkig mentality that Hua Hin will forever remain a desireable place for foreigners and locals to rent out. The World ecnomic crises will hit Hua Hin sooner rather than later before these greedy people get grasp of things long stayers looking for rentals have allready moved to more cheaper pastures.
Your's The understudy!!!
May U quote you extensively?
You are exactly right Buksida Me as a foreign born Thai have also noticed that the prices in Hua Hin even in the Condominum market haven't changed that much at all.If it now costs 750 baht to fill up a tank (regular 1.6L car), why are the taxis still charging extortionate rates? Have moto-taxis dropped back to their previous price level, public transport?
Daily household items and rice prices don't seem to have fallen back to their original levels either, or so I'm reliably informed by my financial controller.
These things all hurt the locals.
On the tourist front we see that hotels that are only 25% full still want triple their standard rates for a 'peak season' that wont happen this year.
Greedy house owners are still charging over priced rates for their rentals and would rather leave them empty than drop the rates.
Hua Hin is one of the most expensive places to live or visit in Thailand, second only to Phuket, this filters down to everything that you buy.
This mentality seems to come down from government level to the people, when there are less customers, put up the prices. With unfavourable exchange rates Thailand is no longer a cheap holiday destination for many, this will only compound the problems the economy currently faces.I
This is Kidsters economic thinking menatality by the Govermnet for each business to up prices more when there are less customers in order for the remaining customers here to make out the losses that each business feels right now! but little know they know that this economic situation is getting worse in 09 and it will lead to more less spending. than of course the last Govt plus PM we had was caring less aboot their Peeople but rather more for their self interetsts at formost.
My advice for Hua Hin Hotel, Businesses, Services and Local Transportation.
LOwer your prices to encourage more Domstic Tourism and salvage what little left thats of the High Season that has drawn far less than expected customers from Europe, North America & Scandinavia.
For House owners in Hua Hin & beyond you should come down from your Horses with their thinkig mentality that Hua Hin will forever remain a desireable place for foreigners and locals to rent out. The World ecnomic crises will hit Hua Hin sooner rather than later before these greedy people get grasp of things long stayers looking for rentals have allready moved to more cheaper pastures.
Your's The understudy!!!
Quite right about what's being talked about here. It's almost as if they can't/won't see it and are determined to allow it to slide down the toilet when the impact of the situation could be lessened by some simple damage limitation moves/actions(as pointed out by the above posters).
I wonder for how long they can keep their 'heads in the sand' for before something is done, if at all? Maybe they won't do anything.
I wonder for how long they can keep their 'heads in the sand' for before something is done, if at all? Maybe they won't do anything.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Re: Will prices in Hua Hin fall to encourage spending?
I've had this issue with building materials. They all went up due to oil, building contractors followed suit, now they are not dropping them down again.buksida wrote:A comment in another thread got me thinking about this, everything went up dramatically following the surge in fuel prices a couple of months ago. Now that petrol has returned to normal levels, or maybe even lower, have the prices of daily commodities dropped back?
Not sure if any others have noticed otherwise in building materials ?
SJ
Just to add another facet: Media reports indicate a sharp drop in tourism but try getting a flight ex UK to Bangkok in January or February. Very few seats available and the prices are high e.g. British Airways £1,040 economy return!
I just wonder if the doom and gloom about the high season has been exaggerated by the media!
Very few things have dropped back to the levels existing prior to the surge in oil prices. Such reductions rarely occur. Part of the reason is that we, the public, have been prepared to continue paying the higher prices - I am not referring to domestic essentials. Today we have a different scenario as the Baht is strong (why) and tourists and ex-pats living here on income from abroad are getting less Baht and that, coupled with higher prices could force a re-think but don't hold your breath!
I just wonder if the doom and gloom about the high season has been exaggerated by the media!
Very few things have dropped back to the levels existing prior to the surge in oil prices. Such reductions rarely occur. Part of the reason is that we, the public, have been prepared to continue paying the higher prices - I am not referring to domestic essentials. Today we have a different scenario as the Baht is strong (why) and tourists and ex-pats living here on income from abroad are getting less Baht and that, coupled with higher prices could force a re-think but don't hold your breath!
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
Thai logic prevails but maybe some of the farang run places may start discounts (especially Christmas fare 
)
Seriously though, I can't see anything going down, only flat
HH Ian was right, hotels still fully booked, flights fully booked and expensive right up to the end of March. Maybe the impact will hit in Jan but Thai logic prevails
As I posted on another thread the little things impact as well. 5 years ago a motorbike taxi downtown and back cost me 60 uk p, now it costs me 1.20 uk p. Rat shit chillies in the market 4 years ago 5 baht for a bagfull now 10 baht. Small items I know but it all adds up. My pension hasn't doubled accordingly!!!!
