Job Discussion Forums

[redwing]

Hi all!

I just had a quick question. What does a service apartment mean? My girlfriend and I are still planning on coming to Thailand and taking the CELTA course with ECC in Bangkok. We're trying to figure out as much as possible prior to arrival.

What's the difference between a serviced apartment and a non-serviced apartment? We're looking for places that are furnished because we plan to stay for a year.

Also, we're planning on coming to Bangkok 3-4 weeks prior to starting our CELTA course because it will basically be a full time job, and we'd love to get the lay of the land first So does anyone have suggestions for short-term living that's more home-like than a hotel room? We don't want to get a set place to live like an apartment before we know where our job will be located. Heh, I hear traffic is a nightmare.

Slightly off topic, ECC Thailand CELTA says that they'll give us half of our CELTA fee back if we sign a one year contract with them. Sounds like a guaranteed job after the CELTA, is this a scam? Is that accurate? Is that advisable? Am I just clueless? (oh man I left myself open there, didn't I?)

Thanks to anyone that helps me out! I'm looking forward to the responses! And once we're comfortable enough to leave, maybe we'll actually meet some of you people that helped us out and buy everyone a few drinks!

[Henry_Cowell]

Serviced apartment in Bangkok

Definition: Kent Kruhoeffer has a key to your flat and comes in to clean and prepare all meals once a day. That's what we call "service"!

[kparsons]

When we did the CELTA at ECC, we stayed in Patumwan House, which is a hotel, but quite nice, and kind of like a studio apartment. In fact, there are many people who live there, and they do advertise themselves as a hotel/studio apartment. The rent is quite expensive per night (1,000 Baht), but if you sign a month-long contract, it is heavily discounted (15,000 Baht for a month -- just under $400). We loved living there -- the rooms are incredibly spacious, beautifully decorated w/lots of dark woods and hardwood floors, there's a wetbar w/refrigerator, a TV, a nice big bathroom complete w/bathtub, etc. There's also room service, which is quite nice if you're feeling lazy after a long day of CELTAing. The hotel is located on Soi Kasem San 1, which is really close to ECC -- you just walk on the overhead bridge to get there -- maybe then minutes? Anyhow, if you're interested in Patumwan, here is the website and contact info:
Patumwan House
22, Soi Kasemsan 1, Rama 1 Rd
WangMai, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
(662)612 3580-99
http://www.patumwanhouse.com/

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

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[redwing]

Thanks for the links everyone! My next question is knowing actually which apartments are close. I know I know lame question.

I found a really terrible map of where ECC Siam Square is and i'm basically comparing terrible maps of locations of other apartments to determine if it is "close". Unfortunately, the maps provided on websites are pretty inadequate for getting a complete picture of how far it is. Also, i'm pretty clueless about the areas in metropolitan Bangkok. I don't quite understand how to find locations that are close to where I would prefer to be. Even if I bought a map of Bangkok I still think i'd be confused. Not much of a map person I guess. I can't find my way out of a paper bag even if I was given a map.

For example: (BangRak, Silom, PhatPhong, Surawong) means what exactly? It's a box I can select so I can start searching for apartments by location, but i'm confused what that actually means to me and the location of ECC Siam Square. Haha am I just slow? Ahem, please say no, ahem ahem.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

xxxx

[redwing]

Kent, everyone on this forum probably has dirty feet now because you rocked so many of their socks off!!! Um, yeah, I think that means thanks a lot! Again...