Travel help sought

[rocket surgeon]

If you can, I wouldn’t wear it unless I wanted to get punched in the face.

i understand it may be interpreted as offensive to some, but is this where we've come with our differences-a punch in the face or worse?  get in their faces, disrupt, punch...this is where we all need to find our "ignore" button even when interacting on the outside.  i just turn and shake my head.  when i make someone else's problem, my problem, it becomes my problem-stinkin thinkin will get you before you even know it 

[Goose]

Crash

Usually stay at Grand Hyatt in Bangkok. Have had cocktails at Oriental years ago.

[rocket surgeon]

Crash

Usually stay at Grand Hyatt in Bangkok. Have had cocktails at Oriental years ago.

they must have named that after the theater on the east side of milwaukee, on farewell.   as long as ya know the secret handshake, sayin ya closed da oriental is kosher, eyn'a? 

[Jon]

Crash

Usually stay at Grand Hyatt in Bangkok. Have had cocktails at Oriental years ago.

Mother Goose

I was always torn between the Grand Hyatt Erawan and the Oriental. Frankly, the Erawan has superior accommodations but the Oriental is legend.

There is a reason why the Peninsula in TST and the Raffles in Singapore are still hotels of choice - they have a story.

Nobody ever drops the Hilton or JW Marriott in HK names as a dick lengthener when trying to get laid or making points at a dinner party. But they do shamelessly with the Peninsula.

[Goose]

Crash

Have probably spent a hundred nights at The Pen in TST. It has been many, many years since I have stayed there, but always try to have Sunday breakfast or drink at Felix when in HK (like this wekend). Have been blessed in my travels and The Peninsula is high on my all time favorite list. Did you ever go to the cigar store at Mandarin Oriental on HK island? Great cigar joint back in the day. Always spent my weekend afternoons having a stick with the HK high rollers back in the day.

Grand Hyatt in Bangkok is a very nice place. Oriental has the style and class over G. Hyatt IMO. Over upcoming months Thailand and Vietnam are going to be my haunts. Looking forward to spending time there again on a regular basis.

[4everwarriors]

Peninsula in Beverly Hills is tits, literally and figuratively, hey?

[Jon]

Did you ever go to the cigar store at Mandarin Oriental on HK island? Great cigar joint back in the day. Always spent my weekend afternoons having a stick with the HK high rollers back in the day.

I have frequented the HK Oriental cigar bar and it is classic.

Having said which, the Cigar Bar at the Raffles goes it one better with its Single Malt Passport Club. I prefer the openness and lighter atmosphere of the Raffles - the Cigar Bar is palm fronds, ceiling fans, and white jackets; one can imagine W Somerset Maugham seated in a high backed wicker prepping a Cohiba for a post-dinner smoke to accompany his splash of Laphroaig.

At the end of the day, the Raffles-Peninsula-Oriental conundrum is a matter of taste. Ginger-Mary Ann anyone?

[MU82]

We ended up deciding to go to Bend after all. We're renting a house for seven us, and we're gonna have a great time!

My son and daughter-in-law won't be able to make it, which is unfortunate but that's life. We will go to Chicago to see them on a separate trip.

I appreciate the many suggestions, and I have bookmarked this thread for future reference.