Super bargain beachside BBQ lunch buffet, at JW Marriott Khao Lak

JW Marriott Khao Lak would be one of my top 10 favourite resort choices.  As the Haven is quite close to this resort, I took the convenience of bringing my friends to come here for a fun afternoon.  There we ran into their beachside BBQ buffet at just THB390 net (from 12 to 4pm).  Quality and service wise, it's much more than 390!  This simply made me come back here sooner.

The Haven Khao Lak, SW Thailand

This resort has 4 sections of pools.  The pros is the exclusivity of the guests staying in that section.  The cons is that it's not connected like a big lagoon pool that the guests can swim around.  Besides, it's quite a contrast of the rooms with their own section (like photo 1) but the others with a blocking view.  They should at least have a price variance for the room location.

Pool Access room, the Haven Khao Lak, SW Thailand

The pool access room is not bad at a range of US$110-130 including breakfast.  Wrote to the hotel in a few month advance for trying to get the rooms in the first row of the whole resort, but still got assigned on the 2nd row where the view is blocked by the first row building.  The room itself is a bit too old fashioned, unlike what they posted on the website or I would suspect my room was built in a very early timing than the other wings.  The room has 2 censors for the bathroom and the closet.  It is quite annoying that the ventilator could be turned on and off when you moved around in the bathroom.  However, if you prefer some shades, this room would be a good choice.  If you travel with another friends for 2 rooms together, this corner 2 room unit has an exclusive pool area.  The other good things are the clean pool water at luke warm temperature.

Gai Thong, Emquartier, BKK

This restaurant is very popular in the restaurant section of Emquartier, often with long line and crowd.  Got told this place is loved by the high society people. One flamboyant dish on the menu is a dozen of abalone in heavy gravy at THB4k something, but I could tell from the photo it's quite a waste of cooking abalone in that way.  After this trying, I believe I wouldn't wanna feel like being a high society Thai, nor do I dare to be.  The better ones are the stir fried noodles but I still don't like that kind of heavy gravy.  I'd prefer their deep fried drum sticks though it's a bit dried out.  Among all, the best one is the steamed pork patty with dried salty fish.  At least, the chef made it quite bouncy.  The veggie is a bit too oily.  Tom yam soup is a bit too sweet and the prawn not so fresh.  

Oriental Residence BKK

The lobby is quite cozy and the colour tune is similar to MO BKK.  Unfortunately that Cafe Claire put the breakfast buffet table outside of the restaurant, spoiling such a cozy design.  The swimming pool and gym are in the same situation.  The gym is under-equipped and the pool is a bit too congested with the cabanas and sunbathing chairs being too close to the pool.  It was quite filthy that some rusty white empty plastic bottles were found in the kid's pool.  Then the big pool is quite funny with many tiny white tissue bits and pieces.  

1 bedroom city view suite, Oriental Residence, BKK

The room itself isn't bad but the service is somewhat disappointing.  At check-in, the luggage wasn't delivered timely and properly.  Even I waved the bell boy for bringing the luggage to my room, I looked transparent.  Later on, in about 10 minutes after I returned to the hotel from failing to find a restaurant still being open.  The luggage was put outside of the hotel.  There I asked if that's my luggage, I got a "yes".  I further "if I can take it back".  The bell boy replied indifferently "yes, take it.".  So I took it back awkwardly as those 2 bell boys still moved an inch but just kept on chatting between themselves.  I then approached the front office about this improper behaviour, and followed another email.  The next morning, I got a reply from the Duty Manager.  On his reply, he put on copy to more than 15 colleagues.  I promptly further complained about the poor quality of the breakfast and the in-room dining.  Then I got another reply with further c.c. to more and more staff.  Really disappointing that I don't intend to come back for another stay.