)Seriously though, I can't see anything going down, only flat
HH Ian was right, hotels still fully booked, flights fully booked and expensive right up to the end of March. Maybe the impact will hit in Jan but Thai logic prevails
As I posted on another thread the little things impact as well. 5 years ago a motorbike taxi downtown and back cost me 60 uk p, now it costs me 1.20 uk p. Rat shit chillies in the market 4 years ago 5 baht for a bagfull now 10 baht. Small items I know but it all adds up. My pension hasn't doubled accordingly!!!!
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
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Hua Hin Wannabe
- Novice
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:55 pm
Huahinian,
I read your comment about the price of flights from the UK.
I'd suggest that airlines are dropping prices. Emirates have flights available between Xmas & New Year for just over £700, while in January, if your dates are flexible, you can pick up a return for £658.
These are the cheapest I've seen for some years, given that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, & in other years you'd struggle to get a flight at all at such short notice in high season.
The hotels don't seem to be adopting the same approach. Prices over Xmas & New Year are very high, but all have availability. I'd suggest that if the rooms aren't taken by now, a lot of them will stay empty.
I'd much prefer to spend New Year in the sun, but this time I'll stay at home & splash out by turning up the heating a few degrees, & look at previous years holiday photo's!
I read your comment about the price of flights from the UK.
I'd suggest that airlines are dropping prices. Emirates have flights available between Xmas & New Year for just over £700, while in January, if your dates are flexible, you can pick up a return for £658.
These are the cheapest I've seen for some years, given that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, & in other years you'd struggle to get a flight at all at such short notice in high season.
The hotels don't seem to be adopting the same approach. Prices over Xmas & New Year are very high, but all have availability. I'd suggest that if the rooms aren't taken by now, a lot of them will stay empty.
I'd much prefer to spend New Year in the sun, but this time I'll stay at home & splash out by turning up the heating a few degrees, & look at previous years holiday photo's!
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heretostay
- Specialist
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:49 pm
- Location: hanoi
prices
Thai people will never loose face, they will see the property empty or derelict for years rather than rent 1 baht lower than someone else.
TIT you will never win.
as you can see from cha am to hua hin, still building shop houses, still wanting crazy rents, all still empty. property boom is never coming back, post tsunami has gone. so has the money.
TIT you will never win.
as you can see from cha am to hua hin, still building shop houses, still wanting crazy rents, all still empty. property boom is never coming back, post tsunami has gone. so has the money.
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Korkenzieher
- Guru
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:45 am
- Location: Hua Hin.
It seems pretty obvious that loadings on flights to Thailand only remain high because of capacity cuts. Also, I would guess that some of the flights in January and February will be a bit emptier than they appear today, as travel agents are probably obliged to inform 'high value' tourists that in the case of a potential Force Majeure situation in Thailand, their insurances will probably be invalid. Having seen the farce at the airport on TV, anyone who can, and doesn't appreciate the wider situation here, would probably see the sense in re-booking rather than take the risk. Add to that, that up until recently there were 70 baht to the pound, and there are now 50.
I agree with what appears to be the general sentiment here: that the full impact of the global economic situation, and the insanity by PAD has yet to visit itself on the economy in general, and HH in particular - but it will!
I agree with what appears to be the general sentiment here: that the full impact of the global economic situation, and the insanity by PAD has yet to visit itself on the economy in general, and HH in particular - but it will!
Had enough of the trolls. Going to sleep. I may be some time....
I am not talking about High Season hotel rates or House Rentals, but a lot of you seem to think bars, restaurants etc should reduce their prices because everything is quiet.
In my opinion that would be a recipe for disaster.
What these businesses will have to do is reduce staff and try and cut down on costs.
Cost of food,rent,drinks,cleaning costs,wages electricity, gas etc. etc. have not fallen so how can they possible reduce their prices and survive.
The good ones will hopefully survive and the rubbish ones will fall.
In my opinion that would be a recipe for disaster.
What these businesses will have to do is reduce staff and try and cut down on costs.
Cost of food,rent,drinks,cleaning costs,wages electricity, gas etc. etc. have not fallen so how can they possible reduce their prices and survive.
The good ones will hopefully survive and the rubbish ones will fall.
You only live once.