Cheapskate month in SE Asia with status

[moa999]

Hanoi is actually a city of very good value buffets.. although the street food is even cheaper, and I can live on pho.

Have stayed at the HGI before and thought it decent for the price but certainly not the Hanoi Opera. Having a washing machine and dryer was very useful though

 

[njba]

Re: Millennium Hilton Bangkok

To the left is a local market complete with 7Eleven. Large bottles of Leo beer are 56 baht (a little over $2) but you can’t buy alcohol between 2 and 5 pm in Thailand. At the market I bought a leg of barbeque chicken for 40 baht ($1.50) and a dunkin’ donut for 29 baht for lunch.

I love TRs for many reasons, but interesting facts like this are one of the things I like most! Does this include at bars and restaurants?

Spectacular TR!

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Millennium Hilton Bangkok

Does this include at bars and restaurants?

Sorry, that was quite poorly worded. The price for the beer was at the 7Eleven and the time restrictions are for take-aways only, not bars and restaurants.

I'm pretty sure that take-aways are also banned between midnight and 11am.

Actually, thinking about it, the restrictions may apply to Bangkok only, rather than Thailand as a whole.

 

[froggerADL]

Having a washing machine and dryer was very useful though

My stay at the Hilton Garden Inn is strategically placed right in the middle of my trip specifically so I can do my washing for free! I even brought a couple of detergent capsules with me. Plus I've never stayed at that brand before so it will be a new experience.

I'm there for three days to do the washing and then back to the Hanoi Opera. A man can only go so long without an exec lounge .

 

[froggerADL]

Uber Black in Hanoi

Check-out went smoothly and I paid the additional charge of VND693,000 ($40.50) for the Saturday lunch. I had asked for and received a 2pm late check-out.

I had to move 850 metres from the Hilton Hanoi Opera to the Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi. I treated myself to Uber Black rather than UberX as there was very little difference in price. The four minute ride cost the princely sum of VND16,000 ($0.94). Yes, that’s 94 cents! I offered the driver a VND10,000 tip, which was the smallest note I had, and he looked at me like I was mad. I just said “very short trip” and he took it. So about A$1.50 all up.

 

[travelislife]

Re: Millennium Hilton Bangkok

Sorry, that was quite poorly worded. The price for the beer was at the 7Eleven and the time restrictions are for take-aways only, not bars and restaurants.

I'm pretty sure that take-aways are also banned between midnight and 11am.

Actually, thinking about it, the restrictions may apply to Bangkok only, rather than Thailand as a whole.

They are meant to apply everywhere but are only as good as the 'enforcement' (kickbacks). The most stupid rules ever. Not a fan of the dictatorship at the moment.

Great trio report though!

 

[Hvr]

Re: Millennium Hilton Bangkok

<snip>

Great trio report though!

Actually the OP is travelling alone.

 

[froggerADL]

Suite upgrade at last

Check-in at the Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi was a breeze. They speak surprisingly good English here as they did at the Opera. The Vietnamese people pronounce my name better than almost all Australians, funnily enough just how it’s spelt.

Cost including tax and service charge is A$68.40 per night. I was offered breakfast each morning which costs about A$15 or an additional 750 HH points for the stay. I took the breakfasts.

This hotel opened in April 2013 and still feels very new. It has quite a small footprint with only a few rooms on each floor.

I was upgraded to a one bedroom suite, at last. The room is on the top floor, along with the laundry which is very handy. It is twice the size of a standard room at 50 sq m. Here are some photos.

The Bath


The Shower


The Vanity & Dunny


I have no idea why I'm getting these "attached images" or how to get rid of them (not the one's above, they're supposed to be there).

 

[froggerADL]

More photos

The Lounge


The Lounge


The bed


Second toilet

 

[I love to travel]

Re: More photos

The HGI looks good but agree the Hilton Exec lounge is very good

 

[Anna]

I'm there for three days to do the washing

Just a tip but if it takes you 3 days to do the washing you may be doing it wrong.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry, that was quite poorly worded. The price for the beer was at the 7Eleven and the time restrictions are for take-aways only, not bars and restaurants.

I'm pretty sure that take-aways are also banned between midnight and 11am.

Actually, thinking about it, the restrictions may apply to Bangkok only, rather than Thailand as a whole.

In my experience alcohol sales restrictions are enforced at most 7Elevens, Family Marts, Welcome Marts, Tesco Lotus. Silly restriction. You are still able to purchase alcohol at many of the smaller independent shops at all times.

 

[GarrettM]

Hey Frogger.

Will you be my cheapskate Yoda?

 

[froggerADL]

Just a tip but if it takes you 3 days to do the washing you may be doing it wrong.

Sometimes it takes me that long to get motivated . All done now so I'm going to treat myself to a burger at The Moose & Roo Smokehouse as my reward.

 

[froggerADL]

Hey Frogger.

Will you be my cheapskate Yoda?

I don't know what that means, but if it involves free alcohol for me, possibly

 

[TomVexille]

I don't know what that means, but if it involves free alcohol for me, possibly

I believe that is the first lesson GarrettM

Loving this report frogger. Looking forward to the rest

 

[GarrettM]

I don't know what that means, but if it involves free alcohol for me, possibly

Maybe at some point. I definitely won't make you pay for mine at any rate

In the meantime I am going to scour your posting history to learn all I can of your excellent cheapsake methods

 

[froggerADL]

The hunt for beer

As I am without access to an exec lounge for three nights I needed to fill the fridge with beer. At a reasonable cost of course, so I would have to venture away from the Hilton.

I decided to go for a stumble and see what I could find. After 750 metres of dodging various footpath hazards I found a chicken rice place that had beer in the fridge. By now I was dripping with sweat and in dire need of a cool refreshment. I pointed at the beer and it was served to me at a table. Cost was VND15,000 (A$0.88) for 420ml with 4.2% alcohol content. I enjoyed it. I had come prepared with my backpack and requested ten beers to take away. The look on her face was hilarious as she took them from the fridge and placed them in the backpack.

I had expected this to cost VND150,000, with maybe a little discount for a bulk purchase! But no, that would be VND200,000 (A$11.65) please, as apparently take-aways cost more. Given that they charge VND80,000 for a single 330ml can at the Hilton I figured I was still in front .

Hmmmm, Beer


I got an Uber back to the hotel as I was completely knackered by now. UberX was on surge pricing but Uber Black wasn’t, so Black was cheaper. The seven minute trip cost VND18,000 (A$1.05) and he accepted my VND5,000 tip with a smile.

 

[froggerADL]

Cheap food

I went to the restaurant next door to the Hilton for dinner last night. I decided to walk. I had a pork with rice dish and a beer. It came with a small bowl of what seemed to be pork and vegetable soup, which was cold, but actually very nice. The beer was served at room temperature with ice. I am used to this from a previous trip to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I actually don’t mind it, and have been known to get ice delivered to my room in Australia when I've only had warm beer available.

The ice may well require a dose of Imodium in the coming day or two!

Dinner with cold soup and warm beer


The food cost VND55,000 (A$3.20) and the beer VND25,000 (A$1.45). Dinner and a beer for less than five bucks. Bliss.

 

[froggerADL]

Re: More photos

The HGI looks good but agree the Hilton Exec lounge is very good

I agree and I'm looking forward to going back there. This paying for alcohol thing is getting a little tiresome.